How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Me and my dad went out hunting this morning for opening gun season in Wisconsin. We hunt right on the edge of a files looking over knee high grass, a stream, and a corn field. we had all the right signs and thought we did pretty good. guess not. went out all day.... An half hour before opening and stayed out till closing. Didn't see anything but squirrels. All around us we heard shots all around us but not where we were. I'm really pissed. How was everyone else opening Wisconsin hunt? [align=right] [/align]

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

I was hunting up in Lake Tomahawk, and the hunting was just horrible. On Saturday, I saw nothing at all, except blue jays, but my dad's friend shot a nice little 6 pointer at 4:30 PM. Today I saw 2 does out of range running on top of a hill, and that was it.

Me and my dad stopped in at the registration station in L. Tom to check on the number of registered deer, and weheard that it was down 50 PERCENT last year. Unbelievable, just totally unbelievable. Almost every deer track I saw had wolf or coyote prints right behind it. The DNR has to stop them, and eradicate wolves again.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Me and my dad went out all day yesterday he got a shot off at a little spike at about 8:30a.m. but missed. I saw does all day went on a little push about 1:30p.m. to try to push something to my dad was pushing a bunch of does right at him when 2 bucks came from the other direction a big 8 and an even bigger 10 I shot the 8 before I even noticed the 10 was behind him. The shot didn't even scare the 10 he just looked at me and carried on his marry way no flag no running nothing. The only thing he did was stopped to smell the 8 that was down right in front of him.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Slim pickings here in Price County, saw a yearling doe and my son saw a small spike but passed. Not much for deer sign, plenty of canine tracks here also....

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

my lady got her first deer ever, nice 7 point, 16 inside. but nobody is seening any deer. DNR sure got their #s off count.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Hunted with my dad for the first time in almost 20 years. The SE wind however absolutely affected our hunt. This was far fewer deer than we expected to see on the weekend, but we were on the SE side of the field (the stand is set up for a NW wind), and it was easy to tell that everything that came outof the woodswas sooner or later alerted to our presence even at the end of the field 365 yards away. Our group did ok shooting6 bucks, and everyone let the smaller ones pass.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Absolutely horrible. We are in an earn a buck area and we haven't seen hardly any. Ever since they started to let everybody shoot as many does as they want the hunting has steadily gotten worse. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out if there are groups of 5 or 6 guys shooting 20 to thirty does your herd is going to suffer. I'm just hoping that us hunters can get the dnr to change some things so it's not like it was thirty years ago for our children where seeing a deer is a big deal.But I suppose all we'll hear from them is record deer numbers and we just aren't hunting hard enough. Ten years agoI saw 46 deer opening morning... This year 0. With the insurance companies in the dnr's pocket I don't see how we have a chance.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

I agree %100 jessie. I hunted sawyer county, and I saw four does all weekend. I could of shot three of them, but I didnt want to contribute to the problem. Two of the guys in our camp didnt see anything all weekend. 1.8 million deer is the craziest thing I have ever heard, the dnr is in somebodies back pocket and they are ruining a great wisconsin tradition.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

It really sucks but what can you do? If you don't shoot enough does... you will be earnabuck but what good does your earn a buck sticker do you if you don't have any deer. As far as I'm concerned the "glory days" of Wisconsin deer hunting I grew up in in the 90's are over and it's a damn shame. And all everybody hears is shoot all of the does to get huge bucks. Well I personally would rather see lots of does and little bucks than to see one "shooter buck" every two years and nothing else. I'm just happy that all the dnr cares about is the well being of us hunters and our deer herd. What a joke. I think it will get worse also because it's pretty hard to convince someone from another state to pay $160 for a tag and not see a deer!!!

