Sportspeople overwhelmingly back DNR’s proposed fish, game rules

Wisconsin hunters, anglers, and others who voted during the spring fish and game hearings last month gave overwhelming support to a wide variety of proposed rule changes, favoring all 46 proposals from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Among those gaining public support were an early trout season opener on the first Saturday in April, a full month earlier than the traditional May start, which biologists say will increase angler opportunity without damaging trout populations.

State residents voted 3,187 yes to 1,836 no on the question, passing it in 65 of the state’s 72 counties — including Vilas and Oneida.

Sportspeople also approved new panfish regulations on more than 60 waterbodies that limit the harvest of crappies, perch and bluegills on certain lakes, all of which won by a 3-to1 or 4-to-1 margin statewide — and by even wider margins in Vilas and Oneida.

As an example, a rule that would apply a special panfish regulation on Kentuck Lake in Vilas and Forest counties, imposing a 25-panfish daily bag limit with only five yellow perch, passed with 2,829 yes and 646 no votes.

Biologists explained that the change was to limit the harvest of perch that help sustain the walleye fishery while allowing anglers to take up to 25 crappies daily, a species they believe can adversely impact walleye reproduction.

The most common panfish rule change involved limiting the daily harvest to 10 fish in aggregate, which was proposed on more than 60 lakes and lake chains statewide. Some of those lakes had a 25-panfish daily limit, with only 10 crappies allowed the past nine years, and the regulation was set to sunset in 2026.

One alternate management tool, a 25-panfish daily bag limit with only 5 bluegills allowed, won statewide 2,804 to 794 for Deerskin, Partridge, High, Fishtrap and Rush lakes in Vilas County.

A rule that would allow motor trolling at three lines per angler in 67 counties, but restrict trolling to one line per angler and three lines per boat in the northeast corner of the state, passed on a 2,538 to 1,865 vote, winning in 60 of the 72 counties.

The five counties where trolling would still be restricted to one line per angler include Florence, Forest, Iron, Oneida and Vilas counties.

On the hunting side of the questionnaire, a rule change that would allow hunters who quarter their deer, bear or elk in the field to leave nonedible parts at the site of harvest, passed on a 5,266 to 1,833 vote.

On a question that specifically impacted the North Woods, a proposal to extend the fall turkey season in Zones 6 and 7, passed overwhelmingly, 4,292 to 1,342.

Sportspeople voted 4,165 yes to 2,533 no on a rule that would allow disabled hunters to hunt deer statewide while the two-day October youth firearm deer season is open.

They voted 4,475 yes to 2,355 no on a rule that would allow the use of technology, such as cellular-based trail cameras, to meet trap-tending requirements.

However, while the proposal passed in 67 of the state’s 72 counties, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress has taken the position that the proposal should be rejected and not advanced as a rule.

According to DNR records, a little more than 9,000 people responded to the 2025 Spring Hearing questionnaire either in person on April 14 or online from April 14 to 16.

“We had very good participation again for this year’s spring hearings. I’m happy with the input and public discussions we had in person and online,” said Wisconsin Conservation Congress Chair Rob Bohmann. “It tells me the public is still interested and engaged in resource management in Wisconsin, and it is important to them.”

The full list of questions and results is available on the DNR website, along with voting results on 27 advisory questions brought forward by the Congress.

Among the Congress questions were five proposing the legalization of harvesting white deer in Jefferson, Marathon, Portage, Winnebago and Wood counties, all of which won approval statewide by more than 1,000 votes.

Bohmann said the annual Spring Hearing is an opportunity for the public to provide input on a wide array of natural resources-related proposed rule changes and advisory questions.

Hearings are held in every county in the state, giving all residents a choice between personal attendance and online voting. However, voting on delegates to represent each county in the Congress can only be done through in-person attendance.

He said the public also has the opportunity to provide input on resolutions that members of the public previously submitted.

“Public input received through this process is advisory to Natural Resources Board members, DNR staff and anyone working on these issues,” he said.

Results from the public input were considered by the Conservation Congress at their annual convention earlier this month and will be forwarded to the DNR and Natural Resources Board in June.