Thursday, May 3, 2018

FINALLY THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE CWD PROBLEM .

May 2, 2018

Governor Walker Announces Aggressive Actions to Combat the Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease

MADISON – Governor Scott Walker announced new aggressive initiatives for combating chronic wasting disease (CWD) affecting Wisconsin deer populations.

“We need to protect Wisconsin’s hunting traditions and long-standing heritage by working together to contain the spread of chronic wasting disease in deer,” said Governor Walker. “Wisconsin put together a comprehensive plan years ago that implemented new testing procedures to identify and root out CWD while committing to new steps to combat CWD. Today, we will move forward on implementing new rules that will place us among the leaders in the nation’s fight against CWD.”

Governor Walker’s three-step plan creates a balanced approach to combat chronic wasting disease:

Requiring enhanced deer farm fencing through a new DATCP rule. Currently, farms are required to have an eight-foot fence. Enhanced fencing would require either: a second eight-foot-high fence, an electric fence, or an impermeable physical barrier to meet the emergency rule’s requirements.
Controlling the movement of potentially infected deer through the creation of a new DATCP rule banning the movement of live deer from deer farms in CWD-affected counties.
Preventing contamination from hunted deer carrying CWD by tasking the DNR to create emergency and permanent rules banning the movement of deer carcasses from CWD-affected counties. Under the rule, Hunters can still quarter the deer within the county it was harvested and then take the meat anywhere in the state, but no portion of the spinal cord may be attached or moved. A hunter who harvests a deer in a CWD-affected county may only move a whole carcass outside of the county if the carcass is delivered to a licensed taxidermist or meat processor.

Taking these steps ensures that both sportsmen and deer farmers are a part of the process of slowing the spread of CWD.

“As an outdoor enthusiast, I want to personally thank the Governor for these additional tools that we can use to combat the spread of CWD,” said DNR Secretary Dan Meyer. “We will begin immediately to establish a rule that will further restrict the movement of deer carcasses from CWD affected counties while still keeping it practical for traveling hunters to bring their game home.”

This approach complements past efforts by the DNR to combat CWD. In 2017, the DNR had 47 deer kiosks in the state for hunters to check their deer for CWD, conducting over 2,500 tests, which were a valuable resource for hunters.

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

WANT TO HUNT ELK IN WISCONSIN, SIGN UP NOW FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN A TICKET OF A LIFETIME.

THROW YOUR HAT IN THE RING FOR A CHANCE AT THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY!

A total of five once-in-a-lifetime bull tags are being made available to Wisconsin hunters for the first managed elk hunt in Wisconsin history. Four tags will be awarded through a lottery drawing.

Elk license applications can be purchased in the DNR Go Wild license system through May 31 (winners will be announced in early June) and only Wisconsin residents may apply. Each potential hunter may apply once online at GoWild.wi.gov or by visiting a license agent. The cost of an elk hunting license for the winners of the license drawing is $49.

Click the photo below to get more info!

Prior to obtaining an elk hunting license, all winners will be required to participate in a Wisconsin elk hunter education program offered prior to the hunt. The class will cover tissue collection and health testing, regulations and more.

The 2018 hunting season will occur only in the Clam Lake elk range in parts of Sawyer, Bayfield, Ashland, and Price counties in far north-central Wisconsin, where the original restoration effort was initiated with 25 elk from Michigan in 1995. The herd is projected to comfortably surpass 200 animals this year.

Approximately 70 percent of the elk range under public ownership and open to hunting, so successful applicants should have no problem finding a place to hunt.

Looking for more info? Click the photo below to learn more about work by DNR staff and our partners to make this hunt a reality!

Wisconsin’s inaugural elk hunting season will adhere to the following guidelines:

season will be open from October 13 to November 11, 2018 and December 13-21, 2018;
only bull elk may be harvested;
areas where Kentucky elk were released between 2015-2017 will be off limits to hunting until the population increases to levels identified in the elk management plan;
only Wisconsin residents are eligible to receive an elk license; and
an elk license may be transferred to a Wisconsin resident youth hunter 17 years old or younger, or to a resident with a valid Class A, B, C or D disabled permit.

