Hunting and Fishing Regulations and Licenses

by Ted Helm

 

            My major is Resource Management Law Enforcement and my decision to pick this major was strongly influenced by my experiences in the outdoors.  I have been interested in hunting and fishing most of my life and throughout the years my knowledge of the importance of hunting and fishing licenses and regulations has vastly increased.  There are many ecological benefits as well as personal and economical benefits to buying these licenses and following regulations.

            One of my favorite outdoor activities is trout fishing, I prefer using spinning tackle rather than fly fishing because fly fishing in my opinion is tedious and frustrating, but that is beside the point.  I am using trout fishing as an example because it is easy to explain the different types of benefits that can come from following rules and regulations as well as buying licenses.   In order to legally trout fish on inland waters in Wisconsin, buying a fishing license with a trout stamp is required.   To many people, paying an extra ten dollars for a trout stamp can be frustrating because it’s like paying extra just to fish for a different species of fish, but what many don’t realize is that a good portion of the money used to buy trout stamps actually goes into maintaining streams or may go to an organization to manage trout. This would be a great example of an economical benefit to buying a license.  The same benefits are present when buying any other type of fishing licenses or hunting licenses as the money from those often goes to the DNR or other organizations that benefit fish and wildlife.

            I can also use trout fishing as an example when explaining personal benefits gained by following regulations.  When I am fishing on my favorite streams it is important to me to follow all the rules because I know that they are all in place for a reason.  Whether it is bag limits or size limits I know it is important because, especially with fishing, I know that violating these rules can be detrimental to the health of a fish population.  For me, there are not many things that give me an adrenaline rush like when I set the hook on a 16+ inch brown trout.  This is why it is personally satisfying to follow the rules because if I didn’t follow the rules along with the rest of the community, I may never get the opportunity to land a wall hanging sized trout.

            This can be directly tied into ecological benefits as well because following these regulations put forth by the department of natural resources is the best way to positively affect the environment and the fish and wildlife within it.  For example, following rules about transporting or releasing baitfish can help keep diseases from spreading between water bodies which in turn keeps lakes and rivers healthy and enjoyable for everybody.

            To sum this up I would just like to say that whenever you participate in an outdoor activity that requires a license and has regulations that must be followed, try to remember the benefits of doing so and the positive impact you as an outdoorsman/woman can have on the fish and wildlife in your area.