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SCI Northeast Wisconsin Chapter
By: Calvin Ort, President
I recently attended the 3rd annual HRC (Hunters Rights
Coalition) meeting which was held on
Saturday January 16, 2010.
Representatives from the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association, Fur
Trappers Association, the National Wild Turkey
Federation, Wisconsin SCI chapters, NRA ( National Rifle
Association), Wis. Bow Hunters, North American Crossbow
Federation, Wis. Crossbow Hunters, and individuals interested in
the protection and preservation of our Hunting Heritage. The
meeting was led by Mr. Greg Kazmierski, from SCI.
Through out the day,
the group heard from various speakers: Matt Frank - Secretary of
the DNR, Ann Hraychuck - Chairperson Assembly Committee on
Natural Resources, Scott Gunderson - member Assembly Committee
on Natural Resources, Rep. Amy Sue Vruwink Chairman of the
Agriculture Dept., State Senator Jim Holperin, Senator Glenn
Grothman, Tia Nelson Commissioner of Public Lands, and our
lobbyists Jolene Plautz & Bob Welch.
Various
issues were presented to the group including: Wolf populations,
The 2010 Deer Season, Bear & Turkey Bills, Gun Issues, the
Thrill Kill Bill, Deer population goals and Stewardship of
Public Land Use. All of these issues are very important but, I
think the Stewardship bill is the biggest of all. Many of these
public lands purchased by the state are not open to hunting,
fishing, and trapping. They are supposed to be 100% available to
the people of
Wisconsin
and this must be addressed before this continues & gets out of
control.
Another key issue to
watch is how
Wisconsin’s
share of an extra 4 million dollars from the Pittman/Robertson
Act will be disbursed. Several people stated that a vast
majority of the money taken in by the act is from ammunition &
reloading supplies and that a good amount of it should be
earmarked toward range improvements. I think a few dollars could
be put towards predator control & learning how to accurately
count Deer!
Those are the main
issues facing the sports people of
Wisconsin.
Please stay informed and remember to call your senators &
representatives on your stance of the issues. It was interesting
to hear several of them say maybe 5-7 people respond to a bill &
that is what sometimes sways their vote. That’s pretty sad and
it goes to show that most people are to lazy to make the call or
figure the next person will do it for them.
If you
do one new thing this year make it a point to get involved MAKE
THE CALL! No ones going to do it for you! If you aren’t going to
do it you really have no right to belly ache about the outcome!
We as hunters are by far a small majority & if we want to keep
our rights to hunt our voices have to be heard! The anti’s have
plenty of funding & they make their voices heard on most issues.
Remember the spring hearings are coming up in April and make
sure you attend.
By the
time you receive this issue several of the Chapters ours
included will have had their Banquets. I hope everyone has
attended a few and helped support their chapters. If you didn’t
attend any yet there are still a few coming up & hopefully you
will be able to attend them!
Cal
Until next time Shoot Straight & be Safe!
I look forward to seeing you March 10th at our
Monthly Members Meeting being held at Kodiak Jacks in Oshkosh, WI.
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