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Posts: 177
Location: Lake Forest, Illinois | The DNR will be seeking opinions on a number of issues this spring that certainly could effect musky waters. See below...
Fishing issues bulk of DNR questions
In 2012, DNR questions pertain to hunting, fishing and trapping, with the bulk of questions aimed at gauging attendees' sentiments on how to simplify fishing rules, now contained in six separate regulation pamphlets.
“The governor asked us to look at simplifying our regulations so we are asking some questions to generate discussion of longstanding tools we've used to manage fish populations and fishing,” says Mike Staggs, DNR fisheries director. “Our fisheries questions are general proposals so we know the way that anglers want us to go.”
Attendees, for example, can weigh in on whether to allow year-round fishing if DNR finds that closing seasons for certain species for part of the year -- traditionally done now on most waters -- is not biologically necessary to protect fish populations.
They'll also be asked whether to adopt a single statewide musky season, instead of having different seasons for the state fish in northern and southern Wisconsin.
Other questions would allow anglers to weigh in on whether motor trolling is allowed statewide, and if DNR should eliminate separate stamps and tags required for inland or Great Lakes trout fishing and pursuing sturgeon and instead roll those costs into the annual license fee. | |
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Posts: 149
| The single biggest change this year is that there are NO rule change questions on the ballot at all. All questions are advisory only.
HUGE push in Wisconsin to simplify regulations and processes. Less license types sold = easier and cheaper to manage. Fewer regulations = easier and cheaper to enforce but not what's necessarily best for each individual water body.
Budgets aren't going to increase anytime soon and one of the few remaining areas that hasn't been previously tinkered with or cut to try to save money is simplifying regulations and significantly reducing the number of choices (and red tape) when purchasing a license.
Many ideas being floated to try to save money:
- not having any distinction between resident and non resident licenses - one price and one size fits all. Significantly reducing the very large number of different license types currently available down to just a couple different types.
- eliminating all stamps and add-ons and rolling all costs for those programs into a one size fits all license.
- eliminating the regulations pamphlet and requiring people to view regulations in electronic format (through internet or mobile app).
- eliminating 'zones' (north & south bass and musky for example) and having all waters statewide follow the same dates.
- eliminating gamefish closed seasons altogether and managing fish populations through more restrictive size and bag limits year round (studies have shown that using restrictive size and bag limits to limit harvest is far more effective than using closed seasons to limit harvest).
- allowing trolling on all waters statewide (separate questions for allowing 1, 2 or 3 lines being allowed to be trolled).
- allowing a trailed sucker to be used on an unattended rod while casting a lure with a different rod while the trolling motor is engaged.
- changing the panfish daily bag limit from 25 to 30 but breaking it out by species so that you may only harvest 10 bluegill, 10 crappie or 20 perch per day.
- allowing far more bass harvest by eliminating the early C&R season and reducing bass size limits on many waters as bass are severely hampering walleye populations on many waters with limited to no natural walleye reproduction.
And again, all those ideas are simply asked as advisory questions at this point.
Edited by esoxcpr 3/13/2012 8:33 PM
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| By reading the questions, this could be one of the most important spring hearings EVER if you believe in what our State Biologists are doing.
If the wrong people show up and support is overwhelming to simplify the rule book, a lot of hard work could disappear in a VERY SHORT time.
No Protected seasons, No trophy limits, NO FLEXABILTY to actually manage by our biologist.
READ the Questions starting on page 10.
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/nrboard/congress/spring_hearings/2012/2012%20...
This is advisory but, bureaucrats and politicians will pay attentions to how these items are voted on, and will create policy and regulations accordingly. If they have an out to strip the WDNR of biological management authority and just manage licenses and enforcement without having to spend money on the biological side they could do it.
GO TO THE HEARINGS and at least fill out a ballot and vote, you don’t have to stay and listen to everything, but it is very important to get out and vote if you care about Musky Management in Wisconsin.
Nail A Pig!
Mike
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FYI....Spring Hearings