Gov. Scott Walker suspended Friday the four-day gun hunt in October in Wisconsin’s south central Chronic Wasting Disease zone.
“Legislators and hunters have made it clear they want Wisconsin to return to a more traditional season, which includes the nine-day November gun deer hunt,” Walker said in a news release. “Eliminating the four-day October hunt in the CWD zone is one of the most simple and most effective ways we can show hunters that we are listening.”
The first four-day hunt was held in 1996, but Walker’s legislation eliminated the hunt outside of CWD management zones in 2011, as well as the Earn-a-Buck regulation.
Rob Bohmann, chairman of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, told the Associated Press, that Walker’s decision was a good move for hunters.
"It's basically been a non-effective event,” Bohman told the Associated Press. “Those deer will still be there in gun season as they were in October."
Walker’s decision was made after a report by Dr. James C. Kroll that reviewed Wisconsin’s deer management practices.
“We feel an early doe harvest has negative impacts on deer behavior, resulting in a subsequent reduced buck harvest during the gun season,” said Kroll in the news release.
How do you feel about the hunting changes? Is it a good thing or a bad thing for hunters? Take our poll and tell us in the comments.
Hunting is not a "sport". It is blood thirsty and nasty.
Outlaw gun hunting? NO! Outlaw irresponsible human breeding? YES!
As for the geese, I would agree, they need to be culled, too, and could provide a source of food for the poor. It is my understanding – someone correct me if I'm wrong – that while deer are protected only by state regulations governing the time, place and method they may be taken as game animals, Canada geese – while they are state-regulated waterfowl game birds – are also protected by the federal Migratory Bird Act. Because they have become local nuisances, state and local agencies have been allowed to harass the adult birds (as with dogs) but not to destroy them, but in some cases to destroy their eggs and nests. But the Act prevents the adults being culled by hunting or trapping, at least around here, as far as I know. Anyone with better information, I would appreciate knowing more.
I am an avid hunter/fisherman, small business owner and lifelong resident of the state. DW, Wow you really have lots of time on your hands. To Steve Ebbie, It is clear that you are a narrow minded liberal with tunnel vision, & have a lack of understanding of all things you mentioned. You must have read the book "how to make friends and influence people" It just seems to me that when we are bleeding jobs in the state the last thing we should worry about is whether or not someone gun hunts in October. I also don't think that any of the laws passed that I mentioned created one job, unless of course you count the lawyers. Sparky, They have limited sex education to abstinence only. http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/state_edwatch/2012/04/walker_signs_abstinence-only_sex_ed_bill.html
I am an avid hunter/fisherman, small business owner and lifelong resident of the state◄ So why ignore reality then? Oh right, to be liberal is to ignore all reality
Sarah, if you are still employed here, I suggest you include a footer on anything you write in the future. A disclaimer informing your readers that you are severely bias and unable to inform about subject that you do not 100% agree with.
I generally lean more conservative but like to examine both sides of the issues and learn what the driving forces are behind any given decision.◄ http://menomoneefalls.patch.com/users/sarah-millard lol
That has changed the past couple of years and it is reflecting in better hunting in some areas of the state. The wolf hunt is one example. The elimination of T-Zones is another. This effort presented here is another atempt to curtail the over-hunting that has been allowed the past 6 yrs. Why is hunting a big deal? Nearly 700,000 hunters will flood the woods this year. The average hunter in Wisconsin will spend $1,500 on traveling, lodging and gear throughout the various hunts. That equates $1.05 Billion into the states economy annually. If the hunts would have continued down that path, many hunters would go elsewhere. I dedicate a lot of time and money each year into hunting and have had several years of not even seeing a deer. That is changing and it is ideas like this that are making it happen.
As much as I and others enjoy hunting, the f-word does not help the case of those on the internet who might otherwise agree while refraining from use of the word.