More good news for Wisconsin Hunters this time.

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Two Wisconsin lawmakers are drafting legislation to ensure that land access does not become a stumbling block for Wisconsin sportsmen.

 

Wisconsin Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, and Sen. Dave Zien, R-Wheaton, are drafting the “No Net Loss of Lands Acts.” The planned companion bills will require all land currently held by the state or initially purchased with state or sportsmen’s dollars be examined to determine if it could be accessed by sportsmen.  Quantifiable evidence must be presented by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) why land should not be open to sportsmen.

 

“We want to make sure that land bought with tax dollars and Stewardship Funds is available to be used by all Wisconsin citizens,” said Sen. Zien.

 

The proposals will also prevent haphazard closure of state land to hunting, fishing and trapping. Rep. Suder and Sen. Zien, longtime supporters of sportsmen’s rights, want to require the DNR to petition the appropriate standing committees of each house of the legislature and provide objective reasons for land closures.  All lands currently held by the state as parks, wildlife areas, preserves, trails, and forests, as well as land previously purchased with state funds but now held by counties, trusts or conservancies will be subject to the proposed policy.

 

Rep. Suder and Sen. Zien identify lack of public access as a factor in declining sportsmen’s numbers, and want to help reverse the trend.

 

“In the last ten to twenty years, we have seen the number of people hunting, fishing and trapping in Wisconsin diminish at alarming rates,” said Rep. Suder.  “Our ‘No Net Loss’ proposal will ensure that sportsmen will be able to use and enjoy those lands purchased with taxpayer money.”

 

The lawmakers also want the state agency to create and post a county-by-county listing of public lands on the DNR website.

 

In addition to helping preserve the state’s outdoor heritage, the measures will also have positive economic impacts.  Hunting and fishing annually bring $5 billion to the state’s economy and support more than 45,000 jobs.

 

Visit  www.ussportsmen.org  for developments on this and other sportsmen’s issues.