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Wisconsin deer season is now over.
1/8/2012 8:29:04 PM
Today was the last day of a multi-season structure in Wisconsin.
Archery, Two-day Youth firearms, 4-day Antlerless only, Nine-day traditional rifle season, Ten-day blackpowder, another 4-day antlerless and the ten-day "Holiday" hunt ended today.
Lots of opportunities to get out and hunt, but deer numbers seem to be way down on Public lands and many private lands. I hunted strictly public land and probably walked over eighty miles this year, both fast "scout-hunting" and sloooow still-hunting. I should have spent more time on stand but had a lot of new country to explore, (and still do), for future hunting opportunities
I only killed two, one buck and one doe. Saw maybe twenty all told, while actually hunting , most of them well on the move in heavy woods.
I killed the doe Christmas Eve Day morning and packed her out on my back almost three miles. Shot her around 9:00 AM and got home just in time for supper!
Lots of blame going around, and warm weather with a lack of snow didn't help, but most guys are blaming excess doe kills in recent years due to legislation mandating killing a doe before being allowed to shoot a buck. Lots of good bucks were killed in my county though; one of the highest big-buck years ever according to DNR.
A few guys I know swear that the DNR is fudging numbers; I don't know what to think.
I think high coyote populations are responsible for heavy fawn mortality.
I hope to thin them out a bit in the next couple months.
Any of you Wisconsin guys care to share your thoughts, experiences I'd love to hear them if you haven't posted recently...
( I posted this in another thread, but decided to start it as a new topic, instead.)
Archery, Two-day Youth firearms, 4-day Antlerless only, Nine-day traditional rifle season, Ten-day blackpowder, another 4-day antlerless and the ten-day "Holiday" hunt ended today.
Lots of opportunities to get out and hunt, but deer numbers seem to be way down on Public lands and many private lands. I hunted strictly public land and probably walked over eighty miles this year, both fast "scout-hunting" and sloooow still-hunting. I should have spent more time on stand but had a lot of new country to explore, (and still do), for future hunting opportunities
I only killed two, one buck and one doe. Saw maybe twenty all told, while actually hunting , most of them well on the move in heavy woods.
I killed the doe Christmas Eve Day morning and packed her out on my back almost three miles. Shot her around 9:00 AM and got home just in time for supper!
Lots of blame going around, and warm weather with a lack of snow didn't help, but most guys are blaming excess doe kills in recent years due to legislation mandating killing a doe before being allowed to shoot a buck. Lots of good bucks were killed in my county though; one of the highest big-buck years ever according to DNR.
A few guys I know swear that the DNR is fudging numbers; I don't know what to think.
I think high coyote populations are responsible for heavy fawn mortality.
I hope to thin them out a bit in the next couple months.
Any of you Wisconsin guys care to share your thoughts, experiences I'd love to hear them if you haven't posted recently...
( I posted this in another thread, but decided to start it as a new topic, instead.)
1/8/2012 8:34:22 PM
Originally Posted By KRONIIK:
A few guys I know swear that the DNR is fudging numbers; I don't know what to think.
A few guys I know swear that the DNR is fudging numbers; I don't know what to think.
I've been seeing less and less deer every year. Been hunting for well over 15 years. Not sure what to think, but I do not beleive the DNR's estimates for one second.
1/8/2012 8:49:51 PM
Originally Posted By NAM:
I've been seeing less and less deer every year. Been hunting for well over 15 years. Not sure what to think, but I do not beleive the DNR's estimates for one second.
Originally Posted By KRONIIK:
A few guys I know swear that the DNR is fudging numbers; I don't know what to think.
A few guys I know swear that the DNR is fudging numbers; I don't know what to think.
I've been seeing less and less deer every year. Been hunting for well over 15 years. Not sure what to think, but I do not beleive the DNR's estimates for one second.
You're in the 99% of Wisconsin hunters I talk to, with your scepticism. And I agree they are politicians and the truth is not in them. (Generally at least; there are some good guys in the DNR, no doubt and I won't paint them with the same brush.)
Me personally; I am not a proponent of extremely high deer numbers such as we experienced in the Eighties, and am in fairly line with the DNR position that deer numbers should be lower than most hunters like to see, for a really healthy herd.
But I think we are there now and may have overdone it a bit recently at least in some areas. I have no doubt, though that the deer herd will recover quickly, if we allow it to.
None of it would probably be an issue if we could end crippling losses (still WAY too high
), eliminate road kills- (impossible, I know), and eliminate or at least greatly wolves (illegal ) and coyotes.
CWD is still killing some deer as well. I've seen it and it is not pretty.
1/9/2012 11:45:56 AM
There is still a landowner season going from today until march 31st i believe.
Anyone with i think 5 acres or more can apply for a landowner permit, and if you don't own the land you can apply for a cwd permit and get written permission from a landowner to hunt. Just in case you're interested in going out some more.
I agree however, I didn't see many deer, and most people I talked to didn't see as many deer either.
Anyone with i think 5 acres or more can apply for a landowner permit, and if you don't own the land you can apply for a cwd permit and get written permission from a landowner to hunt. Just in case you're interested in going out some more.
I agree however, I didn't see many deer, and most people I talked to didn't see as many deer either.
1/9/2012 11:52:24 AM
Haven't killed a deer in 3 years.
I don't have the time to spend lots of hours in the stand though, so I'm not too serious about it.
Definitely don't see the numbers we used to.
I don't have the time to spend lots of hours in the stand though, so I'm not too serious about it.
Definitely don't see the numbers we used to.
1/9/2012 11:53:59 AM
Originally Posted By Maverick52:
There is still a landowner season going from today until march 31st i believe.
Anyone with i think 5 acres or more can apply for a landowner permit, and if you don't own the land you can apply for a cwd permit and get written permission from a landowner to hunt. Just in case you're interested in going out some more.
I agree however, I didn't see many deer, and most people I talked to didn't see as many deer either.
There is still a landowner season going from today until march 31st i believe.
Anyone with i think 5 acres or more can apply for a landowner permit, and if you don't own the land you can apply for a cwd permit and get written permission from a landowner to hunt. Just in case you're interested in going out some more.
I agree however, I didn't see many deer, and most people I talked to didn't see as many deer either.
hmm...will have to look in to this. 5.6 acres, but in two plots (1.6ac and 4ac)
ETA:
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/WHEALTH/issues/cwd/doc/lo_permit.pdf
1/9/2012 10:26:29 PM
Originally Posted By Maverick52:
There is still a landowner season going from today until march 31st i believe.
There is still a landowner season going from today until march 31st i believe.
Yes, I had forgotten about that.
Never thought I'd see the day when you could literally hunt whitetails in Wisconsin nearly every day for over six months!
I just wish there were a few more deer around on public lands, and easier access to get into some of the private areas that actually could use a few more deer, especially does, harvested.
But I'm not complaining. We actually have it pretty good overall.
I had a great season hunting with my son.
