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JULY 2012 VOLUME 39 NUMBER 7 A decade after lawmakers recognized in statute the threat that invasive, nonnative plant and animal species pose to the envi- ronment, economy and quality of life, Wisconsin has increased awareness, adopted comprehensive regulations and built partnerships to try to prevent the invaders from getting introduced or spread within the state, state natural resources officials say. “Wisconsin has made a lot of progress on many fronts,” says Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp. “We’ve made impor- tant gains in increasing public awareness, in preventing the spread of invasive species al- ready here, and in building the capacity to quickly detect and control new invaders. “Most importantly, we’ve worked hard to keep our na- tive ecosystems healthy and to build the cooperation, partner- ships and volunteer networks crucial to prevent, contain and control these threats to our natural resources and our economy,” she says. “There is still more work to be done but Wisconsin has a lot to be proud of.” The result of such work is seen in statistics like these: 20 years after zebra mussels were found in Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan harbors, less than 3 percent of lakes suitable for zebra mussels have them; two-thirds of lakes with public access are free of Eurasian water-milfoil and zebra mussels; and more than 90 percent of boaters and anglers say they take steps to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Or stats like these: DNR and partners have identified 59 species of terrestrial invasive plants that are not yet widespread or are not yet in the state and hundreds of trained volunteers are actively looking for these plants so they can be eradicated once they are found; 93 percent of campers in a 2010 survey said that stopping the use of firewood at a state campground from outside a 25-mile radius to prevent the potential spread of forest pests was important, and 85 percent said they comply with firewood laws at state parks and forests, up from 73 percent just two years earlier. Kelly Kearns, a DNR conservation biologist who has worked for more than 20 years on terrestrial invasive species issues, says that invasive species remain a serious and growing threat due to increased global trade and climate change that allows more invasive species to sur- vive Wisconsin winters. “More people are looking for inva- sive species so they’re being found more frequently.” The good news, says Ke- arns and Jeff Bode, who has led Wisconsin’s lakes and aquatic invasive species ef- forts for the past 20 years, is that Wisconsin is slowing the spread of some species and is in a better position to prevent future invaders from getting established than in 2002, when lawmakers passed a law to create an advisory council to help guide state policy. Comprehensive rules are now in place to help prevent more invasive species being introduced. Wisconsin’s Invasive Species Rule now regu- lates the sale, transport, possession and introduction of listed invasive species. DNR’s ballast water regulations require vessels arriving in Wis- consin ports to use best management practices including exchanging or flushing ballast water in the ocean before entering the Great Lakes, a practice that nationally has helped cut to zero the number of new inva- sive species documented to have arrived in the Great Lakes via ballast water. And a suite of laws has been enacted to prevent boaters, anglers and other water users from accidentally spreading invasive species and fish diseases from lake to lake, Bode says. Strong state-local partnerships leverage scarce resources to tackle invasive species problems. Fifty counties actively network with DNR to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species; regional invasive species groups and Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) groups pro- vide trainings, watch for pioneering invasive species and respond to new infestations around the state; and state and federal agencies coopera- tively enforce quarantine areas to prevent the spread invasive insects that may harm trees or crops, Bode says. Kearns says that education efforts by government agencies, local con- servation groups and lake associations, educators and individuals have A Decade of Progress to Prevent, Control and Contain Invasive Species helped greatly increase awareness about the problems caused by invasive plants, aquatic invasive species and forest pests. Knowledge is especially high among spe- cific groups such as park visitors, garden- ers, rural landowners, and boaters and anglers of the steps they can take to pre- vent accidentally spreading a host of in- vasive species, Bode and Kearns say. Best Management Practices, or BMPs, to prevent the spread of invasives are in place and well utilized by some industries, such as forestry and utility companies, Kearns says. “Many roadside managers are adjusting their mowing schedules to cut back the weeds before they begin to produce seed, thereby minimizing the spread of seed,” she says. Hikers, mountain bikers, off-road ve- hicle users and others who play in Wis- consin’s public lands are learning to clean off their gear before and after visiting an area to avoid inadvertently carrying pests or seeds from one area to another, she says. And campers and cabin owners are cooperating with efforts to avoid mov- ing firewood and the pests that it may be harboring. The nursery and landscape indus- try is helping by recognizing plants that are overly aggressive and eliminating them from their plantings and sales yards. “In general, people are understanding that they can be part of the solution by doing their part to avoid spreading invasives,” Kearns says. Perhaps the most encouraging development over the past decade, she says, is the legion of volunteers who have mobilized to pull liter- ally tons of garlic mustard from forests they care about; have been trained as “weed watchers” to look for, identify and report new popula- tions of invasives in their area; have raised and released biocontrol beetles that feed only on the invasive plant purple loosestrife, and who have spent countless weekend hours at boat landings, helping educate boaters about the steps they need to take to prevent acciden- tally spreading Eurasian water-milfoil and other invasive species to new waters. “It is on-the-ground efforts such as these that will be critical to maintain our biodiversity and prevent invasive species from harming Wisconsin’s environment and economy,” she says. Invasive species fast facts In the water… • 67 percent of lakes with public access are free of Eurasian water- milfoil and zebra mussels. • 2.5 percent of lakes predicted to be suitable for zebra mussels are currently infested. • 136 of 15,081 inland waters have zebra mussels. • 584 of 15,081 waters statewide have Eurasian water-milfoil; only 135 are in northern Wisconsin. • $17 million in grants awarded to local communities since 2003 for aquatic invasive species prevention and control. • Permits issued to nearly 300 ships since DNR’s ballast water permitting program began in 2010. The permits spell out the best management practices the vessels must use to keep invasive species out of the Great Lakes. On the land… • 132 exotic invasive plants have been documented in upland and wetlands sites in Wisconsin. • 59 species of terrestrial invasive plants not yet widespread or not yet in the state are identified for early detection and eradication. • Residents in over half of the counties are involved in regional in- vasive species groups and Cooperative Weed Management Areas that provide trainings to complete plant inventories and respond to new infestations around the state. • Where biocontrol beetles have been released to control the inva- sive purple loosestrife, research has shown a decrease in seed produc- tion to near zero, virtually eliminating most plant dispersal. • Camper awareness of invasive forest diseases and pests has in- creased substantially since 2006, with 93 percent aware of the emer- ald ash borer and 93 percent reporting that stopping long distance firewood transport was important in 2010. • On their most recent camping trip in 2010, only 15 percent of campers at state parks or forests had brought firewood from more than 25 miles or from out-of-state, down significantly from 27 percent in 2008 and 44 percent in 2006. Learn to Hunt Deer See page 4 Volunteers have pulled literally tons of the invasive plant garlic mustard from public properties in recent years. WDNR Photo More than 90 percent of Wisconsin boaters say they remove invasive plants from boats and trailers before leaving a landing. WDNR Photo

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Page 1: ADecadeofProgressto Prevent,Control and Contain Invasive ... · consin ports to use best management practices including exchanging or ... beetles that feed only on the invasive plant

JULY 2012VOLUME 39NUMBER 7

Adecade after lawmakers recognized in statute the threat thatinvasive, nonnative plant and animal species pose to the envi-ronment, economy and quality of life, Wisconsin has increased

awareness, adopted comprehensive regulations and built partnerships totry to prevent the invaders from getting introduced or spread within thestate, state natural resources officials say.

“Wisconsin has made a lotof progress on many fronts,”says Department of NaturalResources Secretary CathyStepp. “We’ve made impor-tant gains in increasing publicawareness, in preventing thespread of invasive species al-ready here, and in building thecapacity to quickly detect andcontrol new invaders.

“Most importantly, we’veworked hard to keep our na-tive ecosystems healthy and tobuild the cooperation, partner-ships and volunteer networkscrucial to prevent, contain andcontrol these threats to ournatural resources and our economy,” she says. “There is still more work tobe done but Wisconsin has a lot to be proud of.”

The result of such work is seen in statistics like these: 20 years afterzebra mussels were found in Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan harbors, lessthan 3 percent of lakes suitable for zebra mussels have them; two-thirdsof lakes with public access are free of Eurasian water-milfoil and zebramussels; and more than 90 percent of boaters and anglers say they takesteps to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Or stats like these: DNR and partners have identified 59 species ofterrestrial invasive plants that are not yet widespread or are not yetin the state and hundreds of trained volunteers are actively looking forthese plants so they can be eradicated once they are found; 93 percentof campers in a 2010 survey said that stopping the use of firewood at astate campground from outside a 25-mile radius to prevent the potentialspread of forest pests was important, and 85 percent said they complywith firewood laws at state parks and forests, up from 73 percent justtwo years earlier.

Kelly Kearns, a DNR conservation biologist who has worked for morethan 20 years on terrestrial invasive species issues, says that invasive

species remain a seriousand growing threat due toincreased global trade andclimate change that allowsmore invasive species to sur-vive Wisconsin winters. “Morepeople are looking for inva-sive species so they’re beingfound more frequently.”

The good news, says Ke-arns and Jeff Bode, who hasled Wisconsin’s lakes andaquatic invasive species ef-forts for the past 20 years, isthat Wisconsin is slowing thespread of some species and isin a better position to prevent

future invaders from getting established than in 2002, when lawmakerspassed a law to create an advisory council to help guide state policy.

Comprehensive rules are now in place to help prevent more invasivespecies being introduced. Wisconsin’s Invasive Species Rule now regu-lates the sale, transport, possession and introduction of listed invasivespecies. DNR’s ballast water regulations require vessels arriving in Wis-consin ports to use best management practices including exchanging orflushing ballast water in the ocean before entering the Great Lakes, apractice that nationally has helped cut to zero the number of new inva-sive species documented to have arrived in the Great Lakes via ballastwater. And a suite of laws has been enacted to prevent boaters, anglersand other water users from accidentally spreading invasive species andfish diseases from lake to lake, Bode says.

Strong state-local partnerships leverage scarce resources to tackleinvasive species problems. Fifty counties actively network with DNR toprevent the spread of aquatic invasive species; regional invasive speciesgroups and Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) groups pro-vide trainings, watch for pioneering invasive species and respond to newinfestations around the state; and state and federal agencies coopera-tively enforce quarantine areas to prevent the spread invasive insectsthat may harm trees or crops, Bode says.

Kearns says that education efforts by government agencies, local con-servation groups and lake associations, educators and individuals have

A Decade of Progress toPrevent, Control and Contain

Invasive Species

helped greatly increase awareness aboutthe problems caused by invasive plants,aquatic invasive species and forest pests.Knowledge is especially high among spe-cific groups such as park visitors, garden-ers, rural landowners, and boaters andanglers of the steps they can take to pre-vent accidentally spreading a host of in-vasive species, Bode and Kearns say.

Best Management Practices, or BMPs,to prevent the spread of invasives are inplace and well utilized by some industries,such as forestry and utility companies,Kearns says. “Many roadside managersare adjusting their mowing schedulesto cut back the weeds before they beginto produce seed, thereby minimizing thespread of seed,” she says.

Hikers, mountain bikers, off-road ve-hicle users and others who play in Wis-consin’s public lands are learning to cleanoff their gear before and after visitingan area to avoid inadvertently carryingpests or seeds from one area to another,she says. And campers and cabin ownersare cooperating with efforts to avoid mov-ing firewood and the pests that it may beharboring.

The nursery and landscape indus-try is helping by recognizing plants thatare overly aggressive and eliminating them from their plantings andsales yards. “In general, people are understanding that they can bepart of the solution by doing their part to avoid spreading invasives,”Kearns says.

