Recent News:
Copy of letter sent to Mr. Steve Oestreicher & Natural Resources Board:
Feb 1, 2005
Mr. Steve Oestreicher
8475 Oneida Lake Dr.
Harshaw, WI 54529
Natural Resources Board
c/o Amy Lemberger
DNR, Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Dear Sirs:
Recently the Woodland Chapter of the Wisconsin Deerhunter's Inc. held its annual meeting which included discussion from the membership on various natural resource
topics. Members of our organization are concerned about the current deer season framework and about the status of the upcoming license fee hike. Members voted to approve the following two resolutions; 1] that a 16 day deer season be established starting Nov. 15th each year and that there be no T-zones. 2] that the fee hike be supported with funds going dierectly to conservation law enforcement and field work.
We strongly urge you to support these resolutions as viable tools to enhance the quality of our natural resources.
Sincerely,
Charles O'Brien, President
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The Woodland Chapter of Wisconsin Deerhunters Inc. has a goal of preserving hunting for future generations in Shawano County and Wisconsin. To accomplish this we are attacking the problem three ways. First, we believe in the education of youth in the hunting tradition. We have equipped six Hunter Education Chapters in our area. They are: Shawano, Gresham, Bonduel, Navarino, Bowler and Stockbridge-Munsee. Each of these teaching units have received firearms and equipment. They also share on a Per Capita basis $2000.00. In 2003 each chapter was paid $6.45 per child educated. This makes up for the fact that fees can no longer be charged to students, according to state law. Each student that graduates from these unites receives a blaze orange hunter education graduate cap. We also have a fully equipped trailer with firearms, ammunition, trap throwers, clay pigeons, video with safety movies, chairs and a canopy tent. Everything needed for a successful field day. To show appreciation for the volunteers that teach Hunter Education, Snowmobile Safety and ATV Safety we invite them and their spouses to a completely free banquet. There one chapter receives a free gun and there is a raffle for a firearm for the instructors.
Second, we have youth "Learn to Hunt" classes. In September we have a youth deer hunt. First the youth are educated in safety, tactics and ethics. Then they sight in the firearms they are going to use. Next, a good lunch is served and then they learn about blinds. Finally, they are taken to the site they will be hunting and shown the place they will actually be hunting. The next Saturday is the Hunt! In 2003 one young lady did kill a deer. The other three participants did have shooting but missed. A very successful day. The Saturday before Pheasant Hunting we have our youth Pheasant hunt. There are three hours of instruction in the morning. Then, a delicious lunch is served for the youth and their parents. Now its outside to do some informational shooting and trap shooting. Finally it is time to hunt pheasants. We have the best dogs and handlers in the area there to show these students great dog work. The club also purchased traps to hold and then release the birds when the dog points. Each student is allowed one shell per bird. Then the bird flies they have to decide if they're shot and then harvest the bird. Usually each student manager to get at least one bird.
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Third. We have spent $5,000 in the past three years sponsoring the 4H Sport shooting classes and competition in Shawano. This is climaxed by a statewide shooting competition held at the Expo center on the Shawano County Fairgrounds.
The second point in our overall philosophy is to show the people in our area that hunters are not slobs. Therefore we contribute to a lot of local organizations who are trying to accomplish worthwhile community projects. We have spent over $20,000 in the past seven years for things like lights for an athletic field, band uniforms, cheerleader uniforms, fly over pictures of our area lakes to show ice fisherman where the bad spots are, Toys for Tots, supplies for the wrapping and money for the cost of delivering donated toys to needy youth at Christmas, gifts for the Maple Lane patients at Christmas, Helping to equip an indoor shooting range at the fairgrounds, rejuvenating the athletic field and track at Bonduel, paying the rent for a place to eat for the elderly, sending 30 students to Trees for Tomorrow yearly, helping to sponsor Legion baseball, paying for a soft serve machine for the 4H, Sponsor two youth fishing derbies, premiums for the county fair, and many, many more community services. WE ARE THE COMMUNITY HELPER!
We have told you about youth education and helping the community. Let me now tell you how we help another very important group of people. They are the handicapped and we provide, along with the Waverly Lodge of Masons on Appleton, a handicapped deer hunt each October. Last year we had over 60 hunters who hunted on over 3000 acres of land and harvested 32 deer. They are furnished with either covered or open accessible blinds, meals and door prizes on opening day, an assistant to help them and a very good place to hunt. This is on e of the most gratifying things we do as a club. Rick Jebwadney, one of our club members, and his family donate their hunting camp and land to this hunt. They provide overnight accommodations, meals, and hospitality for the hunters. We do have an electrically controlled aerial deer stand there and each year at least one deer is harvested from this stand.
We invite you to volunteer and participate in these endeavors. You can email us from the link on the home page or you can call or fax to 715-526-9085. We will be glad to provide information or sign up handicapped hunters.
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