WWA's DNR Hunter Recruitment Grant - Ladies: We Need You!

As you've already heard in a prior installment of our eNews, WWA was awarded one of the DNR Hunter Recruitment Grants.  This is a unique opportunity for women to learn about the "waterfowling lifestyle", through a multi-event series of experiences to occur later this spring and into the fall. Our Twin Rivers chapter, along with several other teams, will be hosting several formal training events, including two different Learn to Hunt programs, in conjunction with this experiment.  The current schedule is as follows:

• Introduction, waterfowl traditions, & fun shoot: Sunday, May 3rd: 3-6 pm
• Wisconsin Wingshooting for Migratory Birds Program: Saturday, May 30th: 8am-5:30 pm, includes lunch
• Scouting: how-to, LTH prep, & fun shoot 2: Sunday, August 9th: 3-6 pm
• WDNR Learn to Hunt Geese: Friday, September 11th, 6-9 pm AND 5 am-2 pm, September 12th
• WDNR Learn to Hunt Ducks: Friday, October 16th, 6-9 pm AND 4 am-2 pm, October 17th - includes game feed luncheon afterwards!

If you are a women who would be interested in participating in this series, either as an experienced mentor, or as a person who would not otherwise have the opportunity to be exposed to waterfowl hunting in such a manner, please feel free to reach out to me at: dpkwwa@gmail.com, and I can provide you with more information.

Click here to download the program brochure for more details and information, I look forward to hearing from you. 

I just got back from presenting at the 20th annual Wisconsin Wetlands Association conference where I got to collaborate and discuss all sorts of good wetland issues and practices.  

If you missed it, I gave a presentation on the benefits of small scale wetland restorations. This would meet the definition of the bulk of the work we at WWA have been doing in the restoration world for the past 25+ years.   As you might suspect, these wetlands are vital to waterfowl and the larger ecosystem.

The lower 1/3 of the state sure has a lack of snow cover this winter. Snow cover is important for wetland recharge and flooding come spring, so it should be a mild concern at this point. We have time, however, and changes in spring weather patterns could easily make up for the lack of snow, so stay positive for our migratory friends.

This minimal snow cover and recent cold snap has combined to make our final two winter projects in Brown and Manitowoc Counties a little more challenging. Both require sediment removal, but the frost depth has now penetrated deeper than what we want to remove. This ultimately hampers our ability to complete these projects as I see fit. So, we will continue to monitor them and roll out the first of the 2015 construction season as soon as we can.   

Peter Zeigler, Project Director - wwawetlands@gmail.com 

Thanks to all of our members who attended the Northern Wetlands Banquet on Saturday up in Rhinelander. Our committee did a pretty amazing job of getting some great prizes at their event and you responded by attending in record numbers.   Thanks to you and the committee for braving the cold and celebrating this chapter's 10th Anniversary Banquet. They've already told me that it will be bigger and better with even more fantastic prizes next year so let's plan on filling this new venue of theirs and having an even better time in 2016!  

The newer version of the Parker Crossbows that we'll have at some of our events this year went over big time with Saturday night's attendees who went wild for this prize, spending in record numbers for the chance to own it. Check out your local spring WWA banquet, many of them will give you a chance to win one as well. We also have several new, and some of your favorite, Rig'em Right decoy packages available for you to win this year. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but these packages got even better than last year, so set aside an extra Hamilton for a chance to win. These are going to be a $5 raffle with (4) packages to choose from!

We have many banquets this month, (hurry to get your tickets, several of these events sold out last year) and a few more coming up in April. Check out the website for the times and locations nearest you. Beat your cabin fever and get out and enjoy your local WWA banquet event. I'm working hard to keep winter at bay so you can have some fun and beat your winter blues at our events!

Here I am snowblowing out the WWA storage unit

We have lots of great guns and prizes just waiting for you to come and win them; I hope to see you there.

Tom Seibert - Regional Director - 414.750.8260 or

Sponsor Spotlight - Epic Waterfowl

WWA is very excited to be partnering with Epic Waterfowl for our 2015 Statewide Class A Dream Hunt Raffle! Through this partnership, we will be offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for one lucky guy or gal to win a 3-day guided spring snow goose hunt for (4) hunters in either Missouri or South Dakota in 2016 or 2017.  Also included is $600 cash to help offset travel, lodging and license fees PLUS (2) cases of Kent Fasteel 12ga 3" size BB ammo!  Attend your local WWA banquet to buy your tickets.  Raffle will be drawn on Thursday, November 9, 2015 at  Midpoint Eatery & Sports Pub in Johnson Creek, WI 

Epic Waterfowl is a guide service run by Wisconsinites Mike Phelps and Jake Kaprelian.  They go above and beyond, moving their hunters wherever the snow geese are landing, both in Missouri and South Dakota, depending on weather and migration.  

