KAMO – December, 2023 Newsletter – 5 pages
For comments related to this document, contact Mike

President?s Remarks – This is Kids And Mentors Outdoors President Mark Walters with
my monthly update. First our very successful Joe Hunt news. We harvested 20 deer and I believe it was the funnest, most satisfying hunt that we have ever had. A special thanks to Rick Miotke, Kevin Seymour, Mike Brown, Bob and Linda Brodeur, Bob Nicksic, Jim Rydmark and everyone else that helped put this hunt together and make it happen. Simply put, it was a very fun place to be.
Here are the potential dates for our annual meeting, that I really feel helps us to get to know each other and we get more done on that day than the rest of the year put together. March 23rd, March 30th and April 6th. Please let us know what is best for you so we can post this asap.
I feel one of my main concerns is how we can rebuild the state treasury finances with as little stress as possible. In the last 3 years what we had and what we now have is down 40 percent. I know that very few people think about that, but the state has become much more aggressive and I would like to continue that trend. Two recurring expenses the state pays for are the Joe Hunt (Dec.) and the liability insurance policy (October) each year. Please remember that annual dues will soon be due.
In closing I would like to say the following. I feel that 2023 was one of the best years that I have ever witnessed in KAMO?s soon to be 17 year history. Our chapters have become more active and I would also like to say, very wise.
Let’s keep this trend going strong!
Mark

February 16th – 17th, 2024 – Wisconsin Interscholastic Fishing Association (WIFA) State High School Fishing Championship. Sponsored by HT Enterprises. Mississippi Rivers Pools 7 -8. La Crosse – Onalaska. See studentfishing.com for more information. There are over 120 schools in WIFA and many of them come from every nook and cranny in Wisconsin to be in this event. They?ll fill up the local hotels and headquarter their event out of the La Crosse Civic Center. If you are interested in ice fishing, places such as the Stoddard backwaters and Lake Onalaska will have obvious signs of the hundreds of high school teams competing.
Did you know that any kid in the state, grade 8th (second semester) – 12th grade can participate in WIFA?s Master Angler program? They do not even have to be on a team. Some KAMO kids in the La Crosse area, which does not have a team, became nuts over this program, spent countless hours competing with others around the state, and even got plaques and other awards from WIFA. You can start your eligible chapter kids as Master Anglers through studentfishing.com. There is a requirement to use a specific bump board and take/ submit pictures through the FishDonkey App. Mike has a brochure on it as well and can send it to you..

KAMO State Convention – Once we get the attendees availability between March 23rd, 30th, or April 6th, we can reserve a room in the Stevens Point area. Please let Mike know about the date that works best for you. If you would like to see what is on the state convention agenda, please contact Mike. That is one way to put your two cents in about something that you feel needs discussion.

Dues – Chapter dues for 2024 are coming up. They are still $600 and are payable before March. Jim Rydmark is the new treasurer. If you need his address, it is in the directory or you can get it from me (Mike). The Marshfield Chapter can disregard payment.

KAMO wear – There is some interest in having more hoodies, t-shirts, and hats made up. If your chapter could use something made, please let me know. The size is particularly important.
Remember, that your chapter may have taken some of this wear home – it was on the table at the 2023 convention and that it was your responsibility to pay the state treasurer for the items you took.

Ice Fishing Event – The Meadow Valley chapter has set the date for their magnum ice fishing day as January 27th on Lake Tomah. If you can make it to this event, it was really fun last year.
Lots of positive feedback from families.

KAMO?s Policies – The policies were gone over recently and during the state convention, some minor revisions and sections that need review, were highlighted, so they can be gone over quickly. One add in was ?in the event of the dissolving of a KAMO unit, any assets that are given away must go to a 501 c 3 with a similar mission.? This was added because it is a federal requirement.

Locating Places to hunt and fish – compiled during the Joe Hunt with warden Ben Gruber offering suggestions.
Wisconsin Damage Abatement and Claims Program (WDACP) – Google ?Wisconsin Agricultural tags? – You?ll be presented a county by county listing of farmers who are enrolled in the ag damage program. Species considered damaging include: wild deer, elk, bear, geese,and turkeys.
The landowner?s full name and phone number, the number of tags they hold, and a downloadable map of their property boundary are listed in a table. Most landowners have ?managed? properties, which means they have a portion of their property under contract. Another designation of property – ?open property? is wide open. In either case, people wishing to hunt their property need to contact them via phone and ask about how they want to proceed with having you hunt their place and getting a tag. If no phone number is provided, the property is usually Amish.The landowner is receiving benefits for being in this program, including compensation for each harvested deer.

