Wolves, DNR, spearing records make the ‘wish list’

IN THE heart of the Christmas season, it is time once again to formulate a “wish list” in regard to some of the nagging issues that impact those of us who live to spend time in the great outdoors.
They call it the season of miracles, and as we celebrate the greatest gift the world has ever known, it can’t hurt to ponder how we might help improve the future of Wisconsin’s outdoor traditions.
We’ve got more than our share of turmoil these days over wolf overpopulation, a struggling deer herd that’s far below the good old days, deteriorating water quality, failed fish reproduction, new diseases, lack of logging, etc. The list is long.
Part of the improvement might be a change in personal responsibility, for each of us plays a role in resource conservation.
My wish list is not written to a plump man in a red suit, but more as a prayer for some divine intervention. It’s also intended to encourage those who appreciate the outdoors to give back, conserve resources, improve attitudes and pass this unique heritage to new generations.
This list isn’t just for those of us who hunt, fish and trap. The future depends on our stewardship of the state’s plentiful, but certainly finite, natural resources. Conservation of resources should be promoted and funded by all state residents.
So here goes . . . for the Christmas season and coming months, I wish:
• That legislators would act to force the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to consider deer depredation and wolf impacts on deer hunters as being just as significant as depredation on livestock, hunting dogs and pets — protecting this state’s all-important deer hunting tradition.
• For more great decisions like the DNR’s move to continue a ban on personal minnow harvest from VHS-affected waters, revising a proposed rule change that could have easily brought this deadly fish disease to northern lakes and rivers.
• In the name of public record integrity, that a state law be passed to force the tribes and their Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) to make public all spearfishing records regarding the quantity, size and sex of every walleye and muskie speared from public waters. Information regarding harvests from public-owned lakes should not be protected by any kind of tribal sovereignty or immunity.
• That DNR big-wigs sitting in their ivory towers in Madison would appreciate their partnership with weekly newspapers to the point of mandating, for every agency division, that all press releases regarding timely events such as application deadlines or opening seasons be sent out two weeks in advance.
• That the now Republican-controlled Congress gets its act together and takes liberal federal judges out of the wolf management equation in responsible states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Wyoming, returning that right to federal and state wildlife experts to manage a reasonable, sustainable wolf population. We have revised a wolf plan we can’t enforce.
• For a new movement to strengthen shoreland zoning regulations before irreparable damage is done to our lakes and water quality, which are the basis for all recreation, tourism and property values. Vilas County had the best lake classification system in Wisconsin before state legislators took away local control.
• That Dr. Gary M. Pusateri and his Dream Genomics team could have a miraculous breakthrough on a reasonably priced blood test for chronic wasting disease in deer, making it easier for hunters to test their deer prior to consumption.
• To praise those parents, grandparents and friends who are taking the time to mentor young hunters, giving them an early appreciation for an outdoor sport that can be enjoyed for a lifetime.
• That the DNR would give us back Escanaba Lake as a sustainable, educational, all-year walleye fishery where, due to the research, tribal spearing is not allowed. It is currently being regulated in favor of the spearing harvest, not open to anglers until the second Saturday in June.
• To heap praise where it belongs, on the managers of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, who currently are selling and cutting more wood volume than any national forest in the country. Ditto to the DNR for partnering with the Forest Service to manage 25% of the logging jobs.
• For health and prosperity to those volunteer instructors who take the time, without pay and/or fanfare, to teach hunting safety, boating safety, snowmobile safety and other certification courses to our youths.
• For stricter regulation of deer farms and fenced preserves that are threatening, single-handedly, the health and well-being of the country’s best whitetail deer herd — which sustains the sport of hunting and conservation work in general, through license sale revenue.
• That all upland bird hunters could experience a day or two afield over a great dog, so they could know firsthand the added enjoyment, productivity and conservation brought by man’s best friend.
• And lastly, for God’s richest blessings upon the soldiers who are deployed to distant lands during this time of love and family togetherness. They are the true defenders of freedom, deserving our support and unending gratitude.
Have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.