Recent positive feedback on some of the tips I provided for hnting the Wisconsin Whitetail rut has prompted me to give out more secrets and tips I have found one tip to be ultra successful in the field this past week
Whitetail bucks this time of year are going off of one thing and thing only, their extra keen sense of smell. Bucks will often sit on ridges or edges of fields scanning for does, as they see their potential mate they often circle behind them and smell the ground they walk on. I watched a mature 2 1/2 - 3 year old buck stand at the edge of a field that had two does feeding. Once the does walked into the edge of the woods, the buck sprinted to exactly where the does were and stopped on a dime. From that point, the buck followed the exact path of the does. So here's the tip, when walking out to your stand, tie a string to your boot, dip or spray the string with your estrous scent of choice and before you get in your tree, tie the string on a limb that is in a shooting lane. You have just created a path of love for your big buck.
Friday, October 30, 2009
2010 Wisconsin Whitetail Deer Season Proposal: Voice Your Opinion
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource wants your opinion on the 2010 whitetail deer season. All hunters should take five minutes of their time to voice their thoughts and opinions on Wisconsin DNR 2010 whitetail season proposal. The opinion collection ends November 3rd, 2009. The proposed season(s) are noted below and here is the link to submit your comments.
http://doa.wi.gov/DNRSurveys/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=8l0H992
Overview
The proposed season framework includes:
November firearm season - Statewide 16-day beginning two Saturdays prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. CWD zone would use the same dates. Season would be the normal bucks plus variable quota system.
Archery seasons - Open statewide on the Saturday closest to September 15 and continues through the Thursday immediately prior to November firearm season. Statewide season reopens on first day of the November gun season and continuing through the second Sunday in January. In herd-control units, the archery season would continue through January 31. Bonus buck incentive (see below) for all hunters beginning December 26 through January 31 in herd control units. CWD zone would use the same dates.
Youth season - Statewide 5-day either-sex season beginning the second Saturday in October. Saturday through Wednesday. Dates will be the same as 4. and 5.
Early muzzleloader season - Statewide 5-day, antlerless-only by permit beginning the second Saturday in October. Saturday through Wednesday. Dates will be the same as 3. and 5.
October herd control firearm seasons - Herd control units only. 5-day, antlerless-only season beginning the second Saturday in October. CWD October season would use same dates. Saturday through Wednesday. Dates will be the same as 3. and 4.
October herd control firearm seasons in the Kettle Moraine State Forest - When October herd control seasons are held on lands that are part of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, the five-day season on Kettle Moraine State Forest property will begin on the Thursday nearest October 27.
Late muzzleloader season - Statewide 7-day season beginning the Monday immediately following the November firearm season (Bucks plus quota). CWD zone would use the same dates.
December firearm season - Central Forest & Farmland zones. 4-day, antlerless-only season beginning the Thursday immediately following the late muzzleloader season. Appropriate antlerless permit required. CWD zone would use the same dates.
Holiday herd control firearm season - Central Forest & Farmland zones. Herd control units only, 10-day antlerless season with a bonus buck incentive beginning December 26th.
CWD zone - same dates as outlined above. EAB season structure remains in effect in the CWD zone.
Bonus Buck Incentive - Hunters harvesting an antlerless deer in herd control units after December 25th will receive a bonus buck tag valid through the end of all deer seasons.
Public land tags - Herd control units only - Herd control tags will be specific to public or private lands. Public land tags will be limited based on the proportion of deer range under state, county, or federal ownership within herd control units.
Consider that this proposal is an alternative to the current season structure including Earn-a-Buck. Do not consider this proposal only in reference to a 9-day gun season. When you consider your support for or opposition to this proposal, please consider it in the context of comparing this proposal to the herd management tools that are currently in place including Earn-a-Buck. This proposal is intended to be an alternative herd control tool for a two year trial period.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource
http://doa.wi.gov/DNRSurveys/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=8l0H992
http://doa.wi.gov/DNRSurveys/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=8l0H992
Overview
The proposed season framework includes:
November firearm season - Statewide 16-day beginning two Saturdays prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. CWD zone would use the same dates. Season would be the normal bucks plus variable quota system.
Archery seasons - Open statewide on the Saturday closest to September 15 and continues through the Thursday immediately prior to November firearm season. Statewide season reopens on first day of the November gun season and continuing through the second Sunday in January. In herd-control units, the archery season would continue through January 31. Bonus buck incentive (see below) for all hunters beginning December 26 through January 31 in herd control units. CWD zone would use the same dates.
Youth season - Statewide 5-day either-sex season beginning the second Saturday in October. Saturday through Wednesday. Dates will be the same as 4. and 5.
