Land owned by a school district that is used for the district’s outdoor lab and school forest will be available for taxpayers to hunt on, rather than leasing the land to an individual or party. 

The Clintonville School Board (Wisconsin) decided during its July 28 meeting to continue to allow taxpayers to use the 70-acre piece of property for hunting the same way it has in the past, with a limited number of people drawn in a lottery-style system. Only a few will be allowed at a time to enhance to success rate of those who do hunt it, as well as for safety reasons. Those chosen would have to sign a waiver and acknowledge the rules of the property, according to Waupaca County News.

The board held a Public Comments portion of the meeting where individuals expressed their concerns with leasing the land. A separate meeting held on June 9 also had a Public Comments session. Gerald Plum was one of the individuals who spoke at the meeting, stating, “I pay taxes all my life and I pay them now, more than I ever have, and I don’t want to lose an opportunity that I have right now to use that property the way I’d like to because I’m an owner of that property. I am an owner of that property for paying taxes,” according to Waupaca County News.

Before ultimately deciding to allow taxpayers to hunt the land, several options were discussed including issuing one hunting lease for five years. Also in discussions were planting trees on the property to create a Christmas tree farm, or planting red pines for the sake of creating a sustainable forest. Clintonville Superintendent Troy Kuhn said not allowing hunting on the property was also discussed. Other possible uses of the property that were discussed included using it for farming, as well as redoing the prairies.