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

What a horrible opening weekend. Sat all day Saturday and Sunday and half a day today and only saw one doe. Very few deer being seen by everyone around. Even the groups that are driving all day were seeing very few. DNR really screwed up hunting around here. EAB is a joke, and just too many deer seasons. Two T-zones, bow, gun, youth, muzzleloader, and crop tags on top of it is a joke. I don't mind all the seasons if they would cut down how many deer you can take. Shoot them all, thats what the DNR wants.[:'(]

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Well...I agree that the opening weekend stunk, but with a little different opinon on why. We hunt in Polk county on the NW side of the state. We are avid Bow hunters as well as rifle. This year, up till this weekend, we have seen more big deer than many of the prior years and saw more bucks during bow season than ever before. We saw plenty of "shooters", basically three years old or greater up to this weekend.

However, come Saturday....almost a complete reversal. Perfect weather (cool, cloudy and little wind)but no deer moving. While we don't always get nice deer, we sometimes do and usually see a lot more than we just did. We also heard a LOT less shots around us. We usually joke that Saturday morning is like WWIII. Not this year.

We also talked to the local registration station and they too were off dramatically, close to 40% less deer registered.

I think it had to do with the rut and what stage it is in. I do not believe that the DNR is misleading us, at least not in parts of the states I know well or friends in mine hunt.

Basically, the peak action in our part of the state usually occurs around the 4th - 7th of Nov. This year it was a week later. The main action happened the 14th and 15th. This was also noted by many of the other hunters in our area. With the peak taking place just a week before the gun opener, the timing would be "just right" for bucks to just lie down with does - in essence the peak breeding time.

Thinking about this, and sick of seeing literally no deer where I typically see quite a bit and get a buck opening day (75% of the time), I got out of my stand and still hunted starting 1:00pm Sunday.

I really took my time, probably covering 100 yards an hour. Made as little noise as possible and glassed every nook and cranny over and over and went straight up wind. 3 hours later, I got within 25 yards of 9 bedded deer, including two bucks. I got an 8-pointer and they had almost no idea I was there.

Today, my father-in-law took this tactic in a different part of our land and got a real nice 2 1/2 year old. He said he barley moved 350 yards in 4 hours.

So, I think the deer are simply lying down. It makes sense given what we have seen as well as what we have reas/learned about the phases of the rut.

In WI, this next weekend could be fun as they get up and move again.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Hunters

Hunted in Daggett, Michigan and got a six point buck and two doe opening day. Helped the others in camp so all went home with a deer.

Hunted in Coleman, Wiscsonin and sat opening morning and then went home without seeing a deer. There are deer and i was just pooped from hunting.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

What makes you think their going to start to move again?? is it because it will be going into the post rut and their looking more for food?

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

I don't want to insult anyone on this forum, but quite a few of us are guilty of playing the hunting game by the rules the DNR layed out. ( When I say"we" and "us" I mean hunterssuch as myself and friends/family) When they offered us bonus tags and antlerless tags for our given management areas we took 'em and killed quite a few deer that we normally would have let pass. I remember years when we felt it was a good day to seea deer......ANY deer.... and now-dayswe whack anything brown that walks by.I realize that some of the agricultural areas suffer from excess whitetail population and create a hardship for farmers, thus the more generous availability of tags.What I'm suggesting is a more restrained approach, start hunting bucks again, not deer. For you poor souls in the "earn a buck" areas, it's out of your hands, but for some ofus, we still have a choice in how we hunt and what we kill. Opt out of filling an antlerless tag or bonus tag, maybe it will pay dividends in future years. Just my 2 cents......

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

I agree totally. I saw three does opening day and it seems like everyone I talk to cant believe I let them walk. I look at it this way, I enjoyed seeing those deer. If I shoot one it has no fawns and and My chances of seeing deer next year are reduced. I am not against shooting does generally but people seem to think they need to shoot anything they have tag for.

