WISinfo.com

Posted Oct 21, 2009; 3:57 AM

DNR considering changes to deer hunting season

As many dedicated sportsmen and women of the Lakeshore area have learned, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is considering several major changes to the deer hunting season starting in 2010. The changes will be considered through the administrative rule process, needing approval of the DNR Board. As your state senator and a deer hunter myself, I wanted to share with you more detailed information on these proposed changes and how hunters can provide their input on the rule package to the DNR.

Among the proposed changes are:

November firearm season — Statewide, including CWD zones, 16-day season beginning two Saturdays before the Thanksgiving holiday.

Archery season — Opens the Saturday nearest Sept. 15 and continues through the second Sunday in January, except closed on the Friday before the 16-day firearm season. In herd-control units, the archery season would continue through Jan. 31.

Youth season — Statewide five-day, either-sex season beginning the second Saturday in October.

Early muzzleloader season — Statewide five-day, antlerless-only by permit beginning the second Saturday in October.

October herd-control season — Herd-control units only. Five-day antlerless-only season beginning the second Saturday in October. CWD October season would use the same dates.

Late muzzleloader season — Statewide seven-day season beginning the Monday after the statewide 16-day firearm season.

December firearm season — Central forest and farmland zones. Four-day antlerless-only season beginning the Thursday immediately following the late muzzleloader season.

Holiday gun hunt — Central forest and farmland zone, herd-control units only, 10-day antlerless season beginning Dec. 26. CWD zone would use same dates.

Bonus buck incentive — Harvest of an antlerless deer in herd control units beginning Dec. 26 (firearm) authorizes the harvest of an additional buck.

The DNR is proposing that these changes be tried as a replacement to the earn-a-buck program and be evaluated for effectiveness after two years. A full DNR analysis of the proposed changes may be found at www.dnr.wi.gov/org/nrboard /2009/September/09-09-3B2.pdf

Deer hunters and all concerned citizens are encouraged to share their input on these proposed changes by attending one of several public hearings being held across the state over the next few weeks. The closest will take place on Monday in Appleton at Fox Valley Technical College, 1825 North Bluemound Drive, Room C190. Other hearings will take place in Crivitz, Onalaska, Madison, Rhinelander, Ashland, Eau Claire, Sturtevant, Pewaukee, Spooner and Stevens Point.

All hearings are scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. with a DNR briefing followed by public comments at 7 p.m. If you are unable to attend any of these hearings, you may submit written testimony to the DNR by e-mailing your comments to keith.warnke @wisconsin.gov or by mailing a letter to: Wisconsin DNR – WM/6 ATTN: Keith Warnke P.O. Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707-7921

No one understands Wisconsin's deer herd better than the hunters who seek to harvest deer in our forests and fields each fall and winter. That is why it is so important for the DNR to hear from you as the agency deliberates changes to the deer hunting season.

Please remember to communicate with me and share your input by calling (888) 295-8750, writing to me at P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882, or by e-mailing me at Sen.Leibham @legis.wi.gov. You can also go to the 9th Senate District online office at www.leibham senate.com.

Joe Leibham represents the 9th District in the Wisconsin Senate.