Spring fish and wildlife hearing results available
http://dnr.wi.gov/news/releases/article/?id=3574
MADISON - Proposals to simplify Wisconsin's inland trout fishing regulations and to improve panfish populations on 100 lakes statewide received overwhelming support by voters at the 2015 Spring Fish and Wildlife Hearings and Wisconsin Conservation Congress county meetings that were held in every county statewide on Monday, April 13. Voters also strongly supported increasing the possession limit for small game, setting a 9 a.m. opener for the first day of the pheasant season, and expanding waterfowl hunting opportunities by increasing the areas where hunting is allowed from boats and blinds.
More than 4,600 people attended the public hearings, which provide citizens with an opportunity to comment and indicate preference on a wide range of proposed fish and wildlife management rule changes, Conservation Congress advisory questions, and to submit resolutions for rule changes they would like to see in the future.
Statewide hearing results and the questions are available by searching the Department of Natural Resources website, dnr.wi.gov, for keywords "spring hearings."
Meeting results, along with written comments on the evening's questions and DNR recommendations are used to advise the state Natural Resources Board. This year's results will be reviewed at the board's May 27 meeting in Madison. Votes are non-binding and are presented to the Natural Resources Board as a gauge of the public's support or non-support for proposed changes.
The hearings are held annually on the second Monday in April in conjunction with the Wisconsin Conservation Congress county meetings. DNR related proposals are presented to attendees by DNR staff. Following DNR business, the meeting is reconvened as a Conservation Congress meeting and Congress advisory questions are presented.
The Spring Hearings also provide an opportunity for citizens of each county to elect Wisconsin Conservation Congress delegates to represent them on natural resource issues. The Conservation Congress is the only statutorily recognized citizen advisory body to the Natural Resources Board. During the Congress' portion of the hearing, citizens may introduce resolutions for consideration and vote by those attending the hearings.