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The following text provided courtesy of
The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin.
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund is
the State of Wisconsin’s most effective tool for providing
high quality public access for the wide range of outdoor recreational
demands in Wisconsin. So far the program has protected over 477,000
acres through state acquisition, partnerships with non-profit
organizations and local units of government, and through the
purchase of conservation easements. The program has provided
increased public access to Wisconsin’s citizens for their
diverse nature based outdoor recreational needs including hunting,
fishing, hiking, biking, camping, snowmobiling and skiing.
 Increased access for hunting and fishing
A hallmark
of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund has been the conservation
of wildlife habitat, including our most unique lands and waters,
while providing outstanding access for hunters and anglers. Over
the last 16 years the state has seen unprecedented urban sprawl
and fragmentation of the natural landscape, putting increased pressure
on both wildlife habitat and on hunting opportunities. In spite
of this development pressure the Stewardship program has been successful
in protecting over 435,000 acres for hunting.
Access on acquisitions by the Department of Natural
Resources
The bulk of this protection has been accomplished by
the Department of Natural Resources. In total the DNR has acquired
425,752 acres of the 477,295 acres protected by the Stewardship
Fund, or around 90%. Of these 425,752 acres, the DNR has reported
that 95% of the land is open to hunting and 97% is open for fishing
access. The few properties that are closed to hunting on a year
round basis are due to scenic and farmland protection easements,
sensitive habitat protection easements, non-point easements, and
easements acquired for fishing only (generally narrow corridors
along trout streams).
Access on acquisitions by Non-Profit Organizations
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund grants to non-profit organizations
have been a driving factor in the incredible success and popularity
of the Fund. Land trusts, like The Nature Conservancy, along with
local units of government have raised over $130 million to match
the grants they receive from the Stewardship fund. A large percentage
of this money has come from generous private and corporate donations.
In total land trusts have acquired, either through fee title or
by conservation easement, 36,631 acres throughout Wisconsin. This
total represents 7.7% of all acres acquired by the Stewardship
Fund.
 Hunting and fishing access to these properties
has been substantial as well. The DNR estimates that 77% of this
land is open to hunting with a larger amount open for fishing access.
The grants provided to land trusts by the Stewardship Fund are
a great value for the citizens of Wisconsin, especially hunters
and anglers. Public funding accounts for 50% of the acquisition
money, which is matched, again, by funds raised from generous private
donors. Despite increased demands from other recreational users
the land trusts have continued to make the majority of their properties
open to public hunting and fishing.
The largest of these land trusts
is The Nature Conservancy which currently owns 25,254 acres in
Wisconsin -- 95% (24,102 acres) of which is open to deer hunting.
Beyond that TNC has protected prime natural habitat that is available
for hunting grouse, pheasant, turkey, small game, and waterfowl.
• 2,189 - Acres owned by WI-TNC open
for grouse
• 1,295 - Acres owned by WI-TNC open for pheasant and
wild turkey
• 5,748 - Acres owned by WI-TNC open for small
game
• 3,003 - Acres owned by WI-TNC open for waterfowl
In recent years The Nature Conservancy has transferred
18,213 acres to the DNR, USFWS, USFS, and USNPS where access for
all types of hunting is available. The Nature Conservancy was also
instrumental in the recent conservation of the Wild Rivers Legacy
Forest, 63,884 acres that will have full public access for all
forms of hunting and fishing forever.
Access on acquisitions by Local Units of Government
Local units of government have acquired 14,154 acres through
the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, or less than 3% of the total
acres acquired by the Stewardship Fund. Local government has
used these grants to acquire city and county parks, hiking trails,
biking trails, and green open space. Hunting access on this land
is controlled by ordinances set by the local government.
All
of the land purchased by local government is open to the public
for many types of recreation at a minimum, and the DNR’s
Bureau of Community Financial Assistance estimates that 3305
acres of these lands are also open to hunting. In CWD zones the
Department strongly encourages deer hunting in all county parks
-- for example, Dane County has an archery deer hunt by permit
in most of its county parks to help with the CWD issue.
 While
some of this land is closed to hunting, it represents a very
small amount of the total lands purchased by the Knowles Nelson
Stewardship Fund. For example, Dane and Waukesha counties have
purchased 2,279 and 1,709 acres respectively. This represents
less than 1% of the total acres protected under the Stewardship
fund. It should also be noted that these counties face some of
the greatest demand for other recreational uses. These grants
have gone towards bike trails, hiking paths, and additions to
county parks. These are outdoor activities that, according to
the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, over 85% of
Wisconsin residents participate in.
The Future of Public Access
and the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship
Fund will continue to be the State of Wisconsin’s primary
tool in addressing the recreational needs of its citizens. Through
plans such as the Land Legacy Report, the State Comprehensive
Outdoor Recreation Plan, and the State Wildlife Action Plan,
Wisconsin is in a great position to strategically move forward
during the next generation of the Stewardship Fund. Hunting and
Fishing access will always be a key component of the land that
we protect in this state. The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund
is paid for through state bonding authority, which means that
all taxpayers in this state contribute to the program. It is
important that the program continues to balance the diverse and
constantly evolving recreational demands of all Wisconsin’s
citizens. To find a Stewardship property in your area and the
recreational opportunities available go to the WI
DNR website.
Read
the full report: An
Analysis of DNR-Owned, Easement and Grant Lands Open to Hunting
and Other Uses » 
If you have any questions or need extra assistance,
please contact Vicki Elkin at stewardship [at] gatheringwaters.org.
Photos provided courtesy of Bill
Pielsticker and Ralph Curtis |
