New firearm rules take effect on opening day of gun deer hunt

MADISON -- New legislation signed Friday by Gov. Scott Walker modifies state law concerning the manner in which long-barreled firearms, bows and crossbows can be transported in motor vehicles or placed in or on stationary vehicles.

The new law will be published in time to take effect Nov. 19, opening day of the traditional, nine-day, 2011 gun deer season.

In its essence, the new law can be boiled down to a single statement, said Tim Lawhern, DNR division of enforcement and science administrator.

“Unless otherwise prohibited, you can carry a long gun, uncased and unloaded, in or on a motor vehicle in Wisconsin at any time,” Lawhern said. The DNR has prepared a frequently asked questions on Wis. Act 51 page that available on the law enforcement pages of the DNR website.

While the law has changed, Lawhern said, there will still be many people who will continue to use a carrying case to transport unloaded firearms in motor vehicles, as hunters have been and will continue to be advised in hunter education courses.

“It’s a great way to protect your investment in your firearms,” Lawhern said.

As is always the case with a new law, Lawhern said, the first year is an educational opportunity.

DNR chief warden Randy Stark has already provided the state’s warden force with detailed instructions on the new law and its enforcement. Wardens will use a mix of enforcement, communication and education to help hunters understand and comply with the new law, Lawhern said.

“We are always ready to help people in the field, to answer their questions and to provide advice,” Lawhern said.

Here are a few things hunters might need to know about the new law:

• A caveat to the uncased long gun rule – the new legislation does not change Wisconsin law regulating the practice of shining (illuminating) wild animals at night with artificial light. It will still be illegal to possess a firearm of any kind, loaded or unloaded, while shining wild animals.
• The new law allows individuals to hunt from a stationary non-motorized vehicle, such as a hay wagon, so long as it is not attached to a motor vehicle. Previously, hunting from any vehicle was prohibited, without the distinction of whether the vehicle was motorized or stationary. This change previously had been sought by warden administrators. “People used to have to take one or more wheels off the hay wagon to comply with the letter of the law,” Lawhern said.
• It will be legal to possess and transport uncased bows and crossbows in a vehicle. However, bows may not have an arrow nocked. A crossbow may not be cocked unless it is unloaded (meaning the bolt or arrow is removed) and cased.
• When in or on a vehicle which is stationary, long guns can be both uncased and loaded. A stationary vehicle can have the motor running. “Stationary” means not moving, regardless of whether the motor is running. This allows a hunter, at a stationary vehicle, to place a loaded gun on a clean, dry surface.

Wisconsin hunters, as a group, are among the best trained and safest hunters in the world, said Lawhern. This is thanks in large part to the legions of volunteer hunter safety instructors who donate their time each year to educate new hunters.

“Our hunters have established an enviable safety record,” Lawhern said. “We fully expect the vast majority of hunters in Wisconsin will continue to use common sense and safe practices when handling firearms. For most of us, these practices have become second nature.”

Here are the four basic rules of gun safety, as taught in hunter education:

• Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
• Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.
• Be certain of your target and what’s beyond.
• Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Lawhern, DNR enforcement and science division administrator, (608) 264-6133

Source: Wisconsin DNR(http://dnr.wi.gov/news/DNRNews_Lookup.asp?id=300#art2)

2011 Fall hunting forecast available

MADISON -– The 2011 Fall Hunting and Trapping Forecast (PDF, 6.5 MB, 48 pages) is now available. Hunters, trappers and wildlife enthusiasts will find information on upcoming season structures, deer research and wildlife populations, district hunting outlooks and much more.

Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone hunters will find the latest information on CWD management and seasons and a new website www.knowcwd.com (exit DNR). The website has been created to keep hunters and landowners up to date with the latest information available on CWD science, management and impacts. The new website includes a message on CWD from racecar driver and deer hunter, Matt Kenseth.

Hunters will also be seeing a new fall seasons theme in 2011 on television, billboards, in hunting publications and on the knowcwd.com website, called “Hunt. Harvest. Help.”

