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156,200 permits issued for spring turkey hunt

56,275 remaining permits will go on sale March 28

MADISON - More than 156,200 permits are being issued be for the spring 2008 Wisconsin wild turkey season through the spring turkey preference drawing. Successful applicants will notified by postcards that are going out in the mail the last week of January. Hunters who do not receive a postcard by mid-February can call a DNR Service Center to find out the status of their permit application.

An estimated 56,275 remaining spring turkey permits will be sold over-the-counter beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 28. The spring season, which runs from April 16-May 25, is divided into six 5-day (Wednesday through Sunday) time periods. A total of 46 zones, 15 state parks and Fort McCoy will be open for hunting.

Wisconsin’s turkey population continues to expand its size and range, according to Department of Natural Resources wildlife officials, and as it increases, hunters can expect the number of permits available also to increase. The 212,475 permits available for 2008 spring season compares to 206,925 permits issued for the 2007 spring season. Hunters harvested a state record 52,428 turkeys with a success rate of 25.5 percent.

“Winter survival should be good this year,” says Scott Hull, DNR upland wildlife ecologist. “Wild turkeys in Wisconsin have proven themselves to be tough birds. As long as there is access to ample food and snow depth does not hinder their ability to navigate their surroundings for an extended period of time, wild turkeys can handle nearly any Wisconsin winter.”

In fact, Hull says, wild turkeys can remain in roosting areas for up to two weeks during especially severe weather and can lose up to 40 percent of their body weight before dying of starvation.

“While many people believe putting out feed for wild turkeys will ultimately help the population, biologically, artificial feeding is not the best approach to helping wild turkeys,” he says. “For starters, it would take a tremendous amount of feed to affect the survival of a significant portion of the turkey population. Also, feeding turkeys can actually be more of a risk to the birds because it can cause habituation, increase the risk of disease transmission, and make them more vulnerable to predators which are attracted to feeding areas. Ultimately, long-term habitat management aimed at increasing the suitability to turkeys year-round as well as during extremes of winter is the best investment.’

Remaining spring turkey permits are sold on a first come, first served basis and are available over the Internet through the Online Licensing Center; at DNR service centers during their regular business hours (check service center link for hours of operation, which vary by service center; service centers are closed Saturdays); at all license sales locations; or by calling toll-free 1-877-WI LICENSE (1-877-945-4236). The fee for these permits will be $10 for residents, and $15 for nonresidents.

All hunters will also be required to pay the spring turkey license and stamp fee, unless they have previously purchased the license and stamp, or are a 2008 Conservation Patron License holder. Residents and nonresidents will have equal opportunity to purchase over-the-counter permits.

Purchasing these permits will not affect preference status for future spring or fall turkey permit drawings. Permit purchases are limited to one permit per hunter per day until each zone and time period is sold out. A select number of disabled turkey permits for several state parks are also available for over-the-counter sales. Disabled hunters should note that these permits will only be available through DNR Service Centers.

Updated information on leftover spring permit availability and other information regarding the 2008 spring turkey hunting season is available on the turkey hunting page of the DNR Web site.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Hull (608) 267-7861 or Sharon Fandel (608) 261-8458

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Free turkey hunter education clinics offered statewide

Clinics begin in February and run through early April

MADISON - Free turkey hunter education clinics will be offered again this year around Wisconsin. The clinics cover wild turkey biology and behavior, hunting methods, regulations, safety precautions, and landowner/hunter ethics, as well as tips for scoring trophy birds and a few ideas on preparing turkeys at home.

Clinics, run by volunteer instructors, are intended to address and inform all ages and experience levels.

“Whether you are just beginning and interested in learning wild turkey hunting techniques or are an experienced wild turkey hunter, these clinics can help you brush-up on skills or learn new techniques,” says Scott Hull, upland game ecologist for the Department of Natural Resources.

Clinics will be held February through early April. They typically last two-and-half to three hours. Information and a listing on where and when clinics are being held are available at any DNR Service Center and on the DNR Web site or by calling (608) 261-8458. For the latest additions or changes in the schedule please refer to the turkey hunting education page of the DNR Web site.

The clinics are sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Fandel, assistant DNR upland wildlife ecologist - (608) 261-8458

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$600,000 legacy will support conservation of Lower Wisconsin State Riverway

FITCHBURG – Conservation efforts along the 92-mile Lower Wisconsin State Riverway will be aided in perpetuity thanks to a $600,000 legacy left by one of the major proponents for establishing this unique recreational corridor.

Paul Brandt, who served as a Department of Natural Resources employee for more than 30-years at Boscobel and was one of the early and major proponents for establishing the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway to protect its scenic and environmental quality and to provide improvements in public safety and access, made the bequeath.