Coincidentally I am conflicted on the issue because I have recently started letting 1.5 year oldbucks walk as well. If I let young bucks walk and I let does walk because I believe their are few deer in my area, then I will only shoot older bucks aka I will probably only get a deer at all once every four or five years. So I really dont what to think anymore :(.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

I shot this guy at 2:15 pm on sunday...Some other hunters pushed this 200 lb 8 pt within 3 yds of my ladder stand...he came in hot and heavy..lol....i'm just glad he stopped when he saw me otherwise i may not have gotten s shot off...
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f254/jkcmerg/11-24-2008013.jpg

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

You are absolutely right hunter7198. I am guilty of shooting does also. But now the dnr has some of us painted into a corner by having areas eab. I totally agree that we should let more does walk. Our hunting group is trying to figure out how to "get around" the eab. Possibly having our party go every other year alternating does and bucks. We will only get to shoot one deer per rifle season but with more does hopefully the population will turn around. I don't remember hearing anybody complaining about hunting when we could only fill one tag per year, but now we have gotten accustomed to that doe tag that comes with the buck. Personally I would rather see a pile of deer and hold out for a nice one than not see anything. Filling my tag is a bonus. I eat alot of vennison but my folks raise beef and pork so I can live without it. I just want my son (who's 15 mo old) to be able to see the numbers of deer I did when I was starting. Also I hope I haven't come across like a conspiracy theory guy but everyone just took for granted that if they were giving us the tags that the herd wouldn't suffer.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

I wonder if some of the reason why people aren't seeing as many deer is that many hunting parties don't do drives anymore, especially on opening day? I think back a few years and when our neighbors and ourselves were doing drives, deer would be running from one place to another. Sure I would see 40 deer, but I think many of them were the same deer more than once.
There is now a fear that deer will get driven onto a neighbor's land, giving them the chance to shoot "Bucky", so we sit. I now see about the same # of deer with my gun as I do/would with my bow. Fewer deer, but they aren't scared out of their wits. That doesn't mean that the deer population is down though. Granted, our neighbors and us never went crazy shooting 4,5,6 doe each for the past 5 years, we used restraint and shot some doe, but not all of them. I know that isn't the case in many parts of the state.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

six deer but realy nothing

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Had one of my best opening days I've ever had. Saw 22 deer, 4 bucks including anice 10 I missed about an hour before dark which I figured would score in the 130 to 140's. Second day saw 16 including a beautiful 8 which would have scored in the 120's to 130's if he hadn't broken a G2 and G3. Got to watch him for 15 minutes as he passed at 35 yards.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

We had a very similar expierence to Brocster...5 guys hunting in Wautoma and for the first 2 days we sat in stands and saw very few deer, mainly little bucks. Monday morning one guy still hunted and shot a little six pointer that was just laying in the woods. The snow monday made still hunting optimal, so after hearing of his sucess I took a slow walk back to my stand and shot a nice 8 pointer also just laying there. He looked like a big brown rock until he lifted his head! He was beded down with 2 does in the middle of our property (120 acres) and we hadn't see him before.

And to be proactive, yes I had a orange coat and hat on but took them off after dragging the deer back to the road.;)

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

hunted everyday from opening to today dident see any deer at all not even that many shots maybe 5 shots all opening morning i have hunted this same woods for 8 years now and always see deer opening morning worst year ever dnr realy killed off the wisconsin deer hurd!

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

I hunted today for 3 or so hours, and I didn't see anything, just a lot of wolf tracks.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Kim got her first deer opening night and I saw one buck...10pt. maybe low 150's out about 80yards, he was doing Mach 10 so no shots fired.

all in all I saw a lot of deer this year....and waaaaaaaaaay to many turkey.

...maybe the DNR got turkey and white-tail numbers mixed up...;):D:D:D

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Yep it was a joke here in Waupaca County in WI. Numbers way down. Missed one doe and that's it for shooting for me.

Saw 5 deer opening day and 1 the following Sunday. Saw a couple more last weekend but the numbers are way down. According to the DNR website, 22 % down from last year for registering deer.

