Board debates whether to allow hunting on Camp 3 School Forest

The Three Lakes School District board spent the bulk of its meeting debating whether to permit hunting on the Camp 3 School Forest, a district-owned parcel administrators described as a roughly 39.4-acre outdoor classroom.

Administrator stated that he presented a draft policy prepared with district counsel that would tightly limit who may hunt on the property and under what conditions. "In the policy I have here as a sample for you ... it's a nominal acreage of 39.4 acres," the Administrator said, adding that the draft would restrict permission to district residents and employees and would not open the land to all Vilas County residents.

Why it matters: board members said the parcel is intended primarily for education, and they want any policy to protect student use while providing a clear, enforceable pathway if the district permits any hunting.

Board members split on whether to permit public hunting. One board member said, "My gut instinct is to just not allow any, any hunting on the property at all," citing the land's conservation and instructional purposes. Another said he was "50-50," open to limited bird hunting or seasonal limits if the district adopted strict procedures for permits and supervision.

Administrators outlined operational safeguards the draft policy would require, including an application and verification process tied to state DNR licenses, a district-issued permit carried by hunters and posted vehicle permits, designated entry through the parking lot at specified times, and a requirement that any hunting stands or traps be removed at the end of each day. "It's going to require eyeballs," the Administrator said, noting that facilities staff and school-forest personnel would have enforcement responsibilities and that the district would coordinate with local law enforcement if necessary.

Legal and liability questions surfaced: a board member asked whether allowing hunting could affect an existing lawsuit related to school-forest land; the chair responded that "it's under Wisconsin statute" and that school boards are authorized to allow hunting on school forest land, but members said they would still seek WASB counsel review and confirm liability protections, including a hold-harmless clause.

Board concerns also included potential conflicts between hunters and student groups using the property for curriculum, the suitability of the parcel's size for various hunting methods, and the administrative workload of permitting and monitoring access. One board member emphasized that student curricular uses (for example, archery instruction or drumming studies) should be preserved even if some public hunting is allowed, recommending policy language that distinguishes student/co-curricular use from public use.

No formal decision was made. The board asked staff to: refine the draft policy language with specific definitions (what seasons and methods would and would not be permitted), prepare maps of district-owned parcels for comparison, consult WASB counsel on liability and statute implications, and bring the matter back to a future meeting after public outreach to gauge community interest.

The board noted the topic is contentious in the community and agreed to proceed cautiously rather than adopt an immediate permanent change.