It’s important to note that non-resident Purple Heart recipients and qualified Armed Forces members may also apply – search keywords “purple heart” or “armed forces” to learn more!

For more information regarding elk in Wisconsin, go to dnr.wi.gov and search the keyword “elk.”

Be sure to follow DNR on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more updates regarding all types of hunting in Wisconsin. Be on the lookout for more helpful videos and podcasts to help you prepare for fall hunting seasons.

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

OPENING FISHING SEASON IS THIS WEEKEND, ARE YOU READY???

Fish biologists preview May 5 opener; See updated stocked trout waters list

DNR fisheries biologist with northern pike

Ready for the fishing opener? The fish are ready, including this nice northern pike displayed by DNR fisheries biologist Tammie Paoli during surveys on Oconto Falls Pond.

Get a line on May 5 fishing conditions in your area

"It's been a long winter. Time to get outdoors and have some fun," says Justine Hasz, Wisconsin's fisheries director. See what fishing conditions and fish populations are like in your area in these opening day previews from our fisheries biologists and supervisors. Read on and have fun!

Some stocking of put and take trout waters delayed

While stocking of catchable size inland trout has occurred in southern inland waters, deliveries of fish will be delayed beyond the May 5 fishing opener at many northern inland waters due to road weight limits and ice conditions. See where stocking has occurred already. We'll update the list Friday too.

WIS. WATERFOWL ASSN. SPECIAL RAFFLE IS COMING SOON, SO GET YOUR TICKETS NOW.

Truck Raffle Tickets Make a Great Gift!

Don Kirby, Executive Director, 262.224.4949

Welcome to May. Hopefully, with highs predicted in the 70's today, we can officially start spring now, with the turning of another month. My special thanks goes out to all of our volunteers & chapter leadership who persevered through a month of very difficult weather in April, to bring us a terrific series of fundraising outreach events in Chilton, Waukesha, Jefferson, Oak Creek, & Baraboo. Sadly, we did have to cancel the Madison Sporting Clays Shoot, due to the weather, but the rest of this year's Shoot Series will carry on, and we're thankful that we weren't further impacted by the extraordinary return of winter for, hopefully, its last blast!

This month we've got plenty to look forward to: great plans being made by many for the exciting fall migratory bird hunting seasons, confirmed by the WDNR natural resources board last month, plus two great outdoor events you can enjoy, while you support WWA: the new Spring Shoot on the 12th, at Joe's Clays in Reedsville, and the 6th Annual SE WI Scramble golf outing, presented by Cardinal Fabricating, on the 22nd, at Ironwood in Sussex. Each of these events should provide some fun time outside to enjoy, and we've even got a special discount program for bachelor & bachelorette parties at the Spring Shoot, so if your next couple of months are going to get really exciting, we've even got a program for you!

Speaking of programs, remember, we've got a perfect gift this year for the hard-to-buy-for Mom, Dad, or College Grad: the Chevy Heaven Truck Raffle tickets! For the price of a WI lottery ticket or two, you've got a chance to win

an incredible TRUCK, with MUCH better odds! We're getting closer each day to the big drawing for this exciting new raffle, which will take place at our 3rd Annual Hunter's Eve event; which moves again this year, to Waverly Beach, on the shores of Lake Winnebago - a great place to spend an awesome late August evening with friends, celebrating the start of the fall hunting seasons. We've got truck raffle tickets out with lots of volunteers, just ask your local favorite, but if you'd like to get yours quickly & securely on-line, just click here, and you'll be half-way there.

Well, that's enough from me - there's a bunch more to look at in this update, please continue on. If you've not updated your membership recently, take a moment and help support our works, today.

See you on the water, Don

MAY 3RD MANITOWOC UNIT OF FISH & GAME GUEST SPEAKER WILL SPEAK AT 7PM CABIN #1, LINCOLN PARK

GUEST SPEAKER FOR THE MAY 3RD MEETING OF THE MANITOWOC UNIT OF FISH & GAME CLUB

From: The Manitowoc Unit - Manitowoc County
Fish & Game Protective Association

Subject: May Unit Meeting & Speaker

The May meeting of the Manitowoc Unit of Manitowoc County Fish & Game Protective Association will be held on Thursday, May 3, 2018 at Lincoln Park, Cabin #1 in Manitowoc. The guest speaker for the meeting will be Appletree Archery, who will be speaking about the new archery products and the crossbow issue. They will be bringing products and demonstrating some of the new tools and technology for archers. We welcome guests and youths to participate in this presentation.

