We were hopeful, during April, when Representative Al Ott (R - Forest Junction) offered to submit a budget amendment to the Join Finance Committee, to increase the WI Duck Stamp to $12, from its current $7, a long-term effort that WWA has undertaken, along with DU and the WWF. Unfortunately, this amendment was not accepted by the committee, but Rep. Ott's staff have communicated their desire to work on it again in the future, as a stand-alone bill. This potential increase, the first since 1997, would make a huge impact on the amount of dedicated funds to support wetland infrastructure maintenance on public lands in Wisconsin, as well as supporting wetland restoration work, like Peter Ziegler does for WWA, all over the state. We'll keep you posted as this subject comes up again.

Your Board of Directors was glad to see the Joint Finance Committee reject the budget provision to make the DNR Natural Resources Board advisory, last month, but WWA continues to have great concern about the budget provisions to eliminate the science positions, and to completely shut down the Stewardship program (see our detailed positions on these topics, in WWA's newsletter archives). We urge you to contact your local legislators about these topics, to make your voice heard on these important conservation-related budget provisions.

Earlier this week, I met with the WDNR Wild Rice Advisory Team, in Stevens Point, as this group continues to work on its task: crafting a management plan for wild rice, much like the management plans for many other species, or similar to property management plans which many are familiar with. As WWA has a long track-record of seeding wild rice into waters in the far northern regions of the state, as an important source of forage for migratory waterfowl, in conjunction with our Northern Wetlands chapter, we've been selected to join this group, to represent waterfowl hunters.   Looking ahead this month, Peter will be meeting with the DNR Migratory Committee members on the 19th, and that group will be crafting its recommendations for how WI Duck Stamp monies will be distributed for the next budget biennium, among the 44 project submissions received from various entities, WWA included.

Students seeding wild rice with Project Director Peter Ziegler

As our spring turkey seasons continue, I will be hitting the woods when many of you receive this e-news. Don't worry, ducks are still on my mind! I've been hitting the wetlands of Wisconsin during our overall abnormally dry spring, which has allowed surveying and recon on many upcoming projects for this season.

It's not only important to restore habitat, it is also important to maintain the habitat we have on the ground. As I traveled north to Superior a week ago, I noticed numerous wildfires along the highways. Most of these were accidental due to the extreme fire dangers we experienced this spring, but some were intentional, as in controlled burns. Controlled burns are used all over the state in a variety of habitats: wetlands, grasslands and certain woodlands for habitat enhancement and maintenance. The value of these controlled burns is important to remember as it enhances the vegetation and ultimately the wildlife value. We have come a long way in understanding the value of controlled burning for natural areas, but they have to be done correctly, with properly trained individuals, and have a habitat goal in mind when being performed. To enhance the wildlife values of your natural area, consider the benefits of a controlled burn.

To keep everyone safe, meet the desired habitat goals and only burn intended areas, I highly recommend a professional staff that can carry the burden of properly executing such burns. From someone who has completed his fair share of controlled burns, burning looks fun, but it is extremely stressful, physically demanding, and requires proper equipment to be completed safely. If done right, though, you can enhance your wetland, grassland or even certain types of woodlands. Burning can create better nesting cover for waterfowl, rejuvenate and bolster species diversity, creating more diverse food base in our wetlands, thereby attracting more species and providing food over a longer period of time. Burns are also extremely beneficial toward controlling invasive species, which, left uncontrolled, lead to a degradation of the habitat and wildlife value.

WWA has always been a proponent of all habitat enhancements and restoration. I feel it's important our members know the benefits of resources and techniques available to properly maintain your wildlife habitats. Feel free to contact me for insight, suggestions and references for professionally trained individuals who can properly execute a burn for wildlife value; not all are trained or experienced equally. No burn should be completed without properly certified individuals.

I should also mention, since turkey season is upon us, turkeys love newly burned areas! As the tender green shoots emerge from a controlled burn habitat, I regularly see turkeys utilizing these areas.   

Enjoy your spring, 

Peter Ziegler, Project Director - wwawetlands@gmail.com  

Thanks to all of our members who made our April events a huge success. The Waukesha Chapter and South Suburban Chapter events sold out! That is good news for the ducks and geese of Wisconsin as we can now restore many more acres of wetlands thanks to your support.

If you are a golfer or clay bird shooter we have something for you. In May we will be hosting both our SE WI Golf Outing and our Ozaukee County Sporting Clay Shoot. You may not be a "banquet person" but maybe you love golf or shooting some clays so now you can win some of the fine prizes we feature at our banquets by attending one (or both, although not at the same time like the cartoon depicts) of these upcoming events. We will have guns and decoys and tools, hope to see you there!

