DNR, NRB Playing Politics with State Fish, Wildlife

Adam Neu, 25, of Forestville, placed third in the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Northern Open at the St. Lawrence River/1000 Islands area of New York last weekend, earning $14,720. His three-day weight of 76 pounds, six ounces on 15 smallmouths included 27 pounds, five ounces the final day, anchored by a six-and-a-half-pound giant. Howie Tubes in green pumpkin and amber colors from Howie’s Tackle in Sturgeon Bay were his go-to baits. The winner, Canadian Cory Johnston, earned $43,433 for his 78-pound total. Photo courtesy of Bassmaster.com.

Like it or not, politics is taking center stage on almost every controversial decision being made these days by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Wolves – and Natural Resources Board (NRB) chair Fred Prehn’s refusal to step down until his successor is confirmed by the Senate – are at the heart of the current battle.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers appointed Sandra Dee Naas to a seat on the NRB this spring, but Prehn – one of former Gov. Scott Walker’s appointees – is only the third member to take advantage of a loophole in state statutes that basically says that the expiration of a term doesn’t create a vacancy. Instead, a vacancy exists only if there’s a death, resignation or formal removal from the board.

At first glance, it would seem that Naas would be a solid advocate for hunters on the board. She’s said to be an avid hunter, angler and trapper who has served on the Conservation Congress. But critics say she’s likely to vote against the current wolf harvest season structure, a possible deciding vote as Evers appointees would have majority control of the board.

Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul filed a lawsuit Aug. 17 seeking a circuit court order to remove Prehn, whose six-year term expired May 1. The lawsuit seeks an expedited hearing. 

Late last week, Prehn released a statement through his attorney that said DNR Deputy Secretary Todd Ambs told him the agency would not be proposing any agenda items for the board’s Sept. 22 meeting, and no DNR officials would attend. Prehn, who called the DNR’s stance unprecedented, said he had no choice but to cancel the meeting. 

Last month, DNR Secretary Preston Cole accused Prehn of squatting on the board so he could cast deciding votes on key environmental and wildlife issues.

Not long after, a coalition of wildlife-advocacy groups filed a lawsuit seeking to block this fall’s wolf hunt, arguing in part that the board set quotas that weren’t legitimate because Prehn presided over the August meeting and cast a vote.

The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 27 in Madison. 

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation that would end Wisconsin’s mandatory wolf-hunting season. Though it doesn’t have much of a chance of advancing because Republicans hold a majority of both chambers of the legislature, the bill would change a single word in state statutes – from “shall” to “may” – when it comes to whether the DNR should hold a wolf-harvest season if wolves are delisted at the federal level.

Big Weekend Outside

Saturday is the opening day of the state’s archery and crossbow deer season, along with the fall wild turkey, gray and fox squirrel, Northern Zone cottontail rabbit and Zone A ruffed grouse hunts. 

It’s also the start of the youth waterfowl hunting weekend. Only those ages 15 and younger may hunt ducks and geese during the youth waterfowl hunt. All youths must be accompanied by an adult chaperone who’s age 18 or older. The adult may not accompany more than one youth hunter, with the exception being that an adult may accompany two youth hunters if at least one of the youth hunters is aged 12-15 and has completed a hunter-education safety course. 

Mentors may not hunt ducks, coots, moorhens or mergansers, but they may hunt geese if they possess a Canada goose permit that’s appropriate for the zone being hunted. 

Harvest Information Program registration is required. Youth not participating in a mentored hunt must have completed a Wisconsin hunter-education course (or similar course from another state, province or country). All license and stamp requirements are waived for eligible youth waterfowl hunters except a Canada goose hunting permit. 

On the fishing scene, perch and walleye continue to provide good action on the bay side of Door County, while mature Chinook salmon have moved into the Sturgeon Bay ship canal and the lower to middle stretches of the Ahnapee River.

Weekly Water Levels

As of Sept. 10, Lake Michigan was continuing its seasonal drop, down four inches from mid-August, and it was expected to drop another three inches during the next month.  

Lake levels were 17 inches above the 100-year September average but 17 inches below the monthly record, set in 1986. Water levels were still up 46 inches from the record September low, set in 1964.