The Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame (WCHF) Foundation, Inc. is pleased to announce the Induction of William Lunney, Keith McCaffery, and Neil Payne.
“Our 2026 inductees have established lasting legacies in Wisconsin and continue to have a far-reaching impact across many areas of conservation. We are grateful for their numerous contributions and are thrilled to celebrate each of them on April 21, 2026,” said WCHF Foundation President Marco Mascitti. Each of these individuals will be inducted into the WCHF on April 21, 2026 in live ceremonies held virtually and free for the public to attend. For more information visit WCHF Foundation.
INDUCTEE BIOS
William G. Lunney
William G. Lunney has embodied a lifetime of service to the public and to the conservation of Wisconsin’s lands, waters, and wildlife. From the first success in 1969, helping to save the regionally significant wetlands of Dunn’s Marsh and Upper Mud Lake Wetlands, to the recent creation of the historic multimillion-dollar private foundation to support Dane County parks, Bill has been the energy propelling many local and statewide conservation successes.
He helped co-found state and local conservation organizations including the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, Friends of Capital Springs State Recreation Area, Foundation for Dane County Parks, and Groundswell Conservancy. He served in board leadership roles with Wisconsin Chapter of Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, Friends of Wisconsin State Parks, and Gathering Waters Conservancy.
As Parks Commission Chair for 30 years, Lunney guided the expansion of the Dane County Parks system from 3,500 to 19,000 acres, was instrumental in supporting state parks and land trusts, helped form the public strategy for re-authorization of the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program, and protected key conservation areas including Lower Waubesa Wetlands and Monona Wetlands.
Keith McCaffery
Keith McCaffery was nominated for the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame for his extensive contributions to deer management and conservation in Wisconsin. McCaffery has dedicated his career to the science-based management of Wisconsin’s deer population, significantly impacting conservation practices. His research established the significance of summer deer habitat to winter survival and productivity, influencing management practices nationwide.
The new focus on deer summer range especially changed habitat-management priorities in the upper Midwest. He developed values for specific forest types and guidelines for defining management goals for forest composition. He became a builder and principal apologist for Wisconsin’s deer-population monitoring and harvest-management system. He has authored 100 professional reports and publications and 58 popular articles on deer management.
Keith’s work has had a profound impact on deer-management policies and practices, benefiting both wildlife and the economy. His research led to sustainable deer harvests exceeding 200,000 annually, generating $25 million in license sales. He contributed to a joint publication effort that became the first long-term deer-management policy in the U.S., influencing wildlife-management goals well into the future.
Neil Payne
Neil’s numerous contributions to wildlife conservation encompass education, research, and literature. Using his experience as a wildlife biologist, he taught wildlife ecology to more than 4,600 students, with about 50 percent of WDNR wildlife biologists being UW-Stevens Point graduates. He conducted research on more than 20 wildlife species and published extensively, including seven books on wildlife management.
His work has influenced conservation practices in Wisconsin and beyond, with a focus on habitat
management. Neil’s efforts have had a lasting impact on wildlife conservation and education. His students have gone on to significant careers in conservation, influencing policies and practices in Wisconsin. Neil’s books and teachings are widely used in wildlife-management and conservation education.
Dr. Payne’s extensive education and diverse professional experiences have shaped his expertise in wildlife ecology. His publications have played a crucial role in advancing wildlife-management practices and education. He authored several key textbooks and guides on wildlife management, addressing integrated-ecosystem management. His works serve as technical guidance for wildlife professionals, students, and landowners. His latest book, Wildlifer, is extraordinary and a career highlight. It is an unprecedented chronicle of Wisconsin’s wildlife-management history and reflects his commitment to education well after his retirement.
WCHF INDUCTION EVENT DETAILS
The 2026 WCHF Induction Events will be held on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The events will be held live on a virtual platform and are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated. For more details about the events, visit WHCF.
Ceremony schedule (Central Time):
William Lunney at 4:00 pm
Keith McCaffery at 5:30 pm
Neil Payne at 7:00 pm
The image on the Home page is of Horicon Marsh in Wisconsin by Jack Bartholmai.
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