The WCC is a body of elected delegates that advise the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on policy. Our Wisconsin Revolution is leading the reform movement. It is a two pronged strategy: elect more environmentalists to the congress and pressure state lawmakers to take legislative action to reform the body. The activists contend the WCC represents a small minority of Wisconsinites, the consumptive users of state’s natural resources such as hunters and fishers. This opposed a much larger contingent who do not consume resources, and instead merely visit state parks, take camping trips, etc.
MADISON (WKOW) – A coalition of environmentalists and progressive activists have joined to press for reform to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC), which they say has become beholden to fringe hunting interests.
The WCC is a body of elected delegates that advise the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on policy.
Our Wisconsin Revolution is leading the reform movement. It is a two pronged strategy: elect more environmentalists to the congress and pressure state lawmakers to take legislative action to reform the body.
The activists contend the WCC represents a small minority of Wisconsinites, the consumptive users of state’s natural resources such as hunters and fishers. This opposed a much larger contingent who do not consume resources, and instead merely visit state parks, take camping trips, etc.
“There are some interest groups behind that,” said Adam Kassulke, a former WCC delegate working with Our Wisconsin Revolution on the reform campaign. “For example, Wisconsin bear Hunters Association, which is the bear hunters, but also predominantly the hounding group and continuously have the core leadership on the Executive Leadership Council and the Executive Committee of the WCC.”
The hunting interests have used their power in the congress to advocate for policies benefiting a small percentage of hunters like the use of chocolate in bear bait, hounding of wolves and a greater quota in wolf hunts.
27 News reached out three leaders with the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association and the chair of the WCC for comment on this story. None responded.
“I think that’s the ultimate disservice to all Wisconsin citizens, is that right now, in its current form, particularly the leadership, is composed of a one mindset,” Amy Mueller, an environmental activist who advocates for reform to the WCC, said.
“It typically tends to be of like a 1950s, ‘We just want to expand all hunting and fishing rights no matter what.’ and so it really is detrimental to people looking to make common sense, rational improvements when the leadership is there to sort of insulate some of the most egregious practices that are allowed in our state.”