Spring hearings on tap for April 8
Part IV of questions to expect
At 6 p.m. on April 8, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will once again come together for the annual spring hearings.
How to create landscaping without invasive species
Recently Melinda Meyers presented her talk about how to keep invasive species out of landscaping as part of a webinar series put on by the Milwaukee Public Library. She said there are several plants that should be managed, but there were also many native plants that could take the place of those invasive non-native plants.
Time to think about aquatic invasive species
With ice leaving most lakes early this year and rivers open in much of the state, anglers are itching to get out on the water. For that reason, it is time to start thinking about aquatic invasive species (AIS) again. AIS can be spread at any time of the year, but the number of boats in the open water season outweigh the number of ice anglers in the winter — especially this year.
Fish Like a GIRL
Bassmaster Classic kicks off
As I write this column, I am also watching the first day of the Bassmasters Classic on my iPad. The Classic is fishing’s super bowl. The fun part about watching professional fishing these days is that I know several of the guys who are fishing at that level now. I have fished with some of them.
DNR Deer Advisory Committee looks at previous season, long term trends
Last week the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) deer advisory committee met for a fairly lengthy meeting looking at the 2023-24 deer season.
Chew on This!
Freezer finds
I am sure there are many people like me that froze a bunch of produce from the garden last year — maybe for some they are coming to the end of it, and maybe for others (like me) who have a chest freezer that leads to the occasional happy shock when they remember they still had produce left from last year.
PFAS webinar addresses challenges in removing these contaminants
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used since the 1940s. These compounds are found in many consumer products such as cookware, food packaging, stain repellants and fire fighting foam.
Department of Natural Resources furbearer advisory committee looks at otter harvest numbers, contemplates early closure of season
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) furbearer advisory committee recently met to look at the river otter season, based on the harvest numbers to date, to determine whether or not there was a call to close the season early based on their quota of 2,000 harvests of river otter for this season.
Governor Evers signs hunting, fishing bills into law
As the legislature left this most current session, several bills sat on Governor Tony Evers’ desk, waiting for him to sign them into law. Not surprisingly, several of those had to do with hunting and fishing in the state.
Fishing regulations set for 2024-25 season
Licenses expire on March 31
With the ice coming off many lakes in the Northwoods, and off of most lakes in the rest of the state, anglers have the itch to get the boat ready and get back out onto open water. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued their 2024-25 statewide fishing regulations handbook.
Wisconsin Headwaters Invasives Partnership annual meeting provides year in review
Last week the Wisconsin Headwaters Invasives Partnership (WHIP) steering committee held their annual meeting and looked at both their year in review and their strategic plan.
Fish Like a GIRL
Melinda Meyers has me thinking rain gardens again
As many readers know, we bought a house in the late summer of 2022 as Chet was recovering from a pretty major heart attack. Caring for his medical needs at the time meant I did not get much done in the way of gardening or, really, settling into the house like a couple normally would.
Changes in fishing tournament permitting start April 1
Registration now required for smaller tournaments
Another change in the fishing regulations has to do with fishing tournaments. In previous years, tournaments were required to have a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) permit if the tournament involved more than 20 boats or 100 participants, if the tournament would target any trout species on a water classified as a trout stream, if the total prize value was $10,000 or more or if it was a catch-hold-release tournament with an off-site weigh in.
Wisconsin Conservation Congress forwards questions to spring hearings
Each year the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) partner to hold their spring hearings. Questions come from DNR advisory committees as well as from Wisconsin Conservation Congress Committees.
New research looks to uncover how the fur trade affected the forested wetlands of the Upper Great Lakes
Hayden Nelson, a PhD student at the University of Kansas spoke at the 2024 Wetland Science Conference regarding the fur trade and how the effects of removal of an estimated 9-95 percent of beaver populations at the height of the fur trade substantially altered the forested wetland around Lake Superior. He looked at how that decline in beaver populations would have transformed wetlands in the region and specifically how it would have effected water levels.
