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Oneida County delegates at Conservation Congress pressed for stable conservation funding and deer‑management changes
Summary
A Conservation Congress delegate reported strong support for new funding proposals, including a dedicated sales‑tax approach and a 25% license‑fee increase, and described proposed adjustments to deer management units; the committee voted to forward the report to the County Board.
Ed Choinski, Vice‑Chair of the Oneida County Conservation Congress, briefed the committee on the May 15–16 Conservation Congress state convention in Green Bay. He said delegates repeatedly raised concerns about the lack of stable, long‑term funding for Wisconsin DNR programs and emphasized that license fees "have not increased since 2005." Delegates reviewed multiple funding proposals, including a dedicated 1/8 of 1% state sales tax for conservation and a recommended 25% increase in hunting, fishing and trapping license fees (larger increases were rejected).
Choinski also reported delegates discussed the impending expiration of the Knowles‑Nelson Stewardship Program in 2026 and urged legislative reauthorization because the program funds public land acquisition and conservation projects through matching grants. Other convention proposals included a $10 increase to the turkey stamp fee for research and habitat work and various habitat and species protection resolutions.
On deer management, delegates noted Oneida County’s placement within Deer Management Units 116, 120 and 121. County Deer Advisory Councils recommended modest antlerless‑tag increases in Units 120 and 121 and recommended zero antlerless harvest in Unit 116 because of low deer numbers; the Unit 116 recommendation nonetheless moved to the Natural Resources Board despite some disagreement from local biologists.
The committee voted unanimously to forward Choinski’s convention report to the County Board Chair for placement as a report item on the County Board agenda.