There is also a good luck message to hunters and trappers from DNR Executive Assistant, Scott Gunderson, known to many simply as “Gundy.”
“As we enter this special time of year, I want to wish everyone who enjoys Wisconsin’s great natural resources, including our wildlife, the best of seasons, the best of luck and a reminder to be safe in all that you do.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Manwell - (608) 264-9248
Source: Wisconsin DNR http://dnr.wi.gov/news/DNRNews_Lookup.asp?id=290#art3

2011 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Season Nearing

When the calender strikes August and weather hints with 50 - 60 degree nights, hunters in Wisconsin begin to get that feeling that hunting is right around the corner. While many hunters in Wisconsin spend the summer scouting and mapping deer patterns, getting to this point in the year only creates that greater sense of excitement.

So what do hunters do from now until September 17th, 2011 when bow hunting season in Wisconsin officially opens. Here's a handy list of items to prepare as the next month will fly by.

1.  Scout - If you have been doing so all summer, now's the time to set up cameras, watch fields, and get important information on getting to number two on this list.

2. Set up stands - If you properly scouted and have a good sense of where deer will be moving early season, its time to get into the woods and get those deer hunting stands set up.  Getting out early and getting the stands up well before season starts will help get deer used to a foreign object that may be in their path.

3. Get out the camo - I have heart horror stories of hunters getting their camo out the day before, hanging it outside and hunting opening morning.  They never seem to understand why they never see deer.  Get out your camo, wash it with scent free detergent and grab some foliage in the woods and bag it up for a day or two. The smell of leaves, dirt and grass will penetrate the fibers in the clothing giving your camo a fresh start to the season. Do this two or three times before season and your camo will not only blend in, it will blend with the smells as well.  You may want to put your camo on as well....who hasn't gained a few pounds and out-sized a few pieces of clothing before.

4. SHOOT YOUR BOW! - This seems to be an all or nothing for hunters.  Many hunters shoot all Winter, Spring and Summer while many dont shoot at all until their sitting in their stand opening morning.  Shoot your bow!  Make sure your release is tuned and get that bow into mid season shape.  Missing early season monster bucks is often due to missed shots or a bow that hasn't been tuned.

5. Pack your bag - Pack your hunting bag and make sure that any items you may have consumed the previous season are replenished and make sure calls, scents and accessories are accounted for.  This gives you time to shop around for all the new gadgets and hunting supplies that are created year after year with the best hunting technology.

6. Get your license - Getting your license early gives our DNR the money and statistics they need to help fund projects like the CWD project, herd control(I know) and many other projects that we need our DNR to help manage so that we can continue this great tradition.

7. Bring your kids - If you have young children, don't be afraid to let them tag along.  Teaching the fundamentals without the pressures of in-season hunting allows you to be relaxed and gives you more time to teach and pass on this great tradition.

Good luck this season and stay tuned to Wisconsin Whitetail News for more information and tips as the greatest season on earth is getting closer to opening day!

Disabled deer hunt sign up open through Sept. 1

MADISON – Hunters with disabilities can sign up for the 2011 disabled gun deer hunt by contacting sponsoring landowners directly to make arrangements. Hunters are encouraged to contact sponsors as soon as possible so sponsors can meet the Sept. 1 deadline to submit a list of participating hunters to DNR.
The list of sponsoring landowners for the 2011 hunt (pdf) is available on the Department of Natural Resources website.

The disabled gun deer hunt for hunters began in 1990 to give opportunities to hunt deer when temperatures are milder and mobility is less of a problem. The hunts are sponsored by private individuals or organizations and almost entirely take place on privately owned lands.

Hunters must possess a valid Class A Permit, a Class B Permit for People with Disabilities issued for more than one year and that authorizes shooting from a vehicle, or a Class C Disabled Hunting Permit to be eligible to participate in the Disabled Deer Hunt.

The annual disabled deer hunt will take place from Oct. 1-9 this year. More information is available on the Disable Deer Hunting page of the DNR website.
 Source: Wisconsin DNR (http://dnr.wi.gov/news/DNRNews_article_Lookup.asp?id=1839)

Sponsor sign-up period open for Disabled Deer Hunts

MADISON – Landowners interested in sponsoring a deer hunt for disabled hunters are reminded of the June 1 deadline for applications. In 2011, the disabled hunt will take place October 1-9.

Sponsor applications are available on Disabled Deer Hunting page of the Department of Natural Resources website and must be submitted to your local wildlife manager by June 1. A list of approved sponsors will be posted on the DNR website by July 1. Disabled hunters interested in participating in one of these hunts should contact sponsors directly to make arrangements. Sponsors are required to submit a list of participating hunters to DNR by September 1.

