Wisconsin Waterfowl Association eNews - September 2015

I hope this note finds you enjoying the last sweet days of summer. Last week, I got out with my kids for a second morning of volunteering, assisting the duck banding at Collins Marsh, where we even got to "sit the blind" and wait watchfully, for the net to be deployed. It was a great experience to share with them, and adds another layer to the tapestry of being an outdoors enthusiast and hunter.

We're sending out our September newsletter a day early this month to get ahead of the start of the 9/1/15 openings of the September Canada Goose hunt, and the second year of the experimental Early Teal hunt. See the links to the season structures, again, here. Despite the fact that the delayed start to the opening days of the regular duck seasons has been eliminated - the Early Teal experimental season has its own hours - including a 9am start on the first day, plus later starting times and earlier ending times than regular waterfowl seasons - so make sure you're familiar with them. If you're going out, please be sure to target only teal - the season is experimental, and observers will be stationed all around the state. That said, let's have a great and safe hunt!

We've got a bunch of updates in here, and so I'll keep this introduction short, but with one request: As we move into the hunting seasons - PLEASE, take a moment, and forward this newsletter to your co-workers and hunting buddies, particularly those who are not already Members of our Association. We never know who will be the next to join us, and help make a difference! During this time of year, we see a real uptick in the interest in WWA, on places like Facebook, and so now is a natural time for you to advance the awareness of WWA with your circle of contacts, since everyone is excited for the upcoming hunts.

Finally, my sincere thanks to all of our volunteers, and all of our supporters, for a great August. As we continue to work projects, partnerships, and events yet this fall, it is good to remember that all of this is only possible with the assistance of our sponsors, donors, volunteers and members. Our shared efforts are making a difference on our habitat, on our communities, and on our sport. Keep up the good work!

See you on the water,

Don Kirby - WWA Executive Director; dpkwwa@gmail.com

Project Program Update

WWA's habitat team (aka Peter) continues to be very busy in the Northeast part of the state, as he finished projects around the Stevens Point area in mid-August, and now last week he worked in the Pulaski area to finish a larger scrape in an agricultural area, that remained habitually wet, despite long-term efforts to make it workable.

WWA members who follow our Facebook friends page saw the first pictures (above) from the start of this project, but here's some additional shots of the heavy equipment making progress during the early going.

This project is one of several, that will finish out our $100,000 in project work, as a major partner in a NAWCA grant, that began, back in 2013.

Peter Ziegler, Project Director - wwawetlands@gmail.com

Calendars Are Here & In Businesses Near You!

Just like last month, we want to feature some of the businesses that are offering 2016 Conservation Calendar raffles, and are ready to make your sale. These are places our local chapters 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. Make sure you take a moment to get your supply, of this year's limited edition:

Shooting Star Archery & Coffee - Hayward

Dennis and his team at Shooting Star have been long time supporters of WWA in the area, working as part of the Northland Waters Chapter. Check out the shop at 15875 T Bone Lane in Hayward, or call them at 715-634-8880, to find out when you can come in to grab your Conservation Calendars, there.

MidPoint Eatery & Sports Pub - Johnson Creek

Former WWA President Pat Smith offers Calendars at his new restaurant, located half way between Milwaukee and Madison. Check it out on your way to the next Badgers game at Camp Randall, and grab your raffle calendar there.

Mequon Lawn & Garden - Mequon

If you've got to get stuff ready for fall, or ready for the coming snow, then this might be your spot to grab your Calendar. Join Greg & the crew (longtime Cedar Creek Chapter folks) here, and they'll get you squared away.

The Range of Richfield - Richfield

"Come in to see the Ultimate Shooting Experience" is what their website says, and this indoor shooting facility has all of that, plus now offers WWA Conservation Calendars. How much fun is that?

Brewster's Lanes - Reedsburg

Here's another easy opportunity to double up on your trip. Enjoying a fun evening out with your friends, want to blow off a little steam because duck hunting isn't open yet in the south zone? When you head out to Brewster's, you can grab your Conservation Calendar, too!

Wern Valley Sportsman's Club - Waukesha

I know they've got them here, as I just dropped off the stock and the poster, during the State Shoot! One of the finest sporting clays and pheasant hunting destinations in SE Wisconsin, Wern Valley has been WWA's partner for the State Shoot for 16 years now. When you pop in there next, pick up one of our Calendars, and tell Riley or Steve we said, "hello!".

Thanks to all of these local businesses who have chosen to support WWA and our calendar raffle efforts. If you stop in to see them, let them know you saw this note, and tell them "thanks" for helping WWA! We'll feature another batch of great local businesses who're helping WWA sell Calendars, next month!

