Smith: NRB shortens 2018 Wisconsin ruffed grouse season by one month

In a compromise between its original intention and those who opposed any change, the Natural Resources Board on Wednesday approved an emergency rule to shorten by one month the 2018 Wisconsin ruffed grouse hunting season.

The measure calls for the season to end Dec. 31 in Zone A, the state's primary grouse habitat; it had been slated to close Jan. 31.

The move is in response to unexpected downturns observed over the last year in key grouse population and harvest indices.

It represents the first time the grouse season has been shortened in the modern era of Wisconsin wildlife management.

The emergency rule attracted substantial public input, mostly from those who opposed any reduction in the season length.

"This has been a hot topic," said Fred Prehn, NRB member from Wausau.

The board garnered criticism from some when, during the first part of the rules change process at its June meeting, it voted to establish a Nov. 30 closure.

The move was in response to a 34 percent statewide downturn in 2018 spring drumming counts, a primary grouse population measure, as well as a 30 percent drop in the 2017 grouse harvest, according to Department of Natural Resources reports.

Of note, the decline in drumming included a 38 percent drop in the northern forest region, the best area of grouse habitat in Wisconsin. And the drop in grouse harvest occurred even as hunters expended more effort than the year before.

And just as important, the downturns came on the heels of two consecutive years of grouse population increases and at a time Wisconsin's ruffed grouse population was expected to be on the upturn of a historical 10-year cycle. 

Add the concern about a potential new negative population pressure – West Nile Virus, which is known to kill grouse and was documented last year in grouse in Michigan – and the board opted for a more protective season format.

The Wisconsin Conservation Congress, which highlighted grouse concerns with testimony at the June meeting, supported the earlier closure.

The Ruffed Grouse Society and Wisconsin's Green Fire opposed any shortening of the season, and the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation was against the Nov. 30 closure but supportive of a later ending.

Individual comments spanned the range from those who wished to close the season entirely to those who preferred no change.

In an online survey offered earlier this month by the DNR, 55 percent of the 886 respondents opposed a shorter season, while 37 percent supported it and 8 percent were indifferent. 

For its part, the DNR said multiple factors – including habitat conditions, brood and nesting conditions, food availability, winter conditions and disease – can work individually, concurrently or interactively to impact grouse populations.

"Though these factors raise questions, there is no definitive evidence pointing to one or multiple factors driving this observed decline, hence the cautionary approach," the DNR said in its emergency rule change document.

Debate on the season-length issue has highlighted a problem – a lack of recent scientific studies on Wisconsin grouse mortality.

"There’s a reason we moved without science, because their isn’t any," said board member Greg Kazmierski of Pewaukee.

In the end, the board struck a compromise to shorten the season by one month instead of two.

The 2018 Wisconsin grouse season length will now essentially match those offered in Michigan and Minnesota.

Kazmierski, however, wanted more protection for grouse.

"I don't think we went far enough," Kazmierski said. "Ruffed grouse are one of our keystone wildlife species, and we have no idea what's causing the problem."

The emergency rule did not adjust the daily bag limit, which is five grouse in Zone A. Unless it is extended, the rule would expire in 120 days.

Mike Riggle of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress was supportive of the change.

"I think it's a good compromise," Riggle said. "We've got a slightly shorter season and hopefully we'll get more research over the next year to help make a more informed decision in 2019."

The Wisconsin DNR is working this fall on a collaborative study with its counterpart agencies in Michigan and Minnesota to assess grouse for West Nile Virus. Results aren't expected to be available until spring 2019, according to DNR officials.

Grouse hunting regulations are unchanged in Zone B, where the season runs Oct. 20 to Dec. 8 with a daily bag limit of two birds.

The emergency rule is subject to the signature of Gov. Scott Walker and the review of the Legislature's Joint Rules Committee.

LWCF nears expiration: A group of Wisconsin business owners this week joined a chorus of support for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

"We know the critical importance of LWCF in providing access to open spaces to hunt, fish, hike, swim and recreate," the business owners said in Sept. 26 letter to members of Congress. "Access made possible by LWCF has strengthened and diversified our economies by simultaneously increasing visitation and bringing businesses of all types to our high quality of life communities."

Established in 1965, the LWCF derives funding from leases of offshore oil and gas development. It has provided Wisconsin with $218 million for public access and outdoor recreation facilities.

Despite strong support among the public, the fund is scheduled to expire Sept. 30.

The business owners, which included Darren Bush of Rutabaga Paddlesports in Madision, Aytan Luck of Truly Spoken in Milwaukee and Jerry Otte of Aquatic Adventures Inc. in Brookfield, urged Congress to reauthorize and fully and permanently fund the LWCF.

Dozens of conservation groups have also supported the LWCT in recent months.