Wisconsin Spring Conservation Congress Hearings/Public Comments

Wisconsin’s Spring Conservation Congress hearings and public comment period begins in April. http://dnr.wi.gov/about/wcc/springhearing.html

• Wisconsinites will be given an opportunity to comment on the questions, but will be limited to a maximum of three (3) minutes for each question that you wish to discuss.
• Written comments on all DNR proposed rule changes will be accepted until April 8, 2013.

Helpful pointers:

1.  On Monday, April 8, there will be 72 public hearings, one in each county starting at 7:00 p.m. where individuals interested in natural resources management have an opportunity to provide their input by non-binding vote and testimony to the Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Board and the Conservation Congress on proposed hunting and fishing rule changes and advisory questions.  Please consult the list of locations for each county where the hearings will be held – the locations are also shown in the questionnaire. 

2.  Everyone will be given an opportunity to comment on the questions – http://tinyurl.com/WIQuestionnaire

• You will be limited to a maximum of three (3) minutes for each question that you wish to discuss. If comments become repetitive the hearing officer may limit comments to issues not previously presented. No argument or rebuttal will be allowed on DNR questions.
• Written comments on all DNR proposed rule changes will be accepted until April 8, 2013.  This would be an opportunity for you to discuss the wording of questions 48-51 regarding the training of dogs to hunt wolves which are very misleading.  No matter how you answer, yes or no, the response indicates support for it.

3.  YOU CANNOT COMPLETE THE QUESTIONNAIRE ONLINE.  YOU MUST COMPLETE THE QUESTIONNAIRE, IN PERSON, AT THE MEETING.  After you have registered, staff will provide you with a white ballot – the white ballot is for all the Department of Natural Resources wildlife and fisheries proposed rule change questions and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress advisory questions that are printed in this questionnaire.  You will also be given a blue ballot – the blue ballot is for all citizen introduced resolutions which are presented at the beginning of the Conservation Congress county meeting.

In order for ballots to be read correctly by the voting machine:

• Use a PENCIL on ballots – not pen
•  DO NOT erase (If you make a mistake, please turn in your original ballot and request a new ballot)
• DO NOT circle answers
• DO NOT make notes or stray marks anywhere on the ballot
• If you DO NOT follow these directions your ballot may not be readable and therefore may not be counted.

4.  You should familiarize yourself with the questionnaire.  There are many questions that may interest you, not just the use of dogs to hunt wolves.

• Questions 48-51 – Training of dogs to hunt wolves
• Question 68 – Training of dogs to hunt wolves
• Question 38 – Changes in the training of dogs to hunt bears
• Question 39 – Weasel trapping, change that a trapper is only required to check traps every 4 days, instead of daily

There are also questions regarding the hunting of doves, restricting areas for hunting, etc.