2015 State Calling Contest

Thank you to everyone who pitched in to help with the 2015 State Duck & Goose Calling contests held on Saturday August 15th at the Cabela's Richfield location. Special thanks as well to Cabela's Stephanie Grenzer for the amazing level of support we've received at her location over the years. And, the winners were...

State Duck - Adult

1st Place Benny Breikrautz, 2nd Place Austin Wendlandt, 3rd Place Travis Baacke

State Goose - Adult

1st place Kyle Nelson, 2nd place Jacob Johnson, 3rd place Andy Stoltz. Pictured with WWA Board Member & Contest Chair Rob Monette (far left) and Stephanie Grenzer of Cabela's (far right)

State Duck - Intermediate

1st place Jarrett Breber, 2nd place Mason Tait, 3rd place Matt Kozlowski. Pictured with Stephanie Grenzer (far right) and Rob Monette (far left)

State Goose - Intermediate

1st Place Jarrett Breber, 2nd place Mason Tait, 3rd place Zach McFarland. Pictured with Stephanie Grenzer (far left) and Rob Monette (far right)

State Duck & Goose - Youth

2015 Youth Duck AND Goose Champion Matt Kozlowski

President's Note

In an earlier newsletter I indicated that fall was in the air, with leaves already changing and cooler temperatures arriving. Well, now I know for sure fall is here because as I write this it's open house for the grandkids at school, so next week summer is officially over right?

Earlier this week, at o-dark thirty, we hitched up all the grandkids and headed to Collins Marsh to help the DNR with their last duck banding of the season. Handling and admiring ducks closeup is the next best thing to shooting them in my book. But, tomorrow marks the start of the early teal season, fall is almost here.

This is the year that WWA hopes to increase our memberships two-fold. I am pleased to announce our newest life "member", Mr. Ray Petersen of Sobieski, WI. Ray just recently became aware of WWA through the work we had been doing at our Abrams property development. He'd had opportunity to utilize the duck blinds at Abrams and decided to give something back to wetlands and waterfowl! All life memberships are deposited into an endowment fund to ensure Wisconsin Waterfowl Association's Mission continues into the future. Thank you, Ray, for your contribution and in joining a unique and exciting conservation organization.

Anyone interested in joining WWA can do so with a $25 contribution through our website or by contacting any of our local Chapter members. If you are interested in a "life membership" through one of our membership options feel free to check out the website or contact me personally at 920-660-2773. We would love to have you as our next "life member".

Enjoy the upcoming season and don't forget to bring a youth with you, they are our future.

Bruce Urben, WWA President

Events Update

Another hunting season is just around the corner and I'm excited to have some time this year to participate in an early season hunt. Well, I can wait, but my lab Gunner is getting pretty excited and who can blame him for wanting Tuesday to quickly approach. We have early goose and, again this year, teal season starting on the 1st, so I hope you can get out and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Your support of WWA has helped bring about these early seasons. Our united voice over the past 30 years has helped prod the lawmakers into giving us these additional hunting opportunities and the additional thousands of acres of wetland habitat we have restored, thanks to your generous contributions, have led to increased waterfowl populations. WWA was founded to give waterfowlers a united and strong voice in Madison and put more waterfowl in the skies, so thank you for your continued support.

With hunting season upon us, and us hunters always in need of new product, I want you to take a look at the great products from the fine sponsors who have helped us this year with great products for our events.

Cabela's is a most generous sponsor and the first place I stop and shop at for all my hunting and outdoor needs. Businesses like this need our support as they support us. Look at the fine decoys produced by Flambeau.

You have seen their decoys at our events over the past several years. Let them know you appreciate them by purchasing their goods when the time comes. If you have attended an event of ours you have seen the Rig'Em Right raffles featuring the greatest decoy accessories around. I use their products a bunch. My decoys are stored in their decoy

bags and I have switched my decoys over to the handiest decoy rigging system around. You can find these products and many more at Cabela's. Rig'Em Right and Flambeau products support us and they have earned your support. Don't forget our sponsors who keep our hunting companions fit and orderly as well; Nutro dog food and SportDOG e-collars will round out your hunting gear needs.

Thanks to all of you who have attended the many events we had in August. We had many successes and you are the ones to thank. We can't rest on our laurels now, though, because we still have many September happenings to make a success. Check the website for the banquet near you and bring a new member along. We must reach out to all the waterfowl hunters and get them to help support their sport. License fees alone can't support the growing pressure on our resources. Help us continue to support waterfowl hunting in the state by supporting one of our banquets. If there is not a banquet near you, help me get a committee going there. The time you spend running an event is a small price to pay for the continued improvement of our environment. The next banquet you attend, please thank our volunteers who pay that price for all duck and goose hunters.

