Applications deadlines loom for turkey, bear
Wild turkey hunters and black bear hunters have until close of business on Dec. 10 to apply for available permits for the 2014 hunting seasons.
Preliminary permit levels for the 2014 spring turkey season are set at the same level as in 2013. Final permit levels are not set until after the close of the fall turkey season, but will likely not differ significantly from preliminary permit levels. Read the whole story posted on this website in several areas including “Outdoor News”.
Bear hunters are reminded that harvest permits are strictly limited, and hunters must apply for several years before receiving a permit.
Harvest numbers from the 2013 black bear season are not finalized, but hunters harvested more than 3,800 bears in during the season. DNR staff and the bear advisory committee are in the process of determining 2014 quotas. Read the whole story on this website under “Bear Hunting”.
I don’t have much to report from our Vilas County deer hunt near Boulder Junction. With a buck-only unit and bitter cold for the entire opening weekend, hunting pressure was extremely light and I’m sure the kill will be very low.
Prior to our herd heading south the better part of a decade ago due to high bear and wolf predation, and over-harvesting including antlerless-only seasons, we could expect to hear hundreds of shots on opening day. I believe I heard no more than five shots this 2013 opening day, which may have been matched on Sunday. Also heard complaints of the Indian kill with overall numbers still low. Personally, I hope the DNR continues to keep does off limits in Vilas County.
I saw two does, which came on Monday morning. Larry Calvi saw one deer he could not identify. My brother John Ellis saw deer including a buck that he didn’t squeeze on due to its body position in heavy cover inviting a wounded animal. Brother Jim Ellis saw several does but no bucks.
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Steve Ellis takes an eight. |
From other northern camps close to us, brother Steve Ellis shot a nice eight pointer in Iron County. We’ll link to that short story and photo on this website under “Deer Hunting”. Father-in-law Dick Henske, the tough old bird who almost killed himself and broke 11 ribs cleanly two months ago falling out of a treestand, was back at it this weekend and killed a spike buck. It takes more than broken ribs, broken arm, surgery and a collapsed lung to keep the 78 year old home. Ricky Bergner also killed a spike buck from that camp near Manitowish Waters. Steve Henske and Bob Buehler saw does only.
That’s it for now except for this little doozy that came in from Grant Ellis, age 4 and relatively speaking, my great nephew. You know how so many people are brainwashed against firearms and hunting? We as hunters and anglers must do a fairly good job with our kids going the other way.
Grant’s class was asked in pre-school to write a paper on how to prepare the Thanksgiving dinner. Grant’s step one is below:
“Get a gun and shoot a turkey……”
Extra! Extra! This just in off the news wire! Big Mike Hart showed the Hart crew near Madison how to do it right opening day with this nice buck. It doesn’t surprise anyone here at On Wisconsin Outdoors. The man also knows how to catch bass and walleyes.
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Mike Hart of New Berlin took this fine buck opening morning hunting with his sons and grandsons near Madison. |
Healthy Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year to you and yours. What you do with it after that is totally up to you. Shoot straight.
Dick Ellis