By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bross@wisducks.org

This article appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s March, 2025 Newsletter edition.

The DNR consults duck hunters before adjusting season structures like zones, dates, splits, and lengths. These decisions are made for five-year periods; the next will cover 2026-2030, barring major bird population changes.

WWA conducts surveys to understand members’ preferences, giving us significant influence in setting zone structures. Please share your insights so our representative can advocate effectively on your behalf. We will publish the results later this month.

Take the survey.

By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bross@wisducks.org

This article appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s March, 2025 Newsletter edition.

Things are ramping up for an even bigger and better Waterfowl Hunters EXPO in August.  As we move to a two-day event, there will be more exhibitors, activities, and contests.

Take a peek into the 2025 EXPO.

Since 2021, the Expo has experienced tremendous growth, evolving from a modest gathering into a premier showcase hosting 150+ exhibitors and 220+ booths last year. We welcomed over 6,200+ attendees, a significant increase from our inaugural year. Expect 9,000 attendees this year and have over 25% increased exhibitor capacity.

With the 2025 Expo now spanning two days, top brands like Banded, Avery SuperStore, Vortex, Browning, Winchester, Benelli, Beretta, and more are joining. We are incredibly proud to announce a partnership with OnXHunt as our Title Sponsor!!

And this year there will be our inaugural Duckhunters Banquet featuring the latest gear and guns, Wisconsin unique hand-carved decoys and much, much more.  This event will sell out so stay tuned for updates and when you can register.

Finally, there are opportunities to play an essential role in this celebration of all things waterfowl opportunities—come join the fun!

By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bross@wisducks.org

This article appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s March, 2025 Newsletter edition.

The Governor’s recent budget proposal included several items of interest to waterfowlers including topics that parallel WWA’s top three policy issues this year:

• Reauthorization of the Knowles Nelson Stewardship program, which provides funding for hunter accessible lands. WWA is part of a hunting and fishing coalition that is supporting a continuation of the program, even if not exactly like the Governor’s proposal.
• A cost share program for farmers to reduce sandhill crane depredation.  WWA appreciates the Governor’s recognition of the sandhill crane problem in Wisconsin. Still, as we’ve told his staff,  that problem is multi-faceted, requiring multiple strategies, one of which is a responsible hunting season.  As proposed by the recent bi-partisan Legislative Study on Sandhill Cranes.  Their proposed solution of a seed coating subsidy will only worsen the problem.
• License and stamp fee increases to “fix” the current $15.5M deficit in the DNR’s Fish and Wildlife Account. Depending on what licenses you tend to buy, under the governor’s proposal, it would cost you at least $22 more to hunt waterfowl.

This account, which is primarily funded through license fees, has not seen a significant increase since 2005. Due to inflation, the purchasing power of the account has declined. This fund is used to maintain the quality of outdoor experiences—the increases proposed by the governor range between $10 and $40.

WWA is not against license fee increases. Eight years ago, we supported this with a coalition of outdoor groups proposing across-the-board license fee increases.  But a closer look revealed accounting issues and the effort stalled. In the next legislative session, we shifted focus to the well-managed waterfowl stamp, which hadn’t increased since 1997. Four years ago, we (and other duck organizations) successfully raised the stamp from $7 to $12, generating over $300,000 annually for habitat restoration.  Some of these funds were used to undertake the three projects (Lunch Creek, Peter Helland and Navarino) we already completed under the Public Lands Program.

WWA is reserving judgment on this topic for now. State Senator Rob Stafsholt requested an audit of this account last year, and until the audit results are reported, no legislative action will take place. Waiting for the audit’s findings before reacting to the Governor’s proposal is prudent.

Additionally, WWA is collaborating with the WI Wildlife Federation and other groups to assess how Wisconsin should fund activities supported by the Wildlife account. Our stance: All users, not just license purchasers, should contribute to the resources we all utilize.

More information will follow as it becomes available.

This article appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s March, 2025 Newsletter edition.

Members of WWA’s Cedar Creek chapter, along with other volunteers, sponsored a Wounded Warrior Hunt last month. Wounded Warriors in Action from St. Joseph, MO, took Steve Wolke and Allen Pipper on a duck hunt in Arkansas and a goose hunt in Missouri.

Treasure Island owners, guides & chaperones from Wounded Warrior in Action of St. Joseph, MO (Brian Roderick/Kyle Evans) and Wounded Warriors (Steve Wolke/Allen Pipper) pose inside the lodge.

Kyle Evens and Brian Roderick from the St. Joseph chapter of Wounded Warriors aided with the hunt. Treasure Island Outfitters supplied the guided hunt and hospitality

Wounded Warriors (Steve Wolke/Allen Pipper) on day two of the hunt in MO.

The first Saturday in February is open to veterans-only hunting in Arkansas, and the veterans tallied eight ducks. The second day was the goose hunt in Missouri, where 12 geese were harvested. Kyle and Brian noted great accommodations (Treasure Island) and company.

The group will sponsor another hunt in 2026.

Wounded Warriors and chaperones on day one of the hunt in AR.

The 2025 Wisconsin Duck Stamp

In late August, at the Waterfowl Hunters EXPO, next year’s duck stamp art was selected by a panel of judges.  This contest is run under the auspices of the DNR, and we are fortunate to add the selection to the EXPO’s list of activities..  Artist Jon Rickaby’s  swimming Wood Duck pair was chosen chosen to grace the stamp in 2025.  This is Jon’s third time to win the state duck stamp contest hosted for the past four year’s at the EXPO.    Jon is non-denominational when it comes to stamp art—he’s also won the pheasant stamp (twice!) and inland trout stamp.

The State Waterfowl Stamp program generates millions of dollars for habitat restoration that is important to waterfowl.  WWA received some funding every biennium for the public and private land restorations undertaken by our team of ecologists. Here’s an article we published five years ago that summarizes 35 years of WWA’s duck stamp funding accomplishments.