Perhaps the most encouraging development over the past decade,she says, is the legion of volunteers who have mobilized to pull liter-ally tons of garlic mustard from forests they care about; have beentrained as “weed watchers” to look for, identify and report new popula-tions of invasives in their area; have raised and released biocontrolbeetles that feed only on the invasive plant purple loosestrife, andwho have spent countless weekend hours at boat landings, helpingeducate boaters about the steps they need to take to prevent acciden-tally spreading Eurasian water-milfoil and other invasive species tonew waters.

“It is on-the-ground efforts such as these that will be critical tomaintain our biodiversity and prevent invasive species from harmingWisconsin’s environment and economy,” she says.

Invasive species fast factsIn the water…

• 67 percent of lakes with public access are free of Eurasian water-milfoil and zebra mussels.

• 2.5 percent of lakes predicted to be suitable for zebra mussels arecurrently infested.

• 136 of 15,081 inland waters have zebra mussels.• 584 of 15,081 waters statewide have Eurasian water-milfoil; only

135 are in northern Wisconsin.• $17 million in grants awarded to local communities since 2003

for aquatic invasive species prevention and control.• Permits issued to nearly 300 ships since DNR’s ballast water

permitting program began in 2010. The permits spell out the bestmanagement practices the vessels must use to keep invasive speciesout of the Great Lakes.On the land…

• 132 exotic invasive plants have been documented in upland andwetlands sites in Wisconsin.

• 59 species of terrestrial invasive plants not yet widespread ornot yet in the state are identified for early detection and eradication.

• Residents in over half of the counties are involved in regional in-vasive species groups and Cooperative Weed Management Areas thatprovide trainings to complete plant inventories and respond to newinfestations around the state.

• Where biocontrol beetles have been released to control the inva-sive purple loosestrife, research has shown a decrease in seed produc-tion to near zero, virtually eliminating most plant dispersal.

• Camper awareness of invasive forest diseases and pests has in-creased substantially since 2006, with 93 percent aware of the emer-ald ash borer and 93 percent reporting that stopping long distancefirewood transport was important in 2010.

• On their most recent camping trip in 2010, only 15 percent ofcampers at state parks or forests had brought firewood from morethan 25 miles or from out-of-state, down significantly from 27 percentin 2008 and 44 percent in 2006.

Learn to Hunt Deer

See page 4

Volunteers have pulled literally tons ofthe invasive plant garlic mustard frompublic properties in recent years.

WDNR Photo

More than 90 percent of Wisconsinboaters say they remove invasiveplants from boats and trailers beforeleaving a landing. WDNR Photo

Page 2: ADecadeofProgressto Prevent,Control and Contain Invasive ... · consin ports to use best management practices including exchanging or ... beetles that feed only on the invasive plant

WISCONSERVATION July 20122

WisconservationWISCONSERVATION (USPS 108-190 ISSN 0164-3649) is published monthly for $25 per year by

Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, W7303 County Road CS & Q, Poynette, WI 53955-9690. Periodical postage

paid at Oshkosh, WI and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: WISCON-

SERVATION, W7303 County Road CS & Q, Poynette, WI 53955-9690.All communications regarding adver-

tising, editorial, circulation and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation matters should be sent to W7303 County Road

CS & Q, Poynette, WI 53955-9690. Permission to reprint articles is normally given providing proper credit

is given both publication and author. Views expressed by freelance writers are their own and do not neces-

sarily represent those of the publication or the WWF.

$25.00 of annual dues paid to Wisconsin Wildlife Federation entitles members to one year’s subscription

to Wisconservation. One year’s subscription to non-members—$25.00.

Printed by Ripon Printers, 656 S. Douglas St., Ripon, WI 54971.

WISCONSERVATION EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITORDaniel A. Gries Ralph Fritsch

Phone: (920) 725-4092 (715) 850-2456Fax: (920) [email protected]

* * * OFFICERS * * *

President Chuck Matyska, Route 1 5055 Cty V, Cecil, WI 54111, (715) 745-6382. Email:[email protected]

First Vice President John Wagner, 722A S Silver Lake St., Oconomowoc, WI 53066,(262) 560-1230. Email: [email protected]

Second Vice President George Borchert, 7420 US Hwy 45, Oshkosh, WI 54902, (920)922-1409. Email: [email protected]

Secretary Carolyn Brown, 8131 N. Oak Ridge Drive, Milton, WI 53563, (608) 868-2514.Email: [email protected]

Treasurer Pat Ramirez, 3696 Blueberry Lane, Waldo, WI 53093, (920) 838-1266. Email:[email protected]

Past President Jack Nissen, 1811 W. Ottawa Ave., Dousman, WI 53118, (262) 370-8154.Email: [email protected]

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

Craig Challoner, Omro, WI Pat Ramirez, Waldo, WI

Bob Chojnowski, Plover, WI Tom Nissen, Hartland, WI

Jim Huhn, Watertown, WI Bill Tollard, Omro, WI

Norb Moes, Green Bay, WI Andy Lewandowske, Muskego, WI

Mike “Oscar” Stueck, Whitelaw, WI Carolyn Brown, Milton, WI

Roxanne Taylor, Plymouth, WI Mike Kemper, New Berlin, WI

PAST PRESIDENTS AND HONORARY DIRECTORS

Jack Nissen, Dousman, WI Art Seidel

Lil Pipping, Elkhart Lake, WI Betty Borchert, Oshkosh, WI

Corky Meyer, Kewaskum, WI Jim Mense

Jerry Knuth, Plover, WI Catherine Koss

Jim Weishan, Wabeno, WI Joseph Gruber

Russ Hitz, Wheeler, WI Dr. Daniel Trainer

Bob Miller, Sparta, WI Art Jorgeson

Ralph Fritsch, Townsend, WI Vern Manglass

Jim Wareing Ray Rheinschmidt

Jim Baldock J. L. Schneider

Doug Johnson Bill Buckley

Doug Olson Leo Roethe

Martha & Bucky Kilishek Bob Lachmund

Mary Cassidy, Plainfield, WI Jerry Laudon

Ken Zettlemeier, Waukesha, WI Ron Piskula

Joe Zanter Harold Spencer

Al Kube

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / LEGISLATIONGeorge Meyer, 201 Randolph Dr., Madison, WI 53717, (608) 516-5545. Email: [email protected]

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DISTRICT 1

Connie Pribnow, Port Wing, WI, (715) 774-3301.

Al Pribnow, Port Wing, WI, (715) 774-3301.

DISTRICT 2

Larry Vanderhoef, Plainfield, WI, (715) 366-2453.

Walt Camp, St. Germain, WI, (715) 542-3856.

Laurie Groskopf, Tomahawk, WI, (715) 453-6301.

DISTRICT 3

Dave Hraychuck, Balsam Lake, WI, (715) 485-3362.

Russ Hitz, Wheeler, WI, (715) 632-2143.

Dean Borofka, Rice Lake, WI, (715) 234-6303.

DISTRICT 4

Dale Zaug, Tigerton, WI, (715) 754-5774.

Randy Teresinski, Granton, WI, (715) 238-8010.

Dave Verhage, Plover, WI, (715) 344-3497.

DISTRICT 5

George Borchert, Oshkosh, WI, (920) 922-1409.

Dan Gries, Menasha, WI, (920) 725-0052.

Bob Kirk, Omro, WI, (920) 685-5254.

DISTRICT 6

Dennis Reinhardt, Osseo, WI, (715) 597-3535.

John Wetzel, Holmen, WI, (608) 526-4238.

Ed Rollins, Humbird, WI, (630) 561-3099.

DISTRICT 7

Dave Chingway, Watertown, WI, (920) 261-0379.

Don Hammes, Middleton, WI, (608) 836-1205.

Mike Meyer, Watertown, WI, (920) 342-9439.

DISTRICT 8

Doug Kurth, Big Bend, WI, (414) 350-0940.

John Wagner, Oconomowoc, WI, (262) 560-1230.

Mike Rynearson, Oconomowoc, WI, (414) 313-2079.

DISTRICT 9

Rick Lazarczyk, West Allis, WI, (414) 321-5750.

Roger Borkowski, Milwaukee, WI, (414) 571-0002.

DISTRICT 10

Al Phelan, Madison, WI, (608) 241-7538.

Gary Dieck, Wonewoc, WI, (608) 464-3290.

DISTRICT 11

Larry Freitag, Sheboygan, WI, (920) 458-4117.

Richard Baudhuin, Sturgeon Bay, WI, (920) 743-2581.

Keith Pamperin, Green Bay, WI, (920) 494-3990.

DISTRICT 12

Chuck Matyska, Cecil, WI, (715) 745-6382.

Jim Weishan, Wabeno, WI, (715) 473-6013.

N.W.F. REGIONAL REP

Jason Dinsmore, 213 W Liberty, Suite 200, Ann

Arbor, MI 48104. Office: (734) 887-7112. Phone:

(517) 204-8962. Email: [email protected].

WWF OFFICE PHONE:800-897-4161 - Toll Free

FAX 608-635-2743

WEB PAGE ADDRESS:www.wiwf.org

WWF Committee ChairpersonsAchievement AwardsJohn WagnerPhone: (262) 560-1230Email: [email protected]

Banquet AdvisoryEd RollinsPhone: (630) 561-3099Email: [email protected]

CalendarLil PippingPhone: (920) 876-4312Email: [email protected]

Dog CommitteeAndrew LewandowskePhone: (262) 679-1050Email: [email protected]

Education/YouthRuth Ann LeePhone: (608) 635-2742Email: [email protected]

Endangered ResourcesChuck MatyskaPhone: (715) 745-6382Email: [email protected]

Environmental/WetlandsBetty BorchertPhone: (920) 922-1409Email: [email protected]

Forest, Parks & RecreationJerry KnuthPhone: (715) 344-0017Email: [email protected]

Great Lakes FisheriesLarry FreitagPhone: (920) 458-4117

Great Lakes Fisheries/Lake SuperiorConnie PribnowPhone: (715) 774-3301Email: [email protected]

Inland FisheriesLarry VanderhoefPhone: (715) 366-2453Email: [email protected]

MembershipJack NissenPhone: (262) 370-8154Email: [email protected]

Scholarships/By-LawsBetty BorchertPhone: (920) 922-1409Email: [email protected]

Shooting RangeAl PribnowPhone: (715) 774-3301Email: [email protected]

WaterfowlJohn WetzelPhone: (608) 526-4238Email: [email protected]

Wildlife/State Affairs/Hunter EducationRalph FritschPhone: (715) 850-2456Email: [email protected]

WisconservationDan GriesPhone: (920) 725-4092Email: [email protected]

President’s ReportVol. III Part VII

Ihope everyone is enjoying thestart of summer. Turkey seasonwas productive and I had some

exciting adventures stalking and calling.It was a successful and enjoyable sea-son. The only issue I have is the TICKS,around the Shawano & Cecil area, I haveNEVER seen so many! When you go outfor a walk, take repellent!My thoughts for 2012 and beyond…

1) Maintain our current programs be-tween the Wisconsin Wildlife Federationand the MacKenzie Educational Centerat Poynette, promoting conservation ac-tivities and education to young and old.The MacKenzie Environmental Centerhas much to offer; trails, wildlife zoo, mu-seum, maple sap production, picnic area.It’s a great destination for the whole fam-ily. “Have you seen a wolf or a bison?”

2) The federation will continue torepresent sports men, women, and affili-ated clubs or issues of conservation.