Upon his retirement Brandt created the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Fund with a $25,000 endowment, the proceeds from which are used to support habitat management on public lands. The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Fund is invested within Wisconsin Conservation Endowment program administered by the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization that supports conservation efforts in the state.

The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway (maps at east [PDF 1.1MB] and west [PDF 1.1MB] contains 79,275 acres, more than 44,000 of them state owned, along 93.2 miles of the Wisconsin River from the Prairie du Sac dam in Sauk County to the river's confluence with the Mississippi River at Prairie du Chien.

Brandt passed away unexpectedly in 2006 at age 60, and the foundation recently learned that Brandt left additional money for the endowment from his estate, raising the total gift to more than $600,000. At its current level, Brandt’s estate gift will generate more than $30,000 annually for wildlife management along the Lower Wisconsin River.

“We salute a real conservation hero, Paul Brandt, for his lifelong dedication to the Lower Wisconsin Riverway and for his wonderful legacy gift that will support this important landscape,” said Charles Luthin, NRF Executive Director.

Friends and colleagues say that throughout his career Brandt was known for his passion for southwestern Wisconsin’s natural resources.

“The Wisconsin River was the blue vein that ran through Paul’s heart,” said Ruth Bauer, his long-time partner of 19 years.

Dave Gjestson, retired DNR wildlife biologist and Lower Wisconsin Riverway manager, said that his former colleague’s commitment and “dedication to the Wisconsin River and its adjoining public lands was without equal.”

Gjestson says Brandt’s family-like relationship with the people of Grant and Richland counties – “he virtually knew all landowners in his two county area” – allowed him to quietly change the face of southwest Wisconsin by purchasing thousands of acres of public land on wildlife areas and later along the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway.

“I believe his constant vigil and aggressive pursuit of land acquisition opportunities were responsible for protecting more acreage for wildlife than any manager in the state over a 20-year time span,” Gjestson said.

Brandt’s brother Neal Brandt, while reflecting on his brother’s gift to the Riverway Fund, noted that “as far back as I can remember, he was interested in conservation and ecology. In one of his early college essays, he was developing the concept of a land ethic. I think this was before he knew of Aldo Leopold and the groundbreaking work he had done in this area.”

Neal Brandt offered this challenge: “What Paul created is a fine start for the Riverway Fund. I think we need to go further, however, and outdoorsmen and women and fellow conservationists should work toward doubling the Riverway Fund in ten years.”

People interested in contributing to the fund or getting more information about the endowment can contact the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin through their Web site [exit DNR].

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Luthin, Executive Director, Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin - (608) 261-4384 or Greg Matthews, DNR Regional Public Affairs Manager, Fitchburg - (608) 275-3317

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Wisconsin to now offer single, season long burning permits

MADISON - Landowners in all areas of Wisconsin where the Department of Natural Resources has primary responsibility for wildfire protection and suppression will now be able to apply for a single, no-cost, season-long, outdoor burning permit.

In the past, homeowners using burn barrels were required to apply for an annual permit for their burn barrel and separate three-day permits for burning brush in piles. At this time of year, burning permits are required anytime the ground is not snow-covered in areas protected by the DNR firefighters.

“This new permit system offers a couple of real improvements,” said Trent Marty, chief of DNR forest protection services. “Our goal was to make it more efficient in obtaining a permit and easier to check local fire danger conditions prior to burning. By accomplishing those things we expect to reduce the number of wildfires. And permits are good for an entire calendar year so folks only have to make one trip to their emergency fire warden, ranger station or DNR office.”

Where to call/go online for daily burning information

Customers can use either a toll-free phone number or go on the Internet to find out if burning is permitted on any given day or if there are any special burning restrictions for the day:

• Call 1-888-WIS-BURN (947-2876).
• On the forestry pages of the DNR Web site click on “view burning permit restrictions.”

Updates will be posted by 11 a.m. each day. Instructions will tell the permit holder if they can burn today in their county and, if fire danger conditions allow outdoor burning, whether or not there are any restrictions on burning such as limiting burning to certain hours of the day.

Permit holders are required to have their permit available upon request and are still responsible for their fire and any damage it may cause.

Burning some materials prohibited under Wisconsin law

“This new system isn’t meant to encourage burning,” says Marty. “We encourage landowners to recycle paper and cardboard, to compost leaves and either chip brush or use it as wildlife habitat, and to properly dispose of materials that should not be burned.”

