Reminder for WI Deer hunting public Hearings

Wisconsin Deer Hunters, Don’t forget to be heard!!!!!

Public hearings on the proposed deer season will be held beginning 7:00 p.m. on the following dates at the following locations:

•October 14 – Crivitz – Crivitz Village Hall, 800 Henriette Ave.
•October 15 – Onalaska – Onalaska High School Field house, 700 Hilltopper Place.
•October 21 – Madison – Lussier Family Heritage Center – Main Level, 3101 Lake Farm Road.
•October 21 – Rhinelander – James Williams Middle School, 915 Acacia Lane.
•October 21 – Ashland – Ashland AmericInn Conference Center, 3009 Lakeshore Drive E.
•October 26 – Appleton – Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton Campus, Room C190, 1825 North Bluemound Drive.
•October 26 – Eau Claire – Chippewa Valley Technical College auditorium, Room M103, 620 W. Clairemont Ave.
•October 27 – Sturtevant – The hearing venue for this area has changed. Please re-visit this calendar for updates.
•October 28 – Pewaukee – Waukesha County Technical College, Room C051/C057, 800 Main St.
•October 28 – Spooner – Spooner High School Auditorium, 801 County A.
•November 3 – Stevens Point – Portage County Courthouse Annex, Conference Room 1, 1462 Strongs Ave.

Here are the proposed changes for the WI 2010 Deer Seasons:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9.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.

10. CWD zone – same dates as outlined above. EAB season structure remains in effect in the CWD zone.

11. 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.

12. 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.

The variable quota system is the only thing that interests me and it doesnt look like its open for discussion. All that other stuff is a mute point if they keep drastically lowering the herd numbers.

I am not able to attend the input meetings. You can provide your input online. Here are the links along with the comments I provided online.

Proposal
Proposal

Comment on Proposal
Online Comments

I am not in favor of this proposal.

1. I don’t think you can argue that there are too many deer in Unit 9 where we hunt. What do you think will happen to the herd if they make the season 2 weeks and have it open during the prime of the rut?

2. I like the tradition of hunting the week of Thanks Giving. You’d still be able to do that, but your going to get sloppy seconds hunting the second week of a 2 week season.

3. As an archery hunter, I don’t want to give up a prime week of the rut to compete with rifle hunters (and I would assume I would have to wear blaze orange if I want to bow hunt during that time.