Bureau of Wildlife Management advisory questions heading to spring hearings
Each year the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) partner to hold their spring hearings.
Elwood lake study shows the effects of 2,4-D on fisheries
Recently Greg Sass, fisheries research team leader, Office of Applied Science, WI DNR, spoke to the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation’s Inland Fisheries Committee about the aquatic herbicide 2,4-D and its effects on fisheries. He spoke about some research on Elwood Lake in Florence County.
Fish Like a GIRL
What the pros are using, and Forward Facing Sonar (FFS) part 2
Every angler is always interested in learning what the pros are using. We all want the “next best thing,” or the “hottest bait to hit the market in years.”
The time to be ‘bear aware’ comes early this year
Early bear sightings likely to not increase mortality
The lack of cold temperatures and snow this year has some species a little confused, one might say. Some animals that would rarely be seen in February have been seen in the woods and along road sides.
Vilas County announces county park user fees for 2024
Last year Vilas County implemented a user access fee for all vehicles entering county parks and using county landings. From May 1 to Oct. 31 all vehicles entering county parks or using county landings to access lakes and rivers are required to purchase a permit. Daily and seasonal permits are available. Fees from these permits are used for improvements and maintenance of those parks and landings.
Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership presentation looks at fresh water salinization
In a recent Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership presentation, Hillary Dugan, a limnologist at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, looked at what is known, and what is not known, about fresh water salinization. Fresh water salinization is defined as the process of salty runoff contaminating aquatic ecosystems. It can harm those ecosystems as well as contaminate drinking water.
Natural Resources Board hears 2023-24 deer season recap
At the February Natural Resources Board (NRB) meeting, several staff from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) presented information regarding the 2023-24 deer season.
Spring hearings questions reviewed by Natural Resources Board
Bureau of Fisheries Management offers up seven questions
Each year the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) team up for their Annual Spring Hearings. Those hearings are held in each county on the second Monday of April. This year, in person hearings will be held again, starting at 6 p.m. on April 8.
Fish Like a GIRL
Wishin’ I was fishin’
It is likely obvious from the title of my column every week, not to mention much of my content, but I am into fishing just a little bit. I have actually cut back my tournament schedule in the last few years.
Stop Spiny! Campaign looks to raise awareness, prevent spread, of invasive spiny water flea
Zach Stewart of the Douglas County surface waters program spoke in a recent webinar about the Stop Spiny! campaign that looked at raising awareness to spiny water flea and the harm it could cause to lake ecosystems.
Non resident crossbow and archery hunting license fee increase enacted into law
There has been much discussion for a number of years regarding license fees in the state. It has been many years since there have been increases in those fees.
NAISMA presentation looks at climate conditions and the fight against invasive species
Carrie Lima-Brown of the NY Invasive Species Research Institute at Cornell started the recent North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) presentation with an overview of invasive species and climate change. She spoke about the indicators as they relate to invasive species.
Lake States Forest Management Bat Habitat Conservation Plan released
Recently the Departments of Natural Resources from Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin collectively developed a Lake States Forest Management Bat Habitat Conservation Plan (Lake States HCP).
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation to head coalition to address fish and wildlife fund deficit
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently announced it expected a $16 million deficit in its fish and wildlife account by 2026.
Land use affects stream and river health
What it means to fish and other organisms
Every angler understands the need to keep streams and rivers healthy. A recent presentation from The Citizen Lake Monitoring Network, in combination with Water Action Volunteers, looked at the factors that affect stream and river health.
Northwoods moose no longer on the loose
Moose’s bones found on land where he often roamed
For the last three years, a moose has been wandering through the Northwoods. On June 25, 2020, Keith Warning said he saw the moose’s tracks for the first time on his property near the western side of Minocqua. The last time he saw the moose, he said, was Oct. 28 of 2022.
Changes in climate affect biocontrol efforts
Challenges posed for resource managers
Recently Carrie Brown-Lima spoke at a Northeast Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Management Network presentation regarding changes in climate and how those changes may affect biocontrol agents and their hosts.
