A bipartisan group of legislators introduced a bill Oct. 2 to expand white-tailed deer hunting options for disabled military veterans in Wisconsin.
Senate Bill 505 would allow disabled military veterans to hunt deer of either sex in any Wisconsin firearm deer hunting season.
The benefit is currently available to active military members.
The bill was introduced by Sens. Jeff Smith (D, Brunswick), Melissa Ratcliff (D, Cottage Grove), Dianne Hesselbein (D, Madison), Andre Jacque (R, New Franken) and Sarah Keyeski (D, Lodi) and co-sponsored by Reps. Russell Goodwin (D, Milwaukee), Jeffrey Mursau (R, Crivitz), Christine Sinicki (D, Milwaukee), Angela Stroud (D, Ashland) and Shelia Stubbs (D, Madison).
Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources issues approvals that authorize hunting, fishing and trapping in Wisconsin.
State statutes confer certain hunting and fishing benefits upon residents who are members of the U.S. armed forces who are in active service with the U.S. armed forces outside of Wisconsin and on furlough or leave within the state, according to an analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
One such benefit allows a service member who holds a current resident deer hunting license to hunt deer of either sex during any season open to hunting of deer with firearms.
Senate Bill 505 would provide the same benefit to a resident disabled veteran, defined as a veteran with a disability rating of 50% or greater or is receiving disability compensation benefits due to being unemployable.
The practical result of the proposal would be to allow disabled vets to shoot a doe, or antlerless deer, where ever they were hunting during a Wisconsin firearm season.
In some years and in some deer management zones no or very few antlerless permits are available for purchase. The measure would allow disabled vets to hunt in such areas regardless of tag availability.
No estimate of the number of disabled military veterans who would be likely to utilize the benefit was given. However, the bill is expected to get wide support.
It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage. No hearing was scheduled as of Oct. 3.
New home for Lake Michigan Bird Observatory
The Lake Michigan Bird Observatory has entered into an agreement to establish a permanent office and research facility at Afterglow Farm near Port Washington.
Afterglow Farm is a 220-acre property founded in 1929 by Joseph and Ilma Uihlein. It’s now owned by their granddaughter, Lynde Bradley Uihlein, a Milwaukee philanthropist and environmentalist.
“Connecting with a property long maintained for ecological diversity will open new doors to avian research that, with the help of our friends and donors, we will continue to expand,” said LMBO board chair Sue Schumacher in a statement.
The LMBO has a staff of seven, including chief scientist Medhavi Ambardar. The organization’s mission is to “advance the conservation of birds in Wisconsin and throughout the Western Great Lakes Region through coordinated research, monitoring, and education.”
The new arrangement calls for LMBO to continue its research, including MOTUS towers placed at the farm to document migratory bird movements and its Neighborhood Habitat Improvement Project, and help the facility serve as a model for the benefits of native plant and habitat restoration, according to a LMBO press release.
The LMBO was formerly called the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory. Its most recent headquarters was in rented office space in downtown Port Washington.
Once the move is completed, LMBO’s staff plans to work in space in the historic barn at Afterglow Farm.
For more information, visit lmbo.org.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Legislators introduce bill to expand deer hunting options for disabled military veterans
Reporting by Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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