The DNR needs to rethink their EAB and all their management zones because they really messed things up this year.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Copied from bowsite:

1961 – Resident big game license increased from $4 to $5; first use of SAK--sex-age-kill population-reconstruction technique for estimating deer numbers; hunters required to transport deer openly while driving to registration station; legislation authorizing unit specific quotas for antlerless harvest established. 1962 – Deer population above 400,000; deer management unit specific population goals established. 1963 – First year of quota party permits in eight management units; assassination of President Kennedy lessens hunting pressure.
1964 – Party permit quota extended to 32 management units.
1967 – Hunter Safety Education Program begins. 1970 – Registered gun kill is 72,844 with 501,799 licenses sold; 13 hunters killed.
1973 – No deer season fatalities.
1978 – Record registered gun kill is 150,845 with 644,594 licenses sold. 1980 – Blaze orange clothing required; first season of Hunter’s Choice permit; new law prohibits shining wild animals from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sept. 15-Dec. 31; coyote season closed in northern management units to protect nascent wolf population.
1981 – Record registered deer kill of 166,673 with 629,034 licenses sold.
1982 – Another record registered gun kill of 182,715 with 637,320 licenses sold; three deer season fatalities.
1983 – Harvest continues to rise with another record registered gun kill of 197,600 with 649,972 licenses sold; experimental antlerless deer hunt in six southern management units to relieve crop damage. 1984 – Big jump in registered kill, fourth record harvest in a row of 255,726 with license sales totaling 657,969; handgun deer hunting allowed in shotgun areas; group hunting legalized.
1985 – Fifth consecutive record kill of 274,302 with 670,329 licenses sold; deer season extended in 21 management units; legislature further strengthens road hunting restrictions.
1986 – Gun deer season now nine days statewide; landowner preference program begins for Hunter’s Choice permits. 1987 – First year of bonus antlerless permits; seven fatalities and 46 hunting incidents.
1988 – Handguns permitted statewide.
1989 – Record registered harvest of 310,192 with 662,280 licenses sold; pre-hunt herd estimate of 1.15 million deer; two fatalities and 37 hunting incidents.
1990 – Another record kill of 350,040, including 209,005 antlerless deer; record license sales of 699,275; pre-hunt herd estimate of 1.3 million deer; season extended for seven days in 67 management units.
1991 – Third consecutive year of record harvest, 352,330; hunters allowed to buy more than one antlerless permit; season extended to 72 management units, mostly in the north; first year of separate, seven-day muzzleloader season.
1992 – Though kill fourth highest on record, 288,820, many hunters voice discontent over lack of success and claim DNR raised expectations by pre-hunt harvest prediction of around 370,000; hunters allowed to apply for bonus antlerless permits in more than one unit; Natural Resources Board approves Secretary’s recommendation to keep the gun season at nine days; new metro management units established around La Crosse, Madison and Milwaukee. 1993 – Harvest drops to 217,584, including 100,977 antlerless deer; pre-hunt herd population at 1 million with many units well below prescribed goals; 34 units, mainly in the north, designated as buck-only units; one fatality, 17 hunting incidents. 1994 – Hunters Choice permit availability jumps to 177,340 from 103,140 in 1993; six northwest management units remain buck only; herd beginning to build-up in southern agricultural range.
1995 – Harvest totals 398,002, a new state record; 32 incidents, one fatal; over 577,000 antlerless permits available with 414,000 plus applicants with 163,000 bonus permits offered to hunters; for the first time hunters can use their bonus or Hunter’s Choice permits in either the gun, bow or muzzleloader seasons.
1996 – “Earn a Buck” requirement placed on hunters in 19 deer management units situated in agricultural range where existing deer seasons and permit systems aren’t controlling herd growth; special four-day antlerless only season, state’s first October hunt since 1897, takes place in 19 ‘Earn a Buck’ units, resulting in a kill of 24,954 deer. 1997 – “Earn a Buck” provision scuttled; early Zone T season in seven management units and three state parks results in over 7000 deer killed; the safest gun season even with one fatality and 10 incidents.
1998 – An early October gun season for third year in a row held in one management unit, 67A; harvest of 332,254 is fifth highest; incidents total 19 with two fatalities; most units in all regions of the state estimated to be above prescribed goals due to the mild winter of 1997-98. 1999 – Early antlerless Zone T deer season held in seven mainly east-central management units and one state park; early archery season is extended through Nov. 18 in Zone T units; pre-hunt herd estimate is 1.5 to 1.6 million deer; 33 management units in the central and southern part of the state are designated ‘watch unit’s that are above population goals and may be designated as Zone T units next year if quota numbers aren’t filled; resident deer license costs $20; non-resident license costs $135; record harvest of 402,204 deer. 2000 – Early four-day Zone T antlerless hunts produces kill of 66,417 deer; 97 of the state’s 132 deer management units listed as Zone T; two free antlerless permits given to all hunters buying deer-related licenses; hunters kill a record 528,494 deer during the early antlerless only, nine-day, muzzleloader and late antlerless only gun seasons; nine-day gun harvest totals a record 442,581 (170,865 antlered, 271,573 antlerless); 694,957 licensed gun hunters.
