As the weather cools, many Wisconsin residents and outdoor enthusiasts will have one thing on their mind: the hunting season. Fall marks the beginning of many hunting and trapping seasons in the state including white-tailed deer and wild fowl like Canadian geese and ruffled grouse.
But as hunters and trappers gear up for a new season, the future of Wisconsin's natural areas is at risk. Public hunting and fishing grounds depend on land purchases made by the state's Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund. Since 1990, the Department of Natural Resources through the authorization of this fund, has purchased more than 440,000 acres of public hunting land.
The Stewardship Fund secures Wisconsin's natural areas each year, allowing the DNR to purchase lands, provide assistance to local governments and municipalities to build trails and parks, and encourage the development of more green space in urban areas. Simply, the Stewardship Fund ensures Wisconsin's long and proud tradition as a state with undeniable scenic beauty and residents who can enjoy the outdoors and sports all year-round.
But under the proposed Assembly 2007-09 state budget, the Stewardship Fund would be slashed by 60 percent overall. This would halt Wisconsin's ability to acquire and purchase land used for hunting, fishing and all forms of outdoor recreation.
That is why I've called for full funding of the Stewardship Fund - we must reauthorize this fund for $105 million each year for the next 10 years. If not, our renowned reputation for hunting and fishing will surely diminish. More land will be lost to private interest while anglers and hunters will find it harder to enjoy their sport.
More disconcerting, Wisconsin has lost 1.8 million acres of closed Managed Forest Law Land that had been open for hunting and fishing. All that lost hunting land combined with cuts to Stewardship means even less public lands available to hunt and fish. Less land means fewer hunters; fewer hunters mean less revenue to restock fields and streams and higher hunting and fishing license fees down the road. It's not surprising that for the 166 hunting, trapping and fishing clubs reauthorizing the Stewardship Fund is the most important issue in the state budget.
As we look ahead to the future of this state, we need to remember the past 150 years of hunting and fishing traditions. If we are to continue in those traditions with our families and friends, we need to preserve and ensure the best of this state. We must fully fund Stewardship.
- Rep. Tom Nelson is a Democrat from Kaukauna
