Residents offer input at Conservation Congress

MERCER, Wis. - In a celebration of the public ownership of the state's natural resources, Wisconsinites gathered Monday night to vote on more than 80 measures regarding Department of Natural Resources policies, during the Wisconsin Conservation Congress' annual spring meetings.

All 72 counties in the state held meetings, with Iron County's being at the Mercer Community Center.

While many of the proposals didn't directly impact Iron County, several proposals would change the regulations within the county.

Among these was a proposal to increase the maximum number of trolling lines allowed per boat in several counties, including Iron, from two to three. There was also a proposal to reduce the daily bag limit for black crappie from 25 to 10 in the Gile Flowage, and establish a 10-inch minimum to keep crappies.

"The management goal is to manage for a panfish population of low-moderate numbers with a quality proportion of memorable-sized fish," the proposal reads. "Under the present regulation, although the size structure is on-par with management goals, panfish abundances are lower than desired."

Several residents spoke in favor of the proposal at the meeting.

Another proposal would increase the daily bass catch limit from three to five fish in waters where there are "slot limits," or size restrictions, in place on what fish can be kept. The bodies of water, including the Gile Flowage, require all bass between 14 and 18 inches be released and only one fish over 18 inches can be kept.

There were also several statewide proposals, including one that would extend the season for fall turkey, pheasant and fisher to the Sunday nearest Jan. 6 to bring the season ends in line with end of archery deer season and allow them to run through the New Year's holiday weekend. Another proposal would change the permit distribution for the fall turkey hunt from a lottery to an over-the-counter purchase.

As voting was done on paper ballots, the results are still being calculated. However, Conservation Warden Matt Meade said the results are sent to Madison by noon today, where they will be published on the DNR's website. The statewide totals, and county-by-county breakdowns, can be found by searching "spring hearings" on the site.

While some of the measurers were just advice for the DNR, Meade said the measures regarding actual rule changes are forwarded to the Natural Resources Board and then Gov. Scott Walker and the state legislature for approval.

While implementing some of the rules may take a while, Meade said some may go into effect as early as this fall.

In addition to voting on the proposals, Iron County participants also elected two delegates - one to a three-year term and one to a two-year term - to represent the county and spearhead the local Conservation Congress effort. Dennis Haanpaa and Bob Traczyk were re-elected as chair and vice chair for the Iron County delegation for another three years and two years, respectively.

Haanpaa also reported on the county's Deer Advisory Council, which he chairs. At the March meeting, he said the council made a preliminary recommendation of having another "buck only" hunting season in Iron County. There will be another deer advisory meeting April 18, Haanpaa said, at the Mercer Town Hall at 6 p.m.