Hunters must possess a valid Class A Permit, a Class B Permit for People with Disabilities issued for more than one year and that authorizes shooting from a vehicle, or a Class C Disabled Hunting Permit to be eligible to participate in the Disabled Deer Hunt.

The DNR’s gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities was started in 1990 to give disabled hunters an opportunity to hunt deer at a time of year when temperatures are generally milder and mobility is less of a problem. The hunts are sponsored by private individuals or organizations and almost entirely take place on privately owned lands.

Interest in the program continues to grow. In 2010, there were over 100 participating sponsors enrolled and over 62,000 acres available for the hunt.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Olver - (608) 261-7588
Source: Wisconsin DNR (http://dnr.wi.gov/news/DNRNews_article_Lookup.asp?id=1791)

DNR rejects claim it is opposed to “Deer Regulation Bill”

MADISON – Earlier today a press release was issued by a state conservation organization, the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, stating that the Department of Natural Resources joined numerous other state conservation organizations in opposing Senate Bill 99 and Assembly Bill 75, commonly referred to as the “deer regulation bills.” In fact, that is not the case.

The Senate committee asked DNR to testify for information only,” said DNR Deputy Secretary, Matt Moroney. “The department does not take positions either for or against bills working their way through the legislative process.”

In testimony given on May 5 to the Senate Natural Resources and Environmental Committee, DNR Division of Lands Administrator, Kurt Thiede, said that the department has suspended use of earn-a-buck and October antlerless hunts outside of chronic wasting disease management areas for 2011. He noted, however, that the time may come when the department would like to have those options available again.

“We understand that laws could be written to bring these options back if they are absolutely needed,” said Thiede. “After all, that is how earn-a-buck came to be. However, a key to managing wildlife populations is the ability to assess current needs, make recommendations, and quickly have them in place through action of the Natural Resources Board and the legislative review process. We are concerned that if these herd control strategies are taken away and we need them back we will have to wait for a bill and we don’t foresee this being a popular bill to sponsor or pass in the future.”

“We respect the fact that the Wildlife Federation speaks for numerous conservation organizations, but the DNR is not among them,” said Moroney. “It is a mischaracterization to say we have joined these groups in opposing SB75 and AB 99. DNR’s role is to implement measures the legislature passes.”

News Release Published: May 10, 2011 by the Central Office
Contact(s): Kurt Thiede (608) 266-5833
 Source: Wisconsin DNR (http://dnr.wi.gov/news/BreakingNews_Lookup.asp?id=2090)

Locating new fawns is next step in deer research project; volunteers needed

MADISON – Dozens of volunteers assisted state wildlife researchers in capturing and placing radio-collars on 204 deer in February and March. Now the call is going out again for volunteers to help locate fawns born to does that were fitted with implant radio transmitters designed to signal when fawns have been born in late May and early June.

“With the whitetail birthing season coming up fast, volunteers are again needed to sweep the woods looking for the newborns,” said Chris Jacques, Department of Natural Resources research scientist. “When located, fawns will be fitted with expandable radio collars so we can follow them through their first year of life to determine causes of death whether it be due to nutrition, environment, vehicle, hunters or predators. This is real hands-on field research.”

Some hunters have questioned assumptions about fawn recruitment used by wildlife biologists for estimating deer populations. Recruitment is the net addition of new individuals (fawns) to a population each year and is an important input in estimating deer population numbers. At the end of this three-year effort to monitor fawns, researchers hope to fine tune their inputs based on real-world data collected in this research effort.

Volunteers will be assigned to search teams working in the vicinity of Shiocton in Shawano County and Winter in Sawyer County. When transmitters have been expelled (presumably when a fawn has been born), a search team will form a line and comb the woods, somewhat similar to a deer drive, in search of bedded fawns. Newborns will be quickly fitted with a radio collar of their own and left for the doe to raise normally.
If the fawn dies, the collar will emit a unique signal that researchers will again use to locate the animal to determine cause of death. The collars are designed to expand as the deer grows and eventually drop off as the animal approaches its first birthday.

“Determining causes of death in fawns is vital to the accuracy of our deer population estimates,” said Jacques. “Of special interest is the impact of predators on fawn deaths. We have a suite of predators in Wisconsin that we suspect impact yearly fawn production, including black bear, bobcat, coyote and gray wolves. What we are less certain of are the relative roles that each of those predators plays on fawn recruitment over the course of an entire year.”

