Conservation Congress Applauds Suspension of October Antlerless Hunt
Contacts: Rob Bohmann, 262-498-4605 Kari Lee-Zimmermann, 608-266-0580
Racine, Wis. – Governor Scott Walker’s decision to suspend the 4-day October antlerless hunt within the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone (CWD MZ) drew praise today from Wisconsin Conservation Congress chair Rob Bohmann. “The decision to cancel the October hunt in the CWD zone is a sign the Governor is listening,” said Bohmann of Racine.
“The Congress has gone on record as being opposed to the hunt,” Bohmann said. Most recently, the WCC Big Game committee at its Aug. 18, 2012 meeting recommended that the October hunt be discontinued. The Congress executive committee followed up by making the proposal the official position of the Congress at its Aug. 21 meeting. “We believe any benefits of this hunt are outweighed by the negative impact of the numerous extended seasons that have undermined the traditional season structure,” Bohmann said.
The Governor’s decision was announced in a press release dated Aug. 24, 2012. “On the heels of the Kroll report, legislators and hunters have made it clear they want Wisconsin to return to a more traditional season, which includes the 9-day November gun deer hunt,” Gov. Walker said.
Dr. Kroll and his associates, Dr. David Guynn, a wildlife management professor from Clemson University and former Pennsylvania deer management expert Dr. Gary Alt, concluded that previous October hunts have not accomplished what they were set out to do.
Ample opportunities to harvest white-tailed deer remain. In addition to the traditional 9-day gun deer hunt, Nov. 17 – 25, gun hunters within the CWD MZ can take advantage of the statewide 10-day muzzleloader hunt, Nov. 26-Dec. 5, a 4-day statewide antlerless hunt, Dec.6-9, and the CWD holiday hunt, Dec. 24 - Jan. 6, 2013. The statewide archery deer hunt runs from Sept. 15 – Nov. 15 and from Nov. 17, 2012 – Jan. 6, 2013.