Wisconsin Waterfowl Association
Dedicated to the Conservation of Wisconsin's Waterfowl and Wetland Resources.
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Thank You To WWA's
2016 Sponsors & Donors
Gold Level Sponsors
Silver Level Sponsors
Bronze Level Sponsors
State Level Sponsors
State Level Donors
LIFE SPONSORS
  • Dale Arenz
  • Ted Olson
  • Jack Olson
WETLAND LIFE MEMBERS
  • Tom Lutes
  • Patrick Smith
  • Erich Pitz
LIFE MEMBERS
  • Randy Hess
  • 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 Helbach
  • Don Kirby
  • Robert Swanson
  • Michael Alaimo
LEGACY LIFE MEMBERS
Gone but not forgotten
  • Les Didier
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. Norman J. Brady
Donor: Dale W. Arenz

Mr. Robert E. Strous
Donor: Bruce Urben

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 
 
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. 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
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
APRIL 2016
Spring = Shoots, Banquets, Hearings & More!
Don Kirby, Executive Director, 262.224.4949

The month of March was a blur. Starting out with a snowy set-up of the Milwaukee Sport Show, on the first, concluding with a great dinner event hosted by our Fox Valley team last night - the month was jam packed with activities for our members - fundraising, preparing for the incoming migration north, working on regulatory issues - the whole gamut of options.

Now, we prepare for another busy spring month, with plenty of WWA events to check out, plus the WCC Spring Hearings, the finalization of the 2016 waterfowl seasons by the NRB, and the start of our Shoot Series! Please continue to read on, and you'll learn about all of the opportunities coming this month - and how you can get involved.

A huge thank you to all the volunteers who worked for us in March, and who will be working hard on WWA projects in April. Your association exists because of your efforts.

See you on the water...Don
 
an April visitor to Don's home office window, from a couple years back...
Project Program Updates
Peter Ziegler
Peter Ziegler, Project Director, 262.470.4310

Mother Nature did not let us forget that March in Wisconsin did not quite mean spring. Last week, despite experiencing my first day of "spring" in a weather related power outage due to the not so springy ice, snow, sleet, rain (you name it I seen it), I was still able to enjoy the glistening tree tops as they glimmered with their ice encased limbs in the sun against a blue bird sky. It looked quite a bit more like winter, although the geese continued to use the field across the road from me as they have all winter due to our low snow pack in the southeastern section of the state. All of our recent precipitation events have been good for us and our feathered friends in Wisconsin, as much of these rains (and snows and sleets) will provide the needed moisture for recharging our wetlands.

I have a few things on the horizon I'd like to share with you this month. First, I will be participating in two wetland workshops put on by the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, one in Door County on May 21st and one in Manitowoc County on June 4th. Any and all are welcome to come learn about how to get started on a restoration and care for your wetland property. WWA partnered  with the WI Wetlands Association for similar workshops in other counties along the lake in past years and we're excited to be involved again this year. If you're interested in attending, please contact the Wisconsin Wetlands Association.

Second, at the end of the month I will be presenting on small scale wetland restorations at the 2016 Clean Rivers, Clean Lakes Conference being heldon April 28th in Milwaukee. It's no secret to most of us that one of the keys to clean lakes and rivers are numerous and healthy functioning wetlands.

Until the weather turned from spring back to winter, I had been completing surveys, preparing for new project designs in Fond du Lac, Washington, Dodge and Marquette Counties. The less than average winter precipitation made surveying efficient until recent rains flooded most areas beyond access. As with most spring seasons, it gets people thinking about their wetlands again as they see flooded lands. I keep busy this time of year, and so I encourage you to contact me soon so we can get a look at any potential projects before it turns 80 degrees and the grass is head high. I'm always looking for good projects, so let your friends, neighbors and co-workers know about our program.
Tom's Banquet Corner
Tom Seibert, Regional Director, 414.750.8260 
 
Congratulations and a huge THANK YOU shout-out to our members for supporting our events in March. The Green Bay and Valley Chapters had exceptional banquets. The booze raffle at the Green Bay event was so huge that the facility is thinking of putting on an addition to hold all of those bottles. Well, almost. The Valley Chapter, who held their event last night, would still be walking Kimber pistols through if it weren't for the fact that the facility staff had to close up, or at least it felt that way! These two March banquets hosted the largest booze raffle and the most walk through guns I have seen in my 25 + years of doing banquets. That can't happen without your support and the hard work of every committee member. WWA wants to give you all the biggest thanks ever. We have many projects and clinics planned that need your support and we are getting it from our members and volunteers.

You dog lovers will want to know that we have Nutro dog food back on board and at every event this year, so keeping your dog eating healthy won't be a problem. Sport dog is also a major sponsor, with their Model 1825 Wetlands 1-mile e-collar featured at every WWA event this year, so keeping your hunting companion on his or her best behavior will be a snap. A brand new sponsor, Andis from Racine, WI, has made sure that electric grooming clippers will be present at each event for you dog owners as well. Our events aren't just guns and ammo, but goodies for our loving hunting companions too!
Didn't get to an event in March? Check out our events page, we have many events in April coming up quickly.