Fish Like a GIRL
No easy answers in shortfall of fish and wildlife account
This week I wrote about the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation heading a coalition looking to address the deficit in the Department of Natural Resources fish and wildlife account.
Ice conditions continue to be variable
Conditions can deteriorate quickly at this time of year
Although there was some snow and temperatures did drop a bit in the Northwoods in recent days, the return of warmer weather has likely negated any benefits that weather had on ice conditions on area lakes.
Lumberjack RC&D funds six projects for 2024
Last week Lumberjack Resources Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council met last week for their regular quarterly meeting. At the February meeting, which was postponed from January, the council considered six projects from around the northern portion of the state for funding.
Hunter Nation holds information sessions on wolf management and the state’s current wolf management plan
Hunter Nation recently held two open house listening sessions regarding wolves and wolf management. One of those was earlier this month in Antigo.
Timing of prescribed burns yields varying results
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) just announced their prescribed burns for this year in a recent press release. Late winter and early spring are traditionally when prescribed burns take place.
Fish Like a GIRL
Going through the tackle bag from last year
Whether it is a tackle bag, a tackle box or a whole boat, this is the time of year we, as anglers, go through everything we carried around all year last year.
Oneida County land and water conservation committee consider PFAS, enhanced wake resolution
The Oneida County land and water conservation committee looked at two of the biggest hot button issues in the state Monday at their regular monthly meeting: PFAS and enhanced wakes. Several members of the public spoke regarding their feelings of the county’s enhanced wake resolution and the changes that had been made to that resolution.
Chew on This!
I feel like everyone has their favorite kielbasa recipe. Sometimes just throwing chunks in a pan with some potatoes is fine. Kielbasa is super versatile, and one of my favorite soups is pea soup, so putting those two things together seemed like a natural to me. It makes for an interesting flavor change up from the typical ham based soup. So I thought I would provide both of those recipes here today.
Using dogs to help detect Chronic Wasting Disease
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is an always-fatal neurological disease affecting cervids such as white tailed deer. In recent years, CWD has been found in both the wild and captive deer herd in the Northwoods.
Verified wolf threat in Arbor Vitae
Early Monday morning Nick Krueger was awakened by his hunting dogs barking outside.
How do nitrates effect public health?
Citizen science program Nitrate Watch raises awareness
A recent Nitrate Watch webinar from the Izaak Walton League of America featured David Cwiertny from the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination. Cwiertny spoke about public health effects of nitrates. While many believe one of the only issues is “blue baby” syndrome, but there are other issues as well.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces national recovery plan for gray wolves
Triggers two-year delay in state management
Over the last two decades, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has repeatedly indicated the gray wolf is no longer in need of protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Fish Like a GIRL
Developing the next ten-year county land and water management plan for Vilas County
I was asked by the Vilas County Land and Water Conservation Department to be on their local advisory committee to give input on the next 10-year land and water management plan for the county.
Bill requiring wolf population number heads to Governor Evers’ desk
The management of any wildlife species is a point of contention for one group or another, but the management of wolves in the state is arguably the most contentious.
Wolf population bill sent to governor
The management of any wildlife species often becomes a point of contention for one group or another, but the management of wolves in the state is arguably the most contentious.
Natural Resources Board approves bear quota for 2024
Wisconsin Conservation Congress recommends higher quota in Zones A and B
As is customary every year, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) came to the Natural Resources Board (NRB) for approval of the black bear harvest quotas for the fall hunting season. Wildlife bureau director Eric Lobner spoke to the board and first gave a review of the 2023 season.
Spring hearings offer in-person option for 2024
Citizen resolutions are one way to have stakeholder voices effect change
Each year the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) hold what are known as the Spring Hearings. In these hearings, stakeholders are asked to weigh in on a number of natural resource related proposals. The meetings are held on the second Monday in April in each county.
Proposed bills would impact natural resources, hunters and other sportsmen
Several pieces of proposed legislation in the current session have bearing on those in the outdoor sporting community. Here is a brief look at several of those bills.