August is a busy month for WWA staff and volunteers who work to fulfill our mission of habitat, education and legislation here in Wisconsin.  Here's a few of the events and meetings we have upcoming:

On August 1st, WWA volunteer Chris Ferch will be working with the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation's migratory committee, and the DNR, at the "post flyway" meeting, and then the public meeting, in Stevens Point. This will help determine the season structure details for the 2015 season.

August 1st also marks our 5th Annual Shoot for Abrams Property.  Come join us at Little Creek Lodge in Little Suamico for a super fun day of shooting, prizes, raffles and games! 

On August 3rd-6th, public hearings at four locations around the state will take place, to take public input, and provide information regarding the 2015 waterfowl season structure. Please consider attending the one nearest you, to offer input.   

On August 12th Don Kirby will attend the WIDNR's Natural Resources Board meeting in Horicon where he'll testify on the 2015 season structure proposal.

On August 13th WWA's Cedar Creek Chapter will host their 24th Annual Banquet at the Mequon Nature Preserve.

On August 15th WWA will hold our 8th drawing of the 2015 Conservation Calendar Raffle at Stadium Bar in Oshkosh. 

On August 14th - 15th, Fall Fest takes place at Midwestern Shooter Supply and WWA will hopefully have a booth here - visit us to purchase 2016 calendars!

On August 15th, WWA staff & volunteers will be all over the state: 

• WWA State Duck & Goose Calling Championships - Cabela's Richfield location from 10am-3pm - hosted by our Marshland Chapter.
• WWA Brat Fry Food Booth fundraiser - Cabela's Richfield
• Waterfowl Weekend - Cabela's Green Bay, visit Don Kirby in our booth & purchase 2016 calendars

On August 22nd, WWA will host our  16th Annual State Shoot at Wern Valley in Waukesha County - an awesome way to have a bunch of fun, and knock the rust off your shooting skills, before hunting begins!

On August 27th, our West Bend Midland Wings Chapter team moves their 6th annual banquet to The Columbian, in West Bend - a new & improved venue, with a new event time for this team!

On September 1st Early teal, dove, & early goose open. Click here for a link to the  WI DNR's revised regulations for the 2015 early Canada goose season, early teal and mourning dove seasons  

Our grassland plantings from this spring should be popping up by now, although most of the prairie plants are probably very small and difficult to see. Our planned mowing sequence for establishment is in effect, and this will help the grassland prairie species to get established for nesting cover in coming years.

Back in June I presented about wetland habitat and the benefits of it to humans and wildlife at the Sand Lake Conservation Camp near Crivitz, pictured below. There were 95 middle school aged (6-8th grade) kids from 28 counties in WI attending the camp this year. They were able to participate in multiple activities and hands-on learning about soils, invertebrates, trapping, wetlands, archery, fishing, canoe/kayaking and many others subjects relating the outdoors. If you have children, this camp would be a great learning opportunity.

It's nice to see so many of our excavating companies in the state are busy with full workloads right now, but this makes it much more difficult to get my projects moving in a timely manner when the weather is also cooperating. August is looking to be busy, with many excavators having full workloads already, and WWA has numerous projects we need to complete. I was hoping get one or two done in July to alleviate the pressure in August a little, but thanks to a pickup in the economy causing a lack of free excavators, that did not happen.

As always, if you want to come see one of our projects in progress, give us a call and I'll let you know where I'm at. In August my plan is to be in the Stevens Point, New London, Mequon and Pulaski areas. As you start thinking about hunting, please keep in mind I'm also happy to look at new and potential restoration sites.

Peter Ziegler, Project Director - wwawetlands@gmail.com  

WWA is proud to announce our latest Life Member - Board President, Bruce Urben! Bruce has assisted WWA for a number of years, including his work as Treasurer of the Green Bay chapter, his extensive grant-management work for the Abrams long-term project, and more recently his role as Board of Directors President, and since his retirement last year - "semi-pro" decoy carver!  

Bruce's donated decoys have graced numerous fundraising events, and his presence representing WWA at the annual WI waterfowl stamp judging contest, the WWF waterfowl committee, as well as numerous waterfowl banding sessions, are just a few of the ways he's helped our Association over the years. Thanks, Bruce, for setting a great example, and for your commitment to WWA!

As you may have heard already - our Calendar Committee was fast out of the gate this year, and many of our volunteers all around the state have received stocks of 2016 Conservation Calendar raffles, and are ready to make your sale. In addition, our local chapters often partner with small businesses in their communities - who are able to place our Calendars out on their register counters and offer them to the patrons who visit their shops. We'll offer up a few of these partners in each of the next few month's newsletters - to offer another way for you to get your hands on this year's limited edition:

Big Woods Bear Bait - Lena - Oconto County 

Floyd and the crew at Big Woods have been long-time sponsors of our Green Bay chapter, and this month, if you're stopping in to get your bait for your upcoming hunt, you can support WWA as well! 

