MADISON - Jaws dropped and eyes grew wide recently when a Wisconsin Depar-tment of Natural Resources press release ann-ounced the agency had "joined forces" with the Humane Society of the United States to "educate Wisconsinites about the importance of allowing wild animals to remain in their natural habitat."
At issue is a public service announcement for which HSUS contributed $6,000 to cover half of the cost.
The word spread quickly as cell phones buzzed and computer inboxes were gorged with messages of alarm, anger and disdain for what many viewed as a partnership with the devil. Hunters and trappers expressed shock and dismay while legislators jumped on the bandwagon with pointed letters to DNR Secretary Matt Frank, expressing their outrage.
"I don't think 'outrageous' is too strong a word to describe this," said Jim Shurts, chair of the Dane County delegation to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. "They (HSUS) make no secret they are anti-hunting," he said. "I don't see this as an appropriate compromise to get across the message."
George Meyer, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation agreed.
"This could be a serious mistake," he said. "It sends a really negative message to hunters, anglers and trappers in Wisconsin."
"We spend millions of dollars to support the agency and natural resource management," Meyer said. "The message of the HSUS is to eliminate hunting, fishing and trapping, and the agency should not be entering into partnership with them."
As the organization's most popular "flavor of the day" when promoting its agenda against alleged animal cruelty, members of the Wisconsin Trappers Association (WTA) have been among the most vocal.
"We've had a target on our back for 40 years with this organization," said Scott McAuley with the Wisconsin Trappers Association. "It's disappointing more than anything when they give us so much grief in other directions."
Chris Bezio, National Director for the WTA, is the coordinator for the National Trappers Association Convention scheduled for Aug. 5 to 8 in Marshfield. Some members are urging the organization to pull out of the state over the matter.
"It's not practical to change the venue," Bezio said. "We have contracts (to uphold)."
Speaking on behalf of the WDNR, Chief Conservation Warden Randy Stark has responded by contacting as many people as time permits to explain the rationale for the decision.
"They don't disagree with the message, Stark suggests, "but a lot of people have expressed concerns about who cooperated in doing this."
He suggests that the agency has a responsibility to cooperate with a wide range of groups when they share common goals. In the case of the thrill-killing of deer in Waupaca County in 2009, HSUS contributed $2,500 to a reward fund, he said.
Lou George, regional director for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, recognizes the need to find common ground with other organizations, but questions the wisdom of cooperating with so prominent an anti-hunting organization.
"It's prostituting your principles," he says.
Other groups such as the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, are equally suspicious of HSUS motives, which they point out are not always charitable. A staff report in Wisconsin Agriculturist notes that the watchdog group Center for Consumer Freedom has reported that Charity Navigator has slashed its rankings for HSUS, giving it a lower level of trustworthiness than the radical People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
A possible silver lining is that the public service announcement perhaps received more attention than it ever would have if the DNR had skipped the HSUS connection.
Stark reiterated that it is illegal in Wisconsin to keep wildlife as pets or attempt to rehabilitate an injured animal. Concerned citizens can best handle these situations by calling the DNR Call Center at 1-888-936-7463.
The press release, however, served to add fuel to the firestorm of discontent. To some, the Humane Society of the U.S. appears overly eager to find opportunities for collaboration. Humane Society Wisconsin State Director Alyson Bodai said, "We are thrilled to join forces with Wisconsin DNR to educate the public about keeping wildlife in the wild ..."
Various legislators, including Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Wausau, and State Senator Neal Kedzie, R-Elkhorn, have forwarded their complaints to DNR Secretary Matt Frank.
"As you know," Kedzie's letter states, "the HSUS actively pursues efforts to oppose hunting, fishing and trapping.
"It is a heavily-funded organization which may stand in stark contrast to the purpose and mission of the Wisconsin DNR Wildlife Management program, and I am perplexed as to why our agency would initiate a working relationship with this group," Kedzie said.
Stark points out, however, that the DNR did not sign a contract with HSUS. Like the DNR, he said, HSUS bought its own time through Wisconsin Radio Network and Gunderson Communications, which produced the PSA.
"The $6,000 did not pass through DNR," Stark emphasized.
Stark suggests that money available to the agency and various conservation groups is better spent supporting programs that help our youth to enjoy the outdoors.
"You would rather have the hunters' money spent for things like Learn to Hunt rather than a PSA that someone else could pay for," he said.
"We are never going to lose focus of our role as the primary advocate for hunting, fishing and trapping in Wisconsin," Stark concluded.