2001 – Wisconsin’s pre-hunt population estimated at 1.5 million deer; free antlerless permit given to all hunters buying deer-related licenses; 67 deer management units and nine state parks designated as Zone T; October and December four-day, Zone T antlerless hunt results in kill of 58,107 deer; nine-day gun harvest is the state’s fifth largest, totaling 361,264 (141,942 antlered, 219,260 antlerless); chronic wasting disease (CWD) later identified in three deer harvested in the Dane County Town of Vermont.
2002 – Herd estimate at 1.34 million deer; DNR samples about 41,000 deer during the early Zone T antlerless hunt (Oct. 24-27) and opening weekend (Nov. 23-24) of the nine-day gun season to determine if CWD is present anywhere else in the state besides the Disease Eradication Zone in southwest Wisconsin; expanded hunting opportunities set-up in the CWD Management Zone and a gun deer season slated for Oct. 24 to Jan. 31 in the CWD Eradication Zone; October and November four-day, Zone T antlerless hunts in 25 deer management units produce a harvest of 36,228 deer; hunters register 277,755 deer during the traditional, nine-day season; number of licensed gun hunters drops about 10 percent with much of the decrease attributed to concerns about CWD.
2003 – Fall deer population estimated at 1.4 million; landowners in CWD Disease Eradication Zone (DEZ) can request free permits to harvest deer without a license and receive two buck tags per permit; earn-a-buck (EAB) rules in effect and no bag limits on deer in the CWD management zones; deer hunting license sales up 14 percent over 2002, but down 13 percent when compared to 2001; overall, DNR collects 15,025 samples for disease surveillance with 115 wild deer testing positive for CWD; all but two positives are from the Disease Eradication zones (DEZ) of southwest Wisconsin and Rock County; hunters killed 388,344 deer during the early antlerless only, nine-day gun, muzzleloader and land antlerless only deer seasons.
2004 – Many deer management units (DMU’s) in all regions of the state estimated to be above prescribed management goals with 48 DMU’s designated as Zone T and 26 units as EAB; fall deer population estimated at 1.7 million deer; hunters issued one free antlerless permit for each license type (archery or gun) up to a maximum of two; during all seasons, hunters in the CWD DEZ and much larger Herd Reduction Zone (HRZ) are required to kill an antlerless deer before harvesting a buck; hunters kill 413,794 deer during the early antlerless only, nine-day gun, muzzle loader, late antlerless only and CWD zone deer seasons; eight gun deer hunting incidents documented with two fatalities; all incidents are either self-inflicted or shooter and victim were in the same party; hunters set a new record of venison donations by giving 10,938 deer yielding nearly 500,000 pounds of venison for food pantries to feed needy people across the state.
2005 – Forty-five DMU’s designated as Zone T units with unlimited antlerless permits and expanded gun hunting opportunities; hunters issued free antlerless permits for both archery and gun licenses; permits valid in any Zone T and CWD units; hunters in CWD units could get an unlimited number of antlerless permits at the rate of four per day; hunters harvest 387,310 deer during the early October, regular gun, late December and muzzleloader seasons combined, the eighth highest kill on record; 195,735 deer harvested during the opening weekend (Nov. 19-20) of the nine-day gun season; gun deer sales total 643,676, down one percent from 2004; DNR conducts CWD surveillance survey in the agency’s Northeast Region where 4500 deer are tested and CWD not detected; 14 incidents, including three fatals, during the nine-day season (Nov. 19-27); top five gun deer harvest counties – all located in central Wisconsin--are Marathon (15,871), Clark (13,918), Waupaca (12,260), Shawano (11,748) and Jackson (11,461).
2006 – Statewide harvest quota totals 469,385 antlerless deer; more than 1 million antlerless deer permits issued to reach this quota; all hunters issued one free antlerless permit for each license type (bow and gun) with permits valid in any Herd Control, EAB and CWD units; hunters kill the fifth highest gun total (393,306) during the youth, regular gun, late December and muzzleloader seasons combined; 10 incidents, one fatal, with five self-inflicted and five with shooter and victim in the same party. 2007 – Again, over 1 million antlerless deer permits issued and all hunters again get one free antlerless permit for each license type valid in all Herd Control, EAB and CWD units; nine-day gun season (Nov. 17-25) earliest possible opening day under the current season structure; 402,563 deer killed during all gun seasons is the third highest total on record, surpassed only by 2000 (528,494) and 2004 (413,794).
2008 – The 157th deer season: state’s deer herd estimated between 1.5 and 1.7 million; 57 DMU’s under EAB regulations and hunters must “earn” a buck sticker authorizing them to shoot a buck by first killing an antlerless deer; 51 DMU’s are on the EAB “watch list” meaning they could be designated as EAB units in 2009 if a sufficient number of antlerless deer aren’t harvested; a major change is the CWD DEZ and much larger HRZ have been combined into one CWD-Management Zone (CWD-MZ); most of southern Wisconsin lies within the CWD-MZ boundary and rifles can be used to hunt deer in previously shotgun only areas of the CWD zone; venison donation program available statewide in both the CWD-MZ and non-CWD units. ++++++++++++++++++++++++
Did we think house values could continue to grow every year. Deer numbers and harvest levels couldn't continue upward forever. I am just glad it isn't 1970 any more. We got spoiled with high deer populations.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Nice buck WLH!

