A Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources warden supervisor, in 1997, noticed Minnesota was awarding an ethical hunter for just that, conducting him or herself in a manor above and beyond simply following hunting rules and regulations.

Steve Dewald, now a retired warden in La Crosse County, garnered support and help for the idea from a La Crosse newspaper and two outdoors writers.

The award was to be statewide, citizen-nominated, and committee selected for someone who put his or her actions above and beyond time in the field.

The first award, in 1997, went to Jim Olson and his younger friend and hunter, Mike Kasten, both of Onalaska. This hunting team, on opening weekend of the Wisconsin nine-day, gun deer season, discovered a buck carcass that had presumably fallen from a vehicle during transport after visiting an in-person registration station common at that time.

Olson and Kasten spent considerable time giving up their own hunting to identify and locate the distort hunter and present the deer to him.

Being the first year of the award, the three member committee of Dewald, Bob Lamb, and Jerry Davis took note of the action from the parties involved and determined Olson and Kasten to be the first winners. At that time plaques and a newspaper article were the recognition and did exactly what Dewald had in mind, which was give some “ink” to the good hunters who set an ethical example.

The committee set some guidelines to follow, instituted a nomination procedure to make the committee aware of the ethical act involving hunting, and publicizing the award to receive nominations.

Another winner just a few years ago involved a ruffed grouse hunter who had pulled into a public hunting area parking lot in northern Wisconsin and was approached by a pair of hikers who planned to make use of the trails to enjoy a fine autumn day.

The hikers were unaware a hunting season was ongoing and were reluctant to venture out onto the trails but the grouse hunter spent 30 minutes explaining public land, assuring the hikers they had a right in spite of other users being there. The grouse hunter ended the conversation by telling the hikers he would head out in an opposite direction and explained he was using a shotgun, not a rifle and they would be safe. When the grouse hunter returned hours later, the hikers’ vehicle was still parked in the lot.

A fellow grouse hunter nominated that ethical hunter.

An act of the nominee may be directed toward a person, or game being hunted, or the habitat in which a hunt is being conducted.

The five-person committee has been focusing on singular actions or events, as those described above rather than individuals who have long-term conservation-related programs they support.

Several years ago the committee sought a corporate sponsor for the award, who would provide a prize, so to speak, for being named the DNR ethical hunter for that calendar year.

The next award, the 2024 Ethical Hunter, will be awarded in May 2025 for actions that occurred during 2024.

Vortex Optics, headquartered in Iowa County, Barneveld, Wisconsin is now the cooperate sponsor. Vortex, since agreeing to be a corporate sponsor, has presented winners with an item or several from their quality binoculars, rifle scopes, and range finders. They also toss in a cap and a tour of the facilities at Barneveld, where the presentation is held each May.

The WDNR presents a wood plaque to each winner.

On occasion, more than one winner is named, with all being given the same prizes.

There are no age categories and some years hunters in their teens have been declared winners and given the same prizes and plaques.

This award points out to the public that not only are hunters almost always following the rules but are also likely to go above and beyond and put others ahead of themselves while hunting.

Written nominations must contain the name, address and telephone number of the witness or witnesses, or the person must be aware of the behavior, which led to the nomination.

The public is encouraged to submit nominations for consideration for the award. Submit nominations via mail or email by January 31, 2025 to April Dombrowski, Bureau Director, Recreation Safety Outdoor Skills (RSOS)/Public, Safety Resource Protection; Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 2421 Darwin Road; Madison, WI 53704-3109; April Dombrowski@wisconsin.gov

— Jerry Davis is an Argyle native and a freelance writer who lives in Barneveld. He can be reached at sivadjam@mhtc.net or at 608-924-1112.