2018 Public Input
Over the years, the Department has used various methods to engage migratory bird hunters in
season decisions and learn about their season and hunting preferences. These hunters have a wide
range of practices and preferences, some of which result in opposing views on various season
parameters. However, hunting groups and individuals have been very engaged and over time have
helped the Department develop compromises and produce a season structure which has strong
majority support. A total of 712 individuals offered comments on the waterfowl hunting seasons
since September in addition to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress Migratory Committee and
several waterfowl groups. The following tools were used to involve interested parties in the rule
making process.
• Mail survey – winter 2017-18. Following the 2017 waterfowl season a scientifically
designed survey was mailed out to a random selection of 3000 Wisconsin waterfowl hunters
as we have done every other year for the last several years. This survey provided information
on waterfowl hunter experiences, input on hunting seasons and the 2018 duck zone
configuration.
• Rule process information - Beginning in January 2018 we issued preliminary information
and instructions on how the public could provide input to the regulation setting process
through press releases, the Department website and direct mailings to waterfowl groups.
Over 240,000 people received a GovDelivery email notices about us accepting public input
on the 2018 migratory bird hunting seasons. Around 20,000 people are specifically signed up
to receive emails about migratory bird news.
• Telephone, email and written comment. Public comments and questions began coming in
during September after the Early Teal season closed and then after the regular season closed
through telephone calls and emails. These were accepted through March 16.
• February 12, Staff attended the Mead Hunters Meeting which is an annual waterfowl
meeting where mead staff present property level information and we presented information
and received input on the 2018 season.
• February 13, Staff attended the La Crosse County Conservation Alliance annual
waterfowl meeting to present information and received input primarily on the Mississippi
River Zone season. About 15 waterfowl hunters were in attendance.
• February 10, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. Stevens Point. Meeting was held to present
the population status and season structure options with the waterfowl committee of the
federation.
Several conservation organizations or individuals were present, the groups
represented were: Wisconsin Wildlife Federation (WWF), Wisconsin Waterfowl Association
(WWA), La Crosse County Conservation Alliance (LCCA), Challenge the Outdoors, Green
Bay Duck Hunters (GBDH), Burlington Conservation Club, and Black Slough Conservation
Club (BSCC).
• March 3, – Migratory Committee of the Conservation Congress. Stevens Point. Staff
presented information on the status of waterfowl and potential season structures. The
committee made suggestions for the hunting season proposal and voted on all aspects. The
committee had about 20 members present.
• March 7, – Waterfowl presentation Facebook Live event. Staff presented information on
status of waterfowl and season proposals for the 2018 season. The video was viewed by
roughly 15,400 people.
• March 10 – Wisconsin Waterfowl Hunters Conference Special Sessions. Wausau.
Presentations and special breakout sessions were held to present the population status and
proposed season structure with conference attendees. The conference had about 125 in
attendance while about 45 people participated in the breakout discussions.
• March 12-15, Public Hearings. Four public hearings were held around the state and 123
people attended overall. Attendees were presented with population status information and the
proposed waterfowl rules. Following a period for clarifying questions, individuals could
make oral testimony or provide written comments.
• LaCrosse - 14 people attended, 7 gave oral testimony
• Rice Lake - 30 people attended, 12 gave oral testimony
• Appleton – 33 people attended, 7 gave oral testimony
• Pewaukee – 46 people attended, 5 gave oral testimony
Public input Summary:
Hearing attendance and public input volume was above 2017 and prior years with a total of 712
individual comments and several statewide or local conservation groups representing thousands
of members submitting comment. We saw nearly a 400% increase in public comments. 86% of
the people who commented had not commented on the waterfowl season in the last 5 years.
Because of rounding, percentages may not all add up to 100 percent.
Early Season Input Summary
Yes 371 70%
NO 162 30%
Early Teal Season Sep 15-16 422 88%
One day 7 1%
move later 8 2%
Eliminate 37 8%
Youth Hunt
7 day 274 71%
14+ days 57 15%
9 days 24 6%
5 days 8 2%
Early Teal season length
5 Canada Geese 444 91%
Add snow and dark geese 14 3%
No season 7 1%
longer 10 2%
Early Goose
Duck Bag Input Summary
Zone Structure Input Summary
6 ducks as proposed 443 94%
Reduce Wood duck bag 22 5%
Reduce total bag 5 1%
Duck bag
1 hen mallard 436 92%
2 hen mallard 31 7%
0 hen mallard 5 1%
Hen mallard
1 Black duck 453 97%
2 black duck 11 2%
Black Duck
Start Saturday nearest Oct 1 418 76%
Start Saturday nearest Sept 24 75 14%
Start Saturday nearest Oct 8 or later 26 5%
Yes 64 13%
No 423 86%
Start Saturday nearest Oct 1 399 72%
Start Saturday nearest Sept 24 9 2%
Start Saturday nearest Oct 8 or later 129 23%
Yes 5 days 419 87%
Yes but Longer 55 11%
No 10 2%
Start Saturday nearest Oct 1 406 85%
Start Saturday nearest Sept 24 12 3%
Start Saturday nearest Oct 8 or later 42 9%
Yes 7 day 391 88%
Yes shorter 8 2%
Yes longer 29 7%
No 1 0%
Mississippi River Zone Split
South Zone Start
South Zone Split
Mississippi River Zone Start
North Zone Start
North Split
Exterior Canada Goose Input
Summary
Note from Taylor Finger – Migratory Game Bird
Ecologist,
First and foremost, I would like to extend my sincere
thanks and gratitude to everyone that participated in the
public input process for setting the 2018 migratory bird
season structure. We reached out using some different
avenues this year including social media and it resulted in
a nearly 400% increase in comments received compared to
2017! We use several methods to gather feedback from
hunters each year and we intend to continue improving
how we gather that input moving forward. Every comment
was reviewed and used when we set the 2018 waterfowl
season structure and we did our best based on the
information we received to set the seasons to benefit the
majority of Wisconsin’s waterfowl hunters. As I said I
want to say thank you to everyone that took the time and
effort to make sure your voice was heard and good luck
this fall, hopefully I will see you out there!”
3 Canada Geese 528 97%
2 Canada Geese 8 1%
Different 11 2%
Canada Goose Bag No split 369 94%
yes have a split 15 4%
Different 7 2%
1 split 136 39%
2 splits 205 58%
Different 10 3%
1 split 326 96%
different 12 4%
North Zone Canada Goose splits
South Zone Canada Goose Season
Mississippi River Zone Canada Goose Season
Eliminate 477 97%
Keep 13 3%
Elimination of the Horicon Goose Zone
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