By DAN DURBIN - Special to GM Today

February 26, 2009

The hearings in Waukesha County will begin at 7 p.m. April 13 at Waukesha County Technical College, in the Anderson Education Center, 800 Main St., Pewaukee.

It's the best chance we as hunters and anglers have all year to let the DNR know what we think.

There are 91 questions on the survey, and below are a few that affect us here in Southeastern Wisconsin and many that are hot statewide.

QUESTION 27: Urban pond proposals

The department proposes to add Regner (Washington County) and Foxbrook (Waukesha County) ponds to the state's urban fishing program, in which there would be a continuous open season, but only persons under 16 years of age or disabled may fish. It means they'd get stocked with trout, too.

My take: Sure, why not? But it's a shame that a senior citizen can't wet a line also.

QUESTION 52: Reduce the size of Vernon Marsh waterfowl refuge because certain areas are no longer needed as goose refuge.

Vernon Wildlife Area is a 4,655-acre property with 740 acres of refuge. This proposal would eliminate 395 acres of refuge on the north side of the property and open that area to all normal hunting activities.

My take: The area was used primarily as a goose refuge, and with there now being too many geese in these parts, why not open it up? Heck, anyone who's hunted the Vernon Marsh knows it would be nice to have a little more room to roam.

QUESTION 29: Extend the fall turkey season into December

The fall turkey season currently begins on the Saturday nearest Sept. 15 and continues through the Thursday prior to the beginning of the nine-day November deer gun season. Biologists have indicated that they do not anticipate negative impacts to the turkey population with a further extension of the season. However, outside of prime turkey habitat, at the northern extent of the turkey's range, cold and deep snow may provide hunters with an advantage. Therefore, providing a season extension in southern Wisconsin, during a two-year trial, may provide the state with enough data to determine if a season extension is a workable and biologically sound option.

My take: Give it a shot. If the population can handle it, why not have a longer season to work with?

QUESTION 64: Eliminate Earn-A-Buck and October antlerless deer hunts

Wisconsin's deer hunting heritage and tradition is protected by a constitutional right to hunt. Some hunters feel the current EAB and October special antlerless hunts are unreasonable in that they negatively impact hunting traditions and deny hunters the right to hunt bucks.

My take: This one will fly among our state's hunters, but why would the DNR listen now? We've been asking for an alternative for years and so far our requests have fallen upon deaf ears. Sure, there have been a few attempts at modest changes to these rules, but nothing has really stuck.

QUESTION 70: Tree stands on state lands

This one would allow hunters to leave stands up on state land much like it is on most county and national forest lands. You'd need to have it marked with your name and phone number, and it would have to be removed at the end of the season.

My take: Having hunted public ground for a while now, I can tell you it would be nice not to have to take my stand down each day in the dark. Still, I have mixed emotions, as I don't need some "good ol' boy" marking "his" spot and claiming it for an entire season.

QUESTION 78: Prohibit legislation regarding wildlife and fisheries management without public hearings or DNR input

In the previous state budget, a legislator inserted a provision pertaining to wildlife management without input or support from the DNR, the Conservation Congress, the Natural Resources Board or the general public through the annual spring hearings. Fish and game decisions should be made by, and in cooperation with, trained professional resource managers and the public. Rule changes should go through the DNR rule-making process and the Conservation Congress spring hearings to gauge public sentiment.

My take: Ya think? Do you really want our legislators slipping in ideas that could affect our hunting and fishing opportunities? Heck no! This one will pass by a landslide.

(Dan Durbin writes a weekly outdoors column for The Freeman. Call Durbin at 644-7940, or e-mail him at ddurbin@bastdurbin.com if you have a story idea.)