Virlee Gunworks - New Franken - Brown County 

Whether you're on your way up to "Da Door" for an end-of summer vacation, or searching for someone to fix your "shootin' irons" before the season - a stop by Scott's shop is a great way to spend an afternoon. A Calendar advertiser this year, he was one of our top new selling locations for last year's edition. Only minutes off the "big road" into Door County! 

Cedar Lake Sales - West Bend - Washington County 

It's been a decade since I called West Bend home, just down the road from this shop, but this supporter of our local chapters is also now offering Conservation Calendars, as well as continuing to be a terrific source for marine parts and service, and of course, new and used boats.  

Schwai's Meat & Sausage - Cedarburg - Ozaukee County 

Now, I suppose it will be my luck, someone will ask me if they have Calendars at the Fredonia location. I'm sorry, my insider source didn't mention it, but I know they've got them at the Cedarburg site. I also know they've got great grub at both sites, but you can support WWA at the Cedarburg site, as well!

Where has the summer gone? You know fall is in the air, you can tell by the "back to school" fliers you get in the mail each week and those first ash trees with their yellowing leaves. It is time to start thinking about fall. No, not winterizing the lawnmower or weed wacker, but starting to tune up your shooting and calling skills!

If you are anything like me, you need practice on both fronts. And now, you are in luck: WWA has several fundraising shoots coming up where you can begin to fine tune your Wingshooting skills (and support WWA at the same time).  Check out our events page on our website and plan to attend one in your area. Pull out your calls and do a little calling to exercise those lungs as well. If you aspire, try out the WWA Wisconsin State Duck & Goose Calling Contest coming up at the Cabela's location in Richfield on August 15th to see how you stack up with the best in the State! Some of us will just confine our calling to the car (without passengers) so you don't cause any neighbor complaints about dying ducks!

Early teal season is a little more than a month away, so stock up on camo t-shirts, bug spray, thermocell pads and don't forget your duck stamps. The Cabela's waterfowling days in August might just be the ticket to get you ready. What ever your passion this fall, get outdoors and enjoy it and take a youth with you. They are our future as well as the future of waterfowling!

Bruce Urben, WWA President 

WI DNR - MADISON -- Fall waterfowl hunting seasons are right around the corner, and 2015 U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates show the highest continental duck populations since the survey began in 1955.

The total 2015 duck population estimate is 49.5 million birds, with mallards and green-winged teal estimates at a record high 11.6 million and 4.1 million, respectively. Continental blue-winged teal estimates are at 8.5 million, which is the third highest estimate on record.

"This is exciting news for hunters in Wisconsin," said Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp. "Record numbers are a positive step toward another great year in the field, and we hope this great news from our federal partners will encourage new hunters to experience waterfowl hunting."

More information can be found in the full USFWS report:

WI DNR - MADISON - More than half a million acres of wild turkey habitat restored and enhanced and nearly half a million acres of pheasant habitat restored and enhanced, mostly on lands open to public access for hunting are among the projects Wisconsin sportspeople have contributed to through the purchase of state wildlife stamps.

For many years, Wisconsin's Wild Turkey, Pheasant, and Waterfowl Stamp programs have provided opportunities for wildlife and habitat management and hunting. Currently, work is about to begin for the most recent cycle of stamp-funded projects.

Turkey, pheasant, and waterfowl hunters are required to purchase a species-specific stamp in order to legally harvest these game birds in Wisconsin, with income supporting habitat management and restoration projects, education, research, equipment purchases, and the administration of species management programs. Non-hunters can also purchase habitat stamps without purchasing a hunting license, thereby contributing to these efforts.

Editor's note: You may have noticed that here at The Birding Wire we seldom pass an opportunity to encourage birding enthusiasts to purchase annual Migratory Birding Hunting and Conservation Stamps, while we hammer home the message that the Duck Stamp is not just about ducks and waterfowl hunters. The following article was provided by the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology (WSO), which hardly qualifies as a hunting organization. - JRA

The price of the Migratory Birding Hunting and Conservation Stamp has gone up for the first time in 24 years. And that's good news for bird lovers.

The Federal Duck Stamp Act of 2014, passed by Congress and signed into law last December, increased the price of the stamp from $15 to $25, with the $10 increase dedicated to providing easements to enhance the National Wildlife Refuge System. Since 1934, when the first federal "Duck Stamps" cost $1 apiece, the price for the stamp had increased seven times to the $15 level set in 1991.

The Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp is a revenue stamp that waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older must purchase and carry with them each year to hunt.

It is also a conservation stamp because proceeds from stamp sales help purchase and protect wetland habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System. The $10 increase is expected to provide between $14 million and $16 million more per year for perpetual easements.

The new stamp, valid from July 1 to June 30, shows a pair of Ruddy Ducks painted by Jennifer Miller. It also gains you free admission to national wildlife refuges.