3) Expand our affiliate club efforts.Our District Directors must continue tobe a presence at our clubs and keep clubsinformed of our activities and get thatimportant feed-back from the clubs.

4) Our annual meeting was a great

success and we were able to increase ex-posure for the WWF across the state.

5) We will be holding a shooting rangeseminar this year in August, the 18th.Watch for more info. (safety, insurance,range development, youth groups). Thisis up-to-date information vital to rangeoperation and shooting’s position in pres-ent society. Ranges can be good neighbors.

6) August is the kick-off for our 2013calendar sales.

7) Promote participation, our essaycontest, in the mentored bear hunt.

8) Increase attendance at our ban-quets, the banquet committee is doing agreat job and as directors all of us needto support and promote this effort. Newideas are welcomed.

Things are always changing and thefederation must be able to meet andadapt to change.

There is a lot on our plate but our vol-unteer directors and member clubs areup to the challenge, OPEN COMMUNI-CATION IS KEY!

Have a great summer!Chuck Matyska

President

Above: Affiliate Tri County Sportswomen memberstravelled to the WWF office (Poynette) – May 2012to assist staff in preparing 400 plus packets con-taining updated Federation management and mem-bership information.The packets were mailed to allexisting affiliates and potential new clubs. (Left toright) WWF Past President Lil Pipping, WWF Trea-surer Pat Ramirez and Tammie Taylor.

Tri County Sportswomen

Below: Also giving a helpinghand was Maggie Ramirez, age5, a member of the TCS Sport KidProgram. GREAT effort! Thanksfor the HELP!

Page 3: ADecadeofProgressto Prevent,Control and Contain Invasive ... · consin ports to use best management practices including exchanging or ... beetles that feed only on the invasive plant

WISCONSERVATION July 20123

MADISON – Renowned Universityof Wisconsin-Madison Extensioninsect expert Phil Pellitteri, a

Vilas County invasive species coordinator, aSauk County youth group and several south-eastern Wisconsin residents are among thosehonored this year as “Invader Crusaders” fortheir work to prevent the introduction andspread of invasive non-native plants and ani-mals in Wisconsin.

The “Invader Crusaders” received theirawards last week from the Wisconsin Councilon Invasive Species in a ceremony at Madi-son’s Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Winners ofthe student poster contest also were recog-nized, with Kohler fifth-grader Clara Montestaking home the grand prize for her design.

“It’s important that we recognize and en-courage all of the different individuals andorganizations that are working tirelessly tokeep Wisconsin’s special places free of inva-sive species that choke out native plants andanimals – both on land and water,” said PaulSchumacher, chair of the council and a mem-ber of the Wisconsin Lakes Board of Directors.

“The fight to reduce invasive species’ im-pact and keep them out of Wisconsin will be along and hard battle for many years to come,”he said. “We would not be able to do it withoutthese and many other Invader Crusaders, andthe poster contest winners who represent ournext generation of crusaders.”

Invasive species are nonnative plants, ani-mals and pathogens that can damage habitatsand outcompete native species in Wisconsin’sforests, lakes, rivers, wetlands and grasslands.Garlic mustard, honeysuckle, zebra mussels,Eurasian water-milfoil and rusty crayfish areall examples of invasive species in Wisconsin.

Since 2005, June has been designated inWisconsin as Invasive Species AwarenessMonth and the Wisconsin Council on InvasiveSpecies has honored people and organizationsfor their work to address invasive species. Ithas promoted events in which hundreds ofpeople help remove invasive species and par-ticipate in educational events at botanic gar-dens, natural areas, lakes, rivers, agriculturalfields, parks, schools, and more.

Invader Crusader AwardsInvader Crusader Awards have honored

Wisconsin citizens and organizations – bothvolunteer and professional – for their signifi-cant contributions to the prevention, manage-ment, education, or research of invasive spe-cies that harm Wisconsin’s land and waters.

The 2012 recipients are listed below; moreinformation on their contributions can befound online on the Wisconsin Council on In-vasive Species website.

• Ted Ritter, invasive species coordina-tor from Vilas County Land and Water Con-servation Department, won in the profes-sional individual – government category forhis work to seek partners and funding sourcesto build a multi-agency effort to address inva-sive species.

• Phil Pellitteri, an entomologist at theUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison Extension,won in the academic/research category for hiswork to raise awareness of the potential ar-rival of new invasive species and to identify,contain and control those already here.

• Jerry Ziegler, Mukwonago RiverWatershed Land Steward, The Nature Con-servancy, East Troy, won in the professionalindividual category for his work to controland manage invasive species on The NatureConservancy’s 1,500 acres of Mukwonago Pre-serves and other lands, and to build a south-eastern Wisconsin network of agencies andgroups to address invasive species.

• John and Martha Lunz of Glendalewere recognized in the volunteer pair categoryfor the thousands of hours they have loggedvolunteering with a variety of groups to helpremove invasive species and educate citizenson the threat of invasive species.

• Eric Tarman-Ramcheck of East Troywas recognized in the individual volunteer

category for his work in a variety of volunteerand leadership roles to help remove invasivespecies at Camp Charles Allis and to developthe management plant to help control invad-ers in the Beulah Bog State Natural Area.

• The Youth Environmental Projectsof Sauk County, won for the volunteergroup. Youngsters involved in the organiza-tion, which seeks to introduce them to naturalresource issues, have played an important rolein maintaining and improving many of SaukCounty’s natural resources at city, county andstate parks. At one event, the volunteers re-moved more than 2500 pounds of garlic mus-tard from a public park.

Poster contest winnersClara Montes, a student at Kohler Elemen-

tary School in Kohler, took the grand prizewith her design in the council’s 2012 postercontest for Wisconsin fourth and fifth graders.This year’s theme was “Slow the Spread ByBoat and Tread!”

The goal of the poster contest was to in-crease awareness of shoreline and wetlandinvasive species and to teach people howto prevent the spread of invasive species inthese habitats while people are enjoying theseplaces by canoe, while hunting, when walk-ing from trails to shorelines, and much more,according to Chrystal Schreck, DNR invasivespecies outreach coordinator.

Other award winners were Ben Kangas, ofMagee Elementary School in Genesee Depot,who was named first runner up in the fifthgrade division; Anna Carper, a fourth grader atArgyle School District in Argyle, was first run-ner up in that division.Ali DeLadi, of Shell LakeSchool in Shell Lake was second runner up.

A Special Mention award was given toteacher Rob Suhr’s fifth-grade classroom atMagee Elementary School in Genesee Depot.

Other honorable mentions were awarded toMelissa Zeinert, Elcho School District, in Bow-er; Jordan Herzog, Shell Lake School, in ShellLake; Olivia Cannestra, Woodside ElementarySchool, in Sussex; Dawson Quint, Grace Kost-reva, Ava Brown and Willie Blue, of Magee El-ementary School, in Genesee Depot.

Paul Schumacher, chair of the WisconsinInvasive Species Council, said that Montesand other poster contest winners and en-trants “inspire people of all ages to keep Wis-consin’s special places free of invasive speciesthat choke out native plants and animals onland and water.”

Invasive Species Awareness MonthHonors Awarded

Winning 2012 Invasive Species AwarenessMonth Poster by Clara Montes, Kohler El-ementary School, Kohler

MADISON – Many people see statewildlife areas as good places totake dogs for walks and exercise,

but doing so during the spring nesting sea-son is not good for many ground and shrub-nesting birds. That’s why, with the exceptionof designated Class 1 dog training areas, theWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesrequires all dogs be leashed on state landsfrom April 15 through July 31.

“Wisconsin’s wildlife areas are importantplaces for birds to nest, mammals to bear andraise young and frogs to eat bugs and sing,”said Eric Lobner, DNR southern district re-gional wildlife manager. “While we wholeheartedly want the public to use and enjoystate wildlife areas, it’s also important to pro-tect these areas for their role as nesting habi-

tat for birds and other wildlife.”Lobner said that dogs roaming off leash

during nesting season can have a negativeimpact on many bird species, especially birdsthat nest on the ground, such as westernmeadowlarks or other small grassland birds,waterfowl and pheasants.

Dogs can injure birds and will destroynests because of their natural prey drive.Even if a dog simply flushes a bird off the nestor splits up young broods, those actions canstress birds, create a loss of energy and forag-ing time, and increase their vulnerability toother predators.

For more information about DNR naturalareas and Class 1 dog training areas, visit theDNR website and search “state lands,” andlook under the tab for state wildlife areas.

Leash Laws on State Wildlife Areas Intendedto Protect Nesting Birds, Other Wildlife

DELAVAN LAKE, Wis. – WaterGuard Jonathan Kaiser sauntersto the side of a fishing boat atop

a hitched trailer where two anglers werequickly prepping their motorboat for the drivehome after spending a chunk of Friday undera hot, strong sun on Walworth County’s Dela-van Lake.

“How did you do today?” Kaiser asks witha relaxed smile while the two busily tightenedstraps and pulled plugs to drain water fromthe hull. These two had more luck than mostof the anglers that day. They were going homewith dinner.

Kaiser gently eases into an introductionof why the anglers saw the Southeast RegionDepartment of Natural Resources conser-vation wardens, himself and others donnedin blue Clean Boats, Clean Waters t-shirtsequipped with clip boards, pamphlets and asurvey working the boat landing parking lot.

“We just want to make sure you knowabout aquatic invasive species,” Kaiser says.And he prefaces each step a boater shouldcomplete before leaving the boat landing witha diplomatic “I’m sure you knew this, but...”These steps, he continues with a relaxed voice,are to prevent the spread of these invaderswhich can harm the fisheries and water qual-ity. One of the anglers nods but doesn’t stophis preparations.

Kaiser’s last statement is a sales pitch –but it comes with no price. He offers the boat-ers a chance to make sure their boat is freeof any invasive species and ready to be usedwithout posing an environmental threat inany Wisconsin water. It’s a free boat hot washby Kaiser using the state’s decontaminationunit.

“It takes 10 to 15 minutes,” Kaiser says ofthe chemical-free process that uses only hotwater of at least 140 degrees delivered withhigh or low pressure inside and outside theboat and trailer. Any part of the boat, hitch orengine that may have had any contact withthe water gets a spray.

The angler thanks Kaiser for his speedy,thorough explanation but declines. Kaiserthanks the anglers for their time and walksaway.

It’s all about outreach and awarenessDefeat? Hardly. It was one of many suc-

cessful exchanges Kaiser, the wardens andother volunteers had with the boaters leav-ing Delavan Lake during the four-hour Fridaytour at this very busy boat launch.

“This is all about outreach – public aware-ness of the laws and aquatic invasive species,”Southeast Region Warden Kevin Mickelbergsaid. Several boaters did accept Kaiser’s offerfor a free complete boat wash before pullingout of the lot. But the message delivered Fri-day went beyond the use of the decontamina-tion unit.

“Most boaters are not going to be able tohave a state decontamination unit handy toclean their boats. But there are steps everyboater can do when it comes to stopping thespread of aquatic invasive species. And that’swhat this is all about,” Mickelberg said be-tween his informative visits with boaters.

The wardens and Kaiser weren’t alone intheir mission. They were joined in the effortby several members of the Clean Boats, CleanWaters crew.

“This is all about partnership,” RobertWakeman, DNR aquatic invasive speciescoordinator, said of the blue-shirted CleanWater, Clean Boats crew who are not agencyemployees. “The Clean Boats, Clean Watersmembers come from lake associations, lakedistricts, county staff, University of WisconsinSea Grant program and interns. They are notDNR staff. We rely upon volunteers.”

