Wild Things: Splitting Door into Two Deer Units Proposed
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DNR, Conservation Congress hosting open houses April 4-5
by KEVIN NAZE, [email protected], Peninsula Pulse contributor
Door and Kewaunee County citizens who are concerned about the outdoors are invited to a pair of open houses early next month.
For the first time since 2019, members of the public will be able to gather to elect local representatives to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC). Restrictions during the pandemic meant there was no opportunity to nominate and vote for county delegates and alternates to the group, which serves in an advisory capacity to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Door County Conservation Congress delegate Dave Tupa is one of many hunters who’d like to see northern and southern Door County split for deer-management purposes, including separate harvest data collected. Tupa’s request was brought up during the recent WCC District 8 meeting, as well as the County Deer Advisory Council Oversight Committee meeting.
“Members at both meetings agreed with wanting to collect harvest data separately, but no action was taken at either meeting,” Tupa said, and he added that Jeff Pritzl, DNR deer program specialist, is expected to be at the Door County open house to provide more information about a possible split.
Sturgeon Bay High School’s Alumni Hall will be the site of the April 4 open house, and Kewaunee High School’s Little Theatre will host the April 5 open house. Doors will open at 6 pm, and WCC elections will begin at 7 pm.
A panel discussion with DNR staff and WCC delegates will follow the elections. The DNR will provide a brief update on issues pertinent to the county, and WCC delegates will provide an overview of their work and what the organization is about. There will be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.
The open houses precede the annual DNR and WCC spring hearings, which, for the fourth year, will be available only via online input. The questionnaire will be open from 12 pm on April 10 to 12 pm on April 13 through a link at dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/wcc/springhearing.
March 20 Trout Meeting
The second in a series of four public meetings of a Lake Michigan lake trout commercial-harvest stakeholder group will be held Monday, March 20, both in person at Lakeshore Technical College and via Zoom. The purpose of the series is to provide information and gather public feedback on the Lake Michigan lake trout population.
This meeting will focus on lake trout mass-marking and movement patterns in Lake Michigan. Additional opportunities to provide input on and learn more about lakers will take place April 18 and May 16.
Monday’s meeting will begin at 6 pm in the college’s Lake Michigan Room at 1290 North Ave. in Cleveland, Wisconsin. The Zoom link to register is us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqc–przgoGNR2cbTRc4SfPOnKuigY9fdl.
Be Professional
National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) president Pat Neu of Forestville encourages anyone who makes a living in the sportfishing industry to check out the benefits of joining the NPAA.
He’s also promoting a YouTube video by member Mike Frenette, a legendary saltwater guide. During the recent NPAA conference, Frenette engaged the audience in a seminar about controlling your own destiny.
“To come out on top, you need to be professional in all aspects, both on and off the water – and that certainly includes the business end of things,” he said.
Frenette laid out a blueprint for aspiring recreational fishing industry pros during the seminar, available at youtube.com/watch?v=gzkDSeE0wfI, and Neu said it’s right on point.
“This presentation should be required viewing for anyone aspiring to make a living, earn part-time cash or improve their existing business in the recreational fishing realm,” Neu said.
Learn more about the angling group at npaa.net.
Updated Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count updated its numbers this week. The new total is 7,538 bird species reported, which is about two-thirds of the known 10,960 species on earth. Organizers received a record-breaking 390,000 checklists from 202 countries, with an estimated 555,000 global participants.
Check out gorgeous photos captured by participants across the globe, and see local data at birdcount.org.
Spring Turkey Tags
More than 15,000 Zone 2 bonus spring wild turkey hunting tags will go on sale March 21, 10 am.
You need to purchase a spring turkey license and stamp privilege in order to buy a bonus tag. The leftovers are $10 for residents and $15 for nonresidents.
This year’s youth hunting weekend is April 15-16, with the first of six seven-day regular hunt periods beginning April 19.
