April 28, 2022 at 3:59 p.m.
2022 spring hearings results are in
Most proposals supported by the public
2022 spring hearings results are in
Statewide results
There was support for the majority of the questions included on this year's spring hearings questionnaire. One of those questions asked whether respondents would favor a statewide walleye bag limit of three per day on inland waters. The results showed a high level of support for this with 13,728 responding in favor and 3,800 opposed. The remaining 3,223 respondents had no opinion. The rehabilitation regulation for lakes needing such a regulation was also supported by approximately two to one. That regulation would include an 18" length limit and a protected slot from 22-28 inches. One fish would be the bag limit.
Self-registration for small fishing tournaments was also supported. Currently smaller tournaments do not require a permit if they have under 20 boats or are under $10,000 in prize money. However, a smaller bass tournament can pull a permit, which allows their anglers to cull fish throughout the tournament. Culling is replacing a smaller fish in a daily bag limit with a larger fish. Most of these tournaments throughout the state are catch-hold-release tournaments with all fish being released back into the water body at the end of the tournament.
There was some support, 7,938 for and 5,501 against, for the creation of a three-year antler point restriction for bucks with three points or greater on one side in Florence County. In-person registration was supported by 12,906 respondents with 5,918 not in favor of returning to that format. There was also some support for going back to the wearing of back tags. This was supported by over 11,000 people with just fewer than 8,000 opposed. Returning to carcass tagging procedures as it had been done in the past, was supported two to one. Extending the gun deer registration to 5 p.m. the day after the season closes received hefty support, with over 14,000 respondents saying they would be in favor of that change and just over 4,600 saying they would not be in favor of such a change. Several of these changes to the deer season, to be implemented, would require legislation, however.
There was also support for the relocation of antlerless fund fees to establish a statewide dumpster program for handling deer carcasses. Proper disposal of carcasses helps to keep any possible CWD-positive carcasses off of the landscape where they could potentially spread the disease. Over 10,500 respondents were in favor of that change and 6,328 were opposed. There was little support for the state continuing to be home to captive cervid operations, whether that be deer farms or shooting preserves. Just under 4,000 respondents reported being in favor of such and over 11,600 were against continuing to allow these operations.
There was also support for allowing persons with a small game license to use a sling shot to hunt squirrels, rabbits, hares and unprotected species. Over 10,700 people supported a change to this weapon type and almost 6,500 opposed such a change.
When asked whether there was support for a wolf population management goal of 350 wolves or less throughout the state, 13,136 people said they supported that goal while 6,633 said they did not. Over 2,300 respondents reported they did not have an opinion. Opinions on whether dogs should be banned while hunting wolves, should the wolf be again delisted, was split. 9,400 respondents were in favor and 9,680 opposed. Over 2,500 people did not wish to express an opinion on the matter.
Opinions on wildlife killing contests were split as well. This would include species such as coyotes and crows, both of which are target animals in these contests. Over 9,500 people were in favor of doing away with these contests while just under 9,400 would like to see them remain.
Oneida County results
Of those who responded to the questionnaire, 3,393 people said they recreated in Oneida County and 619 indicated they reside in the county. There was support for most of the questions posed on the questionnaire from these respondents.
The three-fish bag limit for walleye statewide was supported 1,980 to 493, with 259 respondents stating they had no opinion. The rehabilitation regulation, which will be used on the Minocqua Chain when it reopens for walleye fishing, was supported by residents and those who recreate in the county. This would mean one fish over 18" and a one-fish bag limit with a protected slot from 22-28 inches. Self-regulation of small fishing tournaments was supported within the county as well.
In the realm of deer hunting, returning to in-person registration stations was supported by 1,680 respondents while 739 respondents were not in favor. Returning to the use of back tags was supported by 1,450 people who said they recreated in the county. Eight hundred and ninety people did not want to see this change. There was also support for returning to carcass tagging by approximately the same margin. Returning the deadline to register a deer during the gun hunt season to 5 p.m. the day after the season closes was also supported in the county.
Captive cervid operations, including game farms and shooting preserves, was not supported. Only 490 respondents were in favor of keeping these operations on the landscape and 1,520 were against it.
A change to the Willow Flowage panfish limit was supported almost four to one. That change would change the aggregate bag limit to 10 pan fish in total. There was also support for another idea regarding the Willow. That was to maintain the 25 fish daily bag limit, but to allow no more than 10 of any one species.
Two other questions that were not supported had to do with non-motorized watercraft. A registration system and fee for canoes and kayaks was not supported. Likewise, a requirement to place contact information for the owner on canoes and kayaks with no associated fee. This would be similar to the same requirement for tree stands, traps and ice shacks. Just over 1,100 respondents were in support of this proposal and over 1,300 did not want to see that change.
Vilas County results
Respondents in Vilas County were also in agreement with most of the questions included on the spring hearings questionnaire. Of those who responded, 4,114 individuals said they recreated in Vilas County. Six hundred and sixty-five of those were residents. There was support for the three-bag walleye limit statewide here, as well. Those in support numbered 2,369 while those opposed to the change. There was also support for the rehabilitation regulation of one walleye over 18 inches with a protected slot from 22-28 inches.
Within the deer season framework, there was also strong support in Vilas County for returning to in-person registration, with over 2,000 respondents indicating they favored this idea and only 800 who did not want to return to the in-person format. Support for returning to the wearing of back tags was not quite a strong with 1,786 in favor of that change and 1,059 indicating they did not wish to return to back tags. There was more support for returning to carcass tagging procedures of the past with 1,916 in favor and 819 opposed.
There was support both by residents and those who recreate in Vilas County for moving the daily bag limit for panfish on the Willow Flowage to 10, but residents did not favor the other option, which would be leaving the bag limit at 25, but allowing no more than 10 of any one species. That second proposal, however, was supported when adding in those who recreated in the county.
There was not support, either by residents or by those who recreated in the county, for creation of a registration system with a fee for non-motorized watercraft such as kayaks and canoes. Nor was there support for a requirement for owner contact information to be on these vessels with no fee attached.
Full statewide results, as well as results by county, for each of the spring hearings questions can be found on the DNR website dnr.wi.gov by searching keywords "spring hearings."
Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].
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