Boaters should expect to see Kaiser andmore conservation wardens at boat landingsstatewide this summer, working to increasepublic awareness and boater actions to stopthe spread of destructive aquatic invasive spe-cies.

Kaiser headed to Lake Winnebago in theOshkosh area for another AIS outreach efforton June 9. And, later this month, Wakemansaid he hopes to have another outreach eventat Peninsula State Park in Door County.

Entire warden service involved inAIS events

Chief Conservation Warden Randy Starksays this year the entire warden service hasjoined the effort to stop transporting theseunwanted species from lake to lake. Accord-ingly, wardens are joining deputy warden wa-ter guards, local agencies and local volunteersto hold regional education and enforcementchecks.

“These regional events highlight the im-portance of stopping these species – and howto do it,” Stark said. “We have good compli-ance in Wisconsin, but if there’s one personwho doesn’t follow the law and knowinglytransports AIS, it undermines everyone else’sefforts. We are working to detect those situa-tions that undermine the work of everyone inprotecting our lakes and rivers from invasivespecies.”

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are non-native species such as Eurasian water milfoil,zebra mussels,Asian carp and the fish disease,viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS). TheseAIS collectively harm outdoor recreation andlocal businesses whose economic vitality isconnected to our lakes and rivers. Aquaticinvasive species also can hurt Wisconsin’sfishing industry by outcompeting native fishand ruining native habitat. Fishing generates$2.75 billion annually and supports 30,000jobs, a 2006 study by Southwick Associates forthe American Sportfishing Association.

It is unlawful to transport boating equip-ment on a highway with aquatic plants or ani-mals attached. The regulations area availableby searching the DNR website for “boat.”

Boaters have a role to protect watersThe aquatic invaders spread when people

transport plants, animals and water betweenwater bodies. Wisconsin law requires beforeleaving a waterway users remove all attachedplants and animals from their boats andequipment and drain all water, including inlive wells and buckets, so that smaller organ-isms like zebra mussel larvae are not trans-ported. There are some exceptions for baittransport.

Greg Stacey, conservation warden andWater Guard coordinator, says some regionalevents will include courtesy boat cleaningwith a decontamination unit.

“We want to be sure people on lakes andrivers understand the seriousness of AIS andknow what’s necessary on their part to protectWisconsin’s waters,” Stacey said. “If someoneis knowingly disregarding the law, wardenswill issue citations when needed to achievecompliance with laws designed to protect ourwaterways.”

Stacey says the expanded effort followsyears of invasive species education efforts.

Dane County Conservation Warden Super-visor Jeremy Plautz, who led a county efforton Memorial Day, says local boaters alreadyhave a high awareness about the aquatic in-vasives and the laws. “Increasing checks andenforcement is the next step in the processwe’ve taken with education,” Plautz said.“People want to stop the spread and want usto enforce the laws to protect their lakes – andthey understand the need for the laws.”

Have De-Con Unit, Will Travel:Wardens Launch Statewide Blitz to Halt Spread of

Aquatic Invasive Species

Kaiser sprays the boat’s hitch, engine andthe underbody. Any part of the boat, engineor hitch that has had contact or may havehad contact with the lake water gets a shotof hot water to kill any invader.

WDNR Photo

Shooting Range Workshop“Advancing the Shooting Sports”

A full day workshop sponsored by the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, the National ShootingSports Foundation and the Department of Natural Resources for the purpose of supportingshooting ranges and increasing participation in the shooting sports.

Topics covered:1. Practical examples by shooting clubs on how to increase youth and adult involvement in

the shooting sports2. State Funding for Shooting Ranges in Wisconsin3. Environmental Management of Shooting Ranges4. Formation of an Independent Shooting Range Organization

Free Registration---$10 Contribution for LunchMead Inn, Wisconsin Rapids---Registration 8-8:30 am

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Please register by Saturday August 25, 2012 by calling Jennifer Evans,WWF Headquarters 1-800-897-4161.

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WISCONSERVATION July 20124

Eighteen Wisconsin organizationsand projects will share a combined$75,000 from the Department of

Natural Resources for efforts using volunteersto carry out natural resources managementprojects including building bat houses andmonitoring bat populations, assessing eaglepopulations, checking brook trout for gill liceand collecting rain, hail and snow totals.

“We’re very pleased with the interest, va-riety and quality of projects proposed, ” saysOwen Boyle, who coordinates the Citizen-based Monitoring Program for DNR. “Thosereceiving awards will contribute valuable in-formation about Wisconsin’s natural resourc-es, support many DNR initiatives, and willhelp stretch state dollars further.”

The projects were chosen from 49 ap-plicants for funding to help start or expandvolunteer-based programs that conduct highpriority natural resource monitoring projectsin Wisconsin, says Boyle.

DNR and organizations with monitor-ing programs have formed a loose affiliationcalled the Citizen-based Monitoring Networkof Wisconsin to improve their effectivenessby providing communications, resources andrecognition. DNR funds a full-time personto coordinate the effort and every year, DNRhas annually awarded up to $100,000 in seedmoney to help organizations and programsadvance their volunteer-based monitoringprojects.

Sponsoring organizations typically con-tribute $3 in donated time and money for ev-ery $1 the state provides toward the projects.

Citizen-based monitoring has a long andsuccessful history in Wisconsin; more than150 organizations in Wisconsin put volunteersto work every year monitoring water qualityand counting and noting the numbers, dis-tribution and habitat of native and invasivespecies. In 2011, citizens donated more than300,000 hours to such efforts. Learn more onDNR website feature page, Volunteers helpsustain wild Wisconsin.

Sponsoring organizations by geographicarea (projects crossing region boundariesare listed under the region where the projectleader is located) and what they’ll be doinginclude:Northern Wisconsin

• Mercer School District for monitoringAmerican Marten populations and habitatuse in Iron and Ashland counties.

• DNR for continuing the Wisconsin Vol-

$75,000 in Grants Will Aid Citizen-BasedMonitoring Projects

unteer Carnivore Tracking Program.Northeastern Wisconsin

• Fond du Lac County for training andusing volunteers to conduct an invasive plantsurvey.

• Northeast Wisconsin Alliance for theFox River valley eagle monitoring project.South Central Wisconsin

• Lower Sugar River Watershed Associa-tion for development of a stream monitoringprogram using volunteers.

• Upper Sugar River Watershed Associa-tion for enhancing and expanding its monitor-ing program that uses volunteers to carry outthe work.

• Rock River Coalition for assessing Zelos-ki Marsh in the Lake Mills State Wildlife Areasix years after restoration work.

• Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiativefor using citizen birders to evaluate Wiscon-sin’s Strategic Grassland Bird ConservationPlan.

• DNR for a program using volunteers toassess Red-shouldered Hawk nest productiv-ity in managed forest stands in southern Wis-consin.Southeast Region

• SEWISC for a roadside survey of inva-sive plants in southeastern Wisconsin.

• Hawthorn Hollow for bat house buildingand monitoring workshops.

• Ozaukee County for citizen-based fish-eries monitoring in the Milwaukee River Areaof Concern.West Central Region

• Beaver Creek Reserve and Museum ofScience in Boston for Firefly Watch Wisconsin:A Citizen Science Project.Statewide

• UW-Madison for development of asmartphone application that will allow volun-teers to identify and map invasive plant spe-cies to facilitate effective early detection andrapid response.

• UW-Extension for a curriculum guidefor monitoring streams for Wisconsin middleand high school teachers and students.

• National Weather Service for expandingthe network of citizens who collect informa-tion on rain, hail and snow.

• DNR, for a project to use anglers to mon-itor gill lice in brook trout populations acrossWisconsin.

• UW-Madison for using a citizen-basedframework for collecting data to estimatewhite-tailed deer vital rates.

Wisconsin artists are encour-aged to submit artwork forthe 2013 wild turkey, pheas-

ant, and waterfowl stamp design con-tests.

After another successful event lastyear, the Wisconsin Department of Natu-ral Resources has decided to continueholding the judging for all three contestsAugust 25 at the Aldo Leopold LegacyCenter in Baraboo. The Leopold Centerand the surrounding 1,500-acre LeopoldMemorial Reserve offer the perfect set-ting in which to explore and appreciatethe earliest attempts at habitat restora-tion in Wisconsin and to celebrate thecontribution of wildlife art to habitatconservation.

The DNR Bureau of Wildlife Manage-ment will be accepting stamp entriesstarting immediately; entries must bereceived or postmarked by August 15,2012 in order to be eligible. All piecesof artwork will be on display starting at9 a.m. on Saturday, August 25, and thecontest judging will take place at 1 p.m.,followed by a small reception for the art-ists and public from 3-5 p.m.

“We are pleased to be able to offer ourdedicated stamp artists the opportunityto have their artwork publicly displayedin this unique setting, and those attend-ing the event will have the chance toview a fine selection of wildlife artworkfrom artists across the state,” says TomHauge, director of DNR’s Bureau ofWildlife Management.

Entries Sought for Wisconsin WildTurkey, Pheasant, and Waterfowl

Stamp Design ContestsIn addition, those in attendance will

be the first to get a “sneak peek” at thewinning designs for the 2013 Wild Tur-key, Pheasant, and Waterfowl Stamps.Wildlife Management staff will be avail-able to discuss the history and accom-plishments of the three programs, aswell as the central role that wildlife arthas played in the state’s habitat conser-vation efforts. Funds derived from thesale of these stamps have contributedto the restoration and management ofthousands of acres of important wildlifehabitat.

All stamp contest applicants shouldreview the contest rules carefully to en-sure the eligibility of their entries. Art-work must meet the technical require-ments specified in these rules in order tobe properly processed and prepared fordisplay at the Leopold Center. For con-test rules, entry forms, and ReproductionRights Agreements for the 2013 wild tur-key, pheasant, and waterfowl stamp pro-grams search for “Wildlife Stamps” onthe DNR website.

A convenient way to stay informed isto sign up for email updates using theDNR’s GovDelivery service – follow theprompts and enroll in the “waterfowl,wild turkey, and pheasant stamp designcontests” distribution list. Members ofthe service receive occasional email re-minders about contest entry deadlines,detailed event information, and the an-nouncement of the winning artwork for2013.

NECEDAH, Wis. – Anyone 10 yearsold and older including noviceadult hunters who have had an

interest in hunting but weren’t sure howto give it a try are encouraged to considera Learn-to-Hunt deer outing at BuckhornState Park along the Castle Rock Flowagein Juneau County.

Heather Wolf, Buckhorn State Park man-ager, says this is the 15th year the park hashosted a Learn to Hunt Deer Hunt program.

“We have had 693 participants over theyears. First time hunters and their chaper-ones have learned together at the workshopand have enjoyed their time spent in thewoods,” Wolf said.

To participate in the November 2012hunt, search the Department of NaturalResources website for “Buckhorn,” andthen click on the “learn to deer hunt” linkon right column. Download the applicationform, complete it, and mail it to the addressshown by August 10.

There are two parts to the Learn to HuntDeer at Buckhorn. First, a workshop is heldfrom 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 8 or 9 at theLaValle Sportsman’s Club. Attendance byhunters and chaperones is mandatory. Sec-ond, the hunt occurs Nov. 3 and 4 at Buck-horn State Park and adjacent wildlife area.

Applicants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis and will be notifiedupon receipt of their applications.