He stresses this work is possible only with the assistance of dozens of volunteers representing hunting groups such as the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, Safari Club International and Whitetails Unlimited, the University of Wisconsin- Madison and UW-Stevens Point, the AFL-CIO Union Sportsmans Alliance, and hundreds of Wisconsin citizens.

“Anyone who has looked for newborn fawns or been startled to discover a fawn lying motionless in the forest or field next to them knows what a challenge it is to find them,” says Jacques. “They have excellent natural camouflage and instinct to remain absolutely still when approached. The transmitters will give us a better idea of where they are but it will still take time on the ground to locate them.”

For more information and to sign up as a volunteer go to the Deer Research page of the DNR website.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Jacques – (608) 221-6358 or Bob Manwell - (608) 264-9248
Source: Wisconsin DNR (http://dnr.wi.gov/news/DNRNews_article_Lookup.asp?id=1771)

DNR announces proposed 2011 deer hunting season structure

MADISON – Department of Natural Resources wildlife management officials will propose a 2011 deer season structure that promises a return to a more traditional hunting framework by eliminating the October antlerless hunt outside of the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) management zone and allowing the first deer to be either sex in the CWD management zone.

“We hope hunters will see we’ve been listening to their concerns and that we are taking steps toward the kind of deer season they want to see in Wisconsin,” said DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp.

“We need the cooperation of our partners, the landowners and the hunters to help manage this deer herd. That is why we’ve decided to implement herd control tools more acceptable to hunters in 2011,” she said.

Specific 2011 deer season framework recommendations that will be presented to the state Natural Resources Board for review on April 26-27 include:

• In Deer Management Units where deer populations are below goals, limiting or eliminating antlerless harvest.
  
• In 95 units outside the CWD zone where deer populations are substantially above goals, unlimited $2 antlerless tags but no October firearm season.
  
• In the CWD disease management zone, hunters’ first deer can be either sex, with earn-a-buck requirements kicking in after that. CWD management zone buck stickers earned in 2010 will be honored in 2011 and hunters can obtain up to four free CWD antlerless tags per day. These tags can only be used in the CWD zone. There will be October and Holiday hunts in the CWD zone.

Last year, 18 below-population-goal deer management units in northern Wisconsin were designated as “zero quota” units meaning that neither gun deer hunters nor archery deer hunters could shoot an antlerless deer. The herd has rebounded in a number of these units, but in eight where the population continues below goal (Units 3, 7, 29B, 34, 35, 39, 44, and 45), DNR will recommend continued “zero antlerless quotas.”
Over the past year in response to hunter reports of seeing fewer deer on the landscape, DNR has held meetings with hunters and solicited deer sighting feedback through its website and other means.
“National experts say we have one of the best population estimate systems in the nation – but no system is perfect. We are taking efforts to make our population estimates better and to figure out how the uneven distribution of deer on public versus private land is impacting those numbers.

“We want to work with hunters. We want to come to agreement on numbers and goals and harvest antlerless deer where needed. Accordingly, we’ve initiated deer research in northwest and east-central Wisconsin to answer hunter questions about predators and buck harvest rates to further improve our system,” said Stepp.
Deer hunting is a strong tradition in the state and an important economic driver. Deer hunting in Wisconsin creates more than $1 billion of economic activity annually, and supports 16,000 jobs. Wisconsin has one of the top three deer harvests per square mile of any state in the country, one of the highest buck harvests per square mile, and the highest number of trophy bucks registered with Boone and Crockett (gun) and Pope and Young (archery).

Each year, wildlife managers use data from the past years’ hunt – from hunter deer registration stubs, fawn production observations, winter stress reports and more to estimate the size of the deer herd by management unit. The number of deer by unit is compared to deer population goals, and a season structure aimed at keeping deer in line with goals and habitat carrying capacity is recommended to the state Natural Resources Board.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: The full proposal to the Natural Resources Board will be available on DNR website later today or tomorrow. Refer to the Natural Resources Board agenda for April and click on the deer season framework item.]

News Release Published: April 14, 2011 by the Central Office
Contact(s): Land Administrator Kurt Thiede, (608)266-5833
Source: Wisconsin DNR, http://dnr.wi.gov/news/BreakingNews_Lookup.asp?id=2054