Welcome to DCCL!
Did you know that the League is the second oldest conservation group in the State of Wisconsin? If you are concerned about the future of Dane County’s natural heritage, you will want to attend the Dane County Conservation League’s 21st annual fundraiser banquet. Proceeds from the event support educational scholarships, local DNR wildlife habitat projects, purchase of trout stream bank easements, prairie chicken recovery efforts, the raising of pheasants, and the construction of Blue Bird, Wren, Wood Duck, and Bat Houses
DANE COUNTY
CONSERVATION LEAGUE NEWS
DCCL NEWS FOR JULY
MONICA SPAENI
HONORED
The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
recently named DCCL member, Monica Spaeni, as its
Conservationist of the Year. This is the highest award made by
the WWF. Although Monica is involved in various organizations
and activities tied to either conservation or aiding people with
mobility issues, she is probably best recognized as the founder
and president of Access Ability Wisconsin. AAW is a non-profit
group whose goal is to place free, motorized outdoor wheelchairs
with a trailer in all counties in the state for people to use.
These tank-like chairs enable anyone who lacks normal mobility
to get into remote areas to enjoy hunting and fishing.
Monica became immobilized due to a
skiing accident and wanted to take firearms training for
self-protection. This led to interest in hunting and shooting,
something she had never done before. Now she is deeply involved
in Hunter Education activities. Monica points out that the
chairs are not just for hunting purposes, but also for someone
who just wants to get out and exercise the dog or go birding.
To learn more about AAW the website is
www.accessabilitywi.org. Congratulations, Monica.
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NRB VOTES TO AID
PRAIRIE CHICKENS
At its June meeting, the Natural
Resources Board voted 4-3 to approve a new prairie chicken plan
that includes increasing and enhancing habitat management on
state-owned lands in central Wisconsin. About 4300 acres is
owned by the DCCL and leased to the DNR without cost for 99
years with the requirement that it be managed for the benefit of
prairie chickens. Many other tracts of land in the area are
also managed by the DNR for the same purpose. Some of the main
goals of the new plan include increasing grassland habitat by
removing brush and doing more grazing, continuing research,
adding additional managed acres through both purchase and lease,
and encouraging neighboring land owners to convert sub-standard
farm land to grassland. DCCL President, Sharon Schwab, attended
the meeting virtually and reminded the Board that the work will
benefit many species in addition to prairie chickens.
At the same meeting the NRB approved
purchasing some additional land bordering existing state lands
subject to working out the final closing details. The League is
committed to making a financial contribution to the purchase if
and when the deal is finalized.
___________________________________
COOKOUT AT THE FARM
August 13 is the
tentative date for the annual pheasant farm
cookout. More information will be coming when finalized.
______________________________________
PHEASANT FARM UPDATE
The farm is open every Saturday
morning from about 8am until 10am. Those wanting to earn birds
need to donate 12 hours at the farm or other DCCL event. The
birds are doing well, but your help is always appreciated. There
is work to be done every week. Due to rising feed costs etc.,
we will probably be increasing the cost to purchase birds by a
few dollars. Bird release date will be September 3 for members
with qualifying work hours while sales will happen on September
10. When all details are firmed up, there will be further
communication.
Don’t forget about dues. You must pay
them to get birds. If you attended the banquet in September of
2021, it included dues for 2022. So, if you did not attend the
September 2021 banquet, you need to pay your dues as usual for
2022.
_______________________________________
Congratulations to DCCL member, Kevyn
Quamme, who was elected First Vice-President at the Wisconsin
Wildlife Federation annual meeting. As First Vice-President,
Kevyn would be next in line for the Presidency.
December, 2021
Although the health
challenges of the past year have limited our activities, your
dollars have allowed us to raise pheasants, build nesting
structures, secure top-notch speakers for membership meetings,
support Hunter Safety Training, donate funds to Dane County
Parks for hunting and fishing properties as well as other
conservation groups like the Prairie Enthusiasts, and fund a
summer DNR internship at the prairie chicken property in Central
Wisconsin.
President, DCCL
We need Your Likes ON Facebook!! We are trying to get a E-Newsletter going and by liking our Facebook page we can make sure you are kept up to date with all the latest events.
All Family members are welcome to join in on the fun!!
Pheasants will be given out starting aug 31st. And Remember you must :
- Volunteer at least 12 hours on DCCL projects.
- Paid 2022 membership DCCL Application PDF
- Your Bird can be picked up in Late August.
- All Left over birds are sold to the Public
New Go wild DNR Website To Purchase a license, permit or register you kill.
Need a place to hunt this fall? Want to know where the pheasants are stocked each week? or even find a parking lot. check out this great hunting tool. http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/lands/fflight.html
Membership meeting are starting in September
Board meetings are the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm.
Membership meetings are the fourth Tuesday at 7:00pm. With Guest Speaker To discuss farm issues and conservation efforts. Everyone is Welcome to join us.
All Meetings are held at the Schwoegler Park Town Lanes, 444 Grand Canyon Dr., Madison