Deer Hunting

Just as was expected, anterless permits will not be issued for this area for the 2010 deer hunt. Just not sure about the bow season yet if we can use the anterless permit that is issued with our license. More about that when I hear more.
I have been seeing more deer now than I did all last fall which is great news because all these does should be dropping two or possibly three fawns this spring. Winter was fairly easy on the animals with a great acorn crop from the fall and with a warmer than normal spring the herd should rebound. Be patient, the deer will be back, lots of select cutting and clear cutting will make plenty of browse and bedding areas for the herd. J.Smith (J&J Sports)

Bow season seems like a long way off but I still have to comment on something that came up at the latest hearing. We all know the herd is down and it should be. The $2 unlimited taqs the DNR handed out for herd control worked!! The system to the DNRs maddness actually worked too good. Now we will have our bounty tags yanked for 2010 and for good reason. But what bothers me, the talk is we might have to give up our antlerness tag that comes along with our archery license. Buck only? Hmmm, are they saying we bowhunters take too many antlerless deer? Because I think we should have at least a choice of what deer we could shoot like it was years ago. One tag, two choices, buck or doe. Simple. But that's just my opinion. For now I'll just shoot my bow every week to stay in shape. Be back when I hear more. J Smith

Take a big sigh of relief, the season will be 9 days like this year and will probably see no doe tags issued as a result of the complaints of many hunters who did not see deer this year. Thats ok, it should be buck only for a few years until the herd gets back to where it should be. Not much else to report on this issue at the moment but if I hear anything that should be reported I will add more.
J Smith (J&J Sports)

Well folks, the bucks are now in full rut and it doesn't get much easier from here. Most bucks that I've seen are feeding heavy. Hope the rut extends just a little longer. Scraping activity that I have witnessed has all but stopped. Bucks are just cruising the woods and taking a little time to feed. Unfortunatly the warm temps have made daytime travel minimal and night time activity maxing into early morning hours. Last year it was the opposite. Every year is slightly different and we have to pick up on this early or we will sit long hours and see nothing. I have been hunting acorn rich ridgetops and have seen deer almost every time out, not just the wall hanger I'm looking for. Time is running out for us bowhunters so stay out as long as you can. Good Luck and shoot straight!
PS. Gun opener is right around the corner. Don't forget to sight in that rifle.

I just attended the public hearing about the proposed 2010 hunting season for Wisconsin Wed. night, Oct. 21st at James Williams Middle School and it was very interesting to say the least.
A citizens committee was put together by the DNR to come up with a plan to replace the unpopular earn a buck system. First of all we have not had the pleasure of an earn a buck system here and we can be happy about that. What the committee came up with was a 16 day hunt state wide, starting the saturday before the traditional opener we now have or starting on the traditional hunt opener. There are many more proposals that would take too long to write here but the vast majority of those attending the hearing whom voiced their opinion said that they favored the traditional 9 day hunt the way it is now and scrap the 16 day season all together since the permit system now in place seems to be working fine for us in the northwoods. Most of the reasons given were not enough deer sightings and sign that is just not there. How can we shoot deer that are just not there in numbers that the DNR's appointed committee says are?
I urge anyone who cares about our deer herd to log on to dnr.wi.gov and write them a line about your concerns before Nov. 3rd. You will be heard and considered in the decision process. I will keep you posted as I will get more information in December. Happy Hunting!