Supervisor Baumgart urges deer hunters to become involved in setting the rules

Last week this column discussed Wisconsin’s 2009 deer/ gun hunting season. Unfortunately, as you may well know, this year we saw a major drop in the harvest numbers. What is positive for Wisconsin, unlike many states, we register all deer taken; it gives a clear picture of the real deer numbers harvested and provides specific locations where changes took place.

While many hunters quickly went to a "blame game" when deer hunting totals fell, there are many positive ways to raise questions and provide positive suggestions. Here in Area 69, which includes most of Sheboygan County, the Department of Natural Resources holds a yearly public meeting to review this season and to gain impute on deer management harvest goals for the next. That meeting is held in February at the Ice Age Informational Center near Dundee. While many hundreds should attend, only about 50 to 75 people tend to come this meeting. If you hunt locally and you have concerns, you should make this meeting a must.

Some action has already been taken. With the deer registration numbers down, the DNR has cancelled a proposed change of the annual nine-day deer/gun season to a 16-day season for next year. So, changes are in the air.

Hunters, who would like to provide impute on their deer hunting thoughts, concerns and experiences now, can do so by completing a DNR survey online. It is good to do it while the memory of this hunt is fresh in your mind. You can reach this Web site at dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/harvest/survey.htm. Let them know your opinion.

The spring fish and game hearings are held each year at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of April at the Sheboygan Falls High School and is an important meeting to attend. DNR Board proposed rule changes and proposals presented by the Wisconsin Conservation Congress are voted on. It is here, as in every county in Wisconsin, sportsmen and women not only to come to vote on the issues, they elect citizens members to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress to represent their views to the DNR Board. Those attending can introduce resolutions to be voted on and/or can run for a position on the congress. It is an important way for citizen participation in the management of our state’s fish and game.

It is also good to remember that there are over 30 conservation clubs that belong to the Sheboygan County Conservation Association. Delegates to those clubs meet at 7 p.m. every third Wednesday of the month and are hosted by each club on a rotating basis. Those meetings are open to the public. DNR staff is always present to answer questions or will get you an answer. You may even wish to consider joining one of the clubs that you find interesting.

What looks like simple answers is not always the case. Example: many hunters, including this writer, are not excited about the earn-a-buck program. But the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation is on record (testified in April 2009) favoring earn-a-buck and other methods of controlling the Wisconsin deer herd. These Farm Bureau Federation members represent large tracts of land open to many hunters and their concerns need to be taken seriously.

In another case, one hunter recently suggested that in the chronic wasting disease districts we just let the herd alone to grow. That idea not only would be irresponsible it might well provide a backlash from some farmers, other landowners and the general public.

One can curse the darkness or you can light a candle. Becoming and staying involved in the complexity of Wisconsin’s fish and game management is something that would benefit us all.