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| Folks:
Following the meeting in Stevens Point on February 22nd the Wisconsin Muskellunge Restoration Team responded hastily with an e-mail that was admittedly inappropriate and counter-productive. While still disheartened by the meeting itself, the Restoration Team would like to offer an apology to the Wisconsin DNR and also to our supporters that have stayed with us throughout this very important journey. While we still stand by the content of our message we realize the tone was uncalled for and reflected poor judgment on our part.
With this being said, the Restoration Team would like to invite the Wisconsin DNR, Muskies Inc. and the Wisconsin Musky Alliance into another discussion on the issue dealing with this very important subject. We ask that all parties enter the meeting with the intent to cooperate and contribute to a plan that looks into the future Muskellunge management and research to be conducted within the state - beginning today in 2005. We feel it important that DNR personal with the authority to implement any changes to current practices be present at this meeting to speed up the time line and avoid having future meetings on items where we can satisfy common goals. We would also ask that the results of this meeting be made available to the public. All fishermen have a stake in this and the more informed we all are, the better we can work to create the finest fishery possible. We sincerely hope that the DNR will invite the interested groups into the discussion before unveiling a plan unilaterally that may not address all of the needs and concerns of Wisconsin’s Muskellunge Fishery and Fisherman.
There is much at stake here, with limited budgets within the Wisconsin DNR and Musky clubs it is vitally important that we work together to meet the needs of the individual groups so as to make the best use of our combined resources.
We extend this olive branch with a single goal in mind - making the Wisconsin Muskellunge Resource the best that it can be. This can only be done with all of our groups working together.
If you would like to work together on this - we request that you contact us. The future of our Muskellunge fishery is at stake.
Respectfully Submitted,
The Wisconsin Muskellunge Project Team
Robert Benson
Larry Ramsell
Eric Johnson
CC: Wisconsin Musky Alliance
CC: Muskies Inc. Clubs of Wisconsin
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Open Letter To The Wis DNR