- Find
- scheduled meetings, agendas, and minutes.
- Learn
- more about the annual spring hearings and how you can participate.
- Read
- Congress press releases, position statements, and newsletters.
- Contact information
- If you are interested in getting involved with the Conservation Congress or have a specific question about the Conservation Congress, contact:
- Kari Lee-Zimmermann
Conservation Congress liaison
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707-7921
608-266-0580 (phone)
Annual spring fish & wildlife public hearing and WCC county meeting
Over 10,700 people participated in the annual Spring Hearings input opportunity this year. The public hearings were held in all 72 counties on April 8 for people who wanted to attend and comment on proposals in person. In addition, a new online option was available to individuals this year who couldn’t attend. While 3,402 attended a hearing in person, another 7,310 participated using the online opportunity.
2019
2019 Spring Hearings overall input [PDF]
2019 Spring Hearing input by county [PDF]
2019 citizen resolutions and results
2019 Spring Hearing questionnaire [PDF]
* There is an error in the background of question 24. Commercial harvest of shovelnose sturgeon IS allowed in Wisconsin (not Minnesota). The majority of this harvest occurs on the Iowa/Wisconsin boundary waters.
* There is an error in the background for question 11. It currently reads, "Our surrounding states do not have closed seasons for bass." However, Minnesota has a closed season for bass. Michigan, Iowa and Illinois all have a year-round season for bass, though it is a catch-and-release season on some waters.
*Note for question 16: The Winnebago System is defined in NR 20.03 (19) Wis. Admin. Code:
" 'Lake Winnebago system' means Lakes Buttes des Morts, Winneconne, Poygan, Winnebago and all their tributaries from their mouths upstream to the first dam including the Fox river from Lake Winnebago upstream to the dam above Princeton and all its tributaries from their mouths upstream to the first dam and the Wolf river from its mouth upstream to the dam in the city of Shawano and all its tributaries from their mouths upstream to the first dam including Cincoe lake, Partridge Crop lake adn Partridge lake in Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago counties."
2019 Spring Hearing locations [PDF]
2019 hearing flyer [PDF] (Need help? [PDF])
Proposed changes to wildlife rule language [PDF]
Proposed changes to fisheries rule language [PDF]
- 2018
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*Please note there is an error in the background of question 3. The background indicates that Wisconsin allows the harvest of 75 panfish in total per day, however, that is incorrect. Wisconsin regulations allow for the harvest of 125 panfish in total per day (25 of each yellow perch, rock bass and crappie; 25 in total of bluegill and/or pumpkinseed (sunfish); and 25 in total of white and/or yellow bass).
*Also note there is an error in the background of question 54. The bobcat application deadline is August 1 rather than December 10 (application dealine for bear and spring turkey is December 10).
*View the summary of Weapon Use by Wisconsin Deer Hunters Report [PDF] for information related to question 18.
- 2017
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*Please note, in question #36, the proposed 10" minimum length limit is only for black crappie.
- 2016
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*Please note the map on page 23 in the Spring Hearing questionnaire referenced in question 26 is incorrectly labeled. View the correct map [PDF] for WCC question 26.
- 2015
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* Note: Click on the slide show tab and then choose to start the presentation from beginning to view the video.
- 2014
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- 2013
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Corrections: Questions 88 & 89 - Due to federal regulations, these proposed changes would not be applicable to youth waterfowl hunts.
Question 98 - The question should read "Do you support changing the daily bag and size limit on northern pike in the Winnebago System from a daily bag limit of two and a minimum size limit of 26 inches to a bag limit of two but only one may be less MORE than 26 inches?"
- 2012
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Please note: Because all DNR fish and wildlife questions are advisory-only this year, there are no proposed changes to rule language.
- 2011
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Correction: There is an error in the background of NRB advisory question #46 in the spring hearing questionnaire. The second paragraph, fourth sentence should read: The Natural Resources Board feels banning baiting and feeding in counties where it is currently allowed will encourage deer movement during shooting hours and result in a more even distribution of deer available to hunters on both public and private lands.
Please Note: The proposed changes to the rule language for the DNR's fish and wildlife questions were not printed in the back of the 2011 spring hearing questionnaires. The proposed rule language can be viewed using the following links.
- 2010
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- 2009
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- 2008
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- 2007
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- 2006
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More business resources
