OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – The Wisconsin DNR reminds sturgeon spearers that the deadline to apply for an Upriver Lakes sturgeon spearing tag is coming up fast, with an August 1st deadline.
Due to a higher success rate on the Upriver Lakes, only 500 license holders will be selected to spear a sturgeon from lakes Poygan, Winneconne or Butte des Morts during the 2023 sturgeon spearing season.
“We need you to apply for what’s called a preference point, and then you can be put into a lottery or just by your preference points,” said DNR Sturgeon Biologist Margaret Stadig. “The best way to do that either to go online or to visit your local service center to have them help you apply for that tag.”
Spearing licenses are then issued through a drawing where priority is granted to applications with the most preference points. Those not selected earn a preference point for future drawings.
The August 1st deadline allows the DNR to notify those selected by October 1st, and allow all spearers to purchase the appropriate tags by October 31st.
“Again, you’re either buying a preference point this year or you’re buying your name in a hat for the lottery for upriver tags. If you don’t get pulled, that simply turns into a preference point,” Stadig told WTAQ News. “There’s an unlimited amount of Winnebago tags. That means you can go spear on Winnebago. Or if you were selected, you can buy an upriver spearing tag which allows you to access Lake Winneconne, Poygan, and Butte des Morts.”
Applicants authorized for an Upriver Lakes license cannot purchase a license for Lake Winnebago.
“The money from either tags actually goes towards sturgeon research and habitat, and just anything sturgeon in the Winnebago system. It really helps fund all of this management to make sure this population is managed well enough so we can continue to spear into the future,” Stadig said.
The 2023 Winnebago System sturgeon spearing season will begin on Feb. 11, 2023, on Lake Winnebago, Lake Poygan, Lake Winneconne and Lake Butte des Morts. The season will run for a maximum of 16 days or until any of the annual biologically based harvest caps are reached.
“We haven’t figured out that quota yet, but we should have that information later,” Stadig said. “It’s based on the spearing and spawning data from this past year. I’m still running through all of that, but we will give information and send out releases once we have that information later in the season.”
Resident and nonresident licenses are available for purchase online through the DNR’s Go Wild license portal or at any license sales location. All license holders must be a minimum of 12-years-old or turning 12-years-old between Nov. 1, 2022, and the last day of the season.
Visit the DNR’s sturgeon spearing webpage to learn more about the sturgeon spearing season and the Winnebago System and Upriver Lakes fisheries.
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