2008 Federal Duck Stamp Contest St. Croix WMD |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where can I get maps of waterfowl production areas?
- What can I do on waterfowl production areas?
- What is prohibited on waterfowl production areas?
- Are you the DNR?
- Why are their crop fields on WPAs?
- Why are trees cut on WPAs?
Where can I get maps of waterfowl production areas?
Maps are now available through this website. You can also stop by our office
outside of New Richmond to get County maps showing WPA locations. Or, call 715-246-7784 and we will send you
a free county map.
What can I do on waterfowl production areas?
Waterfowl production areas are open to the public for hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, birdwatching, berry
picking, and most other non-motorized and non-commercial outdoor recreation. State hunting, fishing and
trapping regulations apply. Only non-toxic shot is allowed when shotgun hunting except deer and turkey
hunting. Please see the WPA regulations section of this website for more information.
What is prohibited on waterfowl production areas?
All motorized vehicles including all terrain vehicles, motor-propelled boats, and snowmobiles are prohibited
except for parking areas. We also do not allow overnight camping, campfires, target shooting, or geo-caching.
Horses and bicycles are restricted to areas open to motorized vehicles. Training and allowing pets off leash
are prohibited except while hunting. Hunting dogs must be under the immediate control of the hunters at all
times. All commercial activities are prohibited including bait trapping, guided hunts and seed or plant harvest.
Contact the St. Croix Wetland Management District for more information on public use regulations. You may
also learn more by visiting the WPA regulations section of this Web site.
Are you the DNR?
No. The Wisconsin DNR (Department of Natural Resources)
is a state natural resource agency responsible for administering the state's interest in natural resources.
The St. Croix Wetland Management District is an office of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal agency responsible for administering fish and wildlife issues of
national concern. These national issues include endangered species management, wetland protection, great
lakes fisheries management and migratory bird management. The St. Croix WMD is specifically charged with
managing habitat to benefit migratory birds regulated by the federal government.
Why are their crop fields on WPAs?
Since most of the original grasslands have been destroyed by humans restoration of cropland, fields of
introduced exotic grasses such as brome, require intensive manipulation to turn them back into prairie. As part
of the restoration process, fields of introduced grasses such as brome and timothy, are farmed to prepare the
sites for planting with native grasses and forbs. The fields are farmed for three years and the native
species are seeded into soybean stubble. Farming reduces the weeds and other plants and shrubs that may
have grown in the field, providing an excellent seedbed for the native seeds.
Why are trees cut on WPAs?
Many species of wildlife including bobolinks, meadowlarks, Henslow’s sparrows, mallards, and blue winged
teal need large blocks of grassland habitat to nest and reproduce successfully. Trees provide habitat in the
form of cover, nesting and perching sites for predators that were originally not found on the prairie, such as
raccoons, red-tailed hawks and great horned owls. These predators are especially adapted to prey on grassland
birds and their nests. Recent studies have shown that the nests of grassland birds are three times more likely
to be destroyed by predators if they are within 60 meters of a tree. Large areas of St. Croix, southern
Polk county and portions of Dunn County were originally native prairie and very few trees except in scattered
stands of oak savanna. Restoration of small areas of this treeless landscape will benefit many species of
grassland dependent wildlife.