A chaperone must accompany each ap-plicant. Applicants may select a chaperone(i.e., family or friend) or authorize Buckhorn

Learn to Hunt Deer at Buckhorn State ParkOpportunity is not just for kids

staff to assign a qualified chaperone. Thisperson will not be allowed to hunt or carrya firearm and must be at least 18 years old.The chaperone must have at least five yearsof deer hunting experience. The chaperoneis necessary to ensure novice hunters getthe complete hunting experience in a safeenvironment. Chaperones help hunters withfirearm safety, deer identification, scouting,and field dressing, among other things.

Successful applicants and their chaper-ones must attend a workshop in order toparticipate in the hunt.

A hunting license is not required andback tags will be furnished. This is a bonusdeer and will not preclude the harvest of adeer during the regular season. The bag lim-it will be one deer of either sex. Only shot-guns will be permitted; muzzleloaders andrifles are not permitted.

Chaperones also are needed, says KeithWarnke DNR Hunting and Shooting SportCoordinator. “If you are a hunter and wantto give back to the hunting heritage by get-ting a new hunter started, your skills areneeded!” Warnke said. To volunteer to bea chaperone, contact the park at 608-565-2789.

“Learn to Hunt events are a great way tobreak into hunting. Novice hunters pairedup with an experienced hunter will learnabout conservation, safety, ethics, deerhunting tactics and firearm safety during aone-day workshop,” Warnke said. “Then, thenovice hunters get a chance to experience atwo-day November gun deer hunt.”

MADISON – Work to help under-stand and respond to why bassare booming and walleye waning

in many northwestern Wisconsin lakes justgot a big boost.

A consortium of researchers and fisheriesbiologists from the University of Wisconsin’sMadison and Stevens Point campuses andthe Department of Natural Resources havereceived a $760,000 federal grant over fiveyears to help investigate the shifting fish pop-ulations and tease out the most likely reasonsbehind the shift.

“We’re excited to have a large-scale, collab-orative research project underway to tackleour key questions and help inform our man-agement decisions,” says Jon Hansen, one ofthe DNR fish biologists involved in the studyand leader of DNR’s bass committee.

“The issue is very complicated, and iden-tifying the causes of these changes requiresvarious approaches and the expertise that thedifferent partners bring to the table.”

Says Steve Carpenter, a UW-Madison lim-nologist and a principal investigator in thestudy, “At this point, we have nothing but hy-potheses. Now we can get to work on gather-ing real information and figuring out which ofthe many hypotheses might be right.”

The grant is funded by the U.S. Geologi-cal Survey and will be led at UW-Madison byCarpenter, at Stevens Point by Dan Isermann,and at the DNR by a team of DNR Bureau ofScience Services researchers and FisheriesManagement biologists.

The work will build on, and draw datafrom, ongoing state efforts to adjust bass andwalleye fishing regulations and attempt to de-termine how much anglers affect these popu-lations. Bass are the fish Wisconsin anglersreported releasing most often in a 2006-07statewide mail survey, with only 5.4 percent ofbass harvested, while 30 percent of all walleyewere harvested.

“These traditional approaches (changingregulations and collecting data) are impor-tant to do, but if that is all we did, we’ve neverbe able to figure out what this is happening,”says John Lyons, the DNR fisheries research-er who assembled the collaborative researchteam. “We’d still be speculating. What thisstudy will do is not necessarily provide thesolution, but it will narrow down the expla-nations from 10 plausible reasons to two orthree that are highly plausible, and which ofour management tools could work.”

Work underway and more to startthis summer

Bass populations in some waters histori-cally managed for walleye are at historic highswhile adult walleye populations are droppingin these lakes and natural reproduction issputtering. The stocking of small fingerlingwalleye is not as successful as in the past.

Starting in 2011, DNR adjusted regula-

tions in many of these waters, including re-moving minimum bass length limits on 21northwestern lakes and increasing minimumwalleye length limits and doing the same thisyear on lakes in the Minocqua chain.

Those waters are being carefully moni-tored to see how the fish populations and an-glers are responding, but the changes in regu-lations alone and the data collection wasn’tgoing to be enough.

“We felt there was a need to take a clos-er look at the interaction between bass andwalleye, and to assess what fisheries manage-ment options were viable and available,” saysJake Vander Zanden, a UW-Madison zoologyprofessor who will be working on the project.“We’re also considering whether bass-walleyeinteractions are likely to be affected by ourchanging climate and water levels.”

UW climatologists who have analyzedweather data collected in the last 50 yearshave documented that winters in northwest-ern Wisconsin have warmed as much as 4.5degrees Fahrenheit.

The partners will be working on differentaspects of the study, with DNR and UWSP re-searchers conducting field studies and feedingthe information into a sophisticated modelingeffort at UW-Madison.

Some of the work will begin this summerwhen Isermann and graduate students con-duct fish surveys to estimate the size and ageof largemouth bass in Lac Courte Oreilles, BigSissabagama, and Teal Lakes near Hayward.“The information will be used to simulate thepotential effects of different fishing regulationson largemouth bass populations,” he says.

Isermann’s team also will be collecting in-formation on the diets of all the largemouthbass and walleyes they are collecting, flushingthe content of the fishes’ stomachs and thenreleasing the fish live back into the water.

Later in the summer, Isermann and hiscrew also will also collect largemouth basshatched this spring and use daily ring countsfrom otoliths (fish ear bones) to determinehatch dates. The goal is to determine how cli-matic conditions influence largemouth basshatch timing and whether potential differenc-es in hatch timing could explain fluctuationsin adult black bass abundance, Isermann says.

“This is a great collaborative effort amongDNR, the Center for Limnology at UW-Mad-ison and the Fisheries Analysis Center atUWSP and the Wisconsin Cooperative Fish-ery Research Unit,” Isermann says.

DNR brought the groups together as ateam to apply for grant funding and has pro-vided funding to help answer some of the re-search questions the team is tackling. DNRstaff also have assisted with sampling designand lake selection, and the staff of the Hay-ward DNR office has provided in-the-fieldsupport over the last few weeks of sampling,Isermann says. Results from the collaborativestudy are expected in 2014.

Grant Boosts Investigations into Why Bass areBooming, Walleye Waning in Some Lakes

Advance Notice ! ! !2013 WWF Calendars Available from the WWF Office –

mid-July 2012 – Call 1-800-897-4161

Lil Pipping, Committee Chair

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WISCONSERVATION July 20125

MADISON – Kevin Naze of Algomadidn’t know he’d help a novicehunter fulfill a family promise

when he launched his 11th Learn to HuntTurkey program in April, but the episode wasanother “wildly rewarding experience” that hesaid makes these events worth the effort.

“Hosting a Learn to Hunt Turkey programtakes a little planning and enough seasonedmentors to go one-on-one with beginners – butit’s worth the effort,” Naze says of his historywith the Department of Natural Resourcesturkey hunt program that attracted hundredsstatewide this spring. “The 2012 programagain proved to be a wildly rewarding experi-ence. There were a few missed shots and otheropportunities that didn’t end the way hunteror mentor would have liked. But whether ornot a bird was bagged, the shared outdoorstime and conversation between trips alwaysgoes down as one of the highlights of my year.”

And one of those highlights for Naze wasworking with Melissa, one of the rookie hunt-ers.

“Her attitude – even after having to passwhen three gobblers walked in but were tooclose together for a safe shot at just one ofthem – remained positive throughout a weekof trips with several different mentors,” Nazesaid.

So, it came down to Easter morning – thelast chance to get a turkey. And this is whenMelissa dropped the promise on Naze. “She’dpromised her mom a turkey for Easter din-ner,” Naze said.

Easter morning was looking dismal as faras turkeys go. There wasn’t even one gobbleto be heard and the hopes of fulfilling thatpromise were evolving into pledges from thealways-positive Melissa to keep hunting be-cause she enjoyed it.

About the time she was talking about hernewfound passion, a few hens appeared andseemed to be escorting a tom turkey in Melis-sa’s direction. “We watched what would turnout to be a 21-pounder with inch-long spursand a 10-1/2-inch beard strut for more thana half-hour before coaxing him close enough,”Naze said. “One perfect shot … did the job.Melissa was shaking with excitement. Tears

More Than 1,000 Enroll in Learn to HuntTurkey Events this Spring

of joy ran down her cheek. Easter dinner wasserved!”

1,000 novices at 50 Learn to Huntspring events; more in fall

Keith Warnke, DNR hunting and shootingsport coordinator, says Naze’s experience as amentor and Melissa’s successful hunt are whythere are 50 Learn to Hunt Turkey eventsstatewide.

“Preliminary totals show more than 1,000hunters participated in one of these learn toturkey hunt events this spring,” Warnke said.“This program is fun for participants andmentors – and has the right blend of class-room and actual hunting.”

Warnke says the program also featureslearn to hunt events for other species – includ-ing deer, bear, pheasant, mourning dove andsmall game. Some events are posted now onthe DNR website, but more are anticipated tobe organized for the fall. People can find cur-rent offerings by searching the DNR websitefor “LTH.”

People who sponsor an event should sendthe completed Learn To Hunt Turkey event fi-nal roster to: Learn to Hunt Coordinator, Wis-consin DNR LE/8, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI53707-7921.

Mentors are needed“Current hunters represent an army of

qualified mentors for the next decade,” Warn-ke said.

Under Wisconsin’s Mentored Hunting Pro-gram, anyone 10 or older can hunt withoutfirst completing a hunter education course ifhe or she is accompanied by a licensed hunter(mentor). This one-on-one opportunity givesfirst-time hunters a chance to try hunting ina highly controlled manner and enables vet-eran hunters to pass on their passion for theoutdoors.

“Mentors help keep Wisconsin’s huntingheritage strong. If you’re a hunter and areconcerned about its future, you can help bymentoring a new hunter,” Warnke said. Moreinformation on Wisconsin’s Mentored Hunt-ing Program is available at DNR’s website atdnr.wi.gov, search mentored hunting.”

MADISON – Turkey hunters tookadvantage of comfortable huntingconditions this spring, judging by

the preliminary registration total of 42,612turkeys, a 6 percent increase over the spring2011 turkey season. A total of 201,984 permitswere issued for this year’s hunt, down slightlyfrom the 2011 total of 210,384.

Unseasonably warm weather character-ized much of the season, in stark contrast tolast year when snow, wind, and rain hinderedhunters during the early time periods.

“It really was an amazing contrast, weath-er-wise, from last year’s hunt,” said ScottWalter upland wildlife ecologist for the De-partment of Natural Resources. “Last year,there was snow on the ground, below-freezingtemperatures, and high winds during the firsttime period. This year, spring was at the otherextreme, probably two or three weeks aheadof normal, and the green-up was already quiteadvanced by the first week of May. Those whohunted later in the season definitely haddenser vegetation and more mosquitoes todeal with than they likely expected.”

Zone 1 again produced the highest over-all turkey harvest at 12,075 birds, followedby Zones 2 and 3, where hunters registered10,486 and 10,283 turkeys, respectively. Thehighest hunter success was in Zone 2 with apreliminary success rate of 26 percent, fol-lowed by Zone 3 at 21 percent and Zone 1 at20 percent. Success rates were between 16percent and 19 percent for Zones 4 through 7.Overall, the statewide success rate was 21.1percent, up from 19.1 percent last year.

The very different weather conditions dur-ing the 2011 and 2012 seasons may also haveinfluenced how hunter effort was distributedthroughout the season. Harvest during thefirst time period was 29 percent higher in2012 than in 2011, but tapered off more steep-ly throughout the season.

