Deer Season Feedback
I’ve been reading a lot of stories, data, and theories since the close of the Wisconsin gun deer season regarding the lower harvest, in particular in the north. My favorite read in a state newspaper is that global warming is the culprit causing Wisconsin hunters to kill nearly 15 percent fewer deer in the nine-day gun season compared to a year ago. I have to wait for tomorrow’s garbage pick-up to take that one out.
What’s the difference between a 150 class buck and a 160 class buck? Not length, not spread…mass...according to this anonymous Wisconsin hunter who submitted both photos this week.
Regardless, you will have a chance to provide your input to the Natural Resources Board in January. The Board authorized hearings in January throughout Wisconsin to offer the public an opportunity to provide input regarding the proposed Deer Trustee Report permanent rule package. More on that below.
The DNR is calling the 2014 nine-day gun deer hunt a rebuilding year. Bad weather including deep snow in the north country and a decline in hunters were factors in a kill of 191,500 deer, down that 15 percent from last year. 255,003 deer were harvested in 2013 with the buck harvest at 90,000 also down 8 percent. The state is also blaming fog and rain in some regions on opening day and unharvested crops providing deer cover.
Nineteen northern counties enforced buck-only hunts again in an attempt to recover from too many does killed in recent seasons, harsh winters, and predation. We hunt Vilas County with 2014 being the seventh consecutive year with no deer tagged. But, regarding bucks-only, I have not heard one hunter complain about not being able to shoot a doe. We want our deer back to a reasonable, huntable population. The state's far northern counties had 18 percent fewer bucks killed and a 58 percent drop in antlerless deer.
DNR: View the preliminary numbers by region
According to a media release received at OWO and other related releases posted in their entirety on the website under “Deer Hunting”: “The Natural Resources Board has authorized public hearings to provide the public an opportunity to provide input regarding the proposed Deer Trustee Report permanent rule package.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources plans to hold nine public hearings at locations throughout Wisconsin, slated for January 2015. These hearings will allow for public comment before the department requests adoption of the permanent rule in February.
Gov. Scott Walker contracted with Dr. James Kroll to produce the Deer Trustee Report, an in-depth review of Wisconsin's deer management program. Released in 2012, the report proposed over 60 recommendations for improving deer management in Wisconsin. Many of these recommendations were implemented during the 2014 deer seasons under emergency rule. However, these rules are set to expire in June 2015.
Hunters experienced some of the more prominent rules regarding County Deer Advisory Councils (CDACs), the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), seasons, units and tagging in 2014. However, these regulations and programs were set up under and emergency rule, and now a follow-up permanent rule package is necessary for the 2015 seasons and beyond.
Following public hearings, the Natural Resources Board may adopt the permanent rule package. If approved, it will advance to the state legislature for final review.
For more Information regarding the DTR permanent rule proposal, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keyword "NRB", or view the agenda item. To learn more about the deer trustee report, search keywords "deer trustee report."
Hopefully, you filled your tag in the muzzleloader hunt just concluded, or will fill an empty freezer this weekend in the antlerless only hunt where populations are high. Send your photos to ellis@onwisconsinoutdoors.com. We will post, along with your stories.
Check out Ice trailer booth 215 at State Fair Park Friday, Saturday or Sunday and the 1st Annual Ice Fishing and Winter Sports Show.
We’re in production with our January-February issue. As always, pick up your copies at any of 264 Wisconsin Kwik Trip stores or 44 Menards stores. Come see us too this weekend at the Milwaukee Ice Fishing Show at Wisconsin State Fair Park Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We’ll be in the Ice Trailer booth (#215) with OWO advertiser Brett Burris. Check out Brett’s Ice Trailer beautifully designed for ice fishing, sturgeon spearing, or hunting. If you still have not, you can also pick up your free copy of the November December OWO.
Thanks for connecting with On Wisconsin Outdoors. Shoot straight.
Dick Ellis