Our Waukesha Chapter has a few remaining tickets left on their Browning Cynergy Field Hunter 12ga. O/U shotgun for their April event. Many of you saw this Walnut stocked beauty in our booth at the Milwaukee Sport Show and wondered how that could be a field gun. For $10 a ticket or 5/$40 and it could become a gun for your display case; the gun will be drawn at Waukesha's banquet on April 14th at the Golden Mast Inn. If home protection is your choice, the South Suburban Chapter is drawing their Beretta PX4 Storm 45ACP. at their event on April 18th at the Polish Center. Tickets are 1/$5, 3/$10 or 10/$20 only 750 sold. You need not be present to win either of these guns. Contact me for tickets or go online for more information.

April marks the start of our Sporting Clays shoot series, with our first shoot in the series taking place April 23rd at the Waunakee Gun Club. You will have a chance to win some great prizes and get entered into a drawing for a Cannon Wide Body 64 Gun Safe just by signing up to shoot. Check the website for more info on the Sporting Clay series and upcoming events near you.

Congratulations go out to Cal Czajka for winning the Winchester SXP 12ga. shotgun given away as the State Hunt bonus gun at the Milwaukee Sport Show. Thanks to all who participated and good luck to all of you when we draw for the winner of the Waterfowler's Dream Hunt Coastal Texas with Bay Flats Lodge in December.
Sponsor Spotlight - Vortex Optics
VORTEX OPTICS - LOCATED IN AMERICA'S HEARTLAND   USA Vortex Optics

WWA has had the good fortune to share a partnership with Vortex Optics for many years. At our events, you'll find a terrific combination of their products, shown below, featured among fundraising prizes. Just last night, we saw the return of the "Vortex combo" at the Fox Valley Chapter's dinner event: the rifle scope, binoculars, and laser rangefinder, plus accessories, drew rave reviews! 
 
Check out this introduction, from their website:
 
ABOUT YOU: Surprised? Normally this is the section where it's "About Us". But at Vortex, it's All About You.Rather than go on about "Us" and how long we've been in business and how great we are, we focus on you, what you need, what you want, what's important to you-because that's what makes us tick.
 
Let's sum it up in three simple words: People, Products and Promises.
 
People: The Customer is King. We not only believe this to be true, but we actually follow through on it. This means we treat you-our dealers and customers-like royalty.
 
Products: Offering you the finest in rugged optics comes about by paying attention to detail in every aspect of our business. We are fanatics about doing things right.

Promises: Say what we mean and mean what we say. At Vortex you have our pledge to uncommon excellence and dedication in every aspect of our business. "Vortex is the Force of Optics."
 
And now ... just a little "About Us": The people at Vortex have been in the optics business since 1986 and we're one of the few family owned and operated US companies left in the industry. We have a staff of about forty dedicated and hard working people who love to come to work and make great things happen for our customers and dealers. All of our products are designed to our own specifications and inspected and serviced at our modern facility located in central Wisconsin.
 
VIP WARRANTY: Our warranty is about you, not us. It's about taking care of you after the sale. We will repair or replace your Vortex product for any reason at NO CHARGE TO YOU. If you ever have a problem, no matter the cost, we promise to take care of you.
 
All of us at WWA are always extra-proud to partner with outstanding businesses that are based here in Wisconsin, and as you can see - with products and a warranty like Vortex has - it's easy to be partners with the best in their field! Thank you to Vortex for supporting the works of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association!     

American owned, Middleton, WI, based Vortex Optics designs, engineers, produces and distributes a complete line of premium binoculars, riflescopes, spotting scopes, tripods and related accessories. Dedicated to exceptional quality, value and unrivaled customer service, Vortex backs its products with its unconditional, transferable, lifetime VIP-warranty. Built on nearly 30 years of experience in the optics industry, Vortex has emerged as a leading brand in the optics market. Through their generous sponsorship of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, our fundraising teams benefit from a discounted purchase program they can use to supply innovative products at any of our fundraising events.   For more information on Vortex Optics products, check out their website at: www.vortexoptics.com
APRIL 2016
MAY 2016
JUNE 2016

WWA'S 2016 CALENDAR RAFFLE

Thank you to everyone who purchased our 2016 Conservation Calendar! This raffle was again an immensely successful fundraiser for our organization's mission.  

NEW for 2016: Drawings will be held on the SECOND MONDAY of each 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. 

Winner's results are posted online by noon on the Tuesday following the drawing and can also be obtained by request via email or by calling (262) 968-1722 or writing to PO Box 427, Wales, WI 53183. 
  
