Just got back late last night from Grouse hunting in Wisconsin, a trip I make twice a year and have for over 20 years. This year was the biggest bust I have ever experienced because of reduced enforcement of hunting laws.
It seems that there is no (read ZERO) DNR presence in the area I have been hunting all of these years. In the past it was not uncommon to see a Warden on a daily basis and be checked at least once/twice during the week. This year.... nothing!! No sighting and even after calling the local Warden to report hunting violations, nothing!!
The ATV/UTV crowd has taken over and literally chewed up every trail we used to walk and find Grouse. Riding an ATV off the established roadway is a serious violation that can result in your ATV being confiscated but seems to have no effect. They are actively road hunting on the established roads with no regard to who sees them doing it. On a daily basis I could find 12 to 15 road hunters riding down the roads/trails with loaded shotguns across their lap and shooting from the roadways. I called the local Warden Tuesday afternoon to report the violations I had seen and even gave descriptions of the violators and their vehicles. He said he would "check into it" but never showed up to actually do anything about it. Pitiful.......
When I get time this week I intend to contact DNR headquarters and express my feelings about the local Warden assigned to the area and see if I can put a little pressure on from that angle. My second trip in 2 weeks is obviously cancelled as are any future trips in the coming years. Sad.....
It seems that there is no (read ZERO) DNR presence in the area I have been hunting all of these years. In the past it was not uncommon to see a Warden on a daily basis and be checked at least once/twice during the week. This year.... nothing!! No sighting and even after calling the local Warden to report hunting violations, nothing!!
The ATV/UTV crowd has taken over and literally chewed up every trail we used to walk and find Grouse. Riding an ATV off the established roadway is a serious violation that can result in your ATV being confiscated but seems to have no effect. They are actively road hunting on the established roads with no regard to who sees them doing it. On a daily basis I could find 12 to 15 road hunters riding down the roads/trails with loaded shotguns across their lap and shooting from the roadways. I called the local Warden Tuesday afternoon to report the violations I had seen and even gave descriptions of the violators and their vehicles. He said he would "check into it" but never showed up to actually do anything about it. Pitiful.......
When I get time this week I intend to contact DNR headquarters and express my feelings about the local Warden assigned to the area and see if I can put a little pressure on from that angle. My second trip in 2 weeks is obviously cancelled as are any future trips in the coming years. Sad.....
