Did anyone else attend tonight? There was a poor turnout but it was interesting. I thought Muskrat would be on here rejoicing in the question pertaining to re-allowing access for trappers to cross RR tracks.

I did. Turnout in La Crosse County was about 25. The great thing a bout the night was the amount of discussion about the questions that occurred. It was like the good old days when folks in ATTENDANCE listened and learned from others, then gave their input rather than simply clicking on answers on their keyboards without any idea of the long term effects.

A long and good discussion about the train track crossing issue. Folks have to remember it is a statewide issue and then the tracks cross public lands they oftern have the effect of creating def acto closed areas due to a lack of public access.

Well, it is after 10:30 and I just got home....

Moosetrot

I saw that question , I said my peice about it , a couple others did as well

time to get our access back

I would guess our turn out was around 40

we probably could haev cut questions by 75% on things if the question and supporting info that is in the online format was on the projector.

that would have cleared up a bunch of questions.

Well said.

I also was able to point out if you don't know about something , we are fortunate enough to now have no opinion as an option

say if you are not a shovelhead sturgeon angler , leave the question for those closer to the issue.

the discussion was good , I miss that from the old days before there was online voting.

I got some friends to attend with me , my friends daughter 12 came with and brought a book expecting to be bored.
never even cracked the book , really got into all the resolutions and discussion about them.

Going to be very interesting to see the final counts!

Moosetrot

I'll rejoice when I'm not considered a criminal whilst crossing RR tracks to hunt, fish or trap. Meanwhile, I'll access these public lands and waters crossing said tracks if necessary. And if arrested, I'll spend the time in jail if that's part of the flow chart to checking sets that aren't accessible by other means.

There's been enough time wasted here to prove to me there's quite a large faction here that support the RR in their quest to keep law abiding citizens off the tracks in their pursuit of outdoor activities. It's the old "if it doesn't affect me, I don't really care" attitude. All about looking out for #1.

The older fellas who gave up ice fishing on the big river get my sympathy. Not taking a chance on getting arrested, many of them sold their ice fishing gear and traps. Been to quite a few garage sales from PDC to LaX with lawn chair and coffee. Enough stories of a sudden end to a lifetime of winter pursuit to make one want to puke.

They'll all be dead in twenty years, the younger bunch won't have a clue, and Centennial carries on.

North of 200 at the Bayfield county meeting, couldn’t figure out why so many until a young gal that’s only lived here since Dec. won a seat on the congress.

that is exactly what our reps were concerned about
we had a better turn out than last year with friendly faces
finished the election with a voice vote unanimous


the surveys opened at noon today , go vote everyone in WI
it ends Saturday at noon

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/wcc/springhearing

Had a play practice Monday night for our church dinner play so did not attend our county event. Completed the questionare today. Seems a lot of people got all upset about the online voting and that is a change, but to me we are going to have more issues when groups show up and become elected representatives in the WCC and start filling a lot of slots on the various committees.

Bryce

The problem is so few people go to the meetings that an anti can get their friends together to show up and get on pretty easy.

we got the resolution processes cleaned up A LOT , remember when you scribbled it out and they hung it on the wall for people to read.
now you have to have it submitted a month out

what we are going to need to do is declare candidacy a month out , no sowing up with 150 people night of and getting the anti elected.

got it done... opening the trout season in April I thought was a bad idea

Funny how that works. Folks getting the representation they deserve.

Ttt

It's a terrible idea especially if you consider that DNR wouldn't be able to get the stocking done in time

I've been saying for several years the WCC is going down a slippery slope.

https://www.wkow.com/news/environme...f300f42-0417-11ef-ab77-43411e35b2e7.html

AJE it is not just the congress, they are taking over the dnr also.

It will be interesting to see if they destroy the conservation congress. Their agenda seems strange & suspicious.

As for the 2025 WCC questions, I'm not sure why WTA is so opposed to the question about allowing trail cams for trap checking

I went, no more than 30 showed up in Dane county. Since the Tv stations aren't filming any more Patricia and her gang aren't showing up anymore. Both of are reps ran unopposed in fact one wasn't even in a tendance.

