{"id":3819,"date":"2024-09-21T10:46:40","date_gmt":"2024-09-21T15:46:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/?p=3819"},"modified":"2024-09-21T10:46:40","modified_gmt":"2024-09-21T15:46:40","slug":"pandemic-pushes-waterfowl-hunters-to-aim-locally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/pandemic-pushes-waterfowl-hunters-to-aim-locally\/","title":{"rendered":"Pandemic Pushes Waterfowl Hunters to Aim Locally"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cancelled Out-Of-State Trips Translate Into Crowds but Not Enforcement Issues<\/h4>\n

An article from WWA\u2019s\u00a0Words From The Wardens.<\/a><\/h5>\n

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association\u2019s September, 2021 eNewsletter<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Lt.<\/a>By Lt. Tyler Strelow\/Supervisor of the DNR Mississippi River Warden Team<\/strong><\/p>\n

Due to the pandemic and the Canadian border being closed until early August, many hunters had to re-think their plans for waterfowl season. We are lucky we live in a state with plenty of waterfowl hunting areas.<\/p>\n

I found a lot of hunters who stayed local the entire season. In other areas, I saw an influx of out-of-state hunters who usually would have traveled across the Canadian border but, due to COVID-related restrictions, had to scratch that waterfowl itch by trying some of our Wisconsin waterfowl hotspots.<\/p>\n

The question of the day for me<\/em>: Did this pressure of more hunters result in more enforcement issues?<\/p>\n

When you consider the numbers, it was about the same as in past years. I can say hunters I ran into were not 100% positive with the increased number of other hunters in their space.<\/p>\n

However, from a field-level enforcement perspective, some high-use waterfowl areas were more pressured than in past years. Still, most of the hunters in these high-use territories were sticking to enjoying our resources both safely and responsibly.<\/p>\n

Our enforcement program is based on education, community outreach and enforcement. Tracking citations is a tool we use to help guide our future enforcement efforts and analyze how current regulations work.<\/p>\n

Waterfowl Hunters Are Valued Partners, Safe And Ethical<\/strong><\/p>\n

The statewide numbers support the fact that most waterfowl hunters are ethical and responsible hunters.<\/p>\n

We have nearly 75,000 licensed waterfowl hunters. Annually, the DNR wardens issue around 200 citations (give or take\u00a050<\/em>) a year for waterfowl-related violations.<\/p>\n