Good luck to all who are entered! 
Chapter Spotlight: Waukesha County & Twin Rivers Chapter Adopt Rome Pond Wildlife Area
A huge shout-out, thanks and nice work goes out to our Waukesha County and Twin Rivers/Jefferson area chapters who this spring combined their volunteer efforts to adopt Rome Pond Wildlife Area through the WI DNR's Adopt a Wildlife Area program. This new program rolled out through the DNR solicits volunteer groups to help improve the quality of our public lands. These WWA chapters will donate 100 volunteer hours to improve a Wildlife Area in their neighborhood at the Rome Pond unit, which consists of nearly 2,600 acres.
Volunteers TJ Schnulle, Todd Berger, Brent Berger and Don Guenther work at Rome Pond

WWA volunteers started by cleaning, repairing, replacing and adding over a dozen Wood Duck nesting structures last week. These chapters will remove old duck blinds and other water debris and clean up and improve the parking areas around this public land throughout the year. Signage supplied by WDNR will be going up to recognize their efforts as well - a great marketing tool for both chapters, for sure.
 
Interested in getting involved?  The chapters are hosting a Marsh and Parking Lot clean-up day on April 23rd (rain date will be April 24th) from 8:00am to 12:00 noon, volunteers will meet at the north landing parking lot.  Mud motor rigs are needed.  Call Waukesha County chapter chair Mike Alaimo at 262.443.4674 to sign up!

Want to support efforts such as these?  Plan to attend one (or both!) of these chapters' fundraising banquets being held this month.  Twin Rivers/Jefferson is THIS Saturday night, April 2nd at Jansen's banquet hall in Fort Atkinson.  Call Dave or Tracey Bente at 920.650.3271 to reserve your spot.  The Waukesha County banquet is being held Thursday, April 14th at the Golden Mast in Okauchee.  Click here for more details or to purchase your tickets online.
WWA's 2016 Sporting Clays Shoot Series
Register - Shoot - Win!  6 Unique Events at Awesome Venues to Choose From!

Those of you who have joined us at any of our shoots in the past have shared that we have the best (and most!) prizes to win, so if you enjoy fun-filled days of shooting with fellow outdoors-minded folk, mark your calendars & plan to join us at all six of our 2016 shoots in the series, the more shoots you attend, the more money you save.
2016 Shoot Series Grand Prize (guns,etc not included)

Each shoot has individual characteristics, including entry price, award/games/raffle structure, duration of the event, "side events" available, etc, so be sure to check out our website as the first shoots are open for online registration now! Every event gives you your 1-year WWA membership, AND an entry to win the GRAND PRIZE for 2016 - an incredible CANNON wide-body firearms vault (pictured at right)!

Check out all the details, here, and mark your calendars for the following dates:
Spring Hearings: Questions of Note to Waterfowlers
WI Conservation Congress Logo
As has been the case the past several years, this year there are a number of important, and some controversial, questions to be discussed and voted on, a week from now. On Monday, April 11th, please find the time to make your voice heard, and participate in this exercise of our democratic process.

Of note, there are two questions from the migratory committee:
  • #33: asks again about whether permanent waterfowl hunting blinds should be allowed on public lands/waters, from 7 days before, to 7 days after the waterfowl season:   WWA does not have an official position on this issue, as our members have historically been divided on this topic.
  • #34:  asks whether the 1pm daily closure time, in place for the first 16 days of the season, at the Mead Wildlife area, should be repealed. WWA suggests that you vote to NO on this question. The vast majority of waterfowl hunters using this area have continually supported this regulation since its inception in 2010, as evidenced by multiple WDNR surveys. This slight reduction in opportunity, for the afternoons of the first couple of weeks of the season, is greatly overshadowed by the power of the restriction to help ducks find refuge, resulting in more ducks staying around in the heavily-utilized Mead, for more days before moving out, resulting in more hunter opportunity. WWA volunteers were among those who worked hard, for many years, to get this special regulation put in place, it would be a shame to see it abandoned for the desires of a select few.
Beyond these two questions specifically directed at waterfowling, there are a number of questions which many sportspeople will find interesting.Check out the whole questionnaire, here, as well as the hours for the event, the location nearest to you, and other information about the process.
Migratory Bird Treaty Centennial 1916-2016
From The Birding Wire, March 30, 2016

This year we mark the centennial of the Convention between the United States and Great Britain (for Canada) for the Protection of Migratory Birds - also called the Migratory Bird Treaty - that was signed on Aug. 16, 1916. This Migratory Bird Treaty, and three others that followed, form the cornerstones of our efforts to conserve birds that migrate across international borders.

The treaty connects the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service with our federal, state, private, non-government, tribal, and international partners who share a long, successful history of conserving, protecting, and managing migratory bird populations and their habitats. Celebrating the centennial of the first treaty allows us to bring together those who have contributed to its success, and to galvanize efforts to protect migratory birds for generations to come.

Migratory birds...
  • connect people with nature and add beauty, sound and color to our world. They provide countless opportunities for enjoyment by birders, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts, and they have cultural and spiritual importance.
  • contribute environmental benefits, including pollination, insect and rodent control, and seed dispersal.
  • are good indicators of environmental health because they are so visible and are relatively easy to study. Studying birds can give us a picture of what is going on in the natural world.
  • play a key role in the U.S. economy, supporting recreational opportunities (22.9MB) that create jobs and generate billions of dollars in revenue.
Read on... 
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