Enjoy the upcoming hunting season, be safe and introduce someone to the joys of waterfowl hunting. Be safe, have fun.

Tom Seibert - Regional Director - tseibert1@wi.rr.com; 414.750.8260

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars now for some fabulous fall 2015 WWA events near you:

September 17, 2015 - West Allis Chapter Banquet
September 24, 2015 - South Shore Chapter Banquet
December 10, 2015 - Lakeshore Chapter Banquet

As always, please check our Events link on our website for all of our upcoming WWA events.

2015 Stamp Art Selected

By Bruce Urben, WWA President

I was honored to be asked to be a judge at the WDNR's wildlife stamp art contest in Madison on Friday July 31st.

Judges, from L to R: Bruce Urben, Paul Wait (Editor & Publisher of Delta Waterfowl magazine and Doug Fendry (WI Regional Rep for Pheasants Forever)

Winners of the 2016 Wisconsin stamp art are as follows:

Wild Turkey - Robert B. Andrea of Spooner, WI

Pheasant - Terry Doughty of Colgate, WI

Waterfowl - Terry Doughty of Colgate, WI

The Waterfowl stamp is an oil painting of a hen and drake ringneck duck sunning themselves on a bank.

Congratulations to all of the artists that participated in the Wisconsin Stamp contest.

Sponsor Spotlight - Sherpers

I was reminded of the impact of a great local sponsor, when State Shoot Chairman, Tim Fischer, and I were handing out prizes during our State Shoot at Wern Valley, back on August 22nd. When I called out the winner of a package including a $100 gift certificate to Sherpers, Inc. and a Drake blind bag, you'd have thought the winner had just won an over-under, with all the hootin' & hollerin'. It was clear that they were more than ready to do some shopping to fill up that bag!

We were very pleased to have Sherpers, Inc. return again this year as a state-wide sponsor, as well as a key supporter at several of our chapter dinner events, around southeast Wisconsin. With the fall season coming quickly upon us, please take a moment if you're in the greater Milwaukee metro area, and check out all they have to offer in their two retail locations, in Oconomowoc or Hales Corners.

Sherpers is a great example of "Wisconsin-Based-Pride", just like your favorite conservation organization! As it says on their website, "Our mission as a family owned and operated store is to make satisfied customers through honest advice, genuine customer service, low pricing and great selection of quality hard-to-find products with the goal of providing a truly unique shopping experience." If you'd like to learn more about Sherpers, check out their stores in Hales Corners, or Oconomowoc, or go to their website at: www.sherpers.com.

Thank you to Sherper's Inc. for all you do for WWA!

USDA To Invest $20 Million In Private Lands

USDA News Release: WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $20 million to partner with 15 state agencies (including Wisconsin) to improve and increase wildlife habitat and public access for recreational opportunities on privately-owned and operated farm, ranch and forest lands. The projects are being funded under the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP)

"Our partnerships with state governments will help them work with interested landowners to enhance hunting and fishing and other wildlife-dependent recreation, to enhance wildlife habitat, and to protect wildlife species and encourage new opportunities for local businesses," Vilsack said. "These projects are excellent examples of USDA's successful efforts to connect public and private partners for long-term conservation gains that benefit sportsmen, wildlife, private land owners, and the public."

The selected state governments will encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch or forest land in their respective states to voluntarily open their land for hunting, fishing and other wildlife-dependent recreation and to improve fish and wildlife habitat on that land.

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation (NRCS) awarded grants for projects in Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Click here for a list of all funded projects.

Read on...

In This Issue:

Don Kirby's September Update

Project Program Update

Get Your 2016 Calendars Now!

2015 State Calling Contest

President's Note

Events Update

Upcoming Events

2015 Stamp Art Selected

Sponsor Spotlight - Sherpers Inc.

USDA To Invest $20 Million In Private Lands

Conservation Calendar Raffle

WWA's Life Members

In Memoriam

Please Support Our Statewide Sponsors & Donors

Gold Level Sponsors

Nutro Natural Pet Foods

Silver Level Sponsors

Gear The Way You'd Design It�

Mathews Solocam -

Catch Us If You Can

Milwaukee Tool

L.W. Meyer, Inc. / Milwaukee Tool

Parker Bows

Vortex Optics -

The Force of Optics

Bronze Level Sponsors

State Level Sponsors

Imagine. Innovate. Integrate.