“After the first time period, I was expect-ing a big jump in overall harvest,” Walternoted. “We did end up 6 percent higher thanlast year, but we actually harvested fewer tur-keys during the last two periods than we didin 2011.”

Turkeys spread quickly from the initial1976 stocking in Vernon County, and todayare found statewide in areas with suitablehabitat. As the number of both turkeys andturkey hunters increased in the state, so haveannual harvests. Turkey populations havenow stabilized across the state, and Waltersays hunters should expect to see annual har-vest levels nudge upward and downward fromyear to year in response to factors that tendto regulate turkey populations; weather is onesuch influence.

“Successful reproduction by turkeys is de-pendent upon suitable conditions during theMay nesting and June brood-rearing periods,and turkeys in the northern part of the statecan be impacted by severe winter weather,”

2012 Spring Turkey Harvest Up 6 Percent from 2011stated Krista McGinley, assistant DNR up-land wildlife ecologist. “Given dry springweather and mild winters, turkeys can in-crease quickly in number, but wet springs andharsh winters can slow population growthfrom one year to the next. Hunters should ex-pect to see this sort of annual variation in tur-key numbers and annual harvests now thatturkeys have saturated the available habitat.”

“With the weather cooperating as it did,the 2012 spring season was exceptional in theopportunities it created for camaraderie withfriends and family,” Walter said.

That was reflected in a 16 percent jump inthe number of turkeys registered during thetwo-day Youth Hunt.

“The legion of folks out there who servedas mentors or in other capacities to introducefolks to hunting this spring really deservecredit,” Walter added. “They really cast hunt-ing in its most positive light. Their actionsserve not only to introduce people to the out-doors, but also to the experiential, spiritual,and community-building aspects of huntingthat are all too often neglected in the pub-lic’s eye. The National Wild Turkey Federa-tion and its members perhaps best exemplifythis emphasis, through their strong supportof hunter education and Learn to Hunt pro-grams around the state.”

Telephone, online registrationworking well

This season was the first spring turkeyhunt in which hunters didn’t have to trans-port their turkey to a registration station toget it registered due to phone-in and onlineregistration systems, first introduced with thefall 2011 turkey hunt. Hunters seem to havetransitioned to the new systems well.

“The majority of hunters have expressedsatisfaction with the new systems, frequentlyciting their convenience; quite a few statedthat they were able to register their turkeyvia cellphone right in the field,” McGinleysaid.

Hunters are reminded that these remoteregistration systems will be in place for allfuture spring and fall turkey seasons. No in-person registration will be available.

2012 fall seasonBiologists say the recent mild winter bodes

well for turkeys in Wisconsin, as well as pros-pects for this fall’s season.

“The fact that hunters were frequentlyharvesting exceptionally heavy gobblers thisspring suggests that turkeys came out of thewinter in good condition. This is especiallyimportant in the northern zones, where harshwinters can lead to mortality, and suggeststhat turkeys statewide likely entered thespring in good condition for breeding,” McGin-ley said.

A successful nesting and brood-rearingseason will help propel turkey numbers up-

ward. Generally speaking, dry conditions dur-ing June keep newly-hatched chicks from get-ting chilled and suffering from exposure, andlead to good production in all upland gamebird species.

“Things were relatively dry during thenesting season. Most turkey nests hatcharound the first of June in Wisconsin, andthough we’ve had a bit of rain lately, dryweather over the next few weeks will helpthose chicks survive the critical first fewweeks,” said McGinley.

The 2012 Fall Turkey and 2013 SpringTurkey regulations are included in the 2012Wisconsin Small Game Hunting Regulationspamphlet, available on the Hunting Regula-tions page of the DNR website and in hardcopy at DNR Service Centers and license ven-dors. For more information search for “turkey”on the DNR website.

The fall 2012 wild turkey season willrun from Sept. 15 through Nov. 15, with anextended season in Turkey ManagementZones 1-5 only from Nov. 26 through Dec. 31.The deadline for applying for a fall permitthrough the lottery process is August 1. Ap-plications cost $3 and can be purchased overthe internet through the Online LicensingCenter, at license sales locations, or by call-ing toll-free 1-877-WI LICENSE (1-877-945-4263).

State turkey management plan revisionunderway

DNR staff are currently summarizing re-sults of a survey of public attitudes and opin-ions regarding turkey management in thestate. The goal is to incorporate this informa-tion into a revision of Wisconsin’s Wild Tur-key Management Plan, a document that willessentially serve as the foundation for turkeymanagement in the state for the next decade.Surveys were administered to attendees ateleven public input sessions held at variouslocations throughout Wisconsin in late Apriland early May, and an online version of thesurvey was available through May 31.

The survey asks for input regarding hunt-er satisfaction with various components of ourcurrent turkey hunting season structure, withrespondents able to provide their reactions toa variety of possible alternatives.

“Data are still being analyzed but hunt-ers who attended the sessions expressed verystrong support for the six separate springtime periods, largely I think concerned by thethreat of interference and competition thatwould occur if we had a single spring season,”McGinley said.

The full revision process will likely extendwell into 2013.

“If all goes well, we’ll work with all ofour partners to move forward with the plan,hopeful of taking it to the Natural ResourcesBoard for approval sometime next spring,”Walter said.

MacKenzie Center needs yourhelp in spreading the goodnews. We would like to appeal

to you to help us in sharing theCenter with someone you mayknow, that may not know us.

Do you know a teacher thatwould benefit from getting theirclassroom outdoors? How abouta church group, homeschool, ordaycare center that needs toincorporate a little outdoor andenvironmental education intotheir programs?

We are looking for more groups to visit,and learning about the Center from YOU,is a great way to show your support for theCenter that can have long term benefits forus and the visitor.

The MacKenzie Environmental Educa-tion Center is one of the most diverse envi-ronmental education centers in Wisconsin.Located on over 250 acres in ColumbiaCounty we are a perfect place to visit andlearn about the outdoors. Come spend theday with us; listen quietly and you’ll hear

Pass it on… the Mountain Lion purr when visiting ournative Wisconsin wildlife exhibit. Get alittle “techy” and use your GPS unit to finda collection of over 100 trees in our arbo-retum or find a geocache. Enjoy beautifulrestored prairies with grasses and plantscommon to Wisconsin in the late 1800’s or

climb 40 feet on our observa-tion tower and see views of theBaraboo Hills. Visit our pondand find some aquatic crittersthat you may never have seenbefore or go for a hike on trailsthat wind through prairiesand forests; and have a picniclunch too!

There is a lot to do andexperience at the Center and we havetrained staff to help assist group activitieswhile meeting current Wisconsin teachingstandards. So please pass this along andshare MacKenzie with your Friends.

We appreciate all your help in recruit-ing more groups and sharing the MacKen-zie Center experience with others.

Thank you for your support.Sincerely, Ruth Ann Lee

MacKenzie Center DirectorFor more information…. www.macken-

ziecenter.com or 608-635-8105

Department of Natural Resources Director, Bureau of Fisheries Management Mike Staggs andAl Kaas State Fish Propagation Coordinator presented an update on the current status andfuture 10 year plan of the States’ Fish Hatchery System; Hatchery closures – Merging facilitiesto ensure efficiency on the system – Budget dollar numbers – Limiting or eliminating produc-tion of certain fish species – License fee increases and alternative funding sources i.e., non-resident fee structure. Wisconsin has 1.4 million licensed anglers which create a $2.75 billionrevenue/income. Q&A activity was also on-going throughout the presentation.

Very informative presentations Tom, Mike and Al! …WWF Editor D. A. Gries WWF Photos

June BOD Meeting

Department of Natural Resources Director-Bureau of Wild-life Management Tom Hauge presented a detailed update onthe many Department ongoing Issues; Wolves in Wisconsin– Captive Deer Farm concerns – CRP changes – Hunting –Spring Hearing Results and upcoming procedure changesof future questionnaire content – Dove Hunting fields – Elkconditions – Poynette Pheasant Production facility mainte-nance needs and the new 2012 and beyond CWD deer samplecollection protocols. Q&A activity was on-going throughoutthe presentation. Extremely informative presentation Tom!

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WISCONSERVATION July 20126

Improvements at many of Wiscon-sin’s Great Lakes beaches and a freesmartphone application with the latest

weather and water quality information aregiving people more reasons to break out thebeach towel and the sunscreen and head tothe water’s edge, state beach officials say.

“We’re fortunate in Wisconsin to have agroup of innovative partners who have tak-en advantage of federal grants to transformbeaches and really make them places that youwant to go and relax and enjoy,” says Dona-lea Dinsmore, who leads the Department ofNatural Resources program that administersfederal grant money available for beach moni-toring along Wisconsin’s Great Lakes shore.

And, with the release last week by theGreat Lakes Commission and partneringstates of the free, smartphone app for morethan 1,800 Great Lakes beaches, it will beeasier for beachgoers to find current condi-tions, she says.

“When you go to a beach you want to havefun and also make sure you have a safe andhealthy experience,” Dinsmore says. “Thebeach app will tell you about the conditions atthe beach – what are bacteria levels in the wa-ter, what’s the weather like, and if there arewinds that could cause dangerous riptides.”

People can still learn about current beachconditions by going to the Wisconsin BeachHealth (exit DNR) website, and can sign upfor an email or RSS feed of beach advisoriesby county on that website. Or they can find alink to the site by searching for “beaches” onthe DNR website.

Wisconsin has monitored water quality onat least 110 Great Lakes beaches every sum-mer since 2003 to reduce the public’s risk ofexposure to water-borne illnesses. Local gov-ernments assess water quality and the DNRprovides funding through federal BEACHAct funds it receives for monitoring on GreatLakes beaches. DNR also contracts with theU.S. Geological Survey to provide online re-sults at the Wisconsin Beach Health web site.

There has been a trend of improving wa-ter quality at Great Lakes beaches due to thesteps communities and partners have taken totackle pollution sources. Such work has beenaccelerated as a result of grants availablethrough the Obama administration’s GreatLakes Restoration Initiative and the fundingapproved by the U.S. Congress to carry outenvironmental restoration and protection ef-forts, Dinsmore says.

The grants have made it possible to iden-tify and correct sources of bacterial contami-nation that in the past may have led to beachwater advisories or beach closures, she says.

“Racine and Door counties have been lead-ers in transforming a number of beaches intoreal “go- to” spots,” Dinsmore says, noting thatRacine’s North Beach, in fact, last week wasnamed one of 51 Great American Beaches bythe national newspaper USA Today. “BradfordBeach in Milwaukee and Ozaukee Countybeaches are also leading by example.”

Work to reduce contaminant problems dif-fers by beach but has included work such asremoving jetties, changing the slope of thebeach and adding stormwater basins or raingardens. Fencing around new native plant-ings to help filter contaminants before theyenter the water, creating new dunes completewith dune grass, and changing mowing prac-tices to allow longer vegetation that is less at-tractive to seagulls and other birds are amongthe other measures taken to tackle contami-nant sources.

More work will be done this year to identi-fy and correct sources of bacterial contamina-tion in a number of other communities, withmuch of the work done in partnership withUniversity of Wisconsin-Oshkosh ProfessorGreg Kleinheinz and Racine Public HealthDepartment Laboratory Director JulieKinzelman. The Bay-Lake Regional PlanningCommission is beginning a project to addressrunoff that contains phosphorus, a nutrientthat contributes to growth of Cladophora, thethick, green algae mats that have been wash-ing ashore, she says.

