Conservation Chronicle
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Volume 4, Issue 2 October 2011 Chairman’s Update By Rob Bohmann and we had a blast! I hope that all of you have This was our first time had a great summer, and hunting bear with dogs, now that fall is here, you are and I can assure you finding time to spend afield that it won’t be our last. to harvest some of Wiscon- Mike and his gang sin’s plentiful bounty or just worked their tails off to enjoy the great outdoors. make sure that Andrew would get his first bear. Work has been hectic this On the third day of the past summer, but I was able hunt, he harvested his to get in quite a bit of first bear that dressed salmon fishing. Coho num- out at 323 pounds. Mike absences from their meetings. bers were great this year, dragged my son over four thanks to Salmon Unlimited The Executive Committee also miles thru some of the thick- and the DNR collaborating requested that all committees est bear country that I had with the state of Michigan a that have been assigned resolu- ever seen. They even crossed couple of years ago to help tions, schedule their meeting thru water that was waist with the stocking of Cohos. prior to November 30. I want to deep. At the end of it all, Chinooks and Rainbows thank all committee chairs for Mike and his gang gave my were more difficult to find responding to this request. Other son and I some wonderful this year, but they finally than the Bear Committee and memories that will last us a showed up in late August. the Migratory Committee, lifetime. whose meetings were exempted I even found time to do The Executive Committee and are scheduled for December some Walleye fishing in nd met in June for appointing 2 , all committee meetings will Green Bay, and we were th delegates to committees for be done by October 15 . This fortunate to experience great 2011-2012. It is our inten- will not only help Kari in get- action every time we made tion to work with all council- ting the Executive Council pre- the trip. ors next year to make sure pared for our January meeting, I was successful in drawing that every district has repre- but it gets everyone out in the bear harvest tag this year, sentation on every commit- field to enjoy the fall hunting and I transferred it to my tee, with two exceptions, seasons. oldest son, Andrew. Andrew Great Lakes and Mississippi In addition, those committees and I hunted with Mike River. We will continue to that have any resolutions being Rogers (Sauk County) and remove delegates from com- forwarded from their commit- his gang up in Iron County mittees who had unexcused tees to the Continued on page 2 Act 21 and the Annual Spring Meetings By Kari Lee-Zimmermann, two different times in the new with the department, because WCC Liaison process, a comprehensive eco- the DNR is not able to for- nomic impact analysis is re- ward actual rule proposals Act 21 was passed by the quired prior to a public hear- each year. The department legislature, signed into law ing, an additional NRB ap- can only put forth proposed by the governor and went proval is required, and the leg- rule changes every other year, into effect on June 7, 2011. islative review process has since it takes two years for the WISCONSIN CONSERVATION CONGRESS CONSERVATION WISCONSIN Act 21 is a law that curbs been extended to include an cycle from beginning to end. the ability of all state agen- additional committee. Rules Rule proposals will only be cies to create administrative may not be referred for review forwarded to the spring meet- rules by effectively adding between April and December ing in odd-numbered years. steps to the process which in even-numbered years. Department staff and the sec- allow the legislature more For the Congress, this makes it retary’s office met with WCC oversight and add a year to difficult to hold an annual leaders on a number of occa- the process. The governor’s Conservation Chronicle “spring hearing” in conjunction sions to approval is required at least Continued on page 12 Friends of the WCC Fund Youth Transportation to Outdoor Expo Photo and article by Lee Lee Fahrney for helping with set Fahrney up and of staffing of the exhibit. Three schools attended the The Conservation Congress was Wisconsin Outdoor Educa- also well-represented at the Wis- tion Expo, May 19-20, with consin Trappers Association ex- the assistance of transporta- hibit which included skinning tion grants from the Wiscon- demonstrations of various species sin Conservation Congress. including beaver, otter and musk- In addition to students and rat. Juneau County delegate Dan chaperones from Hilbert Carroll was particularly busy skin- Elementary School pictured, ning dozens of carcasses through- schools from Madison and out the