2010 Spring Wildlife and Fisheries Rules Hearing questionnaire available online

MADISON – The questionnaire package for the 2010 Department of Natural Resources Spring Wildlife and Fisheries Proposed Rules Hearing and Annual Conservation Congress County Meeting and the list of meeting locations is now available for review on the Department of Natural Resources Web site.

On Monday, April 12, there will be 72 public hearings, one in each county starting at 7 p.m. where individuals interested in natural resources management have an opportunity to provide their input by non-binding vote and testimony to the Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Board and the Conservation Congress on proposed hunting and fishing rule changes and advisory questions.

The hearings, held annually are combined with the county meetings during which residents can introduce their solutions to natural resources related issues, as well as elect fellow county residents as delegates to represent them on the Conservation Congress.

Printed copies of the questionnaire will be available after March 1. This year, in addition to DNR service centers, a limited number of copies is being distributed to DNR license vendors. Copies will also be available at the spring hearing locations the night of the hearing.

The spring hearings cover three major areas: elections for county Conservation Congress delegates; proposed wildlife and fisheries rule changes that have been developed through previous Conservation Congress meetings; and Conservation Congress proposals for future rule development.

Among the wildlife rule proposal being considered are: establishing a definition and allow the use of atlatls for small game hunting; establish and clarify definitions of a normal “agricultural or gardening practice” and “manipulation” for the purposes of enforcing existing prohibitions of baiting and feeding wild animals; and allowing participation in the youth turkey hunting season by 16 and 17 year olds.

Among the fisheries rule change proposals are: permitting motor trolling in Ashland, Iron, Price and Sawyer counties; and changing the open season for anglers targeting game fish on the Chippewa Flowage to one consistent with statewide regulations.

In addition to voicing their opinion on these proposed rule changes, county residents have the option to run for a seat on the Conservation Congress and to elect delegates from their county to represent their views regarding natural resources issues on the Conservation Congress, the citizen advisory body to the Natural Resources Board and the Department of Natural Resources. Also, individuals have the opportunity to bring forth new conservation issues of a statewide nature to the attention of the Conservation Congress through the citizen resolution process. Information about the process is also available on the Conservation Congress pages of the DNR Web site.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kari Lee-Zimmerman – (208) 266-2952