justnorth posted on November 17, 2007 12:58 :: 1275 Views
Wisconsin’s annual nine-day regular gun deer hunting season opens this Saturday, Nov. 17 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 25. It is followed by a muzzleloader only hunt Nov. 26 through Dec. 5 and a statewide antlerless deer only gun hunt Dec. 6-9. License sales are running slightly ahead of this time last year, with nearly 500,000 sold through Tuesday, and sales are expected to increase significantly through the end of the week, so officials expect that as many as 650,000 gun hunters may go afield this year. Wildlife officials say if the weather cooperates, which it is forecast to do, prospects for the season are excellent. Wisconsin’s white-tailed deer herd is estimated at 1.6 to 1.8 million animals, with population levels well above prescribed goals in most deer management units. White-tail bucks are still reported at near full rut, with lots of sign still being seen in the woods and bucks actively pursuing does.
Hunters who hunt in any of 57 units that are designated as Earn-a-Buck (pdf; 33kb) must first shoot an antlerless deer before being able to shoot a buck, unless they are pre-qualified for a buck by having shot an antlerless deer from one of those units last year or during the early archery deer season.
Hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts are being cautioned that wild fire danger has increased in the last week and is now at moderate to very high in some locations. Department of Natural Resources wildland fire fighters have been busy putting out grass and brush fires throughout the state. Deer hunters should take extra precautions with warming fires, smoking materials and fire place ashes. Until the ground is snow covered, burning permits are required in many areas to burn brush. If you have questions regarding the need for a burning permit, contact a local DNR ranger station, fire department or local officials for more information.
Hunters are also being asked to not move firewood around the state. Firewood may harbor pests such as the emerald ash borer (exit DNR), which is responsible for the loss of nearly 25 million ash trees in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland and Canada. The insect spends the fall and winter hidden beneath the bark of ash firewood, so by moving infested firewood hunters could unknowingly spread this pest, endangering Wisconsin’s estimated 700,000 ash trees. It's illegal to move firewood out of infested states. Hunters are being asked to buy firewood at their destination and burn it all on site.
Fall turkey and early archery seasons close Nov. 15, and with the a few exceptions, such as waterfowl hunting, gun hunting is not allowed outside of the chronic wasting disease zone on the Friday before the gun deer season. And with gun deer hunting open through Dec. 6, all people recreating and working in the outdoors urged to wear blaze orange or brightly colored clothing. All hunters, except waterfowl hunters, are required to wear blaze orange when gun deer seasons are open. Waterfowlers should wear blaze orange to and from their blinds. Waterfowl closes Nov. 20 in the Northern zone and Dec. 2 in the Southern zone. Plenty of diving ducks still being reported in the state and inland waters are still holding geese in good numbers.
With hunting seasons in full swing, fishing activity has diminished to near nothing on most lakes, with the exception of a few diehard musky and walleye anglers still trying their luck. The musky season closes statewide on Nov. 30. Water temperatures are in the low 40s and cold night-time temperatures have caused some skim ice to form on small ponds and shallow bays.
The Mississippi River water level at Prairie du Chien was 7.9 feet this week. Eagle numbers along the Mississippi are high due the abundance of waterfowl that died as a result of trematode infestations. Tundra swan numbers are still rising and will likely approach peak numbers during the week of Thanksgiving. And due to the Thanksgiving holiday there will not be a DNR Outdoor Report next week. Have a safe and healthy holiday and deer hunt.
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