One of the venerable traditions in Wisconsin's conservation activity is the spring hearing conducted in each of Wisconsin's 72 counties by the DNR and the Conservation Congress. Its agenda includes in-person discussions and votes on changes to DNR's fishing, hunting, and trapping regulations and environmental policy and the election of county delegates to the Conservation Congress.
Aldo Leopold and his dog Flip. Photo provided by Forest Historical Society FCC
Aldo Leopold was one of the founders of this tradition and his experience illustrates the often-controversial nature of the hearings. Leopold would appear at the Conservation Congress to advocate for a policy that recognized the possibility of a rapidly-expanding deer herd and steps to control that growth, and would be lambasted by some attendees. Has there ever been a time when the lovely whitetail deer has not generated controversy in Wisconsin?
Flash forward to recent years when non-consumptive enjoyers of wildlife and the outdoors have objected, in their view, of hunters and trappers' domination of the hearings and some hunters and trappers' fierce response to that criticism. This dispute has been exacerbated by the recent introduction of ways to participate in the hearing online. Some of the folks who feel the hunting and trapping traditions to be threatened argue that the hearings results will be skewed by urban, non-consumptive voting. And, of course, everyone is still arguing about deer.
A whitetail deer leaps through the grasses of Goose Pond Sanctuary. Photo by Monica Hall
The hearing votes on regulations and policy are advisory, but usually carry great weight with the DNR. That influence has diminished as the Legislature over the last few years has intervened more often in fish and game regulations. The Walker-appointed Board showed great deference to the Governor and Legislature. The extent to which that will change with a since-new Governor and some Board Members now his appointees is an open question.
But COVID-19 has brought a huge change to the hearing. In the announcement you see here, the DNR has suspended the in-person portion of the hearings. They will be conducted entirely online. The announcement instructs how each of us can participate.
PLEASE CONSIDER DOING SO.
The issues are important. One democratic aspect of the hearings is that citizens can propose changes. One such set of proposals is to require the use of non-toxic ammunition for a variety of hunting, including bird and small game hunting. Audubon members have differing and strong feelings about hunting but the use of non-toxic ammunition might be one most of us agree on. This proposal has a long way to go before it'd ever become Wisconsin law but this discussion and vote could be a starting point.
Photo by Jeff Pieterick
Like many of you, I've attended many spring hearings over the years. Often fascinating but often tedious. The hearings, in Dane County at least, often ran to 3 or 4 hours. I have limited, very limited, patience for some issues like considering dozens of changes to panfish regulations on different lakes, mostly scattered through northern Wisconsin (and I love panfish). Sometimes discussions have been illuminating but once in a while become ugly and too personal. Some Madison Audubon members have been darn near heroic in their attendance. Two stalwarts always attend the hearing in their local Lafayette County, where for three years they persuaded many attendees, most of whom seem to be primarily interested in bear and raccoon hunting, to vote against a crane hunt.
The switch to the on-line format will make participation easier and less time-consuming. The loss of face-to-face interaction is a very real one (it’s hard to believe the Lafayette County interaction would have occurred online) but an expansion of participation to more folks who bird, hike, fish, hunt, trap, forage, paddle, boat, etc. will be worthwhile.
Thanks, enjoy spring, and stay healthy,
Topf Wells, Madison Audubon board member and advocacy committee chair
Press release from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (March 17, 2020). View on webpage.
Spring Hearings In-Person Portion Cancelled
Accepting Public Input Online - -
CONTACT: Larry Bonde, Wis. Conservation Congress, 608-235-5825
Kari Lee-Zimmermann, DNR, 608-219-9134
[EDITOR'S ADVISORY: This is a joint news release from the Wisconsin DNR and Wisconsin Conservation Congress.]
MADISON, WI -In light of COVID-19, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are closely following guidelines from the Department of Health Services (DHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization (WHO).
We continue to receive the most up-to-date information, including new guidance from DHS that recommends cancelling or postponing gatherings of 50 people or more to help protect Wisconsinites from the spread of COVID-19, particularly those who are most vulnerable to infection and severe disease.
As such, the in-person portion of the 72 public meetings known as the Spring Hearings that were to be held in each county on April 13 are canceled. The public will continue to have the opportunity to provide input on the natural resources advisory questions from the DNR, Natural Resources Board (NRB), and WCC through the online input option.
The online input option will be provided through a link that will be posted on the Spring Hearing page and will go live at 7 p.m. on April 13. The online version will remain open for three days (72 hours). Results will be posted as soon as they are available.
Each year, citizens can recommend changes to natural resource issues through the submittal of citizen resolutions. In addition, two of the five WCC seats in each county are up for election.
Resolutions can either be emailed to SpringHearingInfo@Wisconsin.gov or typed hardcopies can be mailed to: Kari Lee-Zimmermann, Conservation Congress Liaison, P.O. Box 7921 WCC/4, Madison WI 53707-7921. All citizen resolutions must be received by close of business on April 6. Resolutions must also meet the requirements identified on the Spring Hearing webpage.
Those who complete the online input form (April 13-16) will be able to see the resolutions that were submitted by individuals indicating they reside in that county.
"This is an unprecedented time in history and I'm glad that we have the online option so that we can continue to gather input on these important natural resource questions," said Dr. Fredrick Prehn, chair of the Natural Resources Board. "The NRB applauds the Conservation Congress' decision to utilize the online option only this year and do its part to minimize the effects of this virus on our citizens. I hope that everyone who has an interest in the issues being discussed will utilize the online option to provide their input."
Information about the Spring Hearing questions can be found on the DNR website (search keywords "Spring Hearings"). The link will go live until 7 pm on April 13.
"The recent implementation of online voting allows the WCC and its delegates the opportunity to vote without having to appear in person. Following the guidelines from state and federal agencies, members will still have the opportunity to let their voices be herd when it comes to conservation issues," said Larry Bonde, chair of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress.
"We understand the value of the in-person meeting for discussion and sharing of ideas, but our top priority is the health and safety of our citizens," Bonde said. "We look forward to resuming the in-person meetings next year."
Each year, citizens can recommend changes to natural resource issues through the submittal of citizen resolutions. In addition, two of the five WCC seats in each county are up for election.
County residents have the option to run for a seat on the Conservation Congress and to elect delegates from their county to represent their county views regarding natural resources on the Conservation Congress. Also, individuals can bring forth new conservation issues of a statewide nature to the attention of the Conservation Congress through the citizen resolution process.
"As far as the delegate elections go, we will be extending the terms of each of the WCC delegates by one year," said Bonde. "If a current delegate no longer wishes to serve, the seat will become vacant and the county chair can appoint someone to fill the remainder of the term."
DNR Office of Communications
Sarah Hoye
Director of Communications
Department of Natural Resources
101 S Webster, P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707
Media Line: (608) 266-3143 TDD: 711
Email: DNRPress@Wisconsin.gov
dnr.wi.gov | wisconsin.gov
