By DAN DURBIN - Special to GM Today

April 23, 2009

Statewide, 7,939 people attended the April 13 hearings, with 234 coming from Waukesha County.

There were no major conflicts as in years past, said Kyle Drake, a conservation warden for the DNR in Waukesha County.

"Some people were concerned about question 28, which was to have clarification of the definition of open water hunting," Drake said. "That was voted down by a 117-87 vote because people were afraid it would lead to less waterfowling opportunities."

Drake said people also felt that some of the wording was too vague, which could lead to people being unsure as to what was legal and what wasn't. It seemed clear that more black and white definitions may be in order down the road, and there needs to be some rewording before hunters will feel comfortable accepting it.

Foxbrook was voted to be included in the state's urban fishing program by a vote of 159-23 in Waukesha County (statewide 2,378-840), so there will now be a continuous open season and trout stocking. But only persons under 16 years old or the disabled can fish them.

Waukesha County residents also voted 194-12 to reduce the refuge portion of the 4,655-acre Vernon Marsh by 395 acres, which would open up a good chunk of public hunting land, especially for goose hunters. Statewide, the vote passed 3,039-622.

"It will be great for hunting the opening weekend of duck hunting, too," Drake said. "It's mostly corn field, but if people are able to hunt during the week, the goose hunting could be good, too."

As expected, question 64, which asked hunters if they would like to eliminate earn-a-buck and the October antlerless hunts, was passed 191-20 in Waukesha County and 5,513-1,321 statewide.

"The DNR had already taken the question of eliminating EAB for a year to the Natural Resources Board before this vote because it was clear that this year we heard more than ever about hunters being angry about the season," Drake said. "It's not 100 percent yet, but we probably won't see EAB in units other than (chronic wasting disease) areas."

Question 57 proposed an EAB alternative that more or less restricted bowhunters from shooting a buck other than a couple weeks out of the year during the rut. It failed in Waukesha County 193-29 and statewide 5,472-1126.

In Waukesha County, 160 votes favored allowing people to leave treestands up on state hunting land overnight compared to 52 against. It passed 4,624-2,103 statewide.

Stands would need to be marked with the hunter's name and phone number and would have to be removed before the end of each season.

Question 78, which prohibited legislation regarding wildlife and fisheries management without public hearings or DNR input, passed 189-23 in Waukesha County and 5,370-970 statewide. In the past, some legislatures have inserted provisions without any input from people in the know.

There were 92 questions in all, and just because something was voted in or out, the changes are far from set in stone.

For the full statewide results, go to www.dnr.wi.gov

(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.)