Wisconsin Whitetail Gun Deer Season: Getting Ready

Hunters are starting to hang their orange yet and its a good time to throw out some tips to help with preparing for the Wisconsin Whitetail gun deer season.

Sight in your Rifle
Ok, so this one is an easy one to remember but here is the tip that most may not know about. When you sight in your rifle don’t be afraid to take some shots from several different stances. I see a lot of hunters set up at a range sit at a picnic table or gun table, take 10 – 12 shots and call it a day. How often are you sitting at a picnic table or gun table when shooting at a deer? Stand up, take a knee, or even sit down on the ground. Rifle ranges are set up to allow for hunters to shoot from different positions. Remember the rifle range is good for practice so we are safe in the field.

Prepare for Weather:
When packing for the season, thing of two things seasons that are in transition for Wisconsin. Summer and Winter otherwise known as fall. What this means is that we are most likely going to get one form of an extreme or another one or more of the days during the season. Start you packing by packing for the warm 60 degree weather we may get and then pack for the extreme Arctic’s. When you are packed for both you can almost assume you are done as you should be able to mix and match for the weather that pops up. Don’t forget, it will most likely rain or sleet one of the days so an extra pair of boots wont hurt.

Plan to Get Lost:
Note: The most experienced hunters tend to be the most vulnerable to get lost. Forget your pride and carry a compass. Becoming lost with the woods when you have favoring weather conditions is one thing. Becoming lost when the weather is 5 – 10 degrees below zero, that becomes very dangerous. If you got lost and its cold you will need to start a fire. Pack a zip lock bag of matches, a canteen, and a couple granola bars. This may be the bare necessities, but at least you will get through the night.

Plan to Communicate
With today’s radio, cell phone, GPS, etc…there should be no reason why you and your hunting party cannot stay in contact. As a party, come up with a communication plan and don’t be afraid to use it. You won’t scare deer away if it’s the simple use of a ear phone stuck in your ear. Having fun during the season is what it’s all about so don’t turn fun into tragedy because a party member is lost.

Safety First
Know your shooting lanes! Wear your safety harness! Don’t drive your ATV with a loaded gun! Know your surroundings! Be safe and enjoy this years whitetail season.

The Rut is Not Over: November 6th, 2009

Some of you dedicated readers have asked me if I am starting to see rut activity slow down in the last week. I hunt in both northern Wisconsin and the Midwest area of Wisconsin so I will give reports for both.

I want to let you know that I hunt the northern part of Wisconsin, about 10 miles north of Rice Lake, and as of this morning, I received a report that there was a 10 point buck pushing does around in an open hay field.

I also hunt in the Midwest portion Wisconsin, 8 miles east of Eau Claire, and as of this morning, the stand that had new scent dropped on it Monday night now has two new rubs, and one new scrape.

With the upcoming weekend being in the 60 degree area, we may see a little slow down. That actually is good news if you can get out Sunday night or Monday. With a small resting period we should see a spike in traffic this coming week.

Good luck and let me know if you have any reports from your area you would like to include.

Back to Basics Deer Tactics

Back to Basics Deer Tactics
By Scott Loomans
Wisconsin DNR 2009 Fall Hunting Forecast

Though once an important part of the deer hunter’s craft, still hunting has given way to waiting from a stationary position, or stand hunting, as the most popular way to hunt deer. Consider giving still hunting a try. If you’re successful, and even if you aren’t, you could be amazed at just how exciting is.

Still hunting is not just the punch line to an old joke about what a deer hunting widow’s spouse has been doing for the last nine days. Still hunting is the active pursuit of a deer with the goal of seeing it and having a shooting opportunity before the deer sees the hunter. The hunter and the quarry are on the ground together pitting their skills against each other.

As described by the late Wisconsinite George Mattis in his famous 1969 book, Whitetails, Fundamentals and Fine Points, the hunter’s movements are slow and measured, requiring even more patience than stand hunting. In getting started you can use an old logging road or deer trail, frozen waterway, or grassy field edge to cover ground silently. You’d be surprised by how often you can move quietly through freshly fallen leaves by waiting until just that hour when morning frost softens and dampens the ground cover. In the ridge-and-river country of Western Wisconsin, a still hunt can almost become more of a spot and- stalk type of pursuit.

Always be looking ahead and looking for more than just the deer. Parts of the deer like an ear, antler, the horizontal line of their back, or the white belly of a bedded animal are more often seen first.

Sometimes people miss out on the opportunity to still hunt because they are afraid to scare deer off of a property. If you are worried about that, consider doing your still hunting during the week or during the middle of the day while others are at lunch.

Post a stander along known escape routes. Consider just not worrying about it so that you can enjoy this style of hunting.

Sneaking up on a deer that doesn’t know you are after it is challenging but it is also one of the most exciting ways to hunt – and it may not be as difficult as you think. When I was younger I marveled at Mattis’ success stories but didn’t quite believe it was still possible to do in Wisconsin. Since then I have proven myself wrong a number of times hunting on both private and public land.

If you are looking for a hunt that will totally engross your senses, engage all of your hunting skills, and that will quite possibly be the most exciting hunt you can have, give still hunting a shot.

More Trail Camera Videos

More Trail Camera Videos
Ben Halverson

Here is another video I recently pulled off the trail cam. So its not a whitetail deer, but these turkeys are still a fun game to look at. Remember to send me your videos or pictures with a short description of where you filmed it and when.