- Lee Fahrney is the Times outdoors writer. He can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or at fiveoaks@mhtc.net.
At issue is a public service announcement for which HSUS contributed $6,000 to cover half of the cost.
The word spread quickly as cell phones buzzed and computer inboxes were gorged with messages of alarm, anger and disdain for what many viewed as a partnership with the devil. Hunters and trappers expressed shock and dismay while legislators jumped on the bandwagon with pointed letters to DNR Secretary Matt Frank, expressing their outrage.
"I don't think 'outrageous' is too strong a word to describe this," said Jim Shurts, chair of the Dane County delegation to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. "They (HSUS) make no secret they are anti-hunting," he said. "I don't see this as an appropriate compromise to get across the message."
George Meyer, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation agreed.
"This could be a serious mistake," he said. "It sends a really negative message to hunters, anglers and trappers in Wisconsin."
"We spend millions of dollars to support the agency and natural resource management," Meyer said. "The message of the HSUS is to eliminate hunting, fishing and trapping, and the agency should not be entering into partnership with them."
As the organization's most popular "flavor of the day" when promoting its agenda against alleged animal cruelty, members of the Wisconsin Trappers Association (WTA) have been among the most vocal.
"We've had a target on our back for 40 years with this organization," said Scott McAuley with the Wisconsin Trappers Association. "It's disappointing more than anything when they give us so much grief in other directions."
Chris Bezio, National Director for the WTA, is the coordinator for the National Trappers Association Convention scheduled for Aug. 5 to 8 in Marshfield. Some members are urging the organization to pull out of the state over the matter.
"It's not practical to change the venue," Bezio said. "We have contracts (to uphold)."
Speaking on behalf of the WDNR, Chief Conservation Warden Randy Stark has responded by contacting as many people as time permits to explain the rationale for the decision.
"They don't disagree with the message, Stark suggests, "but a lot of people have expressed concerns about who cooperated in doing this."
He suggests that the agency has a responsibility to cooperate with a wide range of groups when they share common goals. In the case of the thrill-killing of deer in Waupaca County in 2009, HSUS contributed $2,500 to a reward fund, he said.
Lou George, regional director for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, recognizes the need to find common ground with other organizations, but questions the wisdom of cooperating with so prominent an anti-hunting organization.
"It's prostituting your principles," he says.
Other groups such as the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, are equally suspicious of HSUS motives, which they point out are not always charitable. A staff report in Wisconsin Agriculturist notes that the watchdog group Center for Consumer Freedom has reported that Charity Navigator has slashed its rankings for HSUS, giving it a lower level of trustworthiness than the radical People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
A possible silver lining is that the public service announcement perhaps received more attention than it ever would have if the DNR had skipped the HSUS connection.
Stark reiterated that it is illegal in Wisconsin to keep wildlife as pets or attempt to rehabilitate an injured animal. Concerned citizens can best handle these situations by calling the DNR Call Center at 1-888-936-7463.
The press release, however, served to add fuel to the firestorm of discontent. To some, the Humane Society of the U.S. appears overly eager to find opportunities for collaboration. Humane Society Wisconsin State Director Alyson Bodai said, "We are thrilled to join forces with Wisconsin DNR to educate the public about keeping wildlife in the wild ..."
Various legislators, including Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Wausau, and State Senator Neal Kedzie, R-Elkhorn, have forwarded their complaints to DNR Secretary Matt Frank.
"As you know," Kedzie's letter states, "the HSUS actively pursues efforts to oppose hunting, fishing and trapping.
"It is a heavily-funded organization which may stand in stark contrast to the purpose and mission of the Wisconsin DNR Wildlife Management program, and I am perplexed as to why our agency would initiate a working relationship with this group," Kedzie said.
Stark points out, however, that the DNR did not sign a contract with HSUS. Like the DNR, he said, HSUS bought its own time through Wisconsin Radio Network and Gunderson Communications, which produced the PSA.
"The $6,000 did not pass through DNR," Stark emphasized.
Stark suggests that money available to the agency and various conservation groups is better spent supporting programs that help our youth to enjoy the outdoors.
"You would rather have the hunters' money spent for things like Learn to Hunt rather than a PSA that someone else could pay for," he said.
"We are never going to lose focus of our role as the primary advocate for hunting, fishing and trapping in Wisconsin," Stark concluded.
- Lee Fahrney is the Times outdoors writer. He can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or at fiveoaks@mhtc.net.