If you are one of our members who doesn't like to attend our banquets because you don't enjoy crowds or you live on the outskirts of where our events are held, but would like to support our mission and win some great prizes, I have the answer for you. We have some wonderful prizes you can win on our chapter's class A Raffles. These are raffles where you don't have to be present to win. Your entry stub goes in the raffle drum and we give you call when we draw your name. Cross your fingers and buy a ticket, because we have several awesome prizes you could win:  

The West Allis Chapter has a few $10 tickets left on a Kimber Ultra Carry 1911 45ACP Pistol with Laser that will be drawn at our May 19th SE WI Golf Outing. Hurry, only 300 tickets will be sold and only a dozen or so are left.  

A dozen tickets are left on the chance to win the most popular CCW Pistol, the S&W M&P Shield in 9MM. Only 150 tickets will be sold at 1/$10 or 3/$20 with the drawing on May 17th at the Ozaukee County Sporting Clays shoot.  

Another excellent handgun is the Custom Built Roberts Defense Dark Ops Pro 5 1911 45ACP. $10 will get you one of the few remaining tickets of the 400 that will be sold on this $2,000 pistol by our Midland Wings Chapter. We will draw that one at the Wild Wings Shoot on July 19th.  

If you are not into fine guns, consider this prize for the family: a 15' canoe with paddles and many other accessories (1/$2, 3/$5 or 10/$10) which could be yours for summer and fall fun. It will drawn on June 28th at the Midpoint Sports Bar.  

The Twin Rivers Chapter is also running a raffle for a Parker Bushwacker Crossbow to be drawn at the Midpoint Sports Bar on August 30th. Tickets are 1/$5 or 3/$10 or 10/$20 only 500 tickets will be sold.  

Pick your prize with the Valley Chapter if you win the $1,000 gift card to spend at Scheels. 1/$10 or 3/$20 will get you entered, but hurry only 300 tickets will be sold and this raffle always sells out. This will be drawn at our Fox Valley Golf Outing July 29th.  

Give me a holler and I will get you tickets for any of these drawings. All these raffles help us complete our mission so consider winning one of these great prizes.

Here is a quick note to all of you waterfowl hunters. Improve your chances of bagging a duck or goose this year by participating in our Sporting Clay Shoot series. It will sharpen your shooting eye. It starts on May 16th & 17th at the Ozaukee County Fish & Game Gun Club and continues on with 3 or 4 more this summer. You will have fun shooting and even more enjoyment this fall when more birds fall and less fly away or worse, fly out of range and glide down crippled. Become a better conservationist and have fun doing it and win some prizes to boot.

Take time this summer to enjoy yourself and then introduce someone else to the great outdoors. Thanks for all you have contributed to making Wisconsin a better place to live.

Tom Seibert - Regional Director - 414.750.8260 or

Sponsor Spotlight

If you live in the southern third of the state, you've probably heard that yesterday, Cabela's opened their fourth location in our state, in Sun Prairie.   

This year, Tom and I got to enjoy once again the "mini- Christmas" experience of finding a home for a truck load of brand new sponsor merchandise from our partner - Cabela's. This year we're offering event attendees a chance to win an amazing set-up for preparing your fish & game for the table or freezer, including a huge cutting board, a vacuum sealer & supplies, and some incredible cutting tools, to boot. It's just another example of the awesome sponsor products we've come to expect, year after year.    

We're excited to be returning again this August to Richfield for another State Duck & Goose Calling Championships as well. Cabela's is an important partner in many ways - public outreach, fundraising, and host site - for our various enterprises. They also underwrite the vast majority of expenses for the calling contest, a huge helping hand to our Association, and step in as hole sponsors at our golf outings! Their partnership with us, and our volunteer teams is broad, and multi-faceted.

Most of you have seen the great packages of outdoor equipment from Cabela's, if you 've attended one of our events - and now, with them opening another store in Wisconsin, in the Madison area, it's really exciting to know that one of our partners is enjoying such success in our state!

All of this is just a part of their participation in our success through their Conservation Partners program.     This sort of partnership is invaluable to WWA. Cabela's is deeply connected to the sportspeople of Wisconsin, celebrating more than fifty years with their catalog business, and the catalog comes to life with their stores in Richfield, Prairie du Chien, Green Bay and now this weekend, the grand opening of their new Sun Prairie site. For more information about Cabela's products and services, click on the logo-link in this E-news, to take you to cabelas.com.

Congratulations, Cabela's, on your business expansion, and THANKS for the many ways you help support WWA!