ORLANDO, FLA - The atmosphere at Disneyworld is a vast improvement over the cold and clammy late February weather we've endured recently. I was ready for the change of scene and the light-hearted frivolity of the "Happiest Place on Earth."
Brian and Mary Beth invited us along to share in the joy of three exuberant grandchildren rushing madly amidst the spectacular pageantry of the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Enjoy we did, despite aching leg muscles and several rather impressive blisters on Grandma's tired feet.
Grandson Luke was celebrating his sixth birthday. He soon learned the enormous badge on his chest marking the occasion would earn him special recognition throughout the Disney theme parks. He was the first one picked to help fend off Darth Vader at a somewhat less-than-authentic looking Star Wars production.
Lukie and a half dozen newly trained Jedi courageously waved their light sticks as the prince of the dark side made his loud and animated entry on stage. The black-clad figure was no match for the heroic young warriors, however, as their adversary was soon vanquished to his intergalactic hideout.
The experience is a welcome change of pace from recent events that include the Wisconsin Conservation Congress spring meetings now being held around the state. The purpose is to review the more than 90 questions up for public scrutiny at the spring hearings April 13 in all 72 counties.
Along with fellow-Iowa County delegates Steve Holmes, Jim McCaulley and Tony Grabski, I attended the District 9 event in Spring Green last Wednesday. The boys from Lafayette County were there as well - Steve Staver, Wayne Stietz, Dave Breunig and Mike Gould. The Green and Rock County delegations belong to District 10.
Many of the issues don't apply to us. Questions regarding the winter bag limits on crappies on the Chippewa flowage, for example, are better left up to locals in that part of the state. We have our own problems to address.
One controversy that never seems to go away is the question on this year's ballot regarding the shooting of antlered deer with Ag tags. It remains the single most frequent complaint I've received over the last few years from legitimate hunters fed up with shooters pounding trophy bucks while passing up antlerless deer.
The solution - going back to pre-CWD days and shooting only antlerless deer - has not set well with the DNR rank and file. Here is a chronology of the bureau's efforts to bury this proposal:
Denial: I bought up the issue to a DNR wildlife biologist at a CWD workshop event at UW-Madison a couple of years ago. He denied (later refuted) that the agency was allowing the practice.
Irrelevant: The hearing officer at last year's rules hearing in Dodgeville declared the topic off-limits and refused to accept testimony on the matter.
Confiscate the antlers: "We'll fix the problem by forcing the shooter to turn over the rack." I would like to hear from anyone required to do so.
Change the question: Somewhere between the time the Conservation Congress study committee passed the resolution in August 2008 and it arrived at the Executive Council meeting in La Crosse in January 2009 the wording was altered to the point it was barely recognizable.
When brought to its attention, the Council stuck with the version coming out of committee. "That's the way it should be," noted District 9 Chairman Mike Rogers.
What filter the resolution passed through en route is unclear. We have no way of knowing how it happened; we only know that it happened.
Change the policy: Taking one more kick at the can, DNR staff at the Spring Green meeting casually announced the agency had rescinded the policy, thus rendering the question mute.
In response, WCC delegate Lenny Stocks from Richland Center posed this question, "What's to stop the DNR from changing the policy back later on?" The question remains on the April agenda.
The moral of the story is that someone must always show up to protect the sportsman's turf. As for the DNR, the agency should bear in mind that while applying its considerable clout is an option, that power must be exercised judiciously.
- Lee Fahrney can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or at fiveoaks@mhtc.net.
Brian and Mary Beth invited us along to share in the joy of three exuberant grandchildren rushing madly amidst the spectacular pageantry of the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Enjoy we did, despite aching leg muscles and several rather impressive blisters on Grandma's tired feet.
Grandson Luke was celebrating his sixth birthday. He soon learned the enormous badge on his chest marking the occasion would earn him special recognition throughout the Disney theme parks. He was the first one picked to help fend off Darth Vader at a somewhat less-than-authentic looking Star Wars production.
Lukie and a half dozen newly trained Jedi courageously waved their light sticks as the prince of the dark side made his loud and animated entry on stage. The black-clad figure was no match for the heroic young warriors, however, as their adversary was soon vanquished to his intergalactic hideout.
The experience is a welcome change of pace from recent events that include the Wisconsin Conservation Congress spring meetings now being held around the state. The purpose is to review the more than 90 questions up for public scrutiny at the spring hearings April 13 in all 72 counties.
Along with fellow-Iowa County delegates Steve Holmes, Jim McCaulley and Tony Grabski, I attended the District 9 event in Spring Green last Wednesday. The boys from Lafayette County were there as well - Steve Staver, Wayne Stietz, Dave Breunig and Mike Gould. The Green and Rock County delegations belong to District 10.
Many of the issues don't apply to us. Questions regarding the winter bag limits on crappies on the Chippewa flowage, for example, are better left up to locals in that part of the state. We have our own problems to address.
One controversy that never seems to go away is the question on this year's ballot regarding the shooting of antlered deer with Ag tags. It remains the single most frequent complaint I've received over the last few years from legitimate hunters fed up with shooters pounding trophy bucks while passing up antlerless deer.
The solution - going back to pre-CWD days and shooting only antlerless deer - has not set well with the DNR rank and file. Here is a chronology of the bureau's efforts to bury this proposal:
Denial: I bought up the issue to a DNR wildlife biologist at a CWD workshop event at UW-Madison a couple of years ago. He denied (later refuted) that the agency was allowing the practice.
Irrelevant: The hearing officer at last year's rules hearing in Dodgeville declared the topic off-limits and refused to accept testimony on the matter.
Confiscate the antlers: "We'll fix the problem by forcing the shooter to turn over the rack." I would like to hear from anyone required to do so.
Change the question: Somewhere between the time the Conservation Congress study committee passed the resolution in August 2008 and it arrived at the Executive Council meeting in La Crosse in January 2009 the wording was altered to the point it was barely recognizable.
When brought to its attention, the Council stuck with the version coming out of committee. "That's the way it should be," noted District 9 Chairman Mike Rogers.
What filter the resolution passed through en route is unclear. We have no way of knowing how it happened; we only know that it happened.
Change the policy: Taking one more kick at the can, DNR staff at the Spring Green meeting casually announced the agency had rescinded the policy, thus rendering the question mute.
In response, WCC delegate Lenny Stocks from Richland Center posed this question, "What's to stop the DNR from changing the policy back later on?" The question remains on the April agenda.
The moral of the story is that someone must always show up to protect the sportsman's turf. As for the DNR, the agency should bear in mind that while applying its considerable clout is an option, that power must be exercised judiciously.
- Lee Fahrney can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or at fiveoaks@mhtc.net.
