Wisconsin Mixed Bag: DNR seeking hunter education instructors

Madison — The DNR is seeking volunteers to become hunter safety instructors across the state before fall classes begin.

Since the program’s creation in 1967, more than 20,000 volunteer instructors have trained and certified more than 1 million hunters across Wisconsin. There are two ways to become a certified volunteer hunter education instructor. Volunteers may serve as apprentices under a sponsoring instructor for two complete courses or attend a DNR certification training session.

Once certified, the DNR provides volunteer instructors with the materials and equipment needed to teach a course. Instructors must teach one class every three years to remain certified. Information is posted on the DNR website, or check with a local trainer.

MORE COVERAGE FROM WISCONSIN OUTDOOR NEWS:

Fish, wildlife rule changes face scrutiny in Wisconsin

Menasha’s Fox River lock closed indefinitely to help protect Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago from threat of round gobies

Two die in incident on Lake Michigan near Port Washington, Wis.

DNR Names New Three Regional Directors

Madison — DNR Deputy Secretary Steven Little named three new regional secretary’s directors, effective July 14 – Connie Antonuk in the Northeast Region (Green Bay), Jill Schoen in the West-Central Region (Eau Claire), and Shelly Allness in the South-Central Region (Madison). These directors act as the DNR’s “eyes, ears and voice” throughout the state while attending to local issues.

Antonuk has been with the DNR for 31 years, most recently serving as the Northern Region field integration leader. She started her career as a limited term employee at the Escanaba Lake Research Station in Vilas County as a creel clerk measuring walleyes and talking with anglers. Schoen has more than 30 years of experience in natural resources management, serving the DNR in various capacities. She most recently served as program director for the watershed management program. Allness has been with the DNR for more than 20 years. Most recently, she served as the South-Central Region field integration leader; before that, she was the deputy legislative director and the agency tribal liaison.

Buffalo Lake, Yahara River Suffer Fish Kills

Madison — The DNR is investigating fish kills in two locations in south-central Wisconsin – in the Buffalo Lake watershed in Marquette, Green Lake, and Columbia counties, and on the Yahara River in Stoughton. Due to recent heavy rains, more reports of fish kills are likely. The DNR will continue to investigate reports.

On Buffalo Lake, a large number of dead fish were reported on July 10. The DNR began investigating on July 11. Fish biologists sampled multiple sites throughout the more than 400-square-mile watershed and confirmed low dissolved oxygen levels across the upper water basin and some tributaries that can be caused by a combination of natural processes and environmental conditions, including heavy, repeated rainfall that carries organic materials from wetlands, fields and other types of land to the watershed.

Reports of stained or tea-colored water have been observed, and are likely caused by tannic acids being released from flooded wetlands. The public may notice oily sheens on the lake’s surface, which occur as bacteria consume excess iron in the water.

DNR crews are also gathering data on a reported fish kill in Stoughton on the Yahara River, and no additional information is available at this time.

Pierce County CWD Meeting set for Aug. 14

Madison — The public is invited to attend a Pierce County Deer Advisory Council meeting on chronic wasting disease (CWD) at
6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, at the Spring Valley school commons area to review local testing efforts and disease surveillance options.

In April, the DNR confirmed the first positive test result for CWD in a wild deer in Pierce County. The deer was located in the town of Spring Lake and is within 10 miles of the Dunn and
St. Croix county borders.

Upriver Sturgeon Application Deadline Aug. 1

Oshkosh, Wis. — The deadline for sturgeon spearers to apply for 2025 upriver lakes spearing tags is Aug. 1. Only 500 license holders will be selected to spear lakes Poygan, Winneconne or Butte des Morts in February. Those applying as a group will have their point value based on the individual with the lowest points within the group. Spearers may also choose to buy a preference point instead of applying for a tag. “Winners” will be notified by Oct. 1.

Minnesota to Host 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 brings together the group’s 52 affiliate state and territorial organizations to discuss and celebrate natural resources conservation.

Brad Gausman, executive director of the Minnesota Conservation Federation, said he and his team are excited for the opportunity to host and highlight some of the local partnerships to which the Minnesota affiliate is tied.

“It’s a huge deal for us. As an organization, we’ve been working to build our capacity for the last few years, and this is just a big step in our work to make our conservation progress in Minnesota known,” Gausman said, with location and meeting topics yet to be determined.

N.D. Gun Deer Licenses Available July 24

Bismarck, N.D. — More than 1,900 deer licenses are available in four units for North Dakota’s deer gun season, and will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 24. Residents and nonresidents who have not already received a lottery or landowner license are eligible to apply online.

Hunters who wish to buy additional licenses may do so at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14. At that time, any remaining licenses will be issued as a concurrent season license, which may be used during the archery season, gun season, or muzzleloader season.