Deer hunt over, like it or not

[Skunk]

Deer hunt over, like it or not

Paul Smith, Outdoors Editor, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Dec. 2, 2009

Deer Camp Wisconsin is suffering a hangover. Or maybe it's time-travel lag.

The 2009 nine-day gun deer season is in the books and we registered deer like it was 1982.

The harvest, such as it was, dropped 29% from last year and was the lowest in 27 years.

Many hunters consider the season a giant step back. But it was progress, perhaps, if you're a deer manager, forester or farmer.

I've heard from hunters who think it was the worst year ever. And some who passed several deer before tagging the buck of a lifetime.

I've received e-mails from hunters who enjoyed a return to their traditional North Woods camp. Even though they didn't get a deer, they value the experience too much to change.

And others who saw no deer and vow not to buy a license next year.

That's just touching the surface. There are 638,040 stories, one for each of us who took part.

But with a smaller herd, poor hunting conditions for much of the season and a lower harvest, it's not a stretch to say the ranks have been happier.

It's also clear Wisconsin is closer to its statewide overwinter deer population goal than at any time in the last 15 years. Wait: Is that opinion, myth or fact?

Here's a postseason list of deer issues, circa 2009:

Fact: State law requires the DNR to manage the deer herd to an overwinter population goal of 740,000.

Opinion: Deer population estimates will always be a source of contention among hunters. We mostly believe only what we see under our stands.

Myth: The DNR manages deer numbers to make the insurance companies happy. The truth is they attempt to manage the deer herd to balance many interests, including hunters, public safety, forest health, ranchers and farmers.

Fact: The deer herd is down. It would be nice to put an official number on it, but in a departure from a long-standing practice, the DNR did not issue a pre-hunt deer population estimate.

Opinion: Wisconsin deer hunters are (including me) spoiled.

Myth: The DNR wants us to have a horrible hunting experience so we give up our guns.

Fact: The Wisconsin wolf population is higher than it's been in our lifetimes. As of last winter, about 650 and climbing.

Myth: The DNR reintroduced wolves in Wisconsin. This one comes up routinely - the animals re-established themselves after drifting into the state from Minnesota and Michigan.

Opinion: We are deer hunters. We are family. We are dysfunctional.

Fact: With 743 entries, Wisconsin is No. 1 in typical white-tailed deer trophies as kept by Boone and Crockett. Illinois (642) and Iowa (567) are next.

Myth: The DNR introduced chronic wasting disease to Wisconsin as an excuse to reduce the deer herd.

Opinion: Deer hunting in Wisconsin is evolving toward a European (the haves and have nots) model.

Fact: Wisconsin holds the record for single-year harvest of white-tailed deer - 618,274 in 2000.

Opinion: The state has done a poor job explaining the implications of a too-large deer herd.

Myth: The average deer hunter's IQ is 50.

Fact: Hunters have a right to demand the best deer management.

Opinion: Over the last decade, the DNR was too aggressive with deer reduction efforts in the north and northeast and drove the numbers down too far.

Myth: The deer hunting is always better on the other side of the state line.

Fact: The DNR will limit (to zero in some units) the number of antlerless permits to help deer numbers recover.

Opinion: The DNR should devote far more resources - people and money - to deer management.

Fact: Deer populations recover.

Opinion: The DNR rarely gets credit for things it does right.

Fact: With seven shooting incidents and no fatalities, the season is the fourth safest on record. That's progress.

Fact: There were no reported cases of frostbite during the 2009 season.

Opinion: It's a good thing the Green Bay Packers are on a winning streak. That, and a couple aspirin, should help us get through.

Fact: There will be another deer season. What it looks like, and how many hunters choose to participate, will be determined in the months to come.

Opinion: We'd be better served if we all keep hunting, affirming our valuable role in wildlife management as we help make sure the herd recovers in some areas and help keep it in check in others.

Send e-mail to psmith@journalsentinel.com

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/outdoors/78381752.html

[Cheesehead]

The season is not over.
I was hunting in Pierce County today and seen two deer and did not get a clean shot. If I do not see deer, I move to another area and keep hunting. That is why they call it deer hunting, not deer shooting.

Cheese

[crash87]

D.N.R. You either love 'em or hate 'em, no middle ground anywhere that I can see. Mr. Smith obviously is on the love side. Then again, I see he gets paid for his opinions by a Criminal Liberal Biased News Medium. M.J-S. and the D.N.R, 2 peas in the same insipid pod. CRASH87

[ihookem]

 I think next year will be better. I am sure the deer will get through winter very well because there aren't many deer and should have plenty of browse. We had a very mild Nov. and 8 days of Dec. with no snow. (The last day of gun season they were still eating grass). I know it's early but so far winter looks ok. I can only hope the deer left are quick enough to make the wolves die of starvation. This might help some. Also, some think it takes a long time for deer numbers to bounce back. I have seen them go from boom in 1089 to  very bust in 1992 to a boom in 1995. Bust in 1996 when the winter killed almost all the fawns 2 years in a row in the big woods. to boom in 2000 back to bust in 2009. It seems to take 4-5 years. Next year will most likely be better with a lot of fawns. I like to see fawns, they're cool little guys.Mature does have little competition for food especially if someone feeds them  here and there. I am not in the majority but it doesn't bother me all that much about the deer population except my 12 yr old gets frusterated on the stand.DNR, yes they are some of the dumbest stumps in the woods but the down deer population really helps the forest come back. White pine, cedar and hemlock needs a good break in the northern forest and wouldn't hurt the maples and ash neither. I saw that the state is planting trees in the Flambeau River State forest. They post around the tree and wrap it with wire about 4' high. They are scattered all over an area. They are not waiting. I am also planting white pine on my land i Price co. and have to wire around the trees or they will get eaten as late as mid April.  Everything in nature has it's balance.