By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bruceross@wi.rr.com
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s November, 2020 Newsletter edition.
Two Fridays ago, members of WWA and DU met with SE Wisconsin Legislators at Big Muskego Lake to consider and view WI Duck Stamp project work. Representatives Skowronski, Sinicki, and Wichgers met at the Boxhorn launch and heard from duckhunters how the stamp funds are used to benefit waterfowl and other marsh critters, and the communities that surround those wetlands. And how time and inflation has eroded the purchasing power of the $7 stamp. Groups like WWA and DU have been advocating for a stamp fee increase of $5 to account for the reduced impact for the last 10 years, without success. Here’s some of the documentation that will help explain why this is important to the future of waterfowling and why our members support this effort at the 85% level
- Waterfowl Stamp Supports Critical Breeding Habitat
- Waterfowl Stamp Fee Increase Supported by Hunters
HOW YOU CAN HELP: There is still time for you to make a difference in this effort: If your legislator is a Democrat, call or email them NOW to ask that they contact the Governor to make sure it is in his budget he will be submitting to the legislature in February. If your legislators are Republican, call them now to ask that they keep it in the governor’s budget, or if it’s not there, to insert it when they build a budget in the spring. Let’s not let another year go by!
Why will this year be different? It will be if you call now – find your legislator here: https://maps.legis.wisconsin.gov