Burning clean untreated and unpainted wood, clean unrecyclable paper or cardboard, dry leaves, plant clippings and brush is generally allowed unless a local ordinance prohibits, but Wisconsin law prohibits anyone from burning the following materials:

• Wet, combustible rubbish, such as wet cardboard or paper.
• Oily substances, such as oily or greasy rags, oil filters, etc.
• Asphalt, such as asphalt shingles or tar paper.
• Plastics of any kind, including plastic bottles and plastic bags.
• Rubber products, including tires and hoses.

Permit system was piloted in northern Wisconsin in 2007

The new permit system was tested in several northeastern Wisconsin counties in 2007 and worked well. Customer feedback was positive and officials feel that the convenience promotes a higher level of compliance with outdoor burning rules and safety concerns.

The potential for loss of homes and other property due to wildfire is increasing say officials as more homes and second homes are established outside of communities or close to what foresters call the “wildland-urban” interface.

At the time permits are issued permit holders will be given a set of written guidelines for using the new permit and have their questions answered.

Marty added that special permits, such as those issued to contractors for land clearing, prescribed burning and other special circumstances will continue to be issued directly by DNR fire control staff on a case by case basis as in the past.

Fire control officials also stress the following:

• Permit holders must have a written and signed annual permit available while burning.
• Fires must be attended at all times and completely extinguished before you leave.
• Permit holders must also comply with local ordinances that may be more restrictive than state law.
• Permit holders must follow all restrictions listed on the permit.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Regan - (608) 219-9075 or (608) 266-2359

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DNR seeking expansion of private woodland certification

Dual certification could expand economic benefits for MFL participants

MADISON - In a move that is expected to strengthen responsible forest management of private woodlands in Wisconsin, the Department of Natural Resources has initiated a Forest Stewardship Council audit of Wisconsin’s Managed Forest Law program.

According to Paul Pingrey, certification coordinator for the DNR Division of Forestry, the agency has contracted with SmartWood, an independent Forest Stewardship Council [exit DNR] certifier, to review forest management activities of family-owned forest lands enrolled in the Managed Forest Law (MFL) program. SmartWood representatives will be in Wisconsin the first week of March and will submit their completed audit by mid-May.

Gov. Jim Doyle directed the DNR to investigate forest certification as part of the “Grow Wisconsin” initiative, the goal of which is to capitalize on the state’s unique technological and resource strengths. Pingrey said forestry is crucial to the state economy, producing $20 billion annually in forest products and accounting for one in seven manufacturing jobs. Formation of the MFL-Tree Farm Certified Group and other DNR forest certification projects have helped Wisconsin maintain its position as the largest paper producer in the country, Pingrey added.

The MFL program is currently certified by the American Tree Farm System [exit DNR] (ATFS). If the SmartWood audit shows MFL participants are meeting Forest Stewardship Council standards, the program will also qualify for certification from the council. This second certification would mean MFL forests are managed according to the council’s strict environmental, social, and economic standards.

Wisconsin’s MFL program, established in 1985, provides a property tax incentive to landowners who pledge to follow long-term stewardship plans. In addition to generating income for certified timber, MFL plans assure land is being managed in a way that protects and improves water quality and that preserves wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities.

More than 38,000 landowners – and more than 2 million acres of forests – currently participate in the MFL program.

Forest certification is a market-based method of verifying sustainable resource management. A growing number of companies in Wisconsin and elsewhere want to expand their certified forest product lines. While ATFS-certified wood is currently recognized by most paper producers, Pingrey said, Forest Stewardship Council certification is preferred by some buyers. That trend is most notable in the solid wood furniture, flooring, and building trades.

“It’s sort of a ‘Good Housekeeping’ seal of approval for forests,” Pingrey said. Third-party auditors make inspections to confirm that operations meet agreed-upon benchmarks. The Forest Stewardship Council is one of three independent standards commonly sought by manufacturers in the U.S.

“This additional certification would give woodland owners a way to maximize flexibility to sell sustainably grown trees under any credible label,” according to Pingrey. Dual certification is backed by the Wisconsin Council on Forestry, an advisory board appointed by Governor Doyle.

If Forest Stewardship Council certification is awarded as a result of the SmartWood audit, Pingrey said sampling will continue on an annual basis for five years, during which time DNR would address any corrective actions needed to maintain FSC certification.

SmartWood, whose U.S. regional office is located in Northfield, Minnesota, was awarded the DNR contract after competitive bidding,

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Paul Pingrey (608) 267-7595

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Council on Forestry offers sustainability criteria

MADISON – How does Wisconsin define the concept of “sustainable forestry,” and how can progress toward sustainable management of Wisconsin’s multi-billion-dollar forestry resource be measured? Those involved with forestry in Wisconsin are addressing those questions in a newly published document: Wisconsin’s Forest Sustainability Framework.

