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Senate passes bill opening more state parks to hunting. Objections remain

Posted by Tom Held on March 12, 2012

trails

The version of the Sportsman Heritage Bill approved by the Senate last week allows hunting and trapping in nine state parks where it was previously prohibited, but includes a 100-yard buffer zone around trails and other designated areas.

Trail users, including hikers, bikers and skiers, objected to earlier versions of the bill because the presence of hunters would deter them from their form of outdoor pursuits.

As Paul Smith reported in Sunday's Journal Sentinel, the buffer was viewed as a compromise.

"We did hear from trail users and others who were concerned about conflicts," said George Meyer, executive director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.

Assuming Gov. Scott Walker signs the bill, the next step will be left to the Department of Natural Resources staff and board to determine which parks, if any, should remain closed to hunting. Under previous law, the board had to act to open a park for hunting. The new law requires a board vote to close one.

The nine currently restricted are Amnicon Falls, Aztalan, Big Foot Beach, Governor Nelson, Lake Kegonsa, Lakeshore, Merrick, Pattison and Roche-A-Cri. Several of those are opened to the sport during the gun deer season.

Initially, the DNR would keep those open to hunting, according to a department spokesman, Michael Bruhn.

"With the new 100-yard “no-hunting” buffer that was included by the State Senate; we believe that there will be minimal problems associated with this provision," Bruhn wrote Monday. "We have committed to the Legislature that the Department will review any issues or concerns that arise over the course of the first year.

"If something were to arise, we do retain the ability through NRB action to close specific areas or properties on a case by case basis to protect human safety or unique flora/fauna."

Close to Milwaukee, hunting would remain prohibited at Lapham Peak, a popular recreation area with hiking, biking and ski trails. Deed restrictions on 400 acres of land within the DNR property, part of the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, prohibit hunting there.

Michael McFadzen, a member of the Governor's State Trails Council, was not satisfied with the 100-yard buffer zone established to protect hikers and other non-hunters.

"I agree with the general concept of the Hunting Heritgage Bill, They need to increase numbers due to dwindling use," said McFadzen, a skier and runner from Plymouth.

"But there is no practical reason to allow hunting and trapping in all state parks and trails. State parks and trails are one of the few areas that non-hunters can safely visit during the hunting season.

"There is over five million acres of public lands already open to hunting. Over 50% of Wisconsin population use state parks and trails. Only 20% of Wisconsin residents hunt/trap. There is a huge disconnect here. The amendment does little to allay park/trail supporter concerns."

47 Comments for "Senate passes bill opening more state parks to hunting. Objections remain"

  1. I think a lot of people hike in December and November. I am not against hunting, I am just surprised that we are buying those park stickers and they won't be good all year long.

    gardeningmama Mar 12, 2012 8:41 PM

  2. People also cross country ski in state parks. They even make trails, and people snow-shoe, it is not so unusual.

    gardeningmama Mar 12, 2012 8:42 PM

  3. They can be there the other weeks also. The question is, will all the parks be closed to non hunters during the same weekend? Then, shouldn't we get a refund on our state park sticker? I pay taxes, but I also have to buy that yearly sticker. It is not about taxes, it is about how to use recreational parks. And, I am NOT against hunters or hunting. I just want to know what the deal is.

    gardeningmama Mar 12, 2012 8:44 PM

  4. Hometowner, i am a trapper and I agree with you 100% with your opinion of Cathy Stepp. She is reason one that I want Walker recalled. As far as kids getting caught in a trap the only way would be if they were messing with someone’s set. And most trappers will set away from heavily used areas. In all of my years of trapping I have only caught one dog. It was over a mile from the nearest house. I released him unharmed and he followed me around for the rest of my line. As I was walking out he finally decided to head for home after we got closer to some houses. A lot of trappers even bring there dogs along on the line. The bottom line is traps are not to be feared. What does need to be feared is that Cathy Stepp is planning on selling off DNR lands and I have seen it mentioned in one document that there are lands already up for sale.

    Savebender, traps are not only legal on most public lands they are usually heavily trapped. Most people do not even know they are there unless the see the trapper checking them.

    GDviking Mar 12, 2012 8:49 PM

  5. I have hunted both turkeys and deer in state parks and they are not closed to the non hunting public.

    GDviking Mar 12, 2012 9:15 PM

  6. Thanks, GDviking, do you think it is safe to bring kids hiking in a park that is open to hunters? Would you bring your kids?

    gardeningmama Mar 12, 2012 9:34 PM

  7. chucksa, I agree, how can you tell if you are near a trail and don't the signs say to stay on the trail in conservation areas?

    gardeningmama Mar 12, 2012 9:35 PM

  8. In a word yes. We spend a lot of time on nearby public lands that are open to hunting with no issues. In the years I have hunted in state parks I have never seen a problem with hunters and non hunters co-existing.

    The only problem I could see would be with children who have not been around guns would be on the opening morning of deer season there can be a lot of shots in a short period of time. But it has been my experience that at that time of the year there are very few children camping in state parks. And the areas around campgrounds are closed to hunting so it would not be that close.

    GDviking Mar 12, 2012 10:00 PM

  9. Oops I should have been clearer, my concern with children on opening morning would not be about safety, but about being awakened by gunshots if they were not accustomed to them.

    GDviking Mar 12, 2012 10:05 PM

  10. Thanks, GdViking, although, I really am thinking more about hiking in the woods than camping. Sometimes one child is dawdling and another is running ahead. I have read that hunters are looking for anything moving and there are accidents sometimes.

    gardeningmama Mar 12, 2012 10:17 PM

  11. Another thing for deer and turkey hunting the permits are few and far between. That is one of the things that make hunting in a state park attractive there are far fewer hunters than most public land. There will not be thousands of hunters in the woods. I have to admit I do not know the details of this bill yet (I have been pretty concentrated on the wetlands and mining bills). So I really do not know what hunting and trapping they will allow at this point.

    GDviking Mar 12, 2012 10:23 PM

  12. Gardeningmama, it is true that hunters are looking for movement, but they are not shooting at movement. One of the main rules of firearm safety and one of the first things that get drilled into your head is to know your target and what is beyond. Hunters are looking for a clear shot and a clean kill, they are not just randomly firing at movement. And yes accidents do happen, but if you consider that on opening day of deer season there are enough hunters in Wisconsin that they would be a larger armed force than the armies of many countries and accidents are nearly non existent, hunting or being in the field during hunting season is far safer than a lot of other activities. Most are self inflicted or someone in their own party. As far as I am concerned I am far more worried about my kids riding the bus to school than I would be them being in the woods during hunting season.

    GDviking Mar 12, 2012 10:59 PM

  13. You are obviously not a hunter. Have you been out on opening morning? The public grounds are packed.

    KWOakCreek Mar 12, 2012 11:17 PM

  14. Gardeningmama, you can take your little walk in the woods smelling your precious flowers when people aren't hunting. Get a grip.

    KWOakCreek Mar 12, 2012 11:19 PM

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