Wisconsin Conservation Congress spring hearings held statewide

The Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) held their annual spring hearings on April 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. in all 72 counties. Public comment was welcomed at the hearing, and questions were taken by a panel of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff and WCC members.

Citizens could vote on predetermined questions as well as citizen resolutions regarding natural resources in the state. Voting was accepted online and in person April 13-15. Nominations for new WCC delegates also took place at the hearing, though their official term will not start until the conclusion of the WCC annual convention in Green Bay May 15-16. 

The DNR website describes the WCC as the “only statutory body in the state where citizens elect delegates to advise the (NRB) and the (DNR) on how to responsibly manage Wisconsin's natural resources for present and future generations.” 

For Oneida County, Ed Choinski currently serves as the WCC chair, but he elected to step down to vice chair at the hearing. Brett Weir will serve as the Oneida County WCC chair. The other seat that was open for nomination was a 3-year term, which will be filled by Bob Boyd. Other delegates for Oneida County include Connie Polzin and Carol Heffner, whose terms end in 2027. Vilas County delegates currently include Stephen Burr, Rand Atkinson, Laurel Anderson, Duane Harpster, and Colin Crawford. Burr and Atkinson will remain chair and vice chair respectively, and delegate Steve Gilbert was selected for a two-year term to fill Anderson’s delegation that expires this year. The official shuffling and confirmation of new delegates will commence at the annual convention in May. 

Prior to the nomination of new WCC delegates during the hearing, there were DNR staff program updates from DNR officials in wildlife, fisheries, and law enforcement. 

Curt Rollman, DNR wildlife biologist, said there were five new positive chronic wasting disease (CWD) cases in Oneida County in 2025, and touched on some of the banding efforts and hopes for future management for migratory birds and their habitat. 

Oneida County fishery updates came from Nathan Lederman, fish biologist for the DNR. Lederman said some new fishing regulations will be coming to Oneida County this year, and advised residents to know current regulations before heading out. New regulations for specific lakes, including 16 listed for Oneida County and 15 listed for Vilas County, can be found by searching “2026-27 fishing season new regulations” on the DNR website.

The law enforcement program update was given by conservation warden Heather Hunt. DNR law enforcement will begin recruiting wardens on April 30 for the 2027 class. Visit the DNR website and search “warden recruitment” for more information. 

Before the panel went through each question on the 2026 Spring Hearing Questionnaire Input Form, citizen resolutions were read and discussed. 

Some of the resolutions that were brought to the attention of those in attendance of the Oneida County hearing were to limit the daily bag limit of black crappie on Oneida Lake to five for another five years, continue funding the Knowles-Nelson stewardship program, and restore the split zone muskie season.

A citizen resolution in Vilas County was also related to restoring the split muskie season, with discussions and other public comments that followed. Over 100 people showed up in person for the Vilas County hearing. 

The meetings concluded with the panel reading each question for voting and discussion. 

Blake Richard may be reached via email at [email protected].