Waterfowl hunting regulation changes proposed
Department of Natural Resources officials have proposed several changes for the 2018 Wisconsin waterfowl hunting seasons, including a uniform statewide opening date for duck hunting, a higher daily bag limit for Canada geese and the elimination of the Horicon Canada Goose Zone.
The proposals are subject to public input at four meetings this week, as well as to written and verbal comments.
Under the plan, hunting in all three duck zones — north, south and Mississippi River — would open Sept. 29.
The north zone traditionally has opened a week earlier than the south. Opening on the same date would help spread hunting pressure across the state, according to proponents of the change.
In addition, the daily Canada goose bag limit would be increased from two to three.
And the Horicon Canada Goose Zone would be consigned to history and absorbed into the exterior zone.
Other rules would remain consistent with previous years, including a 60-day duck hunting season with a six-bird daily
bag limit, as well as a 15-day early September goose hunt followed by a 92-day regular goose season.
The proposed rules were formulated after meetings with stakeholders, including the Migratory Committee of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress and representatives of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.
Collectively, the plan represents the most significant alterations offered for consideration to Wisconsin waterfowlers in decades.
“If everything gets enacted, these would be the most impactful waterfowl changes in my lifetime,” said Mark Kakatsch, 48, of Oconomowoc, chairman of the Waterfowl Committee of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. “I’d have to say, all the groups worked very well together with the department to formulate this plan.”
Due to a change instituted three years ago by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), waterfowl seasons are now set in spring and based on year-old data.
The 2017 waterfowl survey showed 47.3 million ducks in North America, fifth-highest on record and 34% above the long-term average.
Among geese, the two major Canada goose populations in the Mississippi Flyway both showed increases of at least 10%.
And in Wisconsin, the 2017 breeding waterfowl survey reported a 23% increase in ducks and a 22% increase in Canada geese.
As a result, the USFWS is once again allowing states to offer liberal duck season frameworks.
The proposed bag limit increase on geese was largely justified on 2011-’16 studies that showed Giant Canadas (the strain that breeds in Wisconsin) made up 70% of the goose harvest in Wisconsin, while 30% were migrants that nested in Ontario, said Trenton Rohrer, DNR assistant migratory bird ecologist.
The kill has shifted in recent years to include more Giants; studies from 2006’10 showed a 50/50 split.
Wildlife managers attempt to focus hunting pressure on Wisconsin-reared birds, which create most of the goosecaused nuisance problems in the state.
If approved as drafted, the duck season would be the 22nd straight with a 60day format.
Public hearings on the proposals will be held at the following locations, each starting at 7 p.m:
Monday: State Office Building, Rooms B-19 and B-20, 3550 Mormon Coulee Road, La Crosse.
Tuesday: AmeriVu Inn, 1710 South Main St., Rice Lake.
Wednesday :Agricultural Services Center, 3369 W. Brewster St., Appleton;
Thursday: Wildwood Lodge, N14 W24121 Tower Place, Pewaukee.
The DNR will accept public input on the proposals at the meetings. Alternatively, comments may be submitted by calling (608) 261-6458 or by writing to Trenton Rohrer, Wisconsin DNR, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 or Trenton.Rohrer@wisconsin.gov.
The deadline to provide comments is midnight Friday.
After reviewing comments, the DNR will submit a final slate of proposed 2018 waterfowl regulations to the Natural Resources Board at its April 11 meeting in Madison.