May 4, 2023 at 2:04 p.m.
2023 DNR and WCC spring hearings results are in
With the citizen resolution process, questions start out in the county in which the originator of the resolution resides. If the question passes that county, it can move forward through the process. This process is unique to Wisconsin and several citizen resolutions have gone on to become state regulation changes. The DNR and WCC spring hearings are one of the best ways citizens and stakeholders of the state's natural resources can make their voices heard.
One of the first questions on this year's survey asked about increasing the October youth deer hunt to four consecutive days. The Deer Stakeholder Group recommended this change. This would allow young hunters to avoid potential inclement weather as well as weekend conflicts. Statewide, support and opposition was split, with 3,302 respondents saying they were in favor of the change and 3,566 listed as opposed. In both Oneida and Vilas Counties, this question was supported, but, again, respondents were mixed and the response was close to similar whether for or against the change.
Another question asked whether there was support for removing the requirement that hunters must divide deer, bear and elk into no more than five parts before removing it from the field. The change would allow further division, but keep the requirement that all parts be removed from the field. There was strong statewide support for this change, by almost two to one. Both Oneida and Vilas Counties showed approximately the same amount of support for that question.
Question 10 looked at creating a more uniform statewide muskellunge season structure. The proposal would allow an open harvest season running from the first Saturday in May to December 31 on open water only. This would eliminate the need for zones and would create a uniform season structure. This question was supported statewide. In Oneida County, among respondents, it was supported 871 to 381. In Vilas County, 1,039 respondents were in favor and 514 were opposed.
With increased public concern about a five-walleye limit in areas where that regulation is still in place, another question asked whether that bag limit should be moved to three, as it is in the Ceded Territory and, more recently, the Lake Winnebago System. Residents indicated they would approve that change by more than four to one, with 4,939 in favor of the change and 1,048 opposed. The support for this change in the Northwoods was even more favorable.
In a lake specific question, respondents were asked if the muskellunge size limit in Plum Lake in Vilas County, among others in the state, should be increased to 50 inches. In Vilas County, 1,291 residents said they favored this change. Only 291 were opposed.
Two questions from the WCC were specific to Pelican Lake, which has had questions regarding fish bag and size limits in recent years. Both questions related to bass and their relationship with both rusty crayfish and panfish. The bass minimum size limit was raised to 18 inches in 1995 in order to deal with a rusty crayfish problem the lake was experiencing. Since the decline of those crayfish, the background of the question stated, panfish have received more predation from bass.
In light of that, the question asks whether there would be support for reducing the daily bag limit on panfish for anglers to 10. Just over 1,500 Vilas County respondents said they would agree with this change while only 200 were in opposition. In Oneida County, over 1,250 respondents agreed and 200 were not in favor of that change.
The second change on Pelican Lake involves a regulation implementing a 14-18 inch protected slot limit on bass. Only one bass over 18 inches would be allowed to be kept. The daily bag limit would move to five. This would be a change to the "one over 18" regulation now in place. This change was largely supported in both Oneida and Vilas Counties, as it was statewide.
Under motorized recreation, there were several questions about regulation of hazardous wakes. The first question asked whether there was support for the use of wake boats causing hazardous wakes on lakes larger than 1,500 acres and more than 700 feet from shore and other lake users. Residents supported this with 5,768 in favor and 2,770 opposed.
The next question asked whether there was support for prohibiting the use of wake boats on lakes of less than 1,500 acres. Wisconsin residents supported this 5,989 to 2,632. The category of all respondents also supported this activity three-to-one.
There was also strong support for the WCC working with the state legislature to prohibit the use of wake boats, or any other boat purposely creating a hazardous wake, within 700 feet of any dock, raft, pier, buoyed restriction, shoreline or other watercraft. Both state residents and all respondents agreed approximately three-to-one to this request.
There was also approximately three-to-one support for a question for a new state statute prohibiting a boat creating an intentionally enhanced wake on "lakes of a specific physical characteristic defined by size, depth, length and width."
When asked if Wisconsin residents would specifically support the WCC working with the legislature to amend existing statutes to prohibit intentionally enhanced wakes in the Township of Presque Isle in Vilas County, 5,405 respondents reported they would agree to that change. Those opposed numbered 2,504. When it came to all participants, the numbers were 5,688 to 2,743, respectively.
Those interested in reviewing all of the survey questions, as well as the results, should see the DNR website at dnr.wi.gov. Input the search terms "spring hearings."
Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].
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