From guide Jake Kaprelian's Facebook page: "Are you tired of a 'set it and forget it snow goose guide?' We will work harder then any other guide you have had to make sure we put you on the best hunt possible."

Thank you to Epic Waterfowl for partnering with Wisconsin Waterfowl Association to offer our membership this amazing hunt opportunity.

For more information on Epic Waterfowl, contact Mike Phelps at 414-687-7452; mjphelps1971@yahoo.com or Jake Kaprelian at 414-484-7768;

Governor Walker's Budget - Where WWA Stands

As many of you are aware, there has been considerable controversy over Governor Walker's proposed state budget, specifically in the areas regarding the Natural Resources Board (NRB), the freeze of the Stewardship funding program through 2028, and the major reductions in DNR science research positions. We have been paying attention to our Members' comments on social media sites of late and our Board has taken the following position on each of these items:

• Natural Resources Board: the budget proposal would remove power from the 7-citizen NRB, which would no longer be allowed to set DNR policy but instead become an advisory group to the governor-appointed DNR secretary, who would set agency policy. WWA's position is that we feel the NRB should continue to function as it currently is, with no changes to the NRB's authority.
• Stewardship Funding Program: the budget proposal would freeze the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program through 2028.  WWA's position is that although we agree the interest expense is significant, and perhaps the program will need to be scaled back somewhat, we should not shut it down, lest losing a truly unique opportunity that will undoubtedly arise over the next decade during the freeze.
• DNR Science Research Position Reduction:the budget proposal would eliminate 18.4 science research positions in the Bureau of Science Services.  WWA's position is that we wish to restore the funding to keep these positions.

On the topic of the Science Research Positions as well, WWA was recently contacted by George Meyer of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation (WWF) specifically in regards to the elimination of the positions.

Wisconsin Waterfowl Hunter's Conference

Nothing going on this weekend? Why not plan a road trip up to Wausau for the 2015 Wisconsin Waterfowl Hunter's Conference (WWHC), taking place this Saturday and Sunday,  March 7th & 8th!  WWA is proud to be a sponsor of this independent conference and we hope you will join us for a weekend of informative sessions on all things waterfowl.  

The 2015 Conference will again be held at the Plaza Hotel and Suites in Wausau.  The WWHC is designed, developed and managed by a committee of indpendent waterfowl hunters supported by individuals, conservation organizations and government agencies.  It has been created for the purpose of insuring that all Wisconsin Waterfowl Hunters have a vehicle in which to have their voices heard by those that administer our rules, regulations, and laws.

Pre-registration cost to attend is just $30, $35 at the door. Click here for the conference agenda. 

Spring Hearings Are Monday April 13th

• QUESTION 1: Expand the areas where waterfowl hunting is allowed by eliminating the requirement that hunters and blinds be "concealed" if they are within 3 feet of the shoreline (2016)
• Proposed Local Wildlife Management Rule Changes QUESTION 10: QUESTION 10. Do you favor eliminating the waterfowl hunting closed area at the Outagamie Wildlife Area in the town of Bovina and establishing a new waterfowl hunting closed area at the Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area, Herb Behnke Unit, Town of Deer Creek and Maine?
• Land Use Advisory Committee QUESTION 21: Are you in favor of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources working with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to open wetland mitigations sites to the public that are suitable for public hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking and cross country skiing?
• Migratory Advisory Committee QUESTION 24: Sandhill crane hunting season (360114, 550114)
  There are 700,000 sandhill cranes in North America and 17 states have hunting seasons including two states in our flyway: Kentucky and Tennessee. A management plan approved by 31 states and Canadian provinces in eastern North America established that the Eastern Population of sandhill cranes was large enough to be hunted and established a process for a state to apply for a limited quota based hunting season. In Wisconsin, the state legislature must approve a quota-based hunting season on sandhill cranes before the DNR can develop a season. Do you think Wisconsin should have a sandhill crane hunting season?
• Migratory Advisory Committee QUESTION 25:Opening day shooting time (410214, 500314)
  Currently Wisconsin opens the waterfowl season at 9:00 am. Minnesota and Iowa start before 9:00 am.Do you favor a duck season opener at one half hour before sunrise?
• Migratory Advisory Committee QUESTION 26: Unattended decoys on private lands (520514)
  Do you favor legislation that would allow water set decoys to be left unattended on water areas completely surrounded and enclosed by private land under the same ownership with no public access at any time during the year?

View the full questionnaire on Wisconsin Conservation Congress's website.  

Wood Duck Challenge Marks 25 Years

From The Outdoor Wire