The Manitowoc Unit is one of over 25 organizations that make up Manitowoc Fish & Game Protective Association in Manitowoc County. Founded in 1907, the organization is recognized as one of the oldest conservation organization in Wisconsin and the Midwest. The organization works to protect the rights of sporting men and women and promotes conservation and related education.

The Manitowoc Unit meets the first Thursday of each month and meetings are open to the public. Those interested in the outdoors and especially youth are encouraged to attend these meetings. More information on the clubs that are part of the organization and their resources can be found at:

NEW Website: www.mantyfg.org

DNR WEEKLY OUTDOOR REPORT FOR 5-1-2018

Weekly News Update

May 1, 2018

More lakes opening up in time for fishing season opening day

Get a line on regional conditions from DNR regional fisheries supervisors

MADISON - More northern Wisconsin waters are opening up in time for the May 5 inland fishing season opener and walleye are likely to have finished spawning in many places and ready to put on the feedbag, state fisheries officials say.

Wisconsin, Minnesota DNRs to discuss bag, size limits on Mississippi
LA CROSSE, Wis. -- Departments of Natural Resources in Wisconsin and Minnesota will hold five public input meetings in mid-May to kick off a multi-state review of bag and size limits for gamefish on the Mississippi River between Hastings, Minn., and the Iowa border.

7 steps to add native plants to your yard to benefit birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Join us for a Facebook Live stream from the Native Plant Fundraiser for the Endangered Resources Fund on Wednesday, May 9, via the Wisconsin DNR Facebook Page. The live video will begin around 10:45 a.m. Make sure you're notified when we go live by clicking the "Follow" button on our Facebook page. Can't tune in? No worries! The video will be saved on our Facebook page under the "Live Videos" tab and in our feed.]

MADISON -- Adding even one or two native plant species to a property, whether a city lot of hundreds of acres, can make a difference for birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife, state conservation biologists say. They encourage gardeners to dip a toe in the water - or jump right in - this planting season by following these steps.

Options for buying native plants bloom in Wisconsin
MADISON -- May is planting time and adding even a few native plants to your property can help increase habitat for native birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife.

Public comments sought on re-issuance of wetland and waterway general permit for utility projects
MADISON -- The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources seeks public comment on a proposed update of a previously issued general permit for utility projects impacting wetlands and waterways. The department will hold an informational public hearing on May 10, 2018 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room G09 at the Natural Resources State Office Building located at 101 S. Webster Street in Madison.

DNR is now accepting applications for Forest Fire Protection grants
MADISON -- Wisconsin fire departments and county/area fire associations can now apply for Forest Fire Protection grants from the Department of Natural Resources.

LATEST IN THE STURGEON SPAWNING ACTION.

Attention Winnebago System Sturgeon Enthusiasts:

Our fisheries crew was out tagging sturgeon in the New London area again today. We handled 62 fish at the Sturgeon Trail in New London and another 37 fish at Pfeifer Park on the Embarrass River in New London. The largest fish handled today was a 71.0” female that was captured at the Sturgeon Trail.

Spawning activity ramped up at Bamboo Bend today and fish are likely spawning at other locations in the Shiocton area. For tomorrow, I would anticipate that fish will still be active at the Sturgeon Trail, Pfeifer Park, and Bamboo Bend. We stopped and checked activity at numerous other sites today, but no spawning was observed. Fish are showing pre-spawn behaviors, but not actively spawning yet.

We are committed to service excellence.

Visit our survey at http://dnr.wi.gov/customersurvey to evaluate how I did.

Ryan Koenigs

Senior Fisheries Biologist / Winnebago System Sturgeon Biologist

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

625 E County Rd. Y, Suite 700

Oshkosh, WI 54901

Phone: (920)303-5450

Fax: (920)424-4404

Ryan.koenigs@wisconsin.gov