There are three issues on the ballot at the Conservation Congress meeting that are of critical concern to hunters.
Research has shown that Wisconsin is recruiting new hunters at a rate of 53 new hunters per 100 lost. At this rate, our hunting numbers will be half of what they are now in just one generation. The impact will leave conservation efforts penniless and hunting licenses will skyrocket. Anti-hunters will take advantage of our shrinking numbers and attack all hunting.
This research shows that kids today are recruited into sports and other activities much earlier than in the past. That is a major reason why we are losing hunters. Questions 47, 67 and 68 would permit the lowering of the hunting age from 12 to 10 and permit mentored youth hunting. Statistics have shown that this is a safe option in all 30 states that have similar laws.
Wisconsin has one of the worst hunter recruitment levels in the country. This is directly tied to barriers that make it hard for young hunters to enter the sport. The current minimum hunting age is such that many kids have already developed other hobbies and interests before they can even go hunting with their parents.
Hunting is a valuable and legitimate family activity; parents should be the ones to decide when their children are mature enough and old enough to join the hunting ranks!
Reviews of hunting accident reports show that young hunters are among the safest hunters in the field. 30 states have laws similar to what is proposed by questions 47, 67 and 68 and young hunters in all of those states have proven to be safe and reliable hunters.
VOTE YES ON QUESTIONS 47, 67 & 68!
If you have additional questions, or are interested in speaking on these important issues at the conservation congress meeting in your county, please call NRA-ILA at (800) 392-8683.
All meetings will be held on Monday, April 11, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. Please make every effort to attend the meeting in your county and speak out on theses important issues. And, don’t forget to encourage your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to do the same.
Adams County Board Room, Adams County Building, 400 Main Street, Friendship
Ashland Ashland Senior High School, Auditorium, 1900 Beaser Ave., Ashland
Barron Barron County Courthouse, Auditorium, 330 E. LaSalle Ave., Barron
Bayfield Drummond High School, 40 Eastern Ave., Drummond
Brown Franklin Middle School, Auditorium, 1234 W. Mason Street, Green Bay
Buffalo Alma High School Auditorium, S1618 STH 35, Alma
Burnett Burnett Co. Government Center, Room 165, 7410 County K, Siren
Calumet Calumet County Courthouse, Room 25, 206 Court St., Chilton
Chippewa Chippewa Falls Middle School, Auditorium A, 750 Tropicana Blvd., Chippewa Falls
Clark Greenwood High School, Cafetorium, 306 W. Central Ave., Greenwood
Columbia Columbia County Courthouse, 400 Dewitt St., Portage
Crawford Crawford County Courthouse, Courtroom, 220 N. Beaumont, Prairie du Chien
Dane Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Way, Madison
Dodge Horicon City Hall, 404 E. Lake Street, Horicon
Door Door County Court House, A 150, 421 Nebraska Street, Sturgeon Bay
Douglas Solon Springs High School, 8993 E. Balwin Ave., Solon Springs
Dunn Dunn County Fish and Game Club, 1900 Pine Ave., Menomonie
Eau Claire South Middle School, Auditorium, 2115 Mitscher Ave., Eau Claire
Florence Florence Natural Resource Center, Large Conference Room, Highway 101/70, Florence
Fond du Lac Theisen Jr. High School, Auditorium, 525 E. Pioneer Rd., Fond du Lac
Forest Crandon High School, Auditorium, 9750 USH 8 W, Crandon
Grant Grant Co. Youth and Ag Building, Grant Co. Fairgrounds, 916 East Elm Street, Lancaster
