Why It Matters: The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, which grants authority to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to acquire public land, is up for reauthorization and will be a focal point of the Badger State’s upcoming legislative session. Access to public lands and waters that are open to hunting and fishing is critical for the continued enjoyment of our time-honored outdoor traditions.
Highlights:
- The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund was established in 1989 and is an extremely popular program amongst Wisconsin voters.
- Lands acquired with these funds must be open to hunting, fishing, and trapping.
- Increased opportunities for sportsmen and women to access public woods and waters is important to both Wisconsin’s storied sporting heritage and conservation efforts.
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) will continue to work with legislators in Wisconsin to ensure that the Knowles-Nelson Fund is reauthorized and continues to provide Wisconsinites with opportunities afield.
CSF recently joined partners in Madison, Wisconsin to conduct meetings with members of the Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus to express the importance of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund and the opportunities that it affords hunters and anglers in the Badger State. About 14% of Wisconsin is comprised of public land that is open to hunting, placing it at 18th among all 50 states. Access to hunting grounds and fishing holes is paramount to the continued pursuit of game species, especially in Wisconsin, where outdoor traditions are particularly engrained in the state’s identity.
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, a mechanism for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to acquire public lands that must be open to hunting, fishing, and trapping has provided Wisconsinites with a dedicated funding source to enjoy their natural resources. However, the program has faced significant cuts since 2010 – falling from $86 million per year authorized in the 2007-2008 State Budget to only $33.25 million per year today. Following a recent State Supreme Court decision that changed legislative oversight capabilities, the Knowles-Nelson will not only need to be reauthorized in the upcoming session, but its structure will need to be modified as well – making it susceptible to fundamental changes, further funding cuts, and even threatening its continuation.
CSF will continue to communicate to legislators the importance of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund and the benefits that it provides Wisconsin’s hunters and anglers, but it is critical that sportsmen and women in the State leverage their voices to encourage their elected officials to reauthorize it, as well.