DyeSport - Clothing & Uniforms

Final Approach Brand

Threads Colors & Creations

Serious Products For People Who Are Serious About the Outdoors

Wisconsin Duck Hunting

Winery

Door County, WI

Vineyard & Winery Green Bay, WI

State Level Donors

Epic Waterfowl - Making Wings Lock by the Flock

von Stiehl Winery - Algoma, WI

Realism That Gets Results

Longleaf Camo -
Only Nature Does It Better

Innovators In Waterfowl Hunting

Plano Synergy Holdings

Wild Wings Collection

The Wisconsin Waterfowl Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission focuses on wetland and upland habitat restoration, youth and adult environmental education and environmental- and hunter-based legislation.

To contact us call (800) 524-8460 or (262) 968-1722, email wwainfo@centurytel.net or visit our website at www.wisducks.org

Sincerely,

Don Kirby
Executive Director
Wisconsin Waterfowl Association
PO Box 427
Wales, Wisconsin 53183
wwainfo@centurytel.net
800-524-8460

Conservation Calendar Raffle

Thank you to everyone who purchased our 2015 WWA/ Pheasants Forever Conservation Calendar! This raffle, again, turned into an immensely successful fundraiser for our organization and raised almost $20,000 for our mission of habitat, education and legislation in the state of Wisconsin.

Our eighth 2015 drawing was held on August 15, 2015 at Stadium Bar in Oshkosh, WI and results are now posted online. Results can also be obtained by request via email at wwainfo@centurytel.net or by calling (262) 968-1722 or writing to PO Box 427, Wales, WI 53183.

Congratulations to all who won prizes in last month's drawings and good luck to everyone entered for the remainder of 2015!

Raffle prizes for each month will be drawn on the 15th date of that month and all drawings will be held at Stadium Bar, 301 Knapp Street, Oshkosh, WI 54902 at 6:00 p.m. The drawing is open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend and watch the calendar drawings each month.

Thank You WWA Life Members!

Life Sponsor

Dale Arenz
Ted Olson

Wetland Life Member

Tom Lutes
Patrick Smith
Erich Pitz

Life Members

Raymond Petersen
Bruce Urben
Brian Hadler
David R. VanLanen
John Wetzel
Scott Zoellick
Cal Barstow
Terry G. Doughty
Bill Peebles
Jim Weix
Leonard & Arleen Wurman
Jeff Nania
John Holmes
Rob Monette
Guy McFarren
John Regan
Jerry Burns
Jerry Gadamus
Don Moore
Arthur Anderson
Don Kloetzke
Buzz Balzer
David Uihlein, Sr.
Robert Kieckhefer
Mark Drollinger
Jason Alvarado
Scott Hedin
Austin Wheaton
Tom Seibert
Larry Kirby
Sharon Kirby
Keith A. Pamperin
Lance Voeltner
Benjamin Larson
Randy Helback
Don Kirby
Robert Swanson
Michael Alaimo

Legacy Life Members: Gone, but Not Forgotten

Les Didier

For information on how to support WWA's habitat, education and legislative programs by becoming a Life Member please visit our website or email us. All membership contributions to WWA are tax deductible as permitted by law.

In Memoriam

Thanks to all those that have cherished the memory of a loved one by donating in memoriam to the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association.

Those recently memorialized were:

Mr. Stephan Rogge
Donors: Bob & Helen Harold, Law Offices of O'Flaherty Heim Egan & Birnbaum Ltd, La Crosse County Bar Association

Mr. Leroy Depies
Donors: Greg & Kris Rausch, Dave & Jen Bublitz, Dwight & Kim Campnell, Phil & Michelle Neary, Tim & Jodi Wade, Dennis Guttmann, Jim & Liz Freck, Brian & Lisa Hutchinson

Mr. Bob Kuehl
Donors: Walter H. Drew, Mrs. Penny Kuehl, Donald & Ruth Purdy

Mr. John (Jay) DeZutel

Donors: Donna & Gary, Cindy & Marty, The Cedar Creek Chapter of WWA

Mr. Leo M. Guttmann (father of Cedar Creek chapter member Dennis Guttmann)

Donors: Greg & Kris Rausch, Mike & Deb Depies, Rita Rausch, Jim & Liz Freck, Tim & Jodie Wade

Mr. Robert Barth

Donors: The Service & Management Staff of Robinson Heating & Cooling - Scott Tweedale, Ed Desotell, Ben Stein, Dennis Jolly, Kevin Berg, Eric Selissen, Mike Taicher, Steve Watermolen, Brad Davister, Rick Krueger

If you'd like to consider a lasting and meaningful memorial fund contribution for that friend, hunting partner, co-worker or relative with WWA, please contact us at (800) 524-8460 or wwainfo@centurytel.net. Each contribution will offer:

a personalized letter to the family of the deceased,
a letter from WWA sent to the donor confirming contribution for tax purposes (address & individual donation amount must be supplied),
the option for the donor to designate which WWA program they wish their contributions be put towards, and
a listing in this section for the duration of one year.