Conservation Congress
Save Wisconsin Wildlife's spring campaigning is focused on the Department of Natural Resources Spring Wildlife and Fisheries Rules Hearings and Conservation Congress County Meetings.
What are the Spring Hearings?
According to the DNR's website, "if you have an interest in natural resources, conservation, hunting, fishing, trapping or outdoor recreation in Wisconsin then the Spring Hearings are for you."
The Spring Rules Hearings ("Spring Hearings") are held throughout the state (in all 72 counties) each April. These hearings give residents an opportunity to provide input through non-binding vote and testimony to the Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Board and the Conservation Congress on proposed fishing and hunting rule changes and advisory questions.
Additionally, residents have the opportunity to bring forth new conservation issues of a statewide nature to the attention of the Conservation Congress through the resolution process.
What is the Conservation Congress?
The Conservation Congress is an advisory body created by Wisconsin law to allow and encourage citizen input in policymaking regarding the state's natural resources. Click here to see the DNR's version of what the Conservation Congress is. The truth is this:
The Conservation Congress is made up of five delegates from each Wisconsin county. Delegates are elected annually by attendees at the Spring Hearings. Although technically an independent body, the Conservation Congress is almost entirely made up of hunters and trappers. Why? Because the majority of individuals that attend the Spring Rules Hearings are hunters and trappers!
As a result, what should be an independent and representative advisory board is an unabashed lobby for the hunting and trapping community. The policies supported and enacted by this entity are wholly an appeal for more opportunities to kill and exploit Wisconsin's defenseless wildlife.
What happens at this meeting?
First, attendees must register. A driver's license is usually requested for proof of residence. Two ballots are given attendees — one for input on advisory questions and one for resolutions introduced on the floor by other residents. After registration, delegate election occurs. Below is an agenda for the meeting (WCC = Wisconsin Conservation Congress; DNR = Department of Natural Resources; NRB = Natural Resources Board):
- Registration
- WCC — Delegate Election
- DNR — Wildlife Rules Hearing
- NRB — Advisory Questions
- DNR — Fisheries Rules Hearing
- WCC — Advisory Questions
- Citizen Resolutions
What REALLY happens at this meeting?
A bunch of hunters, trappers, and anglers get together and vote on issues such as lengthening hunting seasons and increasing the size limit of fish taken. Resolutions are proposed to hunt and trap more animals. Essentially, they spend the evening patting each other on the back for having complete control of the decision making process at the local and state levels.
Where is the meeting held?
The meetings are held in EVERY COUNTY in the state. Click here to see where your county's meeting is held. Meetings begin at 7pm sharp.
Why is it important to attend?
It is VERY IMPORTANT to attend the Spring Hearings and Conservation Congress meeting. It's worth repeating: the Conservation Congress is almost entirely made up of hunters and trappers. Why? Because the majority of individuals that attend the Spring Rules Hearings are hunters and trappers!
As a result, what should be an independent and representative advisory board is an unabashed lobby for the hunting and trapping community. The policies supported and enacted by this entity are wholly an appeal for more opportunities to kill and exploit Wisconsin's defenseless wildlife.
The 83% of us in Wisconsin that do not hunt or trap defenseless wildlife need to take our political voice back. It is WE who should be determining policy in Wisconsin regarding wildlife.
Those of us that enjoy wildlife watching are the majority voice for wildlife.
Those of us that want these sentient creatures to exist free from suffering and exploitation are the majority voice for wildlife.
We've lost our voice and it's time to get it back!
Why is it important to run for a seat as a delegate on the Conservation Congress?
The more non-hunters that are elected to the Conservation Congress, the more representative the body will be. Right now, 17% of the population controls 100% of the citizen input to the Natural Resources Board regarding policy. Essentially, the Conservation Congress is a glorified special interest group that currently dictates all of the wildlife policy in Wisconsin.
How can I run for a delegate seat?
From the DNR website, the only qualifications are that you must be:
- Any citizen of the county who is able to perform the responsibilities is eligibly to run for election that evening.
- A Wisconsin resident.
Other important information:
- The Conservation Congress encourages equal treatment regardless of race, age, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, arrest, conviction, veteran status or political affiliation.
- Elected delegates must be an adult resident of the county, but to give the widest geographic representation, it is recommended that not more than three members of the committee be from the same civil town, city or village.
- To guard against possible conflict of interest of bias, no full or part-time employee(s) of the Department or member of the Board shall be members of the county committee.
- One three-year and one two-year member shall be elected each year.
What is a resolution?
Resolutions are proposals brought forward by individuals attending the Spring Hearings. Resolutions are voted on by all attendees at the end of the hearings, and they address concerns of statewide impact regarding wildlife and natural resources. Resolutions that are passed by the majority of attendees are referred to the Rules and Resolutions committee of the Conservation Congress for further action and consideration. If passed through committee, resolutions are turned into question format and given to the Executive Committee for consideration. If passed, the resolution then becomes a question asked at the next year's Spring Hearings. If passed at the Spring Hearings, the resolution/question is forwarded to the Natural Resources Board. The Natural Resources Board recommends policy to the state legislature.
Why is it important to introduce a resolution?
Pro-wildlife resolutions are rarely offered by pro-wildlife Spring Hearings attendees due to lack of knowledge about the resolution process. Save Wisconsin Wildlife encourages non-hunters to introduce resolutions to balance the pro-hunting resolutions and to send a message to lawmakers that the majority of the public wants to protect wildlife, not kill it.
How can I introduce a resolution?
You must have your resolutions in the right format before introducing it. Since it needs to be typed, you'll have to go to the Spring Hearings with your resolutions in hand. The detailed requirements for resolutions are listed here. Noted requirements are that the resolution address a concern of statewide impact and suggest a solution, and that it be 250 words or less with 2 copies presented. Further, only two resolutions per person can be introduced.
For a sample resolution written by the DNR, click here.
What types of resolutions should I introduce?
Pro-wildlife resolutions! You may suggest any resolution that you feel meets the DNR's requirements. If you need help with your resolution(s), Save Wisconsin Wildlife would be glad to assist. Additionally, Save Wisconsin Wildlife is promoting the following resolutions in 2006:
- Halting the trapping of beavers and destruction of beaver dams (.pdf)
- Returning all wildlife refugees to protected refuge status, without hunting, trapping, fishing or the intrusion of motorized vehicles or motorized watercraft (.pdf)
- Banning the baiting and hounding of bears and other wildlife statewide (.pdf)
- Banning the steel jaw trap and stopping the DNR's participation in teaching children that the atrocity of trapping is commendable (.pdf)
- Creating a traditional structure of Conservation Congress voting with non-partisan candidates running and counting the vote; use a traditional format of walk-in secret ballot voting after extensive public debates between candidates on the issues so that the public is informed (.pdf)
- Creating a Living Wildlife Appreciation Fee to be levied on all citizens 18 and over who do not kill wildlife, and a forum for delegate representation in every county to vote the usage of that money for re-wilding the state, with a focus on issues pertaining to biodiversity (.pdf)