In Wisconsin??
Posted June 7, 2006
State waterfowl hunters caught in crowd
By Jim Lee
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
MADISON — When it comes to duck hunting rules and regulations, Wisconsin waterfowlers are a pretty satisfied lot.
But when the conditions under which hunting occurs are addressed, the boys in the blinds are considerably less cheerful.
The reaction of hunters in the Badger State pretty well reflect hunter sentiment nationwide, according to a recent survey of 10,000 waterfowlers taken by the National Flyway Council and the Wildlife Management Institute.
"Wisconsin hunters expressed concern about when ducks arrive, the length of time ducks stay, overall duck numbers and the number of places to hunt," said Kent Van Horn, waterfowl biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Res-ources, which helped design survey questions and direct the national study.
"Neither the weather nor water conditions have been ideal in the state during recent years," he added.
With 75,000 waterfowl hunters, Wisconsin has the third-highest number of goose hunters in the nation and ranks fourth in duck hunters, according to the DNR.
Of participants in the national survey, 72 percent said duck hunting was one of their most important recreation activities, 65 percent said they spent more than $250 annually and 20 percent more than $1,000 annually.
"Waterfowlers are fortunate because Wisconsin has worked hard to protect our valuable wetlands and the state is an important stopover along major duck and goose migration routes," Van Horn said.
Wisconsin's waterfowl hunting heritage in the Mississippi Flyway is one reason duck season guidelines have been occasionally controversial and always important.
According to the study, this state's waterfowlers are generally happier with current hunting regulations than their national counterparts.
Here's how Wisconsin hunter sentiment compared to national averages:
n Season length: 64 percent of Wisconsin hunters felt it was just right, 29 percent felt it was too short. Nationally, those percentages were 59 percent and 34 percent.
n Bag limits: 72 percent in Wisconsin and nationally said "just right," while 11 percent in Wisconsin said too low and 10 percent too high, compared to 13 percent and eight percent nationally.
n Season timing: 73 percent of Wisconsin hunters said it was OK, compared to 63 percent nationally.
n Hunting quality: 58 percent of Wisconsin hunters (57 percent nationally) said conditions between 2000 and 2004 got worse; 39 percent in Wisconsin (40 percent nationally) said it remained the same or got better.
n Crowding problems: 67 percent of Wisconsin hunters said crowding is a problem (58 percent nationally) while 64 percent (58 percent nationally) said hunting pressure has increased; 57 percent of Wisconsin hunters said interference from other hunters is a problem.
"Despite these perceptions, 68 percent of both the national survey groups and the Wisconsin group were neutral or satisfied with their last duck hunting experience," the DNR noted.
Van Horn said he was pleased "to see Wisconsin duck hunters are keeping the tradition alive."
"Sixty-three percent of the hunters indicated they were hunting the same or more days compared to five years ago, and 17 percent just started duck hunting in the last few years."
So where does the DNR go with the results?
Van Horn said he would be discussing the results with state waterfowl groups as they discuss potential waterfowl hunting rule changes in the coming years.
Jim Lee is an outdoors writer for Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers. He can be reached at 715-845-0605 or by e-mail at jlee77@charter.net.
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