Wisconsin - Green Bay Town Hall
Hunter Nation Mobilizes Wisconsin Sportsmen in Green Bay: Town Hall Draws Engaged Crowd to Advance Wolf Management and Voter Turnout
Hunter Nation Town Hall Features U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, Highlights Record Hunter Voter Engagement — Covered by Wisconsin Outdoor News (November 24, 2025)
When 50 dedicated hunters, anglers, and trappers gathered at Stadium View Bar & Grill in Green Bay on November 14, the message was clear: Wisconsin's sportsmen are ready to fight for their values—and they're showing up at the ballot box to make it happen. Hosted by Hunter Nation, the town hall brought together grassroots advocates and elected leaders to tackle two critical issues: returning wolf management to the state and mobilizing Wisconsin's 521,000 hunters as a powerful voting bloc.
"We want hunters voting their values."
— Chris Vaughn, Wisconsin State Director, Hunter Nation
Hunter Nation President Keith Mark and Wisconsin State Director Chris Vaughn led the discussion alongside U.S. Congressman Tom Tiffany, who is now running for Wisconsin governor. Each speaker emphasized that Wisconsin's sportsmen hold the power to shift policy debates—if they turn out to vote and demand accountability from their elected officials.
Vaughn opened the evening by celebrating a major victory: 475,000 Wisconsin hunters voted in the 2024 presidential election, surpassing Hunter Nation's goals through the Hunt the Vote initiative. Of those, 118,000 had cast a ballot only once in the previous four years—proof that mobilizing occasional voters can swing elections and drive change.
"Wisconsin has more than 521,000 hunters," Vaughn told attendees. "That's a force that can't be ignored—if we use it."
Wolf Management Takes Center Stage
Chris Vaughn heads Hunter Nation in Wisconsin. He believes there are more wolves in Wisconsin than DNR estimates show. (Photo by Beckie Gaskill / Wisconsin Outdoor News)
The town hall focused heavily on frustration with federal wolf protections and what many attendees see as flawed state population estimates.
Vaughn questioned the DNR's count of 1,226 wolves, noting that Wisconsin counts packs during winter when numbers are lowest and excludes lone wolves—a category some states add 10 to 15% for in their estimates.
"That's a hard number to swallow," Vaughn said, reflecting widespread skepticism among sportsmen
Vaughn also criticized the composition of the DNR's new 24-member wolf management committee, pointing out that eight seats are held by DNR employees, with limited representation for hunting and agricultural stakeholders. "We need balance, not bureaucracy," he said.
Hunter Nation's position remains clear: the organization supports wolves on the landscape but insists they must be actively managed, not indefinitely protected. Wolf depredation has already cost Wisconsin taxpayers more than $1 million, and the impacts are spreading beyond northern counties.
"It's not that we're anti-wolf. Hunter Nation is pro-wolf. We agree they should be on the landscape. They deserve to be here. But they need to be managed, not protected."
— Chris Vaughn, Wisconsin State Director, Hunter Nation
Tiffany Calls for Federal Delisting and DNR Reform
Rep. Tiffany, who has entered the Wisconsin governor's race, called wolf depredation a crisis and vowed to "end the slaughter" of livestock and pets if elected.
He compared the gray wolf's status under the Endangered Species Act to the Eagles' "Hotel California"—easy to enter, impossible to leave.
Tiffany announced that he expects a House vote before Christmas on the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, legislation he co-authored with Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) to delist wolves and block judicial review—a critical provision designed to prevent activist courts from restoring federal protections. He gave the bill 50/50 odds in the Senate, the best chance any wolf delisting effort has had in years.
Tiffany also proposed splitting the Wisconsin DNR into two agencies: one focused on fish, wildlife, and forestry, and another on environmental regulation. He argued that hunting and fishing license dollars should be dedicated solely to habitat and access improvements—not diverted within the DNR.
Now running for Wisconsin governor, Congressman Tom Tiffany suggested splitting the DNR into a fish and wildlife bureau and a separate environmental bureau during Hunter Nation town hall meeting in Green Bay. (Photo by Beckie Gaskill / Wisconsin Outdoor News)
Hunters Are Turning Out—And Making a Difference
Keith Mark, president of Hunter Nation, told the crowd at a town hall in Green Bay that hunters, trappers, and anglers are now turning out at the polls in greater numbers. (Photo by Beckie Gaskill / Wisconsin Outdoor News)
Hunter Nation President Keith Mark reminded the crowd that the original federal delisting plan in 1992 set a goal of just 100 wolves outside Minnesota. Since then, the goalposts have kept moving—but so has hunter engagement.
"Do you know why we have a chance? Because finally, for the first time in a long, long time, the American hunter has said, 'I've had enough,' with 95% hunter turn-out in some of these rural counties."
— Keith Mark, President, Hunter Nation
Mark urged attendees to keep the pressure on legislators and to never miss an election. "This fight won't be won in courtrooms," he said. "It'll be won by citizens who vote, advocate, and refuse to back down."
The Green Bay town hall is the latest example of Hunter Nation's growing influence as the united voice of the American hunter—bringing together sportsmen, policymakers, and conservation leaders to defend our outdoor heritage and demand science-driven wildlife management.
Hunter Nation is proud to lead that charge.
Hunter Nation Wisconsin - Green Bay Town Hall - 11/14/2025
Original coverage by:
This piece is adapted from “Wisconsin voter turnout, wolf delisting top Hunter Nation ‘wish list’” published by Wisconsin Outdoor News on November 24, 2025. The original article can be viewed here: https://www.outdoornews.com/2025/11/24/wisconsin-voter-turnout-wolf-delisting-top-hunter-nation-wish-list/
Hunter Nation urges lawmakers across Wisconsin to support this legislation to ensure that wolf management remains science-based and accountable to hunters, farmers, and rural communities.
For more information on Hunter Nation’s advocacy efforts and how to get involved, visit: HunterNation.org
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