Executive Director's Notes
By Bruce Ross, Executive Director
|
It’s hard for me to appreciate that I’ve been with WWA for six months now – how time flies. And I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m already behind in preps for my upcoming waterfowl season! I think the two items are related. While I’ve addressed my malfunctioning shotgun, there’s remaining work on my shooting eye, my blocks and my blinds! My reality is those annual preps have to take second fiddle to
what’s happening at our WWA.
|
|
|
|
Another Decoy Auction to Benefit WWA!
|
Here is another opportunity to support us and obtain some antique or contemporary carved decoys donated by some of the most talented Wisconsin carvers around as well as several others from our midwest neighbors. Grant Cole, owner of
Auctioneers Incorporated has agreed to support WWA by listing 12 donated decoys on his online auction catalog for their August 4th auction.
Learn more!
|
|
Judging at the 3rd Annual WI Decoy Carving Contest.
|
|
Fall is Near
By Bruce Urben, President
|
As we close out July we wonder where the summer has gone. Softball, baseball and soccer leagues wind down this time of year and thoughts begin to run to school shopping and for many of us; fall waterfowling season.
Read on...
|
|
|
|
A Waukesha County project WWA assisted with restoring last month.
|
|
Habitat Program Updates
By Peter Ziegler, Project Director
|
It was a busy month helping to restore habitat in Wisconsin for WWA. We assisted with the restoration of a total of 60 acres of habitat on the ground in July. Thanks to some breaks in the weather in the southern part of the state, we were also able to complete two of our projects.
Read on..
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
WWA's Education Committee: Get Involved!
By Ian Bartelmez, Committee Chair
|
Welcome to WWA’s first Education Column! My name is Ian Bartelmez, I am both a WWA Board Director and the chair of our new Education Committee.
As we start on this exciting new venture for WWA, let’s cover the basic goals: we will strive to keep you, our members and volunteers, up-to-date on educational opportunities...
Read on...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sponsor Spotlight: Drake Waterfowl Systems
|
I
f you’re a waterfowler, you’ve heard of Drake and likely have some of their gear in your hunting closet - I certainly do! I appreciate their quality, cutting edge approach to protecting us from the elements...
Learn more.
|
|
|
|
I hope to see many of you at our upcoming
State Shoot August 17th at Wern Valley Sportsman’s Club
. This is a fun "Duck Hunter's shoot to get you ready for the upcoming hunting season. Bring your duck hunting gun as we shoot pairs and triples at this event. You can Win an 8 Bird Pheasant Hunt or a 4 man 3 Day Argentina Dove Hunt!!!
Read on...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grand Prize: Can Am HD 8XT Camo UTV with a Karavan Trailer!
Get your tickets securely online now!
|
|
|
|
Consider volunteering to help one of our Chapters make a difference by improving the wetlands, waterfowl, and wildlife in Wisconsin. Thanks for all your past and future support.
I want to help!
|
|
|
|
Class A "Need Not be Present to Win" Raffles
|
Throughout the year most of our chapters hold
Class A raffles
, many featuring multiple prizes and some extremely desirable guns (that you probably wouldn’t buy for yourself, but sure would like to own). If you can’t attend every event, and who can, you can still get in on a chance to win the chapter’s showcase prizes, most with great odds to win.
Check them all out here
!
|
|
This month's featured Class A is for our
Wausau Chapter
which will be drawn at their August 10th banquet in West. Tickets are $10 each and only 600 will be sold & you could win a
Browning Maxus Wicked Wing 12ga
, a
Browning A-Bolt 3 Combo
, a
Standard Mfg AR-15
or a
Taurus G2C 9mm
!
Get your tickets here.
|
|
|
|
Refuges & Waterfowl Management Plan Updates & Hearings
By Taylor Finger, WDNR Migratory Game Bird Ecologist
|
The WI DNR has been working on updating and simplifying a rule that covers refuges and waterfowl closed areas. This has been a task that the WI DNR has been wanting to tackle and is overdue.
Learn more...
|
|
|
|
Have an idea you want the wardens to answer in the new year?
Let us know!
|
Waterfowl Scouting: ‘Dog guy’ WDNR Warden Ben Mott offers tips for you to be successful!
