Dec. 11–Wisconsin’s borders haven’t changed in more than 150 years.
But the land inside is regularly reapportioned and redesignated.
The Natural Resources Board on Tuesday approved the two newest internal partitions.
One is a reflection of a growing, naturally spreading population of a native predator. The other is part of a plan to boost the return of a native cervid.
The board approved a second bobcat management zone in Wisconsin. For many years the state allowed bobcat hunting and trapping in one zone, north of Highway 64.
But scientific studies and public observations have shown bobcats are increasingly found in the southern two-thirds of the state.
State wildlife managers recommended adding the second zone. A limited number of permits will be available; harvest quotas will be set over the coming months. The rule is subject to legislative approval, but it’s possible bobcat hunting and trapping will be allowed south of Highway 64 beginning next October.
The other new demarcation has to do with elk. The state previously approved an elk management plan that included adding a herd in the Black River Falls area.
However, it was necessary for the board to formally approve the additional elk zone. It did so in a unanimous vote on Tuesday. The zone covers about 300 square miles in west central Wisconsin.
The state now has two elk zones, one near Clam Lake (about 1,600 square miles) and one near Black River Falls.
In addition, the dates of Wisconsin’s elk hunting season were changed. Hunting season in any open zone will begin on the Saturday nearest Oct. 15. The previous rule called for a start date on the Saturday nearest Sept. 15.
Wisconsin officials plan to bring additional elk into the state, most likely from a wild herd in Kentucky, in the coming years. Negotiations continue.
Crossbow bill signed: Gov. Scott Walker on Tuesday signed Assembly Bill 194, legislation to expand crossbow hunting opportunities in Wisconsin.
The legislation, now called Act 61, creates a crossbow hunting license and a crossbow hunting season. Hunters of all legal ages and abilities will be eligible to purchase the license.
For many years in Wisconsin, only hunters with physical disabilities and those age 65 and over have been allowed to hunt deer with crossbows.
The crossbow hunting season will run concurrent with the archery deer season. The rules contained in Act 61 will take effect at the start of the 2014 Wisconsin fall hunting season.
The law creates a three-year trial period during which the Department of Natural Resources will monitor harvest rates by crossbow hunters. At the end of the trial period, the agency will report on the results and determine how to proceed.
The Assembly passed the bill on a 91-0 vote in October. The Senate approved it in September.
Walker signed the bill on the same day he visited the Mathews, Inc., trade show in Wisconsin Dells. Mathews is a leading manufacturer of archery equipment, including crossbows. Its main facility is in Sparta.
Vacancy filled: The board on Thursday named Mike Rogers of Prairie du Sac to the Sporting Heritage Council.
Rogers, 52, has been a bear hunter since 1983 and a Wisconsin Conservation Congress delegate since 1990. He is chairman of the congress’ bear committee.
Rogers will fill the vacancy created when Andy Pantzlaff of Maribel, the board’s original appointment to the council, resigned in September. The board failed to do a background check on Pantzlaff and it was later revealed he had been cited by the DNR for illegally killing a bear in 2005.
The council was created in 2012 by Act 168. It is charged with advising the governor, the Natural Resources Board and the Legislature on fishing, hunting and trapping issues.
The 12-member group “shall study and provide advice about issues relating to hunting, trapping, fishing, and other types of outdoor recreation activities,” according to the legislation.
The council will be asked to look at ways to:
–Improve the recruitment and retention of hunters, trappers and anglers.
–Improve the management and protection of the natural resources of the state for the purposes of hunting, trapping, fishing and other types of outdoor recreation activities.
–Encourage youth to participate in outdoor recreation activities, including ways to implement outdoor recreation programs for youth.
–Improve access to public and private land for hunting, trapping, fishing and other types of outdoor recreation activities.
–Improve public access to lakes.
–Increase the availability of public shooting ranges.
As spelled out in the legislation, the council consists of the Department of Natural Resources secretary or a designee, one member appointed by the governor, two members of the Assembly, two members of the Senate, one member appointed by the Wisconsin Conservation Congress executive committee and five members appointed by the Natural Resources Board.
The council is comprised of: DNR designee Scott Gunderson; the governor’s appointee, Bill Torhorst; Assembly members Rep. Nick Milroy and Rep. Jim Steineke; Senate members Sen. Neal Kedzie and Sen. Bob Wirch; Conservation Congress appointee Joe Caputo; and Natural Resources Board appointees Ralph Fritsch, Benjamin Gruber, Mark LaBarbera, Mike Rogers and Scott Zimmerman.
The group is required to prepare a biennial report on the status of the recruitment and retention of hunters, trappers and anglers. The initial report is due no later than July 1, 2014.
The council’s next meeting is in January.
Code update: The board approved an update to procedure for the DNR secretary to make appointments. At least a three-week notice must be given before nomination deadlines, and background and character checks will be conducted on all final candidates.
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