By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bruceross@wi.rr.com

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s February, 2021 Newsletter edition.

New pup Tack wants to go for a walk in the fresh 10 inches of snow as I write this, so I better be quick.  I fear I will have to disappoint him though, since there’s so much news to share.

Indeed, we seldom struggle for e-news content, but this month’s edition is especially packed with a WIDE variety of topics. Let me highlight them so you don’t miss anything:

The 2020 Best of the Best:  The WWA Annual meeting was held just over a week ago, and there was some really good information presented about the state of WWA (which, as I pointed out last month, is pretty strong, in spite of the pandemic).  And even more importantly, it highlighted many of the volunteers who helped make it so.  We had nine chapters that surpassed their super goal targets – a remarkable accomplishment in such a challenging year.  And they did it in a variety of ways.

• Question: In a year which stressed WWA to its foundations, and in which so many volunteers stepped up to help us keep it together, how do recognize a single volunteer of the year?  Answer: You don’t. You choose two! 
• And they aren’t the only ones who deserve recognition:
  • WWA’s “Top Gun” – Highest Netting Chapter.  Which chapter strung together several events and class A’s to eke out a come from behind victory in December? C’mon, you’re a little curious, aren’t you? 
  • Which chapter overcame obstacles that might have stopped others, to put on the year’s highest netting event – and break their own previous record? 
  • And which chapter stepped it up in all of the WWA mission areas, COVID be damned?
  • How much can a single WWA’er do so much with WWA? Click here to find out, who, and what.

• 

  Habitat: In a WWA “first”, Peter Z recorded his presentation so that we can share it with you here.

• Survey Sez…? In only another month or two, the DNR will be soliciting for input as they establish the dates for the 2021 Waterfowl season.  And since this year the “Mississippi River Zone” is absorbed into the South Zone, and significantly, the Big Water Zone will be operational, they will be listening hard.  So help us help you and take our short survey that will guide us in representing your interests in our discussions with the DNR.
• Big Water. Or is it the Open Water? Ir is it the Lake Michigan Zone??? To be sure, it’s been called a lot of different names, but it is now called the “The Big Water Zone.” I’m not sure that I’m enamored with that moniker, but regardless of what you call it, and before you take that survey, you’ll want to digest what Peter Peshek puts on your Big Water “plate” with his guest editorial.  He explores the factors we should consider in establishing the parameters of the zone.  Peter’s dive into the philosophy of establishing the first ever season on Lake Michigan may challenge our parochial thinking about zone structures.  Agree or not, it’s worth taking the time to internalize what Peter is advocating.
• So you want to score a longtail duck. Here’s your chance! While we’re talking layout boat hunting, WWA is partnering once again with Nolan Koepp of Nolan’s Top Gun Charters to put you and three (yes, three, but not all at the same time!) of your buddies into a layout boat in the 2021 season – with a new shotgun to boot.  Check out the latest WWA raffle here.  And do it quick.  The last one sold out in record time.
• Why duckhunters should care about what’s happening in Madison: Knowles-Nelson as an example. A big political fight looms this year with the reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship fund. You quickly and easily can help this program today, which will help you and future generations, like it has helped us all for the past 30 years