Deer hunting rule changes Wisconsin
October 31st, 2005 by Administrator
Deer rules get mostly positive public response
MADISON - Based on positive responses at a series of statewide public hearings, several deer hunting rule changes proposed by the Department of Natural Resources are likely to go into effect for the 2006 season.
“The changes were widely supported,” said Keith Warnke, DNR deer specialist, “with the exception of snowmobile clubs” who opposed plans for a statewide four-day December antlerless deer hunt.
“The December hunt is the only place we had substantial opposition.”
Department officials had recommended that the current four-day, October T-Zone hunts be eliminated in 2006 and 2007 and replaced by a four-day gun deer hunt for antlerless deer throughout the entire state beginning the second Thursday after Thanksgiving.
Snowmobilers long have objected to a December gun deer hunt, particularly in the northern half of the state, contending it would interfere with the use of snowmobile trails and have an adverse effect on tourism.
Hearings were held at six locations between Oct. 11 and 19, with approximately 300 people in attendance, Warnke said.
Eight rule changes were presented by the DNR. Citizen comments made at the hearings were presented to the Natural Resources Board this past week, with action to initiate or reject those changes expected to be taken at the board’s December meeting.
One of those rules - allowing hunters to pre-qualify in potential earn-a-buck units - was put into effect this year so that it could be enforced in 2006.
Pre-qualification allows a hunter to register an antlerless deer a year prior and obtain credit for the following year. If a hunter tags an antlerless deer this fall and that deer management unit is placed under earn-a-buck restrictions in 2006, the hunter has fulfilled the requirement of killing an antlerless deer and thus already is qualified to harvest a buck in that unit in 2006.
In addition, the DNR proposed:
u A two-day youth gun hunt for deer of either sex to be held in September, the weekend after the bow season opens.
u Delay closing the archery season for deer, allowing it to remain open until the Sunday nearest Jan. 6.
u Issue unrestricted antlerless tags in T-Zone and earn-a-buck units. The first antlerless tag would be issued free with each gun or archery license. Additional tags would be made available for a minimal handling fee.
u Archery license purchasers would be issued two tags, one for an antlered deer, one for an antlerless deer. Tags would be good statewide.
u Hunter choice would be eliminated. Antlerless tags ($12 resident, $20 nonresident) would be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis, available Aug. 1, with a hunter allowed to purchase one tag per day.
u Bonus tags for deer on state park lands open for hunting would be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Before any of the above rule changes can take effect, they must be approved by the Natural Resources Board and pass subsequent review by the Legislature.
Also discussed at the hearings was a controversial proposal by Herb Behnke, Natural Resources Board member from Shawano, to prohibit the baiting of deer during the entire nine-day gun deer season and 10 days prior.
“I don’t think it’s best for the resource to have baiting and feeding in effect,” Behnke said. “It’s not a natural way of life for the animals.”
He said he believes artificial feeding has boosted the northern deer population beyond the land’s normal capacity in some areas, created conflicts on public land, led to the stockpiling of deer on private lands, encouraged nocturnal deer feeding habits and discouraged natural daytime deer feeding movements thus hampering hunter success.
Opponents of a baiting ban outnumbered proponents the Madison and Ashland hearing sites, Warnke said.
Supporters of baiting contend that a ban would reduce the deer kill, infringe on hunting rights and trim an important source of income to farmers and retail outlets that sell bait.
Unlike the DNR’s deer hunting rule changes, the baiting and feeding of deer has been directly authorized by state statute. Any change in the baiting rules requires a change in state law.
The Natural Resources Board can request a change in the baiting rules but it will be up to the Legislature whether even to consider the matter.
Jim Lee is an outdoor writer for Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers. He can be reached at 845-0605 or by e-mail at jlee77@charter.net.