Madison – The DNR is seeking volunteers to become hunter safety instructors statewide before fall classes begin.
Since the program’s inception in 1967, more than 20,000 volunteer instructors have trained and certified more than one million hunters throughout Wisconsin. There are two ways to become a certified volunteer hunter education instructor. Volunteers may complete two full courses as an apprentice under the supervision of a sponsoring instructor or attend a DNR certification training session.
Once certified, DNR provides volunteer instructors with the materials and equipment needed to teach the course. To maintain certification, instructors must teach one class every three years. Information is posted on the DNR website or can be checked with your local trainer.
MORE COVERAGE FROM WISCONSIN OUTDOOR NEWS:
Fish and Wildlife Rules Are Changing in the Face of Control in Wisconsin
Two people died in an accident on Lake Michigan near Port Washington, Wisconsin.
DNR appoints three up-to-date regional directors
Madison – DNR Deputy Secretary Steven Little has named three up-to-date director regional secretaries effective July 14 – Connie Antonuk in the Northeast Region (Green Bay), Jill Schoen in the Midwest Region (Eau Claire) and Shelly Allness in the South Central Region Region (Madison). These directors serve as the DNR’s “eyes, ears and voice” statewide, handling local issues.
Antonuk has been with the DNR for 31 years and most recently served as the Northern Region field integration leader. She began her career as a ephemeral employee at the Escanaba Lake Research Station in Vilas County as a fishery salesperson, measuring walleyes and talking to anglers. Schoen has more than 30 years of experience in natural resource management, serving the DNR in a variety of capacities. Most recently, she served as program director of the watershed management program. Allness has been with the DNR for over 20 years. Most recently, she served as field integration leader for the South Central region; previously, she was the agency’s deputy director of legislative affairs and tribal liaison.
Buffalo Lake and Yahara River cause fish kills
Madison – The DNR is investigating fish mortality at two locations in south-central Wisconsin – the Buffalo Lake watershed in Marquette, Green Lake and Columbia counties and the Yahara River in Stoughton. Due to recent ponderous rains, more reports of fish kills are likely. The DNR will continue to investigate reports.
On July 10, a enormous number of dead fish were reported on Buffalo Lake. The DNR began an investigation on July 11. Fish biologists collected samples from multiple locations in the more than 400-square-mile watershed and confirmed low dissolved oxygen levels in the headwaters and some tributaries, which may be caused by a combination of natural processes and environmental conditions, including ponderous, repeated rainfall , which move organic materials from wetlands, fields and other types of land into the watershed.
There have been reports of stained or tea-colored water, which is likely caused by the release of tannic acids from flooded wetlands. The public may notice an oily sheen on the lake’s surface, which occurs when bacteria consume excess iron in the water.
DNR crews are also collecting data on a reported fish kill at Stoughton on the Yahara River and no additional information is available at this time.
Pierce County CWD meeting scheduled for August 14
Madison – The public is invited to attend the Pierce County Deer Advisory Board meeting on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) at
6:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 14, at Spring Valley School to review local testing efforts and disease surveillance options.
In April, the DNR confirmed the first positive test for CWD in a wild deer in Pierce County. The deer was located in the town of Spring Lake, within 10 miles of Dunn and
St. County boundaries Croix.
Deadline for submitting applications for upper sea sturgeon is August 1
Oshkosh, Wis. – The deadline for sturgeon spearers to apply for 2025 upstream lake spear tags is August 1. Only 500 license holders will be selected to punt Lake Poygan, Winneconne or Butte des Morts in February. In the case of group entries, the point value will depend on the person with the lowest number of points in the group. Spearers may also choose to purchase a preference point instead of applying for a tag. The “winners” will be notified by October 1.
Minnesota to host the National Wildlife Federation’s 2025 annual meeting
Minneapolis – Minnesota has been selected to host the National Wildlife Federation’s annual meeting in June 2025. The annual meeting of the group’s 52 affiliated state and territorial organizations discusses and celebrates natural resource conservation.
Brad Gausman, executive director of the Minnesota Conservation Federation, said he and his team are excited to host and showcase some of the local partnerships the Minnesota chapter is affiliated with.
“This is a huge deal for us. As an organization, we have been working to increase our capacity over the last several years, and this is just a big step in our work to communicate environmental progress in Minnesota,” Gausman said, with meeting locations and topics yet to be determined. specified.
ND Gun Deer licenses available July 24
Bismarck, ND – More than 1,900 deer licenses are available in four units for the North Dakota deer shooting season and will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24. Residents and non-residents who have not already received a lottery or landowner license can apply for assistance online.
Hunters wishing to purchase additional licenses can do so at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, August 14. At that time, any remaining licenses will be issued as a concurrent season license that can be used during archery season, rifle season, or muzzleloading season.
