Public hearings throughout Wisconsin will gather input regarding fall waterfowl hunting season structure
MADISON - In the next few weeks, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will
finalize the annual federal waterfowl structure under which states within
the Mississippi Flyway may establish waterfowl hunting seasons. These
federal season proposals will be the subject of a series of public meetings
throughout Wisconsin in mid-March.
"The fish and wildlife service has altered its regulatory process that
allows Wisconsin to decide the fall waterfowl seasons in the spring rather
than in August as it has been. This new process uses previous year's data
to set season structure and with the highest continental duck estimates
since the service began conducting surveys 60 years ago. With favorable
conditions in much of the state, fall waterfowl hunting opportunities look
very promising," said Kent Van Horn, Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources migratory game bird ecologist.
Public hearings regarding proposed 2016 waterfowl season structure will be
held March 14-17. Feedback received from the public in recent years helped
the department develop current season structure, which has been favored by
most hunters.
Once every five years, Wisconsin is given the opportunity to review duck
zone structure -- this will be an important topic in 2016. After public
comments have been collected, final season structure will be set by the
Natural Resources Board at its April 12 meeting.
Post-Flyway Council meetings/sessions and public hearings will be held at
the following locations:
Post Flyway Meetings and Special Sessions
* Saturday, March 5, Milladore - Wisconsin Conservation Congress
Migratory Committee Meeting - Mead Visitor Center, 2148 County Hwy S. This
meeting is open to the public and DNR staff will present information
regarding waterfowl status and proposed regulations. However, this is a
Wisconsin Conservation Congress committee meeting, so participation in the
discussion will be limited to committee members. Citizens may submit public
comment to DNR staff via email or letter following the meeting.
* Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12, Wausau - Wisconsin
Waterfowl Hunters' Conference -The Plaza Inn and Suites, 201 N 17th Ave.
Proposed season breakout session March 11 at 4 p.m. and March 12 at 12:30
p.m. (The need to register for the conference is waived for people who wish
to participate only in a breakout session.)
Public Hearings
* Monday, March 14, 7 p.m., La Crosse - State Office Building, Rooms
B-19 and B-20, 3550 Mormon Coulee Road.;
* Tuesday, March 15, 7 p.m., Rice Lake - AmeriVu Inn, 1710 South Main
St.;
* Wednesday, March 16, 7 p.m., Appleton - Agricultural Services Center,
Main conference room, 3369 West Brewster St.; and
* Thursday, March 17, 7 p.m., Pewaukee - Wildwood Lodge, N14 W24121
Tower Place.
The department will accept public comments on the proposed waterfowl season
structure at each public hearing. People who would like to provide input
directly or are unable to attend a hearing may submit written comments
through midnight Friday, March 18. Written comments can be sent to Taylor
Finger, Wisconsin DNR, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707, via email to
Taylor.finger@wisconsin.gov<mailto:Taylor.finger@wisconsin.gov> or by
calling 608-261-6458.
To receive email updates regarding current translocation efforts, visit
dnr.wi.gov and click on the email icon near the bottom of the page titled
"subscribe for updates for DNR
topics<https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIDNR/subscriber/new>," then
follow the prompts and select the "ducks" distribution list (found within
the "hunting" list).
For more information regarding waterfowl hunting in Wisconsin, visit
dnr.wi.gov<http://dnr.wi.gov/> and search keyword
"waterfowl<http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/hunt/waterfowl.html>."