By Kevin Naze
Correspondent
One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned through the years is to not judge a book by its cover.
Take hunters and wildlife watchers, for example.
Nationwide, statewide and locally, those who don’t hunt far outnumber hunters.
But, credible national surveys find nearly 80 percent of non-hunters support legal, regulated hunting.
There’s no camouflaging the fact that in order to put a meal of wild game on the table, a hunter must pull the trigger on the targeted bird or animal.
But there’s far more to hunting than killing.
Now let’s look at the average wildlife watcher.
Their thrills also come from close encounters outdoors, but many are armed only with binoculars.
If they do shoot, it’s with a camera.
Of course, those who hunt are also wildlife watchers and nature photographers.
The most passionate likely observe as many or more birds and animals than those who don’t hunt, simply because of long hours spent in wild places scouting, hunting and hiking.
Whether feeding birds and watching deer in the backyard or the back 40, hunters and non-hunters alike savor wildlife sightings at home, too.
If you’re a hunter with a non-hunting friend, consider sharing some of your favorite experiences, in story or taking them afield.
Engaging with non-hunters can open the door to conversations on the importance of quality habitat and the economic benefits of and volunteer efforts by hunters in support of wildlife and wild lands.
If you’re looking for the extremes at either end – anti-hunters who value animals more than humans, and hunters who love to troll the most rabid activists – you can do so on social media.
But the truth is, hunters and wildlife watchers share many of the same passions and values.
They both enjoy renewable populations of wildlife, a love and respect of wild places and family and friends to share their adventures with.
Big month for birds
May is prime time for both backyard bird enthusiasts and avid birders looking for lifers in some of the wildest habitat.
Track the latest colorful migrants or report your own sightings on state birding websites, including eBird (ebird.org/wi), the Wisconsin Society of Ornithology (wsobirds.org) or the Wisconsin Birding Network (freelists.org/list/wisbirdn).
Putting out oil sunflower seed, grape jelly, orange slices and sugar water can attract a wide variety of spring migrants and year-round residents.
Quality habitat is also key.
The National Wildlife Federation says plants that are beneficial to birds, bees and butterflies are in high demand in recent years.
To view the group’s Garden for Wildlife program tips on the best natives to plant, visit nwf.org/garden-for-wildlife.
Check the fishing regs
A number of game fish seasons open this weekend, but some remain closed and others are catch-and-release only.
Sort it all out with a careful check in the 2021-22 fishing regulations, available in hard copy at licensing agents or online via dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing.
Meanwhile, we’re into the second of six seven-day spring wild turkey hunting periods.
Each runs Wednesday through Tuesday, and hunters need a tag for that specific time period.
All turkeys taken must be registered by 5 p.m. the day after recovery at gamereg.wi.gov or by phone at 1-844-426-3734.
Spring hearing results
Results of the online-only DNR spring fish and wildlife hearings and Wisconsin Conservation Congress county meetings are now available.
A total of 12,272 people participated.
Check out the non-binding, advisory-only vote totals by county at dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/wcc/springhearing.