Volunteers from the Alliance for the GreatLakes Adopt-a-Beach program have also beenhaving an impact on improving beach condi-tions, Dinsmore says. “Keeping beaches cleanand free of litter is an important part of con-trolling bacteria, and volunteers from the Al-liance for the Great Lakes Adopt-a-Beach pro-gram helping out in these efforts,” she says.

Public comment open on minor changesto beach monitoring

Monitoring water quality at the morethan 100 Great Lakes beaches will continuethis year with some minor changes to whichbeaches will have water quality tested andhow often. Beaches are prioritized for moni-toring, with testing frequency based on fac-tors including accessibility, usage, extent ofvegetation on the beach, and overall risk forcontamination.

The changes are:• Two beaches in Racine County, Michi-

gan Boulevard and Myers Park, have beenremoved from the list because they are inac-cessible to the public;

• Several counties adjusted their moni-toring at low priority beaches based on theirusage;

• Sheboygan County will increase moni-toring at King beach.

Low priority beaches may be based on sev-eral factors: accessibility, usage, extent of thevegetation on the beach, overall risk for con-tamination based on sanitary survey or moni-toring history.

The federal Beach Act requires that peoplebe given an opportunity to comment on thebeach list. People can email or submit com-ments in writing by June 30, 2012. Directemail comments to Donalea Dinsmore or sendthem via U.S. mail to Donalea Dinsmore, Wis-consin DNR Office of the Great Lakes, PO Box7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921.

Great Lakes Beach Improvements,Free App a Boon for Beachgoers

Saturday, August 4, 2012Regular Shoots

Sunday, August 5, 2012Regular Shoots

Annie Oakley’s & Hunt and Covers

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day

$20 for 50 birds at 16 or 25 yards

Lewis prizes paid in both events

Milwaukee Casting Club Inc.18200 W. Cleveland Ave., New Berlin

For more information414-750-7971 or 262-695-1217

milwaukeecastingclub.com

Shooting Raffles

Food and Fun

$15 Re-entry for 50 birds

All proceeds will be donated to the Wisconsin Paralyzed Veterans of America

lakeview rod & gun club inc.the hunter's nest on big muskego lake

s80 w14401 schultz lane

muskego, wi 53150422-1760

Special Needs PicnicAugust 5, 2012

Founders: Sam & Loreen Klauser

We entertained over 300 people last year!! For over 20 years, our club hassponsored a special needs picnic where the ages range widely (average age above 17).Our guests come from both home care and specialty institutions all around southeasternWisconsin. Our guests have a variety of disabilities, including military vets.

Our event is a rare opportunity for many of our guests; they are used to being inan enclosed environment. We have games, clowns, boat rides, fire trucks, petting zoo,trap shooting, and much more!! Our guests are fed lunch which includes hot dogs,hamburgers, potato salad, and desert. Guests take home tee-shirts, hats, and stuffedanimals they choose.

The funds for this event are raised and donated by the members of LakeviewRod & Gun Club Inc, New Berlin Longbeards (NWTF), and with help from othergenerous friends!! Might you or your organization be one? Donations can be sent to TheHunters Nest, S80 W14401 Schultz Lane, Muskego, WI 53150, please make checkspayable to Lakeview Rod & Gun Club Inc.

Needs Include: Shirts of all sizes, Caps/Hats, soft stuffed animals, and of course anymoney will help. Any questions regarding donations contact: Clay 414-218-8666

Services at our picnic provided by:

Trap Shooting: Wheelin’ Sportsmen, NWTFJim Lutzen

Photography and Video: Miracle Video ProductionsMike Reynolds

Music: Sing-A-Long with JimmyJimmy Thode & Kim

INTERESTED IN HUNTING?Are the following barriers keeping you fromparticipating in hunting as outdoor recreation?

• Lack of a knowledgeable mentor• Lack of hunting equipment• Limited access to hunting land• Lack of a hunting dog

Friends of Poynette Game Farm (FPGF) is a 501c(3) non-profit organization(applied for) dedicated to supporting the mission of the WI DNR State GameFarm. FPGF financially supports youth and novice hunting programs offered atthe 250-acre MacKenzie Environmental Education Center (MEEC), immediatelyadjacent to the State Game Farm in Poynette, WI. This facility has overnightlodging, trap range, commercial kitchen, and classroom.

FPGF is offering 4 Learn to Hunt (LTH) pheasant programs at the MEEC in 2012.These programs are FREE OF CHARGE, but require a $10 fee that will berefunded on the day of the program. These two-day programs will provide trainingon pheasant biology and management, hunting regulations, firearm safety, shotgunshooting, dog training, pheasant field dressing, and culminate with a mentoredpheasant hunt.

Sept. 8-9, 2012 Open to females with no pheasant hunting experience.

Sept. 15-16, 2012 Open to any individual with no pheasant hunting experience.Parents or legal guardians are encouraged to participate.

Sept. 22-23, 2012 Open to individuals 18 years or older with no pheasanthunting experience. Bring a friend.

Dec. 1-2, 2012 Open to any individual with no pheasant hunting experience.Parents or legal guardians are encouraged to participate.

Interested? Please complete and mail the LTH application on the reverse side.More information can be found at:www.friendsofwihunting.org.

FRIENDS OFPOYNETTEGAME FARM

FRIENDS OFPOYNETTEGAME FARM

FRIENDS OF POYNETTE GAME FARMPO BOX 606, Poynette, WI [email protected]

Learn to Hunt Program Application

The Friends of Poynette Game Farm (FPGF) recognize and value the importance of providinghunting opportunities to novice hunters or families interested in hunting. It is widely known thathunting enjoyment significantly increases with the involvement of a mentor, someoneknowledgeable about the outdoors and willing to teach and guide a novice hunter in the field.

FPGF financially supports Learn to Hunt (LTH) programs offered at the 250 acre MacKenzieEnvironmental Education Center, immediately adjacent to the State Game Farm in Poynette, WI.These programs are open to people of all ages and the entire family is encouraged to participate.

• WI hunter safety certification is not required.• A $10/student deposit is required with this application. This deposit will be refunded onthe day of the event. Financial assistance may be available, if needed.

• All equipment, ammunition, firearms, lodging, and food will be provided.• FPGF has liability insurance coverage.• Participants must have no prior hunting experience for the hunted species.• Participants may not have participated in a previous LTH for the hunted species.• Parental or guardian approval is required for participants under 18 years old.• All participants must have a DNR Customer ID prior to the event. A Customer ID canbe obtained by calling 1-888-936-7463 from 7 am – 10 pm. This is the same numberyou may have from hunter education or a prior hunting or fishing license.

Name: ______________________________ (please print) Customer ID # ________________

Address: ____________________________ Date of birth: _________________

State, Zip: ___________________________ Date(s) of event: _______________

Phone: ______________________________ Hunted species: pheasantrabbit

Email: _______________________________ turkeydeer

Parent or Guardian signature (if needed): ____________________________ waterfowl________

$10/student included Overnight lodging requested

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mail completed application and $10 check to: FPGF, PO Box 606, Poynette, WI 53955

FRIENDS OFPOYNETTEGAME FARM

FRIENDS OFPOYNETTEGAME FARM

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WISCONSERVATION July 20127

H O O D E D O R I O L E R C M O C K I N G B I R D

C U C K O O T Y N S O L S O R E E C R N I R P E U

A C M R C P I A C T G E L N D V U O I N L O N L S

L R L M F I P M A A G G R D L A L L U I A W O W K

I E A O I R E A D R E A E O O D B Y D A O N A S Y

F S Z O E N P H O L R N T R B M U E O R G L H R T

O T U N L S G A V I H T T T A I T R C S L R A L H

R E L O D P Z B E N E T O R O T N E P O I T I E R

N D I C F R I L I G A R B B O R G U W K I A R A U

I M A L A A T U B R D O A P E N R O E L U M A G S

A Y I A R G T E A O D G S A A T Y A O Q I A E L H

V N L F E U A B C A A O Z R P A H S P T R C P E S

A A U E A E U I H D G N O N I F F U P D E N R O H

L I J N R S W R M R N O N Y I A E E D A K C I H C

L E T I S E H D A U I N E I R C S K C I W E B U T

I G N R S Y E O N N T E T R E A E A E S U O R G A

W D A G G E N S S N N E A E D L T S X U A V Q D H

R I S E N N S S S E U E I K E L N O I C E P L R T

O R A R I M L N R R B S L C Y I O V N B I E X O U

O T E E X I O O E O C S E E E O C O I O R N W W N

P R H P A H W W P N I E D P K P E L Y A H H D L Y

P A P T W C S Y O O T N H D R E L N K A E T O Y M

I P G U D E T T O P S N A O A E W U I E K C O R G

H A W F I N C H C I U E W O D O H R F F I L C R Y

W H I T E E Y E D R R T K W D C N A G I M R A T P

WOrd SeArcHBirds of North America & Sub Species #2

Adler (Flycatcher)Bahama (Mockingbird)BluebirdBlue BuntingBachmans (Warbler)Bewicks (Wren)Botterls (Sparrow)BramblingCalifornia (Thrusher)Calliope (Hummingbird)Cliff (Swallow)ChickadeeChukarCondorChimney (Swift)Coopers (Hawk)Crested Myna (Starling)CuckooCurvedbilled (Thrusher)Darkeyed (Junco)Downey (Woodpecker)Dusky (Thrush)EagleElegant TrogonFieldfareGila (Woodpecker)GrouseHawfinchHenslow (Sparrow)Hermit (Thrush)Hooded Oriole

Horned PuffinHummingbirdInca DoveLazuli (Bunting)LeContes (Sparrow)Loggerhead (Shrike)LongspurMockingbirdOrangecrowned (Warbler)OwlParrotPartridgePeregrine FalconPheasantPipitProthonotary (Wabler)Ptarmigan (Willow)Pygmy NuthatchQuailRoadrunner (Greater)RobinRock (Wren)Rustic BuntingShrikeSnowy (Owl)Solitary (Vireo)Spragues (Pepit)Spotted (Owl)StarlingSwallowTennessee (Warbler)

TowheeVauxs (Swit)WagtailsWaxwingsWhippoorwillWhiteeyed (Vireo)WoodpeckerZonetailed Hawk

Environmental Activity – Wisconsin Dept. of Justice

May 25, 2012

MADISON – Attorney General J.B.Van Hollen has announced thatProgressive Rail Incorporated and

its division Wisconsin Northern Railroad havebeen ordered to pay $49,000 in forfeitures,assessments, costs and fees for violations ofWisconsin’s water and wetland protectionlaws. The railroad committed the violations inthe course of constructing new side and spurtracks as part of an expansion of a transload-ing facility for truck-rail transfer of frac sandand other commodities in the town of EaglePoint and the City of Chippewa Falls, Chip-pewa County, in October 2011.

Wisconsin law prohibits discharging pol-lutants to wetlands without a certificationfrom the Department of Natural Resources(DNR) that the discharges comply with statewater quality standards. Wisconsin law alsorequires that owners of construction siteswhere an acre or more of land will be dis-turbed, submit a notice of intent to the DNRand obtain coverage under a water pollutantcontrol permit regulating storm water runoffbefore commencing construction. These per-mits in turn require that property owners

railroad Ordered to Pay Penalties of $49,000 for Violationsof State Storm Water Management and Wetland Protection

Laws at rail expansion Project in chippewa countyimplement best management practices forprotecting state water resources from stormwater runoff.

