Paul A. Smith

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The fields of politics and conservation often overlap, though the latter rarely benefits from the former.

One of the latest examples came to light Wednesday in Madison as the Natural Resources Board reviewed the third and final phase of public land sales required by the Legislature in Act 20.

As you may recall, the 2013-'15 Wisconsin budget forced the Department of Natural Resources to offer for sale at least 10,000 acres of state-owned land, with the proceeds earmarked to offset debt with the state's land stewardship program.

State law requires the acreage be offered by June 30, 2017.

The DNR has been painstakingly picking through its parcels for more than two years, attempting to identify its "least maintained and most expendable land."

In June 2014 the board approved 1,407 acres for sale. Another 5,633 were OK'd last February.

And on Wednesday, DNR staff asked the board to approve 93 parcels covering 3,559 acres. Each parcel was outside existing DNR project boundaries.

It should be noted this was the Legislature's idea, not the DNR's.

It's not clear on whose behalf the Legislature was acting, however.

Wisconsin residents have historically been strongly supportive of public land purchases through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. And the Legislature itself has shown bipartisan approval for the program.

At the board meeting Wednesday, there was no public support for the land sell-off. But opposition has been growing steadily.

"These are our lands," said Jeff Guerard of Wauwatosa, chairman of the Wisconsin chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. "Once they are public, the elected representatives should be doing everything possible to keep them in our hands, not liquidating them."

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers submitted written testimony opposing the state statute.

On Wednesday, the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation weighed in as it has on the previous two phases, recommending sales only under certain conditions, especially if they are sold to other public entities and maintain public access to the property.

Sorting through the state's approximately 1.5 million acres of property has been a laborious process for the DNR.

"This was a horrendous project," said Terry Hilgenberg, board chairman.

The agency on Wednesday did not have a cost estimate for performing the work, but thousands of hours were no doubt spent, Hilgenberg said.

Even after all that time, the final product was as expected: highly contentious.

Both the Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation identified specific parcels that were especially troublesome given their good access and history of use by the public.

Dan Carter of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission spoke of the unique wetland value of a Waukesha County parcel on the chopping block.

John Koepke, a farmer from Oconomowoc, had questions about the proposed sale of land next to his property with "wishy-washy" access.

Board member Fred Prehn of Wausau was concerned about properties offered for sale in southeastern Wisconsin.

"I know how hard it is to find hunting spots down there," Prehn said.

Board member Preston Cole of Milwaukee selected seven parcels from the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation letter to be removed from sale.

The board eventually passed motions to withdraw nine properties from the package and have easements placed on a few more.

In the end, the Natural Resources Board voted unanimously to approve about 3,400 acres in this phase, pushing the DNR land offerings to about 10,400 acres.

If offered for sale, the action will satisfy the Legislature's requirement.

But it's hard to know who it will please.

A couple weeks ago, the Backcountry organization started an online petition to oppose the sale of public land in Wisconsin.

The petition is listed on the conservation organization's website at backcountryhunters.org.

It reads: "As a sportsman who depends on quality public hunting, fishing and recreational access to enjoy my outdoor traditions, I am opposed to the legislatures’ mandated 10,000-acre state land sell-off. I join Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers in urging the state to abandon plans to sell these valuable lands. Instead, the state should retain ownership of them and maintain the public access that they currently provide."

The original goal of the petition was 500 signatures; as of Wednesday, it had 1,907.

Guerard, chair of the Wisconsin chapter, said he hoped the next Legislature does not attempt to sell more public land.

"Some elected representatives have gotten used to the support of hunters and anglers," Guerard said. "But access to public lands is at least as strong an American legacy as the Second Amendment. They shouldn't take our votes for granted."

It will be good to have the Backcountry Hunters & Anglers adding its voice to public access and public land issues in Wisconsin. The state chapter formed earlier this year.

With elections on the near horizon, it's the right time to ask any politician seeking your vote: Do you support selling public lands?

Mullaney dies: Norb Mullaney of Mequon, an inductee in the National Archery Hall of Fame and Wisconsin Bowhunters Hall of Fame, died Oct. 22; he was 94. Mullaney was considered an expert in archery technology and was a longtime reviewer of archery equipment for national publications. He is survived by his wife, Carol, their children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday at Feerick Funeral Home, 2025 E. Capitol Drive, Shorewood.