Hunting, Trapping In State Parks Will Be On Ballots At DNR Hearings

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold its annual Conservation Congress public hearings tonight in each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties.

Individuals can voice their opinions and vote on the spring ballot’s 99 questions, which cover a wide range of topics on fish and wildlife management. One issue that has fired up outdoor enthusiasts and animal-advocacy groups alike is a proposal that would expand hunting and trapping in state parks. Anne Reed is the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Humane Society.

“This, we think, just goes too far. It’s an inappropriate expansion when we know that there’s already a lot of hunting in the state that’s important to families. And it affects the use of the state parks. You know, it’s harder to use the state parks for birding and hiking and the other things we love them for if there’s hunting going on in the parks at the same time.”

The legislature passed the Sporting Heritage Act in 2011, which opens up state parks and forests to hunting, trapping, and fishing; however, after much public outcry, the Natural Resources Board voted to keep most state park land closed to trappers and hunters. The proposal on tonight’s ballot asks the Board to reopen that land to hunters.

Votes cast tonight are non-binding. However, Kari Lee-Zimmerman, Conservation Congress liaison to the DNR, says the public’s input matters.

“From the department perspective, the department will look at the input provided at these public hearings, in addition to written comments that they may have received on these proposed rule changes before they go to the Natural Resources Board with their final recommendations on these changes.”

There will also be an election tonight to select new delegates to the Congress. The hearings begin at 7 p.m.