Early muzzleloader season - Statewide 5-day, antlerless-only by permit beginning the second Saturday in October. Saturday through Wednesday. Dates will be the same as 3. and 5.
October herd control firearm seasons - Herd control units only. 5-day, antlerless-only season beginning the second Saturday in October. CWD October season would use same dates. Saturday through Wednesday. Dates will be the same as 3. and 4.
October herd control firearm seasons in the Kettle Moraine State Forest - When October herd control seasons are held on lands that are part of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, the five-day season on Kettle Moraine State Forest property will begin on the Thursday nearest October 27.
Late muzzleloader season - Statewide 7-day season beginning the Monday immediately following the November firearm season (Bucks plus quota). CWD zone would use the same dates.
December firearm season - Central Forest & Farmland zones. 4-day, antlerless-only season beginning the Thursday immediately following the late muzzleloader season. Appropriate antlerless permit required. CWD zone would use the same dates.
Holiday herd control firearm season - Central Forest & Farmland zones. Herd control units only, 10-day antlerless season with a bonus buck incentive beginning December 26th.
CWD zone - same dates as outlined above. EAB season structure remains in effect in the CWD zone.
Bonus Buck Incentive - Hunters harvesting an antlerless deer in herd control units after December 25th will receive a bonus buck tag valid through the end of all deer seasons.
Public land tags - Herd control units only - Herd control tags will be specific to public or private lands. Public land tags will be limited based on the proportion of deer range under state, county, or federal ownership within herd control units.
Consider that this proposal is an alternative to the current season structure including Earn-a-Buck. Do not consider this proposal only in reference to a 9-day gun season. When you consider your support for or opposition to this proposal, please consider it in the context of comparing this proposal to the herd management tools that are currently in place including Earn-a-Buck. This proposal is intended to be an alternative herd control tool for a two year trial period.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource
http://doa.wi.gov/DNRSurveys/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=8l0H992
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Deer carcass tag tip sheet available
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource
MADISON – There are some important deer carcass tagging changes in 2009 that hunters will want to pay attention to, according to Department of Natural resources wildlife biologists and wardens.
Hunters can print out a handy color tip sheet [PDF] on tagging their deer from the DNR Web site or request a copy from a DNR service center. Information on carcass tags is also available in the 2009 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations pamphlet or by calling the DNR Call Center at 1-888-936-7463.
Gun deer hunters
After a number of years of herd control and earn-a-buck rules in the north, many northern deer management units are Regular units in 2009. To shoot an antlerless deer in Regular units, gun deer hunters must purchase a unit-specific ($12 for residents and $20 for non-residents) antlerless deer tag. Some Regular units will not have any unit-specific antlerless tags available in 2009; some have already sold out; and others are expected to sell out. Hunters are urged to check early and to be sure they understand the rules and have the right tags for their unit.
The “Antlerless Deer Carcass Tag” that is included with a gun deer hunting license is valid only in Herd Control and CWD (EAB) units.
As in the past, there is an unlimited number of $2 antlerless deer tags available for Herd Control units for hunters wishing to harvest additional deer for personal use or for donation to the Venison Donation program.
Licensed gun and archery hunters, hunting in CWD units may pick up free CWD Deer Carcass Tags at all DNR Service Centers, and select DNR licensing locations and registration stations throughout the CWD Management Zone.
Archery deer hunters
Archery hunters receive two antlerless carcass tags with their license. The “Archery Antlerless Carcass Tag” is good for any unit statewide during an open archery season. If this tag is used, archery hunters in Regular units may also purchase the $12 unit-specific antlerless tags if there are any available for the unit they will be hunting in. The “Antlerless Deer Carcass Tag,” which is identical to the tag received by gun license buyers, is good only in Herd Control and CWD (EAB) units.
Buck stickers
Some hunters received a yellow Buck Authorization Sticker after registering an antlerless deer in an earn-a-buck or CWD unit in 2008. If the sticker was not used in 2008 to validate a buck harvest tag, it is still valid for the 2009 deer hunting season but only in a CWD Management Zone unit where earn-a-buck hunting rules are still in effect for 2009. After the 2009 hunting season, the yellow sticker will be invalid. If an antlerless deer is harvested and registered within a CWD Management Unit during any 2009 hunting season, the hunter must request a “2009-2010 Earn-a-Buck, Buck Authorization” sticker at the deer registration station. Buck Authorization stickers will not be mailed to hunters as they have for certain situations in the past.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Warnke - (608) 264-6023 or Bob Manwell - (608) 264-9248
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource Website http://dnr.wi.gov/news/DNRNews_Lookup.asp?id=193#art2
MADISON – There are some important deer carcass tagging changes in 2009 that hunters will want to pay attention to, according to Department of Natural resources wildlife biologists and wardens.
