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The Association of Retired Conservationists was organized by a group of retirees from the Wisconsin Conservation Department in the 1960's. By the mid-1970's, the WCD had been combined with the Department of Resource Development to form the Department of Natural Resources, and the retirees group had grown significantly, met monthly for lunch and began inviting speakers to address the group on issues of interest to the members. Today, the organization has more than two hundred members.

website contact: retiredrick@wisarc.org

Welcome to the ARC Breaking News/Action page where you will see articles you may find interesting that are too timely to wait for discussion at our next monthly meeting.

Important Timely News

Retired Rick                                           Dec 22, 2025

New Year, New Adventures With Wisconsin State Park System First Day Hikes

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages Wisconsinites to join the DNR at one of several First Day Hikes scheduled at state properties on New Year's Day.

From Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee County to Pattison State Park in Douglas County, First Day Hikes are scheduled across Wisconsin.

Read More Here

Retired Rick                                           Dec 18, 2025

Wisconsinites Invited To Participate In Wisconsin Conservation Congress Resolution Process

The Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) invites all Wisconsinites to take part in its annual spring hearing process.

The WCC is an independent organization of residents that advises the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on how to responsibly manage Wisconsins natural resources.

Each year, residents have an opportunity to submit ideas as resolutions to the WCC.

Wisconsinites can submit proposed resolutions via the online process beginning Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.

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Retired Rick                                           Dec 17, 2025

Storied Past, Bright Future: Whats To Come For The Wisconsin State Park System

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Wisconsin State Park System throughout 2025. As the new year approaches, the DNR encourages visitors to join in the celebration by looking to the future.

During its 125th year, the Wisconsin State Park System completed a number of large projects, held more than 1,500 events and programs and welcomed almost 21 million visitors.

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Retired Rick                                           Dec 15, 2025

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting award nominations for the 2025 Wisconsin Ethical Hunter Award.

Nominees are selected based on exceptional moral actions and character while out in the field.Established in 1997, the award recognizes a hunter whose action is symbolic of Wisconsins hunting heritage. This honor represents an outdoor tradition enjoyed responsibly, respectfully and safely.

Examples of potential award nominations could be those who assist other hunters in finding their lost game, help find lost equipment, mentor novice hunters or help protect our shared natural resources.

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Retired Rick                                           Dec 10, 2025

Wisconsins Agriculture And Conservation Leaders Unite To Protect Our Waters And Strengthen Our Farms

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that nearly 150 farmers, agricultural industry representatives, conservation organization members and government leaders gathered at the Agriculture & Conservation Roundtable on Dec. 9 to tackle one of Wisconsins most pressing challenges: keeping our waters drinkable, fishable and swimmable while sustaining the productivity of our farms.

Hosted by the Interagency Water Quality Workgroup (IWQW) at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover, the event marked a major milestone in advancing Wisconsins next Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS), a statewide framework to reduce nutrient losses from agricultural lands through farmer-led innovation and science-based collaboration.

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Retired Rick                                           Dec 9, 2025

DNR Releases Its 2024 Water Withdrawal Report

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently released its 2024 Report on Water Withdrawals, which gives an overview of the past 10 years of water withdrawals throughout Wisconsin.

Since the onset of the Great Lakes Compact, Wisconsin requires water users to register and annually report on any surface water or groundwater withdrawals that have the capacity to pump 100,000 gallons per day.

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Retired Rick                                           Dec 5, 2025

Deer Hunters Are Encouraged To Take Advantage Of Late Season Opportunities

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds deer hunters that although the 2025 nine-day gun deer season is now closed, additional harvest opportunities remain available throughout the late fall and early winter.  

Late Season Firearm Hunting Opportunities

Muzzleloader Dec. 1-10
Statewide Antlerless-Only Hunt Dec. 11-14
Antlerless-Only Holiday Hunt Dec. 24-Jan. 1, 2026, in select Farmland Zone units
Hunters may use any unfilled antlerless harvest authorization during any of these hunts, but the authorization must be used in the zone, county and land type designated on the harvest authorization. Only antlerless deer may be harvested during the statewide antlerless-only and antlerless-only holiday hunts, regardless of weapon type.

Wisconsins archery and crossbow seasons remain open statewide through Jan. 4, 2026. These seasons extend until Jan. 31, 2026, in metro sub-units and certain deer management units.

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Retired Rick                                           Dec 4, 2025

DNR Seeking Public Input On Statewide Turkey Management

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public input as the revision process for the state's Turkey Management Plan begins.

Wisconsin's current Turkey Management Plan, adopted in 2015, was designed to guide and inform statewide turkey management practices and priorities for a period of 10 years.

As part of the management plan revision process, the DNR has convened a Turkey Management Plan Committee to better understand the various interests and perspectives related to Wisconsin's turkey season. The committee is comprised of diverse stakeholder representatives from tribal agencies, hunting organizations, conservation partners and Conservation Congress members, as well as technical staff from the DNR and federal agencies.

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Retired Rick                                           Dec 2, 2025

2025 Preliminary Gun Deer Hunt License Sales And Harvest Totals Now Available

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) celebrates the conclusion of the 2025 nine-day gun deer hunt, which kicked off the holiday season in Wisconsin with opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, harvest food for the table and create memories with family and friends. Preliminary license sales, harvest registration and hunting incident numbers are now available.

Preliminary License Sales Data

Preliminary figures indicate the number of deer hunters in Wisconsin slightly decreased compared to 2024. As of 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, sales for deer hunting privileges (which include gun, archery, crossbow, conservation patron and sports licenses) reached 790,044, down 0.12% from the same time last year. Of those, 550,611 were for gun privileges only (which include gun, conservation patron and sports licenses).

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Retired Rick                                           Nov 27, 2025

2025 Preliminary Gun Deer Opening Weekend License Sales And Harvest Totals Available

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced preliminary deer harvest and license sales totals for the opening weekend of the 2025 gun deer season.

Preliminary License Sales Data

Preliminary figures indicate that the number of gun deer hunters in Wisconsin stayed nearly constant compared to 2024. As of 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, sales for deer hunting privileges (which include gun, archery, crossbow, conservation patron and sports licenses) reached 777,843, down 0.03% from the same time last year. Of those, 538,865 were for gun privileges only (which include gun, conservation patron and sports licenses).

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