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Outdoor notes: Outdoor workshops for women on horizon

Tim Eisele
Special to The Capital Times  —  4/02/2008 7:30 am

Registration is open for several Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshops sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The BOW program, and advanced Beyond BOW programs, introduce women to outdoor sports and allow them to learn new skills in a non-threatening, non-competitive environment.

Some upcoming programs are:

* April 26 -- Get to know BOW at the Mackenzie Environmental Center in Poynette.

* June 6 - 8 -- Women's Weekend on the Water -- This takes place at the Central Wisconsin Environmental Station and includes a day of learning how to operate pontoon boats, power boats and personal watercraft, including canoes and kayaks. The cost is $175.

* June 6 - 8 -- Fly Fishing at the Rose Farm. Led by Nancy Rose, participants get a day-and-a-half of fly fishing on the Tomorrow/Waupaca River. Ladies will learn casting techniques, reading the water and handling and releasing fish. The cost is $225.

* June 28 -- Women's Sporting Clays Shooting Clinic -- Registration is $75 and the program teaches shooting techniques and how to shoot trap and sporting clays.

Registration for August BOW programs will soon be open and will include a night sky astronomy program (outside with real telescopes); a raptor education program with a live eagle, falcon, hawk and owl; and new classes on bass fishing, birding and campfire grilling.

For information call 715-346-4681.

Stewardship meetings: A new Stewardship access rule will be the subject of three public input sessions scheduled for early April. Hosted by the Natural Resources Board Stewardship subcommittee and the Department of Natural Resources, the meetings will be held Thursday in Eau Claire and April 8 in Green Bay.

The new state budget included reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund.

The Stewardship reauthorization includes a provision requiring that lands purchased with Stewardship funds be open to five nature-based outdoor activities: hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, cross-country skiing, and any other nature-based outdoor activity as designated by rule by the DNR. The legislature provided for limited exceptions if the Natural Resources Board determines it is necessary to prohibit one or more of the activities to protect public safety, to protect a unique animal or plant community, or to accommodate other usership patterns. This requirement does not apply to state park properties.

The DNR will work with the public and a citizen advisory group to help identify criteria to determine under what circumstances these five primary nature-based outdoor activities may be restricted or prohibited, and to define "usership" patterns.

"We want this process to be thoughtful and thorough," said DNR Secretary Matt Frank "We look forward to working with the public to help us formulate a rule to provide opportunities for a full range of recreational activities."

Since its inception in 1990, the Stewardship Fund has been used by DNR to acquire 447,000 acres, and an additional 58,000 acres was acquired using Stewardship Grants by local governments and conservation organizations. More than 92 percent of this land is open to hunting and more than 98 percent is open to fishing, ensuring that future generations in Wisconsin will have a place to hunt and fish as well as hike, ski, view nature and camp.

The public input meetings begin at 6:00 p.m. and will be held:

* Thursday -- RCU Corporate Center, Eau Claire River Room, 200 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire

* April 8 -- DNR Northeast Region Headquarters, Lake Michigan Community Conference Room, 2984 Shawano Ave, Green Bay

The Natural Resources Board Stewardship subcommittee is headed by John "Duke" Welter from Eau Claire, with members Jane Wiley from Wausau, and Preston Cole from Milwaukee.

After the public meetings, the Natural Resources Board and the DNR will assemble a citizens group to advise the Department on developing the proposed rules. The advisory group will include representatives of various recreational constituencies, local units of government and land trusts. All public comments received will be presented to the advisory council.

Information on the new stewardship access rule and related materials, as well as an on-line public comment form, will be available on the DNR web site at www.dnr.wi.gov.

In addition to input taken at the meetings and through the web site, written comments can be mailed to Laurie Ross, Natural Resources Board Liaison, PO Box 7921, Madison WI 53707-7921, email: Laurie.Ross@Wisconsin.gov or telephone 608-267-7420. The deadline for all written comments is April 18.

Tim Eisele
Special to The Capital Times  —  4/02/2008 7:30 am