Green Monroe Middle School, Auditorium, 1510 13th Street, Monroe
Green Lake Green Lake High School, Small Gym, 612 Mill Street, Green Lake
Iowa Dodgeville High School, Gymnasium, 912 West Chapel Street, Dodgeville
Iron Iron County Court House, Main Courtroom, 300 Taconite, Hurley
Jackson Black River Falls Middle School, LGI Room, 1202 Pierce Street, Black River Falls
Jefferson Jefferson County Fair Park, Activity Center, 503 N. Jackson, Jefferson
Juneau Old Courthouse Building, Room # 200, 220 East State St., Mauston
Kenosha Bristol Grade School, 20121 83rd Street, Bristol
Kewaunee Kewaunee County Courthouse, Court Room, 613 Dodge Street, Kewaunee
LaCrosse LaCrosse County, North Hall, LaCrosse Center, 300 Harborview Plaza, LaCrosse
Lafayette Darlington High School, Cafeteria, 11838 Center Hill Road, Darlington
Langlade Langlade County Multi-purpose Building, 1581 Neva Rd., Antigo
Lincoln Tomahawk Elementary School, Auditorium, 1048 E. Kings Rd., Tomahawk
Manitowoc UW-Manitowoc, Theater, 705 Viebahn Street, Manitowoc
Marathon John Muir Middle School, Auditorium, 1400 West Stewart Ave., Wausau
Marinette Crivitz High School, Auditorium, 718 Hall Hay St., Crivitz
Marquette Montello High School, Community Room, 222 Forest Ln., Montello
Menominee Menominee County Courthouse, Basement, Courthouse Lane, Keshena
Milwaukee Greenfield High School, Auditorium, 4800 S. 60th Street, Greenfield
Monroe Tomah High School, 901 Lincoln Ave., Tomah
Oconto Suring High School, Cafeteria, 411 E. Algoma Street, Suring
Oneida James Williams Junior High, Auditorium, 915 Aracia, Rhinelander
Outagamie Riverview Middle School, Auditorium, 101 Oak Street, Kaukauna
Ozaukee Webster Middle School, Cafeteria, W 75 N624 Wauwatosa Rd., Cedarburg
Pepin Pepin Co. Government Center-Co., Board Room, 740 7th Ave. W, Durand
Pierce Ellsworth Senior High School, Auditorium, 323 Hillcrest, Ellsworth
Polk Unity High School, Gymnasium, 1908 150th St./Hwy. 46, Balsam Lake
Portage Ben Franklin Jr. High School, Auditorium, 2000 Polk St., Stevens Point
Price Courthouse, 126 Cherry Street, Phillips
Racine Union Grove High School, Auditorium, 3433 S. Colony Ave., Union Grove
Richland Richland Co. Courthouse, Courtroom, 181 West Seminary Street, Richland Center
Rock Loyal Order of Moose Lodge, 2701 Rockport Road, Janesville
Rusk Ladysmith High School, Cafeteria, 1700 Edgewood Ave. East, Ladysmith
Sauk Robert G. Brown Theatre - UW Baraboo Campus, 1006 Connie Road, Baraboo
Sawyer Hayward High School, Auditorium, 10320 Greenwood Lane, Hayward
Shawano Shawano Community Middle School, LG 1, 1050 S. Union St, Shawano
Sheboygan Sheboygan Falls High School, Auditoruim, 220 Amherst Ave. Sheboygan Falls
St Croix Indianhead Tech. College, Cashman Auditorium, 1019 S. Knowles Ave., New Richmond
Taylor Taylor County Multi-purpose Building, Intersection of Hwy 64 & 13, Medford
Trempealeau Whitehall City Center, Gymnasium, 36245 Park Street, Whitehall
Vernon Viroqua Middle School, Blackhawk Drive, Viroqua
Vilas Sayner Community Center, Golf Course Road, Sayner
Walworth Delavan/Darien High School, 150 Cummings, Delavan
Washburn WI Ag Research Station, Conference Room, W6646 Hwy 70, Spooner
Washington Washington Co. Fair Park, Exhibit Hall, 3000 Hwy PV, West Bend
Waukesha Waukesha County Expo, Arena, 1000 Northview Road, Waukesha
Waupaca Waupaca High School, Auditorium, E2325 King Road, Waupaca
Waushara Waushara County Courthouse, Court Room, 2nd Floor, 209 S. St. Marie Street, Wautoma
Winnebago Webster Stanley Middle School, Auditorium, 915 Hazel St., Oshkosh
Wood Pittsville High School, Auditorium, 5459 Elementary Avenue, Pittsville