The 2023 Wisconsin
DNR and Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) Fish And Wildlife Spring Hearings
took place virtually April 10-13.
This
is the annual opportunity for EVERYONE in Wisconsin to weigh in and voice
opinions on WI wildlife and outdoor issues by responding to natural
resource-related questions and proposed rule changes. The 2023 deadline for
citizens to submit resolutions for changes they would like to see in the future
has passed, but please see
WCC
Resolution Process and
Resolution Submittal FAQ for more information on the
resolutions and the process.
This
years online questionnaire was open from April 10, 2023 at noon through
April 13, 2023 at noon. More than 11,500 people responded to the 2023
Spring Hearing questionnaire. All of the results now available
on
the DNR website, both statewide questions and county Citizen Resolutions.
2023 Spring Hearing Statewide Survey
Results 
2023 Spring Hearing County Citizen Resolutions
Results 
There
were several important issues addressed this year, including:
Restrict Lead Fishing Tackle in Wisconsin
End Lead Poisoning of Bald Eagles
Wanton Waste (to prevent people
from harvesting animals and then not utilizing them -- a Wanton Waste law in WI
would be a start to regulate wildlife killing contests.
Some
of these questions can be confusing, so the Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter has
created a voter guide that highlights the critical issues for the state-level
questions (Note: Each local county will have different citizen resolutions, so
please answer those too, but there is no way to know what will be in each
county in advance, so they are not on the voter guide.)
Click here for the Voter Guide:
Spring Hearing FAQ (pdf) 
Review WIldlife Management Proposed Rules Changes
(pdf) 
Fisheries Management Proposed Rule Changes
(pdf) 
Review WCC Advisory Questions (pdf) 
NEW
THIS YEAR: The week prior to the annual WCC/DNR Spring Hearings,
4/3/23-4/6/23, Open Houses will be held in each county to allow the public to
ask questions and learn about resource management in their neck of the woods.
See WCC/ DNR Spring Hearing Open Houses for the date and
meeting location for each county.
DNR
staff and WCC delegates will be on hand at these open houses to discuss local
issues of importance, answer questions from the public and open a dialogue
between the public, the DNR and the WCC about areas of interest and concern.
In
addition, the WCC will hold elections for their delegates at each of these open
houses. Two of the five WCC seats will be up for election in each county. For
those who would like to become more involved for wildlife in Wisconsin -- did
you realize that ANYONE can run for election as a Wisconsin Conservation
Congress Delegate? You can read more about the
Wisconsin Conservation Congress Delegate Election Process
here.
WCC/ DNR
Spring Hearing Open Houses 
Wisconsin Conservation Congress Delegate Election
Process 
The
Wisconsin Conservation Congress is the only statutory body in the state where
the public elects delegates to advise the Natural Resources Board and the DNR
on responsibly managing Wisconsin's natural resources for present and future
generations. Learn more about the WCC and how to become involved in resource
management decisions on the
Wisconsin
Conservation Congress webpage.

DNR/
WCC Spring Hearing Spring Hearing FAQ (pdf) 
WI Conservation Congress
page 
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