Fewer Citations Have Been Given To Hunters Under Walker Administration, Report Finds

Gov. Scott Walker said that he’s pleased that fewer citations have been given to hunters by the Department of Natural Resources, and that he hopes the trend continues.

A report issued by the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation suggests the number of citations issued by state conservation wardens dropped significantly during the years Walker has been in office. There was an 85 percent drop in citations given to people hunting deer out of season and a 35 percent drop for fishing without a license.

“My hope is that, not only there but in other parts of state government, that we continue to see citations go down, because we want people to work with hunters and conservation lovers as well as property owners and employers and others to try and work to avoid things,” said Walker.

The federation said the reduction in citations could be due to a reduced emphasis on enforcement of conservation laws, reduced funding for warden patrols or increased vacancies due to a wave of DNR retirements in 2011.