two-day event. Student Green Bay also received response: “Yuk!” – followed by grants. More than 125 stu- much shoving and pushing to get dents were able to attend the even closer to the action! Other event with our assistance. WCC delegates assisting were More than 125 4th and 5th grade students attended the Wisconsin Out- Scott McAuley fromWood County The Expo, held each year at door Education Expo after receiving transportation grants from the and Scott Zimmerman of Dodge the Dodge County fair- Wisconsin Conservation Congress. Included was this large contingent County. grounds in Beaver Dam, from Hilbert Elementary School. welcomed more than 3,500 Dodge County Delegate Dale th th 4 and 5 grade students to this interactive was one of the featured attractions at the Maas was once again instrumental in hands-on outdoor experience. The Conser- event. Thanks to Congress delegates Jim organizing the entire event. vation Congress’ Wall of Fame exhibit Burmeister, Rick Swenson, Jim Shurts and Chairman’s Update...continued from page 1 Executive Council for possible inclusion potential benefit to the resource outweigh the pending legislation, the Youth Congress, in the spring questionnaire, should have challenges of the proposed change. and modifications to future spring meet- those written in question format, and ings. The Executive Council at its meet- The Executive Committee met with DNR forwarded to Kari by November 30th. ing in January, will discuss how the town leadership on July 18th to discuss this charge Please work closely with your committee hall meeting part will be handled and and the implications of Act 21. After meeting liaisons and Kari so that we have well- provide direction for county delegates with DNR leadership, we felt that it was best written backgrounds and questions to through the District Councilors at the to schedule an Executive Council meeting to discuss at the January Executive Council spring District Meetings. discuss Act 21, and its impact on how we do meeting. our business. Lastly, I have heard and read a lot of I received a letter from Governor negative discussions on how Act 21 is an The Executive Council met on September 2nd Walker’s office back in June. He has attempt to eliminate the Congress. The with Department staff to discuss Act 21. Act charged the Congress to develop recom- Governor’s office has assured me that 21 lengthens the rulemaking process from mendations that will reduce complexity, that is not the case. Governor Walker 12-18 months to a 2-3 year process. After increase opportunity, and eliminate regu- values the Congress and its role in Wis- much discussion, the Council voted to con- lations and policies that may be obstacles consin’s Natural Resource management. tinue to have a spring meeting every year. for hunters, anglers and trappers who It’s because of this role that the Governor However, only in odd-numbered years will want to get involved in these Wisconsin has charged the Congress to develop rec- there be actual rule change proposals. traditions. He has encouraged us to work ommendations to reduce complexity, with the NRB and DNR in developing In odd-numbered years, the Spring Hearings increase opportunity, and eliminate obsta- our recommendations for simplification will look like our traditional event. The De- cles for hunters, anglers and trappers. and reduced regulatory complexity. This partment will have proposed rule changes While we have challenges ahead, this is item has been added to every committee’s and Congress will have advisory questions. agenda for your discussion and sugges- However, in even-numbered years, the De- certainly nothing new to the Congress. In tions in your respective areas of interest. partment and the Congress will have only our 77-year history we have faced many You should also be thinking about this as advisory questions. After all advisory ques- challenges and our grass-roots public you go through resolutions to determine tions are discussed, the Congress will be input process has always prevailed. I whether the proposed change will make leading a town hall discussion. During the view this as an opportunity to improve things simpler or more complex; will town hall forum, we will gather input from our organization’s efficiency and effec- encourage participation or become a bar- our constituents on simplification of rules tiveness. I encourage you to do the same. rier; and if it is more complex, does the pertaining to hunting, fishing and trapping, Page 2 CONSERVATION CHRONICLE 2012 Convention to be Held in Manitowoc Mark your calendars. The 2012 WCC Con- hall forums at the spring meetings and see mittees including DNR liaisons vention is scheduled to be held in Manito- where we are at.” woc on May 10, 11, and 12, 2012.