Nominations being accepted for annual Hunter Ethics Award; deadline is February 15
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| Nominate a Wisconsin hunter for the annual Hunter Ethics Award |
MADISON -- Wisconsin's tradition of hunting is built upon ethics where success is defined as using a moral compass to end the hunt satisfied with the knowledge the hunt also was safe, enjoyable and ethical.
Know a hunter who thinks and acts with a strong sense of safe and sometimes selfless direction? Nominate the individual for The La Crosse Tribune/Wis. Department of Natural Resources Hunter Ethics Award - a honor that goes well beyond a wildlife harvest for bragging rights later.
Nominations for this statewide award, now in its 18th year, will be accepted through February 15. The annual honor was established by Bob Lamb, retired outdoors editor of the La Crosse Tribune, Lamb, retired DNR conservation warden supervisor Steve Dewald and retired University of Wisconsin-La Crosse instructor Jerry Davis. Chief Conservation Warden Todd Schaller joined the award committee four years ago.
Schaller says the award is about recognizing sportsmen and sportswomen who go above and beyond for others who have the same passion or interest - and that is hunting.
"Maybe it's helping a fellow hunter in distress, providing opportunities for disabled hunters, teaching young hunters, coming to the aid of a conservation warden or simply showing other hunters that ethical hunting is part of the hunt," Schaller says.
Schaller says hunters look forward to the annual seasons because traditions - or creating new traditions with young or novice hunters-- remain important. "If you are a hunter in Wisconsin, you must strive to hunt in an ethical manner and to pass on these ethical traditions to the young people in their hunting party."
To become eligible for the 2014 award:
- The nominee must be a licensed Wisconsin hunter.
- The ethical hunting act must have occurred in Wisconsin during the 2014 calendar year.
- Nominations will be considered for any DNR-regulated hunting activity in Wisconsin.
- Written nominations must contain the name, address and telephone number of the witness or witnesses to the behavior that lead to the nomination and mailed to Chief Conservation Warden Todd Schaller at Todd.schaller@wisconsin.gov, or to Department of Natural Resources, Attention: Chief Warden Todd Schaller LE/5, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921, by Feb. 15, 2015.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Chief Conservation Warden Todd Schaller, Todd.Schaller@wisconsin.gov; 608-266-1115
Public hearing set for Lake Superior lake trout emergency rule
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| Hearings on lake trout population recovery held in Ashland Wisconsin. photo courtesy WIDNR ©2015 |
The public hearing will cover the 2014-15 emergency rule adopted by the Natural Resources Board at its December meeting. The emergency rule was designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the lake trout fishery in the Apostle Islands area by reducing the daily bag limit from three lake trout to two lake trout of which only one can be 20 to 25 inches in length and the other must be longer than 35 inches. For waters west of Bark Point, regulations for lake trout remain unchanged; three lake trout with a 15 inch minimum length and only one lake trout longer than 25 inches.
Terry Margenau, DNR Lake Superior fisheries supervisor, said the emergency rule was necessary because population assessments over the last six to eight years have indicated that the decline in lake trout abundance is largely due to harvest. Lake trout are capable of living in excess of 40 years and do not reach sexual maturity until they are eight to 10 years of age. Thus, it's critically important that the stock be carefully managed, as the welfare of many stakeholders, including commercial fishers, sport anglers, and a host of associated businesses, depends on a strong lake trout fishery in the Wisconsin waters of Lake Superior.
"The upcoming public hearing provides citizens with the opportunity to offer feedback and continue the dialogue started at a meeting held in early December prior to the Natural Resources board action," Margenau said. The hearing will focus on the need to extend the emergency rule beyond 150 days through early June, to cover the entire lake trout season, which runs through Sept. 30, 2015.
The Feb. 16 public hearing will be held in the auditorium of Ashland High School, 1900 Beaser Ave. A short summary presentation will be followed by an opportunity for citizens to provide oral and written comments. In addition, written comments may be submitted until Feb. 16 to: Terry L. Margenau, Lake Superior fisheries supervisor, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, PO Box 589, 141 S. Third Street Bayfield, WI 54814; or emailing terry.margenau@wisconsin.gov
For more information about the hearing, background on the December public meeting and management of the Lake Superior fishery, search the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, for "Lake Superior fisheries management."
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Margenau, terry.margenau@wisconsin.gov, 715-779-4035; Jennifer Sereno, communications, 608-770-8084; Jennifer.Sereno@wisconsin.gov.
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