Im not sure what the Wisconsin DNR is trying to prove when it comes to hunting these days, but what ever youre doing it has to stop! The DNR has hunters believing there are deer behind every tree. Wrong. Ive been bow hunting all season long and can count on 2 fingers the amount of deer I have seen since opening day of bow season. I have spoken to roughly 50 other hunters from around the state that are saying the same thing. There are no deer! You have accomplished your mission by reducing the deer herd to virtually nothing. Sure there may be some areas with larger herds but thats not the case throughout the state. Ive spoke to people in CWD zones that are not seeing deer as well. Now you hit us where it really hurts and want to extend the gun season an extra week. This is a bad move on your part. Hunters are not happy with this proposal and you are going to be getting your ears full. If you want to manage the herd correctly the DNR has to listen to the hunters. We are the ones out there every day trying to put food on our tables and enjoy the opportunity to hunt. Its a choice we make. We dont have to give the state our money, but we do because we enjoy the tradition of being out there with family and friends. Now its not so much fun. Its becoming more work than anything else.
At least 97% of the hunters I have spoken to throughout the state via certain websites, have all said the same thing. "We need things back to the way they used to be." I beleive there were more deer shot back when it was buck only gun season with the option to buy a bonus tag or hunters choice. When I started bow hunting, it was nothing to see 20-40 deer in one day. Now im lucky to see 1. Of all the properties I have the option to hunt of close to 1500 acres total, in 3 different counties, 400 acres of them are private land, im lucky to see any deer at all. WE DEMAND A CHANGE! We do not want an extra week of gun hunting, we dont need all the special zones, and we sure in the hell dont want to slaughter the herd, although its probably too late for that. LISTEN TO US! I will be more than likely be posting an article in local papers througout the state as well as in Wisconsin Outdoor News. I would rather see a 3 point minimum antler restriction than all this garbage that has been going on for the last 5 years! Its time for a change. We need this change! If this continues I know 50 people the WDNR will not be getting money from anymore. Take all the bow hunting licenses, fishing, gun licenses, small game license costs and multiply that by 50. You do the math.
Thank you for your time and Im sure my word means nothing.

The DNR knows what the hunters think!!! The problem is they don't care. We can get more done by contacting your reps. in the state like we did last winter about EAB. I do agree with every thing you said, however, we need our Representatives envolved.