So, you want to check traps with trail cams. You must have deep pockets. To check my line I would have to have 1oo+ cameras. And I think it cost something like $16.00 a month to subscribe per camera. In my opinion that's not trapping.

It's less than $16/camera, but you're right those cameras are very expensive. I don't know as it would be for me, but I think it would sell more trapping licenses.

In my mind, remote monitoring of traps has its place. ADC trapping is not like fur trapping. Often times, ADC locations are long distances apart. Travel time and related expenses could quickly cost justify remote monitoring.

Where you at the Spring Membership Meeting?

In my mind, what will happen is you will see a rise in bobcat and fisher tag applicants. People that have land or cottages that go up north for the weekend will be trapping remotely. Head up north for the weekend,
set a few traps with cameras and head home on Sunday. They can check there traps from the kitchen table eating breakfast all week. In my mind that is not the way it should be.

Trail cameras? Why not hire someone to check your traps, or set and check and put up the fur, just keeps getting easier.

I was at our spring hearing this year. I counted total of 7 people including myself that weren't part of the people up front. By far smallest turn out i have ever seen.

As for checking traps with cell camera or drone.. I got very mixed feels on the subject.
I remember taking heat years ago from few people. For only glassing fox sets from the road with spotting scope. Only walking in every other day unless there was a catch or snapped trap. Some how people thought that was cheating?? I had to wonder just what anyone thought I was taking from them??? My not walking right up to each trap. I was clearly meeting the 24 hour check rule and it took nothing from another trapper.
I had places I trapped where I trapped beavers and rats on private ground. . I humped my gear in on foot way farther than others would just to be by myself.
Then you got people saying your nuts its not worth the hike for price of fur. Why should that matter to anyone but me? If fur was worth bunch of money. Probably have a dozen people wanting to race into spot like that permission or not.
It seems its always about the money or competition with everything now days.

So why do I have mixed feelings about using technology to check traps?
Because like it or not I now join the ranks of the handicapped. Hard pill to swallow not being able to barely walk in waders, when i used to literally run. Now can barely get from the boat to a duck blind in them..

Oh boo hoo for me right.. LMAO..
This last 24-25 trapping season was the first time in many years. I did not set even one trap in the field somewhere, even though I bought a patrons license like I have since first available. Just wasn't feeling it.

Well anyways.. if I hobbled out in the woods or some farm field some where. Ride my quad and managed to set few traps.Just what would I be taking away from someone else? If I didn't have to hobble and stumble in every day to check them traps? Just looked at the camera or ran drone from the road? Make the hike if nessary for my one cat or fisher? Lots people been doing deer and bear baits that way for years.

I always have wondered why so many people. Spend so much time worrying about what other people are doing? Watching someone elses bobber and not thrir own? Especially when it has no direct effect on them and takes nothing away?

Mac

Ain't that the truth.

I wouldn’t call it trapping either and very likely wouldn’t participate but who cares, let them trap. Times are changing.

When they allowed remote voting and continue to allow it you will see less and less attendance.

No, I had to work that night.

Not sure these meetings do much good anyway.

There was quite the discussion that meeting on the topic.
In summary, the membership isn't entirely opposed to the use of tech.

It's ok to use cameras and other methods at your sets to notify you of a catch; it's NOT legal to use them as your daily method of trap checking. You still need to physically check traps by human observation. I doubt drones will be allowed by the WIDNR, see all other hunting regs concerning use of drones..

The issues revolved around Wisconsin trapping heritage (why we have a 24 hour check requirement in the first place), ethics (see Captaine's comments), enforcement (what evidence would be used to ensure compliance) and most important was public perception (if you're not out there checking traps, what thoughts does that create in the minds of the general public about trapping and animal suffering in traps for extended periods).

Thanks for the info.

In Bayfield County the last two years Liberals have shown up in large enough numbers to vote their Liberal non hunter-fisherman-trapper candidate into office. If it wasn’t for sportsman and women there wouldn’t even be a WCC IMO

Its a blue county. Not surprised......if we have technology, why not use it? A guy still has to go out and set the trap. Does it matter how it gets checked as long as it's checked?

"As long as it's checked." Valid point.