Antlerless (Bonus) Tags for Regular Units go on Sale August 22 and August 23, 2009

Antlerless (Bonus) Tags for Regular Units go on Sale August 22 and August 23, 2009
WI DNR News

Wisconsin deer hunters who plan on hunting in Regular Deer Management Units in 2009, and wish the opportunity to harvest antlerless deer, can purchase unit-specific antlerless (bonus) tags on a first-come, first-serve basis for most of these units ($12 each for residents, $20 each for non-residents). Deer hunters should check the 2009 Deer Season Structure map first to find their unit designation (Regular units are in white): http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/deer/dmu.pdf.

Antlerless tags for even numbered Regular units will be sold beginning at noon on Saturday, August 22, but will not be sold on Sunday, August 23. Antlerless tags for odd numbered Regular units will be sold beginning at noon on Sunday, August 23. Deer Management Units with remaining antlerless tags available will resume sales on Monday, August 24 until sold out or until the hunting season ends. The first-come, first-serve system replaces the "Hunter's Choice" application process, which was last used in 2005. Hunters will be limited to purchasing one unit-specific antlerless tag per day.

Hunters are encouraged to purchase their 2009 Wisconsin gun or archery deer hunting license first before the day they purchase their bonus antlerless tags. Hunters may purchase deer hunting licenses and antlerless tags at any DNR licensing location http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/cs/licenseagents/ or online https://jc.activeoutdoorsolutions.com/wi_public/goHome.do.

Archery deer hunters will automatically receive one free antlerless tag which is valid in any unit statewide, but may purchase additional unit-specific tags if they are available. Thirteen Regular units will not have unit-specific tags available for 2009, and most gun hunters will be limited to buck-only deer hunting in these units.

Visit the following links on the DNR web site for bonus antlerless tag availability and other details:

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/cs/BonusAvailability.htm

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/deer/tagging.pdf

http://dnr.wi.gov/news/DNRNews_Article_Lookup.asp?id=1141

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/regs/Deer09.pdf

Online survey seeks opinions on deer herd control alternatives

Online survey seeks opinions on deer herd control alternatives
WI DNR
Weekly News Article Published: July 21, 2009 by the Central Office

MADISON – A special advisory committee created at the direction of the Natural Resources Board and charged with developing potential alternatives to Earn-a-Buck (EAB) will be seeking public opinion through an online survey beginning July 25.

Visitors to the Special Advisory Committee for Hunter and Landowner Support of Effective Alternative Deer Population Control Methods Web site [deerherd.editme.com] (exit DNR) can request email notification as soon as the survey is available on the committee’s website. Additional information on deer hunting in Wisconsin is available on the Department of Natural Resources Web site.

The Natural Resources Board created the committee to represent a broad range of deer interest groups and to bring the board a set of possible EAB alternatives. The committee’s Web site is intended to be a source of public information on the committee’s work and lists the stakeholder organizations represented on the committee, the committee’s working notes and links to the same reference materials and data committee members are discussing.

The special advisory committee began work in early June 2009, will submit completed recommendations in early August, and is under a very tight timeline in order for any proposed changes to be adopted in time for the 2010 deer hunting seasons. The members of the advisory committee were invited to participate as volunteers from organizations representing deer hunters and landowners along with representatives of the deer science and research community.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Fleener (608) 261-7589 or Robert Manwell (608) 264-9248

View all articles in this issue or check our previous Weekly News Issues.

Leave young wildlife in the wild

Leave young wildlife in the wild
Wisconsin DNR

Young animals rarely abandoned; sick animals may be able to transmit disease
MADISON – White-tailed deer fawns are starting to be seen in Wisconsin, and state wildlife officials and conservation wardens are starting to be inundated with calls from people who are concerned about an “abandoned” fawn.

“Fawns left alone in the woods are not abandoned,” says Keith Warnke, deer and bear ecologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. “When fawns are born they have very little scent to them, and does intentionally leave them alone as a way of protecting them from predators. The mother is almost always nearby and keeping an eye on the fawn. She returns to the fawn to nurse when she feels it is safe. The best thing people can do if they come across a fawn in the woods is to go away and leave it alone.”

State wildlife and health officials say the same is true for almost all young wildlife seen in the wild. Most wildlife species will leave their young unattended for periods of time so they can go feed or find food to bring back.

“Closely approaching or contacting wild animals presents a risk of injury to humans and the animal. For that reason, the best and safest policy for people and animals is to leave them alone,” Warnke said.

People should avoid contact with all wild animals, but especially those acting abnormally, whether they appear sick or unusually friendly. While unlikely, it is possible for sick wild animals to transmit some illnesses, including rabies, to humans.

State wildlife health officials say skunks and bats are the most likely species to carry rabies in Wisconsin, although dogs, cats, raccoons, foxes and even livestock have been infected. People should keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for dogs, cats, and ferrets.

If a person is bitten by a bat, woodchuck, skunk, raccoon, fox or coyote, all of which can carry rabies, it's important to safely capture or kill the animal without injuring the brain. Brain tissue can be analyzed to determine whether or not the animal had rabies. Most domestic animals can simply be observed by a veterinarian and do not need to be tested in order to rule out rabies. Treatment for a rabies exposure can prevent the disease if initiated before symptoms occur.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Warnke – - (608) 264-6023

2008 Archery License Sales

There were 203,675 Archery licenses sold in 2008, up slightly over 1 percent from 2007. The 10-year history of Archery sales numbers does not include Conservation Patron licenses. Archery license sales will continue through the late bow season. A complete breakdown by license type is attached.

Source: Wisconsin DNR 2008 Deer Hunting Season Report

View entire report at http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/deer/summary.pdf