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

CRAPPY CRAPPY CRAPPY

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Handles it wasnt the wind trust me on this. The SE wind is perfect for my property and we didnt see crap all season, and so far only saw 1 this muzzle loader season.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Thanks!

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

CALL YOUR STATE REP. THEY ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THIS WITH THE DNR!!
DON'T WRITE OR CALL THE DNR They won't listen.

Here is a web address: www.legs.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/waml.aspx This site will tell you who your Rep. is!

I read in todays news that low numbers are on the spring agenda conservation congress vs DNR.

The members of the con. cong. are suggesting NO DOE TAGS FOR NORTHERN WISCONSIN
BUCK ONLY NEXT YEAR!

DO SOMETHING MAKE YOURSELF HEARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

WOW!

A real scholar promoting the gosple of the DNR. You need a pulpit Handles.

We know where we have been, why copy an article and try to make us feel better.

There is no logic to your propaganda of the good ol DNR. They say if it smells like dog s..t and it looks like dog s..t it probably is! Your not talking to a bunch of dummies on here, we have seen what the Dnr has done and don't like it.Our deer numbers are low because the DNR screwed up on their surveys and won't admit it. I think they did this on purpose because the ins. lobbyst's have both hands in their pockets with feel good money. We have known for some time that the ins. companies want every deer eradicated and you just keep on blaming the farmers and dumb sportsmen for killing too many deer, when in fact they were told inflated numbers. So what did we do? We tried to do our part- till we don't see any deer. I won't waste my time watching squirels or birds when deer hunting.

NATURE IS GREAT TO WATCH BUT I WANT TO SEE DEER!!!!!

PLEASE--CALL YOUR REP. BEFORE THE SPRING MEETINGS!