Photos and column by WDNR Conservation Warden Ben Mott
|
Well, the spring has come and gone. Nest boxes have been checked and, hopefully, successful. Now, we are in it – summertime.
Beaches, boats, fishing, and maybe a little trap shooting have been taking up our time. In the dog days of summer what else is there to do? I can think of two things – dogs and scouting.
Read on...
|
|
|
|
Hunters during last year’s duck season opener at a MS River boat launch. Credit: Jeff Jackson
|
|
Plan Ahead to Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species
By Jeanne Scherer, AIS Outreach Specialist and Chris Hamerla of Golden Sands RC&D
|
As summer swelters on, are you dreaming of a crisp fall morning in your blind? Before that day dawns, here are a few ideas for preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in your favorite hunting areas. Decoys with cracks or unnoticed holes can let water seep in that could
carry tiny organisms...
|
|
|
|
Koelpin Sr. carving “Mandarins” decoys, photo courtesy Bill Koelpin, Jr.
|
|
The Decoy Corner: William Koelpin, Sr.
By Bruce Urben, President
|
Back in April, I wrote an article about a contemporary decoy carver and artist,
Bill Koelpin, Jr.
. Bill Jr.’s artistic life was influenced early by his Dad – William J. Koelpin, Sr., a decoy carver, internationally celebrated artist, avid hunter, fisherman and conservationist
.
Learn more...
|
|
Mark your calendars for the next WWA event near you and visit our
Events Calendar for everything happening in 2019:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thirty novice hunters from ages 10-adult will have the unique opportunity to experience a once in a lifetime duck hunt at Horicon Marsh on the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge through a Learn to Hunt Waterfowl Program offered this fall.
Learn more...
|
|
|
|
AIS Spotlight: Zebra Mussels
By:
Christopher Acy, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator,
Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance
|
Every month, we will put a spotlight on an aquatic invasive species (AIS). This month, we highlight a well known invasive species: zebra mussels! Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) have become one of the most recognizable aquatic invasive species and perhaps the most infamous.
Learn more...
|
|
|
|
2020 Wisconsin Waterfowl Stamp by Robert Metropulos of Arbor Vitae, WI. Photo courtesy WDNR
|
|
Update from the WDNR Wetland Habitat Program,
By Jason Fleener, Wetland Habitat Specialist
|
We are now in the Fiscal Year (FY)20-21 State Duck Stamp project cycle. Fourteen waterfowl habitat related proposals from across the state were approved for roughly $600K in funding for the biennium, with a few more projects that could be approved, pending funding availability in FY21. Allow me to back-up to explain the Duck Stamp funding process and how we got there.
Learn more...
|
|
Thank You to Our 2019 Sponsors & Donors
|
|
Thanks to all those that have cherished the memory of a loved one by donating in memoriam to the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association. Those recently memorialized were:
- Mr. Glenn Zachow - Donors: Greg Rausch, Tony LaMacchia, Jim Freck, Mike Depies
- Mr. David E. Hughes - Donors: Mr. & Mrs. Jim Tavares, Mr. & Mrs. Fred Welch
- Mr. Joseph Porten- Donors: WWA 2018 Board of Directors and Staff
- Attorney Dan Fay - Donor: Dale W. Arenz
- Mr. Robert J. Kuehl - Donor: Ms. Penny D. Kuehl
- Mr. John Held - Donor: Ms. Kathy Shurts
- Mr. John Holmes - Donors: Dale W. Arenz, Jon Bergquist
- Mr. Jay Reed - Donor: Bob & Cookie Olson
- Mr. Norman J. Brady - Donor: Dale W. Arenz
- Mr. Robert E. Strous - Donor: Bruce Urben
If you'd like to consider a lasting and meaningful memorial fund contribution for that friend, hunting partner, co-worker or relative with WWA, please
contact us
. Each contribution will offer:
- A personalized letter to the family of the deceased,
- A letter from WWA sent to the donor confirming contribution for tax purposes (address & individual donation amount must be supplied),
- The option for the donor to designate which WWA program they wish their contributions be put towards, and a listing in this section for the duration of one year
|
|
The Wisconsin Waterfowl Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission focuses on wetland and upland habitat restoration, youth and adult environmental education and environmental- and hunter-based legislation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