Sustainable forestry is generally thought of as the management of forest ecosystems in an economically, environmentally and socially responsible way that provides benefits for present and future generations, according to said Rebecca Gass, a planning specialist with Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry.

“The document is a kind of “blueprint” for defining forest sustainability that is specific to Wisconsin,” Gass said. “The framework also identifies areas where more information is needed to provide a complete picture of sustainability. It helps to think of this framework as a blank ‘report card’ – once information is collected, progress toward sustainability can be measured.”

“Wisconsin’s forest community has worked hard, and continues to work hard, to sustainably manage a great resource that is Wisconsin’s forests,” according to Frederic Souba Jr., vice president of Wood Supply and Sustainability for NewPage and the chairperson of the Wisconsin Council on Forestry [exit DNR]. “The framework suggests a way to measure those efforts.”

The framework, which will be used to evaluate current management practices, guide future management, and monitor the goals of the Statewide Forest Plan, was formally submitted to the Wisconsin Council of Forestry in December. The council, a diverse group of representatives and leaders in Wisconsin’s forestry community, advise the governor, the legislature, and state agencies on a host of forest issues. A 14-member Advisory Committee was asked to develop the framework. Committee members spent the bulk of 2007 discussing how to define sustainable forestry as it specifically applies to Wisconsin – and how progress toward sustainability can be measured.

Souba said it is important to recognize substantial efforts have already been undertaken toward sustainable forest management in Wisconsin. Many publicly managed forests currently follow established sustainability principles. And private owners of forested land in Wisconsin as well as a growing number of forest-related businesses also follow sustainability practices and principles. Souba said the framework is an important element of Wisconsin’s journey to greater forest sustainability.

“Council members applaud the work of the Advisory Committee and recognize how much work went into preparing the framework,” Souba said. “ I encourage Wisconsinites to take hold of this framework and use it to discuss how our forests are managed.”

A copy of the report, Wisconsin’s Forestry Sustainability Framework: Measuring the Sustainability of Wisconsin’s Forests. can be found online at the Wisconsin Council on Forestry’s Web site [PDF exit DNR].

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Rebecca Gass (608)266-9261

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Camping fees set for state parks and forests in 2008

MADISON – While most Wisconsinites have spent the last few weeks caught in the grip of icy cold weather, thousands of campers have been planning for spring and summer camping getaways at Wisconsin State Parks and Forests. Camping reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance via the Internet ar Wisconsin State Parks and Forests or by phone at 1-888-WIPARKS (947-2757).

In 2007, advance camping reservations in the Wisconsin State Park System were 9.2 percent over 2006 numbers. Campers choosing to arrive at the park without reservations seeking to get a first come first serve site were also up 3 percent from previous years.

Campers should note that on Feb. 1, 2008, changes to Wisconsin Administrative code will become effective and will result in a new, simplified camping fee schedule for Wisconsin state parks and forests. (The change will not affect reservations made prior to that date).

Department of Natural Resources officials, responding to comments from campers and park staff, have taken steps to simplify the complex rules that regulate the Wisconsin State Park and Forest fees. Campers will now pay the same nightly rate each night they camp. The new rule eliminated a weekday/weekend pricing differential as well as a series of fee changes based upon the season of the year. Additional charges for electrical and water view sites remain unchanged. The $10 non-refundable reservation fee also remains unchanged.

The camping rate at each park is established based upon customer demand. Seven additional properties will be added to the high demand rate this year. Those properties include Copper Falls, Council Grounds, Governor Dodge, High Cliff, Newport, Pattison and Potawatomi State Parks.

“The Wisconsin State Park System depends revenues from camping and admission stickers to maintain the safe, quality outdoor experience that Wisconsin visitors demand and value,” said Bill Smith, acting director of the Bureau of Parks and Recreation. “Camping fees are also used to maintain state park and forest campgrounds, beaches, showers facilities and picnic areas and support interpretive programs lead by naturalists, protective services provided by rangers and resource management activities within the property.”

Camping fees for Wisconsin residents will range between $9 and $15 per night depending upon the property.

Campers should note that vehicle admission stickers are also required for overnight camping and other park/forest use; admission sticker pricing remains the same as 2007. A resident annual admission is $25; a non-resident annual admission is $35. Annual admission stickers provide access to all Wisconsin State Parks and Forests in the system throughout the calendar year. Daily and one hour stickers are also available. Admission stickers can be purchased at any park or forest or can be ordered via phone at (608) 266-2181 during business hours.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Smith, Acting Director, Bureau of Parks and Recreation – - (608) 266-2181