In addition to paying a judgment of $49,000for the violations, Progressive Rail will obtainan after-the-fact wetland water quality cer-tification for its project and will fund a Wet-land Creation Project through the ChippewaCounty Department of Land Conservation &Forest Management, as part of the Little LakeWissota Stewardship Project.

According to the complaint filed by theAttorney General at the request of the DNR,runoff pollution is the major cause of pollutedwaters in Wisconsin, and Wisconsin is losing300 acres of wetlands a year.

“Wisconsin law requires that propertyowners obtain and follow permits designed toprevent pollution and to protect public rightsin the state’s wetlands and navigable waters,”Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said. “TheWisconsin Department of Justice will con-tinue to work with the DNR to ensure thatWisconsin’s water resources are safeguardedthrough compliance with the law.”

Assistant Attorney General JoAnne F.Kloppenburg prosecuted the case for theState.

Names appear horizontally/vertically/diagonally including spelledbackwards.

WWF Editor D. A. GriesSearch Author

June 08, 2012

MADISON – Attorney General J.B.Van Hollen has announced thatthe Platteville Golf and Country

Club will pay $12,000 for violations of Wis-consin’s water and wetland protection laws.It addition, it has restored the site and mustmaintain site stability. The country club com-mitted the violations in its efforts to expandthe golf course by grading and filling in astreambed and filling in wetlands, all donewithout a permit.

Wisconsin law prohibits anyone from grad-ing and filling a stream, and from discharg-ing pollutants into wetlands, without a permitfrom the Department of Natural Resources(DNR) ensuring that the activities complywith provisions to protect water quality. Thecomplaint filed in this case alleges that thecountry club illegally filled in a stream thatis a tributary to the Little Platte River, that

Platteville Golf and country club to Pay $12,000 forWetland and Waterway Violations

it graded more than 10,000 square feet of thebed and banks of the stream, and that it il-legally filled adjacent wetlands.

In addition to paying a judgment of$12,000 for the violations, the Platteville Golfand Country Club has removed the fill andrestored the site. It must now monitor thesite for stability and take corrective action ifnecessary. The stipulation has been approvedby Grant County Circuit Court Judge RobertVanDeHey.

“Wisconsin law requires that propertyowners may not disturb streams and wet-lands unless they have been granted a per-mit to do so,” Attorney General Van Hollensaid. “The Wisconsin Department of Justicewill continue to work with the DNR to pro-tect the public rights in the state’s wetlandsand navigable waters by requiring compli-ance with the law.”

Assistant Attorney General LorraineStoltzfus represented the State in this case.

Well driller Todd Huemann and T. Huemann Well & Pump,Inc., to Pay $23,000 for Well construction code Violations

June 18, 2012

MADISON – Attorney General J.B.VanHollen announced that theWisconsin Department of Justice

(DOJ) has filed and settled a lawsuit againstsoutheastern Wisconsin well driller ToddHuemann and his company, T. HuemannWell & Pump, Inc. (collectively “Huemann”),for violations of state well construction, welllocation and well construction reporting re-quirements.

The complaint filed by the DOJ at the re-quest of the Department of Natural Resources(DNR) alleges that Huemann has violatedsimilar requirements multiple times by im-properly locating wells and failing to obtainvariances, by failing to comply with varianceconditions, and by failing to properly con-struct shallow bedrock wells. It also allegesthat Huemann failed to comply with report-ing requirements, despite numerous remind-ers by the DNR.

When wells are not properly constructed,there is a risk that the people who drink thewater will be exposed to toxins and pathogens.This is because gaps in the annular space al-low surface contaminants to travel down thecasing to, or toward, the aquifer. There also isa danger that gaps next to the well will al-low contaminants to flow from one aquifer toanother. Wells are required to be constructed

minimum distances from possible contamina-tion sources such as private sewage treatmentsystems to help avoid contamination, but theDNR may issue variances from those setbackrequirements with conditions aimed at keep-ing the water supply safe.

Within 30 days after each well is drilled,a well driller is required by law to submitwell construction reports so that the DNR canpromptly identify well construction and welllocation violations. Since the DNR is unable toinspect all private wells during their construc-tion, the DNR requires that well drillers befamiliar with construction requirements priorto drilling wells. It must rely on the drillers toobtain variances when necessary and to com-ply with variance conditions when variancesare issued, and it must rely on well drillers toreport the work they do.

As part of the parties’ settlement, Hue-mann has agreed to notify the DNR wherethe company intends to work each day so thatDNR staff may inspect its work. Huemannwill pay $23,000 in forfeitures, fees and costs,and has agreed to pay additional forfeituresif reports are submitted late, or if necessaryvariances are not sought during the nextthree years.

Dane County Circuit Court Judge Shel-ley Gaylord approved the parties’ settlementagreement. Assistant Attorney General DianeMilligan represented the State.

May 29, 2012

MADISON – Attorney General J.B.Van Hollen has announced thatKrause Konstruction Company, a

LaCrosse area construction firm that special-izes in church exteriors, will pay $10,000 forviolations of Wisconsin laws aimed at protect-ing public health and the environment, and itwill obtain lead and asbestos certifications.

Generators of solid waste are required bylaw to determine whether the waste they aregenerating is hazardous or not, to documentthe quantity of hazardous waste they are gen-erating, and to properly contain and disposeof such waste. According to the complaintfiled by the Department of Justice (DOJ) atthe request of the Department of Natural Re-sources (DNR), Krause violated Wisconsin’shazardous waste testing, generation and dis-posal laws when it power-washed a LaCrossechurch’s steeple and caused paint chips toscatter on the lawn, sidewalk and street. Leadis considered a hazardous waste at concentra-

Judgment requires exterior Painting and roofing contractorto Pay $10,000, and to Obtain Lead and Asbestos Training

tions of greater than 5 mg/L, and DNR test-ing of the paint chips showed lead levels inexcess of 38,000 mg/kg. Krause worked withthe DNR to clean up the paint chips, and itultimately replaced the sod at the church anddisposed of the contaminated sod at a landfill.

As part of the settlement of the State’sclaims against the company, Krause also hasagreed that it will obtain the training, andmaintain the certifications necessary, to en-sure that its employees understand how toproperly and safely handle lead paint and as-bestos.

“Studies have shown that lead exposurein young children can cause reduced IQ andattention span, learning disabilities, develop-mental delays and a range of other health andbehavioral effects,” Attorney General J.B. VanHollen said. “The Department of Justice willcontinue to work with the DNR to ensure thatall contractors comply with hazardous wastelaws.”

Assistant Attorney General Diane Milli-gan represented the State in this case.

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WISCONSERVATION July 20128

2012 WWF BANQUET CALENDARDISTRICT CONTACT DATE LOCATIONDist. 4 East Jerry Knuth Sat., Sept. 8 Shooter’s(Plover) 715-344-0017 Plover, WI

Dist. 7 Dave Chingway Thurs., Sept. 20 Turner Hall(Watertown) 920-253-5251 Watertown, WI

Dist. 7 Ruth Ann Lee Sat., Oct. 13 MacKenzie Center(MacKenzie Banquet) 608-635-8105 or Poynette, WI

[email protected]

Statewide Wayne Thayer Sat., Jan. 26, 2013 Ho-Chunk CasinoBanquet 2013 608-754-4965 Wisconsin Dells, WI

Take Note!Shooting Range Workshop. Page 3

Learn to Hunt. Pages 4, 5 & 6

2013 Calendars. Page 4

Environmental Enforcement. Page 7

Editor D. A. Gries

June 2012CalendarWinners

1 ATV-Winners Choice to $5,000 Seth Radue, Manitowoc, WI 49482 $100 Cash Roberta Burgan, Hayward, WI 58843 Browning A Bolt 325 wsm Mark Pawasarat, Sheboygan, WI 64214 Gander Mountain Gift Card $100 Jeff Brunet, Redgranite, WI 65025 $100 Cash Gilbert J. Gultch, Burlington, WI 39636 Remington 700 .270 Wayne Graf, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 3587 Gander Mountain Gift Card $100 Bryon Pfeffer, Racine, WI 55408 $100 Cash Heather Pupp, Cambridge, WI 21809 Weatherby Vanguard 30.06 Meg Tauchen, Cecil, WI 189

10 Gander Mountain Gift Card $100 Jon Savor, Sparta, WI 103311 $100 Cash Thunder River Inc., Mukwonago, WI 3712 TC Triumph Camo 50 Cal Eugene Barber, Wausau, WI 874513 Gander Mountain Gift Card $100 Scott Farrell, Watertown, WI 950114 $100 Cash Kenn & Sue Klement, West Allis, WI 201215 Mossberg Silver Reserve 20 ga Scott Ros, Larsen, WI 750016 Gander Mountain Gift Card $100 Jim Heise, Ripon, WI 737217 Toro Lawn mower (Father’s Day) Dave Fox, Black River Falls, WI 401618 Remington 870 combo 12 ga. Glenn Byal, West Allis, WI 224619 $100 Cash Les Simon, Menasha, WI 261020 Gander Mountain Gift Card $100 Paul Gravunder, Berlin, WI 9921 Savage III fxp4 combo 7mm Dale Prout, Menomonee Falls, WI 503822 Gander Mountain Gift Card $100 Bob Kohli, Appleton, WI 572723 $100 Cash Tim Hunt, New London, WI 300124 NEF Pardner Pump Schlinsog’s Sugar Shanty, Granton, WI 597625 Gander Mountain Gift Card $100 Duane Kipper, Lancaster, WI 546026 $100 Cash Perry Luedtke, Kewaskum, WI 82327 TC Impact 50 Caliber Jon Dropp, Hibbing, MN 909428 Gander Mountain Gift Card $100 Gene Waterworth, Fall River, WI 718929 Gander Mountain Gift Card $100 Brenda Bamke, Neosho, WI 632930 Marlin 917 17HMR David Newman, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 765

Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association(WWOA)

2012 Annual MeetingAugust 23rd - 26th

Madison Marriott WestMiddleton, Wisconsin

Info found on website: www.wisconsinwoodlands.orgAnnual Meeting for WWOA Members only!

Milwaukee Casting Club75th Anniversary

Open House and Chicken RoastSaturday July 28th, 2012

18200WCleveland AveNew Berlin2pm-?

2012 WWF Print Now Available

“Spring Outing”Buzz Balzer

Edition Size: Signed and Numbered 300Image Size: 21.625” x 16.5”Price: $25.00Remarques are available for additional cost.Shipping and Handling: $5.00

Wisconsin Wildlife Federation2012 Print of the Year

ABOUT THE ARTISTAs an avid outdoorsman Buzz Balzer specializes in portraying

Midwestern wildlife and the landscapes he hikes and hunts. After3 years as an illustrator in the U.S. Army he attended Iowa StateUniversity graduating in Art.

He has twice been the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association Artist ofthe Year, twice the Iowa Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year, NationalDucks Unlimited Companion Artist and also twice an “Artist inResidence” at Custer State Park in South Dakota.

His art has been exhibited at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson ArtMuseum in Wausau, the Waterfowl Festival, Easton, Maryland, theNational Wildlife Art Show, Kansas City, the Wild Wings Fall Fest,Lake City, Minnesota and numerous others.

He works primarily in oil and paints both in the studio and“onlocation” outdoors.

ORDER FORM 2012 “Spring Outing”

Name ________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________

City _________________________________________________

State___________________________Zip___________________

Phone________________________________________________

Wisconsin Wildlife FederationW7303 County Road CS & Q • Poynette, Wisconsin 53955

(608) 635-2742

Make checks payable to Wisconsin Wildlife FederationMaster Card and Visa Accepted


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