Commentary: Wisconsin outdoors users want to see Nelson-Knowles Stewardship Program continue

Wisconsin is fortunate to have a rich sporting heritage, with hundreds of thousands of sportsmen and women taking advantage of our public lands each year. That tradition continues to thrive, in part, due to the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.

Since 1989, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has provided more access and opportunities for outdoor pursuits like hunting, fishing, and trapping. However, the program could possibly expire in June 2026.

A coalition of more than a dozen major conservation organizations representing hunters, anglers, and trappers from across the state is working to ensure that Wisconsin’s premier land conservation program will continue.

Sportsmen and women in the Badger State have better access and opportunities to hunt, fish, and trap because of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. If you’ve spent time in the whitetail woods or wading through marshes for waterfowl on public lands in Wisconsin, you’ve probably benefited from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.

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Lands acquired using Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funds are required to remain open to hunting and trapping, making it one of the most sportsmen and women-friendly land conservation programs in the country. But if the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program expires, Wisconsin will lose its best program for acquiring land for hunting, fishing, and trapping.

It’s no secret that one of the most common complaints from hunters is that public areas open to hunting are overcrowded. We must provide more opportunities and access for the state’s hunters, anglers and trappers. That won’t be possible without extending Knowles-Nelson.

Elected officials who don’t hunt, fish or trap should care about this because hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin residents buy hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses each year, providing significant contributions to the state. In 2022, hunters in Wisconsin spent more than $1.3 billion on hunting-related purchases, supported nearly 12,000 jobs, and contributed almost $830 million to Wisconsin’s GDP. Boating and fishing contributed more $928 million to Wisconsin’s GDP.

We look forward to working with Gov. Tony Evers and state legislators to ensure that Wisconsin can continue to provide access and opportunities for our state’s hunters, anglers, and trappers through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.

Kyle Rorah is a regional director of public policy for Ducks Unlimited and a lead organizer of the Sporting Coalition for Stewardship, which was formed to advocate for the continuation of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. Its members include DU, Pheasant Forever, Quail Forever, National Wild Turkey Federation, Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, Safari Club International, Delta Waterfowl, Wisconsin Trappers Association, Wisconsin Trout Unlimited, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Audubon Great Lakes, Ruffed Grouse Society, American Woodcock Society, and Boone and Crockett Club.