If you’re one of the thousands of deer hunters who haven’t yet purchased a license this fall, a small added investment could pay big dividends for the state’s public lands and waters.
The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin and Department of Natural Resources announced this week that the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund just hit a big milestone: $3 million dollars in support of conservation and management of fields, forests and fishing holes open to the public.
Established in 2012, the fund gives hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts a chance to help protect, restore and improve habitat and access for public fish and wildlife areas. Anglers, boaters and hunters can opt-in with a minimum $2 donation when purchasing licenses, or they can make a donation directly to the fund.
It took eight years for the fund to raise its first million dollars, three years for the second million, and two years for the third. That’s right — $2 million was donated in just the past five years.
The Cherish Fund primarily comes from the public when purchasing hunting and fishing licenses through the DNR’s Go Wild license portal. If you get yours in person at a license outlet, let the worker know ahead of time that you’re interested in kicking in the $2 minimum (or more if you choose), otherwise you might not get asked.
Thousands of dollars in recent funding helped support reclaiming forest openings and maintaining natural frost pockets as open habitat in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest in Vilas County, and removing invasive species in the Spread Eagle Barrens State Natural Area in Florence County.
If you’ve already purchased your hunting and fishing licenses for this year, but would still like to donate, consider a gift online ($5 minimum). You can find a link and learn more about the fund at https://www.wisconservation.org/cherish/.
Members of the public are invited to join the Red Banks Alvar Seed Collecting Hike Oct. 4 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Red Banks Alvar State Natural Area in Brown County.
The collection will be led by DNR biologist Jacob Koebernik and Niagara Escarpment Resource Network geologist and ecologist Bob Bultman. The event is a fundraiser, with all proceeds going toward an escarpment interpretative sign program. Donations are encouraged and accepted at registration.
Red Banks Alvar supports Wisconsin’s best example of this rare community type that occurs on flat limestone or dolomitic bedrock with very shallow soils. An unusual blend of boreal, southern and prairie species — relicts of the post-glacial environment and the warmer, dryer period that followed — characterize Alvar ecosystems.
Red Banks Alvar contains one of the most diverse land snail communities known in the Midwest and is one of the most important areas in Wisconsin for snails. Colonies of 25 different groups of these glacial relicts can be found from the base to the top of the escarpment.
To register or learn more, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/red-banks-alvar-seed-collecting-hike-brown-county-tickets-1708557313919.
Whitetails Unlimited, a supporter of the Second Amendment, hunter rights, and promoting the sport of regulated hunting, spent more than $1.7 million last year in support of its Preserving their Hunting Tradition program.
WTU says America’s hunters and target shooters have an economic impact of more than $110 billion, and support more than 866,000 jobs. Major initiatives of the group focus on increasing hunting opportunities and providing outdoor experiences to youth, veterans and those with disabilities.
The Wisconsin DNR begins taking online seedling orders Oct. 6. Orders can be made for a variety of tree and shrub species with a minimum order of 300 seedlings. Learn more at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/treeplanting/order.
The DNR’s annual open house at the Besadny Anadromous Fisheries Facility on the Kewaunee River, N3884 Ransom Moore Lane, will be held Saturday, Oct. 11 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
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