As noted above it wasn't the wind--the deer smelled you! GET A (SCENT-LOC SUITE) and just hunt.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Windlake, Heck of a buck!! Where it Wautoma were you hunting? I hunted Wautoma 2 seasons ago off Cree and 73 just south of Silver Lake. Didn't see many deer but my buddy got 2 and my other buddy missed one. All does though. We knew there were some big boys around though, I was introducing my buddies into deer hunting so it wasn't ideal for me to be big buck hunting. You ever stayed at that Pine Wood Lodge? Could be the greatest place ever for a hunter to stay.We stumbledon it by accident and loved staying there. Its made for hunters. If I ever get to hunt anywhere in Wautoma again, I'll stay there. Again, Congrats on a nice buck!

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

My opening morning was great!! I ended up shooting my largest buck to date, an 8pt with an 18in inside spread. I saw 6 deer that morning, but I only sat till 9! As far as the group of guys hunting on our 120 acres of land, we manage to shoot 14 deer! All in all it was an average year in the number of deer sightings. It will be interesting next year to see if will be in EAB!! I dont believe we will be, but I heard the DNR said we as hunters did not hunt hard enough!! :eek:

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

YAH- WE DIDN'T SEE ANY THING BUT SQUIRELS AND GROUSE!

WE DIDN'T HUNT HARD ENOUGH? I'LL BE DAMNED IF I WILL DRIVE EVERY LIVING CREATURE OUT OF MY LAND TO SEES A DEER. DON'T GET ME WRONG DRIVING MAY BE OK FOR SOME GUYS BUT WE DON'T DO IT.The deer were shot down over the past five years to numbers of the 70's and we didn't hunt hard enough. The good old DNR wants you to believe them again rather than saying they overestimated the herd. Yes a few groups did see deer but the majority are saying this was the worst year they had. SOME GUYS DON'T CARE IF THEY SEE DEER BUT THIS GUY WOULD RATHER SEE MORE DEER. This two deer to forty acres or something the DNR has in mind for us is not sitting well with me.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Trust me I agree with you all the way!! It is ashame to see what is going on with the deer heard in wisconsin....

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Thanks Fastetti...a friend has a cabin on Silver Lake. We hunt northwest of there. And the you're right, the Pine Wood Lodge is a great place with pretty good food too! We did well this year for big bucks, but didn't shoot any does which is a first for us and only because we didn't see many.

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

I only bowhunt these days, so i sat with my father and videoed him for the show............Had alot of does and 3 different young bucks in range, he ended up taking a nice mature doe. We hunt right in the heart of the CWD zone and our deer numbers are ok, BUT it is all private land and the nieghbors don't have the kill all mentality anymore after they have seen the DNR's agenda. I truely feel for you folks in other areas that have to sit for days and not see a single deer, it is rediculous that the DNR is trying to get such low numbers when our habitat can support 3-5 times more than the projected goals of 10 deer/sq. mile:eek:

The only way we are going to make a change is to have our voices heard, go to the spring meetings and voice your opinions. Let the ba**rds know we won't stand for this uncalled for and sensless slaughter any longer!

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Ya - now your talkin!

This is what we need. We all have to get p..sed and not take it any more! When this happens then things will change. Some people talk the talk but they aren't ready to walk the walk. When they have had enough they will start to stir up the dust.

The people at the DNR will listen when forced to and not before!

IT IS INSANE THAT THE GUYS IN CWD UNITS SEE MORE DEER THAN WE DO!

RE: How was your opening Wisconsin gun hunt?
 

Well lets see got in the stand about 5:40, sat there till 8:30ish then had a Doe come by me let her walk (Dad and i had a deal only nice buck that weekend) about ten minutes later I saw another doe cross the neighbors field go up in the woods behind me and pretty sure she was shot, then sat till 2ish and heard my dad pop off a couple shots and thought "o cool he must have got a nice buck" well NO he missed. Sat for another two hours not seeing anything then had a decent nine come by and shot him, pretty sure he is the one that my dad shot at.All day sunday didn't see any[:@]