Your WWA is at the forefront with providing input to State Regulators when it comes to Waterfowl regulations in Wisconsin. Executive Director Don Kirby provided input at an ad-hoc advisory group chaired by WDNR, and President Bruce Urben is serving on the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation’s Waterfowl Committee. The Waterfowl Committee met on Saturday, February 13th and several important decisions were forwarded on to the state regulators from this meeting.
Bag Limits, Ducks: Daily bag limits will be similar to 2015. 6 ducks with 4 mallards (no more than 1 hen), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 3 scaup, 2 canvasback, 2 pintails or 1 black duck.
Bag Limits, Geese: Daily bag limits will be similar to 2015. 5 geese during the early season, 2 per day during the regular season in Exterior and 12 total in Horicon zone.
- North Zone: Earliest start of September 24 running full 60 days to November 21st. No split
- South Zone: October 1-9th, October 15-December 4th with 5 day split.
- Mississippi Zone: October 1-7th, October 15-December 6th with 7 day split.
- Season Opening: 1/2 hour before Sunrise (except early teal by Federal law)
- Season Dates: Early Teal – 3rd year of Experimental Season-September 1-7th
- Early Season September 1-15 Statewide
- North Zone-September 16th -December 16th. No split
- South Zone- September 16-October 9th, October 15-December 21st with 5 day split.
Zones: No approved changes in zones or zone lines for 2016 from the Committee.
Youth Hunt: September 17th-18th
These resolutions were provided to WDNR as input to their final season setting decision process.
Finals season setting will be completed on Wednesday April 13th at the WDNR Board meeting.
The WDNR’s “Go Wild” website portal will be available at all WDNR Service centers and retail outlets as well as your personal computer at home. All licenses and permits will now be available in one electronic location. Changes will include elimination of the green plastic license you receive. No hard copy license will be provided or required, but can be printed on paper from your computer or mobile device. All license information will be stored electronically by your customer ID or driver’s license #. You and WDNR regulatory staff can access all of your license information directly on a smartphone or handheld device. Details are being worked out on carcass tags and goose permit logs. State wildlife stamps will still be available at WDNR service centers. We will almost surely see the elimination of deer back tags in 2016 as well! Look forward to more information from WDNR on this new process as details are rolled out for 2016 license year.