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NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR HUNTER ETHICS AWARD

Contact(s): Chief Conservation Warden Todd Schaller, Todd.Schaller@wisconsin.gov; 608-381-8927
February 9, 2016

Wisconsin Conservation Congress to honor winners in May

LA CROSSE, Wis. -- Now in its 19^th year of honoring Wisconsin hunters of all ages who put integrity and safety above harvest bragging rights, the Hunter Ethics Award has a new member in the government-media partnership that recognizes the outdoor tradition's finest representatives.

The Wisconsin Conservation Congress this year joined the award sponsor partnership with plans to honor the winners at it the congress' convention in May. The annual honor was established by Bob Lamb, retired outdoors editor of the La Crosse Tribune, retired DNR conservation warden supervisor Steve Dewald and retired University of Wisconsin-La Crosse biology professor Jerry Davis. DNR Chief Conservation Warden Todd Schaller joined the award committee 5 years ago.

Rob Bohmann, chair of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, says "An award that honors adults and youths who make ethical behaviors the foundation of their enjoyment of one of our state's outdoor traditions represents what the Congress stands for."

Before any award winners can be selected, there has to be nominations and those must be submitted by February 22. There are two awards - an adult Hunter Ethics Award and a youth Hunter Ethics Award.

Chief Warden Schaller says the annual honor was created to acknowledge hunters who go above and beyond for others who have the same passion or interest - and that is hunting. "Going above and beyond can mean many things. Maybe it's introducing someone new to hunting, helping a hunter in need, or taking the right action for the right reason" Schaller says of the award honoring actions by an adult and youth during the 2015 hunting season.

Schaller says if you know of a hunter who thinks and acts with this undeniable foundation in ethics, responsibility and safety, nominate the person for the individual for The Wis. Department of Natural Resources Hunter Ethics Award.

Schaller says hunters look forward to the annual seasons because traditions - or creating new traditions with young or novice hunters-- remain important. "If you are a hunter in Wisconsin, you must strive to hunt in an ethical manner and to pass on these ethical traditions to the young people in their hunting party."

To become eligible for the 2015 award:

• The nominee must be a licensed Wisconsin hunter.
• Nomination should indicate the category of award - youth or adult.
• The ethical hunting act must have occurred in Wisconsin during the 2015 calendar year.
• Nominations will be considered for any DNR-regulated hunting activity in Wisconsin.
• Written nominations must contain the name, address and telephone number of the witness or witnesses to the behavior that lead to the nomination and mailed to Chief Conservation Warden Todd Schaller at Todd.schaller@wisconsin.gov, or to Department of Natural Resources, Attention: Chief Warden Todd Schaller LE/5, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921, by Feb. 22, 2016.