By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bross@wisducks.org
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s April, 2022 Newsletter edition.
The flakes are falling heavy, this last day of March, as I type. The thawed river, barely discernable through the snow, assures me that spring is out there somewhere! As does the parade of waterfowl using it these past few weeks: goldeneye, common and hooded merganser, geese, mallards and joy of joys, wood ducks! (Which reminds me to clean out their box if I want to see their ducklings next month…)
Speaking of wood duck boxes, a big shout out to Delta Waterfowl and Eric Johnson (WWA and Delta member) who helped replenish our dwindling supply of wood duck boxes. Check out the articles of chapters establishing and maintaining duck boxes – nice job folks! How fast can YOU put together a wood duck box kit??
Lots of good stuff happening with your WWA. Here’s a very brief overview of what’s happened in March:
- We presented our final (of two) Policy Maker of the Year recognition to Governor Evers. When we posted this on Facebook, we knew we’d take some heat from some of the more conservative followers of our page. We saw this as a teachable moment that conservation is a non-partisan (or really, a bi-partisan) issue. The reality is that our two biggest policy initiatives in many years would not have gotten across the finish line without both Representative Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) and Governor Evers carrying our water on these issues. My mom taught me to thank people who help me… and WWA is proud to have thanked both of these elected officials for their help by recognizing them as our inaugural Policy Makers of the Year.
WWA President Bruce Urben (left) and Vice President Todd Schaller (right) present Governor Evers with the Policy Maker of the Year award.
WWA Vice President Todd Schaller (left) and Executive Director Bruce Ross (right) present Representative Born with the Policy Maker of the Year award.
- Board Vice President Todd Schaller volunteered to chair the Education Committee and also just recently raised his hand to coordinate WWA’s growing R3 (Recruit, Retain and Reactivate) initiatives. Todd’s leadership skillset and DNR background in this area is a perfect fit for this growing program. Thanks, Todd! But he’ll need help! Do you want to get in on the ground floor of this exciting effort that’s all about the future of waterfowling?? Give me a call (262.224.4949) and I can make the connection. He’ll especially need help with mentors and leaders who want to establish a learn-to-hunt in their area; a neat opportunity! .
- …. and coming in 2023, a significant R3 grant through the DNR is increasingly likely, which will accelerate those efforts in a big way. It will leverage the attraction and variety of the Waterfowler Hunters EXPO. More ground floor opportunities for people who want to bring the NEXGEN waterfowlers aboard! Let me know if that’s you!
- Speaking of the EXPO: MARK YOUR CALENDARS for August 27, 2022! Rain or shine, with more indoor space this year; more space means more exhibitors and vendors, amazing decoy carvings for the state competition, super cool raffles, activities for the kids, opportunities to try the newest shotguns, duck stamp art competition, seminars by premier experts and so much more. If you volunteer for half a day, you get free entrance, and neat gear for your involvement – and its fun! Let me know if you’re interested. And check out our newly launched website where you can sign up for regular updates.
- We’ve gotten a lot of feedback about how state property really need a greater restoration focus and now that more money will be dedicated to that effort with the duck stamp increase, we are doing something about it. We are exploring a role to better assist the DNR with some habitat on their property in the future, even beyond our adopt-a-wildlife program. Stay tuned for more on this exciting possibility!
Investing in the future. We think all of these efforts are investments in the future of waterfowling. And we’ve started a new program to make it easier for you to help create that future with us. Start planning a legacy that is meaningful to that future by checking out this new program: wisducks.plannedgiving.org
That’s all from the pilothouse – hope to see you in the marsh!
Bruce