The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources can now begin crafting regulations for special bag and size limits for walleye as populations are declining on some lakes.
The post Wisconsin seeks to quickly set special bag limits for walleye on lakes seeing declines appeared first on WPR.
The Brule State Fish Hatchery in northern Wisconsin must remain open after the Legislatureβs finance committee unanimously approved $4 million in additional spending authority for the stateβs fish and wildlife account.
The post Lawmakers say Brule hatchery must stay open as they approve $4M in spending authority appeared first on WPR.
Every spring, Wisconsinites have the opportunity to make their voices heard on issues related to our stateβs natural resources. This year, a majority of respondents to a survey told the Wisconsin Conservation Congress that they are willing to pay more in fees to sustain DNR programs.
The post Wisconsinites support fee increases to sustain DNR programs at spring conservation hearings appeared first on WPR.
A federal judge has temporarily barred the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa from restricting musky and walleye fishing on almost 20 lakes within the boundaries of its reservation in northern Wisconsin.
The post Federal judge prevents Wisconsin tribe from restricting fishing on nearly 20 lakes appeared first on WPR.
In the deepest part of Lake Superior, a quarter mile below the surface, researchers are discovering a growing number of extraordinarily thin lake trout that weigh about half their typical, healthy body weight. Scientists have dubbed them "zombie fish."
The post Researchers perplexed by growing numbers of βzombie fishβ deep in Lake Superior appeared first on WPR.
The looming reductions are the latest development in ongoing challenges the agency has faced with the stateβs fish and wildlife account.
The post Wisconsin DNR will cut musky stocking by 70 percent, close fish hatcheries appeared first on WPR.
Wisconsin Watch partners withΒ GigafactΒ to produce Fact Briefs β bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.
Twenty-four states provide a constitutional right to hunt and fish, according to a November 2025 count by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Nearly all 24, including Wisconsin and Minnesota, did so with constitutional amendments approved by voters since 1996.Β
Illinois, Iowa and Michigan do not have the constitutional protection.
Nationally, βwell-organized animal rights groups and limitations on methods, seasons and bag limits for certain game speciesβ spurred the amendments, according to NCSL.
Wisconsinβs 2003 amendment passed with 82% of the vote.Β
It reads: βThe people have the right to fish, hunt, trap and take game subject only to reasonable restrictions as prescribed by law.β
The measure was among a wave of Wisconsin constitutional amendments led by Republicans.
About 800,000 licenses are sold annually in Wisconsin for both deer hunting and fishing.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Do about half the states, including Wisconsin, have a constitutional right to hunt and fish? is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.
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