Wisconsin Mapping Tools – DNR website
There are two mapping tools the DNR puts out. A lot of time was put into their development and their quality is high. They would be helpful in locating either a hunting or fishing spot. They are the Public Access Lands (state and county owned properties/ parks, etc.) and Private Access Lands (PAL) Open to the Public (ie, MFL). The private access maps provide a small picture of the area, including the boundary of the property.

Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) – Landowners have access to resources for being enrolled. They may also be willing to allow hunting on their property. Over 400,000 acres are enrolled. Some chapters have a great working relationship with DMAP owners, including some of the properties near MacKenzie.

What your chapter should hold in its Gmail account
CES – Tax exempt document with 16 digit code, current certificate of insurance, raffle license certificate, directory of members, bylaws and policies, handbook, archive of each year?s events, thank you letter template, sample of thank you letter, kid profile form, mentor profile form, kid and mentor response spreadsheets.

Chapter Reports –

Baraboo – The Baraboo River Chapter held our December meeting during the annual Joe Hunt at the MacKenzie Center which was held December 8th?10th. We had a great turnout for the ?Joe? with 25 Kids registered and 23 hunted. Huntmaster Kevin Seymour did an excellent job of organizing this year?s hunt and Rick Miotke ran the kitchen and kept the lodge in order. It was a record year for ?deer on the pole? with 20 deer and 2 turkeys in Sunday?s photo. Excitement was in the air and spirits were high when we played Buddy Bingo on Saturday night. All kids ended up with an outdoor prize and one lucky young girl ended up winning a 6.5 Creedmoor and a young boy won a guided fishing trip (both were donations secured by the Lake Wisconsin Chapter). We held a ?Hunters Attic? event where anybody could drop off clothing or gear that was no longer needed. It was a huge success and almost nothing remained unclaimed by Saturday evening. Our next meeting will be held January 8th, 2024 at Upham Woods.

Greg

Coulee – Three mentors, two kids, two volunteers, and one parent participated in the Joe. The volunteers were two former KAMOKIDS who wanted to give back. One kid, Aleron, got a deer on the MacKenzie Center property. The second kid is still looking for his first deer after being out for several outings. We will continue getting him out until that shot finally appears.
The theme for this chapter?s New Year?s goals should be: How do I replace myself as a mentor (as I get older or become unable to continue)?. It is time for our Coulee members to go out and talk to other groups and individuals about our activities and needs.
We are looking at some ice fishing small group outings locally. There currently isn?t much safe ice out there, but we have some cold nights coming up.

Mike

Dodge County Conservation – DCC KAMO was busy preparing for the “Joe” Learn to Hunt with the Home base being The Mackenzie Center in Poynette WI, 11 Mentee’s and 9 Mentors from our chapter arrived Friday morning Dec, 8th and got there things organized in the dorms and met some of the Kids from the Other KAMO chapters and were fired up to get hunting that afternoon. The weather did cooperate and made it very pleasant sitting in the woods. It was a weekend of fun and games and it also was a record harvest for the “Joe” with 20 deer and 2 turkeys taken by our young hunters. Check out our Facebook page or our Website (kamokids.org) for pictures of this great LTH. DCC would like to thank everyone who took part in “Joe” . There’s a lot of people that make this event happen and without them and the MacKenzie center staff this event would not take place.
Our Chapter will be again participating in Cabin Fever Fest in Beaver Dam on Jan.27th. We also will be holding a Social Gathering on Jan.25th at Tower lanes in Beaver Dam from 6-8pm . Its a GET to Know KAMO If you are wondering What KAMO all about please stop out and find out, WE are always looking for Mentors and Volunteers and Fresh ideas are always welcome. Get a kid outside and see how much fun they can have,

Thanks Jim Braker DCC Pres.

Meadow Valley – Meadow Valley Chapter Highlights:
Discussed the Joe Hunt: CWD testing went well. I have the meat for the LaCrosse chapter.
Planning for the Ice Fishing day on January 27th from 8am to 2pm at Lake Tomah. We started a bow loaner program for more information contact Aaron Bigalke.
Thanks,
Jim

Northwoods – Hello from the Northwoods!
Finally white on the ground as of today! We have a meeting set up for Thursday the 11th to plan our ice fishing event for February. We received a local donation from a car dealership for $500 and will be adding to our jig pole inventory. Also a local resident also donated about 20 old wooden X bar tip ups which we will be cleaning up and giving away to kids during our event. We have been fairly successful in raising funds and I have several ideas to bring up at the annual meeting. We are looking forward to getting kids out on the ice for sure.

That’s all for now,

Johnny Johnson from Florence, Wisconsin