Hunters can print out a handy color tip sheet [PDF] on tagging their deer from the DNR Web site or request a copy from a DNR service center. Information on carcass tags is also available in the 2009 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations pamphlet or by calling the DNR Call Center at 1-888-936-7463.
Gun deer hunters
After a number of years of herd control and earn-a-buck rules in the north, many northern deer management units are Regular units in 2009. To shoot an antlerless deer in Regular units, gun deer hunters must purchase a unit-specific ($12 for residents and $20 for non-residents) antlerless deer tag. Some Regular units will not have any unit-specific antlerless tags available in 2009; some have already sold out; and others are expected to sell out. Hunters are urged to check early and to be sure they understand the rules and have the right tags for their unit.
The “Antlerless Deer Carcass Tag” that is included with a gun deer hunting license is valid only in Herd Control and CWD (EAB) units.
As in the past, there is an unlimited number of $2 antlerless deer tags available for Herd Control units for hunters wishing to harvest additional deer for personal use or for donation to the Venison Donation program.
Licensed gun and archery hunters, hunting in CWD units may pick up free CWD Deer Carcass Tags at all DNR Service Centers, and select DNR licensing locations and registration stations throughout the CWD Management Zone.
Archery deer hunters
Archery hunters receive two antlerless carcass tags with their license. The “Archery Antlerless Carcass Tag” is good for any unit statewide during an open archery season. If this tag is used, archery hunters in Regular units may also purchase the $12 unit-specific antlerless tags if there are any available for the unit they will be hunting in. The “Antlerless Deer Carcass Tag,” which is identical to the tag received by gun license buyers, is good only in Herd Control and CWD (EAB) units.
Buck stickers
Some hunters received a yellow Buck Authorization Sticker after registering an antlerless deer in an earn-a-buck or CWD unit in 2008. If the sticker was not used in 2008 to validate a buck harvest tag, it is still valid for the 2009 deer hunting season but only in a CWD Management Zone unit where earn-a-buck hunting rules are still in effect for 2009. After the 2009 hunting season, the yellow sticker will be invalid. If an antlerless deer is harvested and registered within a CWD Management Unit during any 2009 hunting season, the hunter must request a “2009-2010 Earn-a-Buck, Buck Authorization” sticker at the deer registration station. Buck Authorization stickers will not be mailed to hunters as they have for certain situations in the past.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Warnke - (608) 264-6023 or Bob Manwell - (608) 264-9248
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource Website http://dnr.wi.gov/news/DNRNews_Lookup.asp?id=193#art2
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Hunting the Whitetail Rut: Tips for the Full Rut Phase
Good tips for hunting the whitetail rut require the hunter to adapt to different whitetail deer behaviors as the rut moves from phases to pase. Here are some good tips for hunting the peak of the rut also known as the "full rut."
- Bucks typically will hang out with a doe for 24-36 hours. A good tip here is to to set up on a highly traveled doe trail. Scouting will help determine a great site to set up on but if you dont have time to scout, pick a food source or a water hole. Doe's will continue to travel trails that lead to common food and water sources if they are not being chased. Since daylight is becoming less of an abundance, set up further in the woods so you have more time to get a shot.
- During the rut, bucks will often find a mate and bed down together. This helps both the buck and doe conceal their identity and remove the risk for conflict with other bucks. Check scrapes and rubs as these can often be more of a sign of a bedding area more than a scrape or rub line.
- Bucks often will reduce their workload by simply watching and listening, and this may be done with little travel at all. Doe's will often let bucks know if they are interested or not. If she is not she may simply urinate on the ground to let the buck identify that she is not in estrus. If she is interested she will hold her tail straight out and walk in a stiff legged trot. Ridgelines and hilltops allow for bucks to do this surveying with little travel, set up just off of the ridge and do a little estrus bleat and listen up, he may be closer than you think.
- Here is a neat trick to try, does in estrus will respond well to grunts during the peak rut. If you see does, try grunting them in. Once the does are within 30 - 40 yards, try using a soft estrus bleat. You are basically telling the bucks that may be watching, exactly what they want to hear without the does really even telling him.
- Open areas may be your best opportunity during this phase. Dominant bucks care about one thing and one thing only, women. If you were the big boy on campus, you can show your stuff off by hiding in the woods, you want the women to see you. Watch the edges of open areas and fields as dominant bucks may take the road less traveled to help improve his visibility to women.
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