WI (R) Gunderson's bill provisions include:

• Issuing two free antlerless deer tags when hunters buy any deer license that could be used in any herd control deer management unit (the former Zone T and Earn-A-Buck units).

Since two free tags in did not work in 2000, why does he think they might work today? The one free tag given now is enough per license, as deer registrations have proved statistically. More December opportunities are needed for muzzleloaders and gun hunters to increase antlerless harvests, not more tags.

• Establishing a four-day, Thursday-through-Sunday, antlerless-only muzzleloader deer season that includes the second full weekend in October.

There are too many leaves on trees in southern WI for this to be a productive or safe gun hunt.

• Establishing a two-day youth hunt on the weekend of the October muzzleloader hunt.

Overlapping a youth shotgun/rifle youth hunt with a muzzleloader hunt is a law enforcement nightmare. With the end of October t-zone hunt, most school age kids had off school and can participate all 4 days.

• Prohibiting the Department of Natural Resources from establishing firearms deer seasons from Oct. 1 through the Friday before Thanksgiving, except the muzzleloader and youth hunts and hunts conducted to control disease in whitetail deer, such as in chronic wasting disease zones.

This eliminatestoo manyoptions for future deer population control measures.

• Eliminating Earn-A-Buck, which requires hunters to shoot an antlerless deer before they can shoot a buck, except in the Chronic Wasting Disease Eradication Zones.

EAB now is only a last resort measure after three years of t-zones have not reduced deer populations. EAB is a vital successful management tool that should not be eliminated. Quality buck harvests usually follow EAB seasons.

• Establishing a separate muzzleloader license, with proceeds supporting wildlife damage abatement.

Purchasing extra antlerless tags already does that. Since Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee stole the license stamp funds and put them in the general fund. What will stop them from stealing any other dedicated wildlife funds?

• Allowing herd control hunts in December, south of Highway 8.

DNR and every outdoor and hunting group in the state tried to implement December hunts state wide, Gunderson and snowmobile club association said no. Michigan has a antlerless hunt the last two weeks in December, in 26 counties, for private land only .... without an issue from snowmobile clubs.

• Allowing bow hunting during the regular nine-day gun deer season.

This is a ok idea, still another law enforcement nightmare .... but sounds like a smoke screen to get bowhunters to go along with the crap above.

In summary: Gundersons proposals greatly reduce gun deer hunting opportunities for WI hunters. His proposals would also severely reduce antlerless harvest and limit future options for herd population control. He is trying to manipulate over 900,000 deer licenses sold to accommodate 230,000 WI registered snowmobiles.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=409013