OUTDOORSMEN TO LAWMAKERS: STOP BEING 'SNEAKY'
Thursday, April 14th, 2011 -- 12:19 PM
Wisconsin outdoorsmen and women sounded off this week during the annual Spring Fisheries and Wildlife Rules Hearings and Wisconsin Conservation Congress county meetings. [url=http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTEzMTM4MTMmbWVzc2FnZWlkPVBSRC1CVUwtMTMxMzgxMyZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTEyNzY2MDgwNTcmZW1haWxpZD1uZXdzQGN3YnJhZGlvLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9bmV3c0Bjd2JyYWRpby5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&100&&&http://dnr.wi.gov/news/BreakingNews_Lookup.asp?id=2052]Results here[/url]The hearings provide citizens with an opportunity to comment and provide their input on proposed fish and wildlife rule changes, Conservation Congress advisory questions, and to submit resolutions for rule changes they would like to see in the future.
"It was the highest turnout I've had in my three years here," says Clark County DNR warden Adam Hanna, "we had 58 people turnout and express their opinions and vote on proposals and ideas."
"That was good to see. It shows people care about the wildlife issues at hand in Clark County," Hanna says.
Over 5,500 people attended the hearings around the state.
There were some hot topics, including a resolution to allow the use of crossbows during the archery season; a majority of voters said that was a bad idea.
Another controversial resolution would allow bear hunting with hounds statewide. It?s currently allowed only north of HWY 64.
"There are a lot of people that don't like having hound dogs run across their property and there are a lot of hunters, unfortunately, that just let their dogs run wherever they want to run," Hanna notes. "At the same time, it's a very exciting sport for people who love hound dogs."
A majority of voters didn?t think opening bear hunting south of HWY 64 was a good idea.
Voters across the state overwhelmingly supported a measure that would prevent lawmakers from ?sneaking? natural resources-related bills into law without going through the Conservation Congress and Natural Resources Board.
"(It was) termed the 'how to keep sneaky politicians from being sneaky law,'" Hanna explains. "If it passes, that would be really good because we just saw that this week. (A Senator) just tacked on a fish and game issue on a budget bill and slid it through."
That measure was supported by a whopping 87% of voters.
Statewide hearing results and the questions are available on the Spring Rules Hearings page of the DNR Web site. The results will be presented to the state Natural Resources Board in May.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.