Barnes you get 1 buck tag a year and how many doe tags?

There are a certain amount of doe tags for each WMU. You can apply for a tag around July or August. Non-residents can apply after that. If there are any left, you can apply for a second tag. Usually you get one.

Down by the cities, they have a lot more. Some guys get 5-10. But in the rural areas, it's usually only one. If you don't send out for a tag by around Labor Day, you're usually SOL in the rural areas.

So, the short answer is: usually one tag in the country and 5 or more in the suburbs.

There are three application dates for most of the state.This past season on July 11 the application for the regular doe license for residents could be sent in, non residents could apply July 18, then on August 1, the first round of unsold licenses could be mailed in and on August 15 the second round of unsold licenses could be sent for. This would allow a total of three doe licenses for all but three WMUs. Many times licenses sell out before the 3rd round in some WMUs. In three WMUs The mail in application started on July 11, for one license, then on August 1 applicants may apply for an unlimited number of licenses but no more than three applications per official envelope, On August 22 if there were any licenses left in the three WMUs applicants could buy unlimited over the counter until the license were all sold out.

^^^^^ Yeah, what he said. :)

Everyone in my camp applies for one tag and everyone gets it unless they lolly-gag on getting the app in the mail. I think most guys in 3B get one doe tag. A few guys get 2 tags and a few get none. But I think most hunters in my area get one tag.

Some of the old timers refuse to shoot a doe but they are becoming fewer.

I always apply for two in case the landowner needs a deer so I can shoot one for him. He doesn't stay out long because of heart problems. I have never applied for three in the WMU I hunt because I have no need for that many deer but the WMU I hunt does sell out so I apply exactly on time..

We applied a rule for hunting out of our camp. One buck and one doe per man. And, with my son and my dad hunting, we never are needing for meat anyway.

Not a bad rule.

Ok you stated wmu. What about private land or did I miss it.

WMU means wildlife management unit, it includes pubic and private land in the unit.

I completely agree. It would be great if most hunters could let the 1 1/2 yo bucks go on their own, but that's not going to happen. And I can't think of any other realistic or enforceable solution. The more I read hear the better APR sounds. Its impossible to make everyone happy. And not trying to be an a--hole, I know a lot of guys that are meat hunters, but I don't think a single one of them would pass on a big, older buck with 150 inches on top of his head, and wait for a tasty little spike.

That isn't the point. There is a world of difference asking hunters to hold back for the health of the deer herd, it is a far different thing to asked them to spend the same amount of money as the bone hunters and force them to hold back to create trophy bucks. That I am unalterably opposed to .

I agree, the point I was trying to make was that the meat hunters may be disappointed that they can't take the first spike they see, but I don't know of any "meat" hunter that wouldn't be happier with a nice eight. And after the first year, in theory, there should be about as many 2 1/2 yo's to shoot for meat as there was 1 1/2 yo spikes or forks the year before. I guess what I'm trying to say is, if its better for the deer herd and it's better for the quality of deer I shoot, I can't see the downside. Other than for the guy that can't shoot the first buck he sees, but by next year there should be enough 2 1/2 yo's coming up to satisfy him, unless he's the one deer hunter in the world who just hates shooting deer with big horns. The guys that say horns don't matter and that they only hunt for meat still smile when they load that 10 pointer in the truck.

Ok. Understand now. I was under the impression that public and private had separate guidelines

OK 243, I miss understood your meaning, I can't argue with what you just said. We used to kill close to 70 percent of our year and a half old deer every year, now we have several age classes and much bigger deer all the way around.

The big mature buck can also appeal to the meat hunter. I'd rather the butcher give me two big boxes than 1 small one. :)

They are harder to drag, though.

I am with you! We have a 6 pt. well over 200 #'s around here for three years now. Very elusive, when people are in the woods he disappears till Jan. / Feb. I have many pics from summer but nothing after.

No war wanted here , In WI. the herd varies a great deal. I am happy with letting the hunters choose the deer they want to take. In my area we have a lot of deer but when you hunt on public land there isn't a lot of deer to be had. If you want a real trophy you can go to the National forest and go deep in where the big bruisers dwell. Not everyone has the same goals, some it might be just to get out in the great outdoors as others just want venison!:)

mc54 what are the deer limits in your state? how long has your state had same limits? from those limits what pro's and cons have you noticed?

Antler restriction promotes older bucks. (and also killing more does)

CWD is found at a higher rate in older bucks.

Wisconsin wants to slow the spread of CWD, so they wont do it.

kabic what limits do you have in Wisconsin for deer?

1 buck for archery or crossbow
1 buck for gun (can use unused gun tag during the muzzle loader season)

I will also mention that party hunting is legal for gun (not archery) under some restrictions( have to be in verbal or visual contact). This allows deer drivers to be legal, i.e the Stander can kill two bucks, and a Pusher can put his tag on one.

So you can kill 2 bucks a year if you hunt both archery and gun.

The number of doe tags available differ depending on what part of the state you are in. Some counties have 0 or very limited doe tags, others have lots available. You get one free doe tag (when you buy your licence) for use in "farmland" areas I believe. Otherwise you can buy more. Detailed information on this is available here: http://dnr.wi.gov/Permits/bonusavailability.html

Some what new is separating doe tag availability by private land\public land

Seasons:
Archery & Crossbow Sept. 17–Jan. 8, 2017

Youth Deer Hunt Oct. 8 & 9

Gun Deer Hunt for Hunters
with Disabilities▲ Oct. 1–9

Gun Nov. 19–27

Muzzleloader Nov. 28–Dec. 7

Statewide Antlerless Hunt Dec. 8–11

Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt Dec. 24–Jan. 1, 2017**

* Please check the 2016 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations for
a complete set of dates and unit designations.

▲ This is not a statewide season. More information is available at
dnr.wi.gov, keyword: “disabled deer hunt”.

**Open only in select Farmland Zone counties; see 2016
regulations for open counties

I would love to hunt the rut with my rifle. Our archery season ends the 2nd Saturday in November and rifle starts the Monday after Thanksgiving (Nov 28 - Dec 2, depending on year).

We are a 1 buck state.

I live in W/C Michigan, we let some bucks walk, some we don't, the first week may let a 6pt walk, week two no tagged deer, he won't make it by, lets not take the fun out of deer hunting with QDM !!!!

We have an antler restriction in Vermont. A legal buck must have 2 points on one side and that 2nd point must be an inch or longer. Do I think we have a healthier deer herd because of it? That's out of my realm of knowledge. I'm not a biologist but I wish that we would have at least a 3 point restriction so that we could get an older age class of bucks. Then I would feel like we were getting somewhere. There still a lot of 1 1/2 year old bucks being shot.

I would really like to know why people only want a old buck to shoot yet will tag a button buck with a antlerless tag. Surely people can tell a button buck is a tiny deer compared to a adult full grown doe.


All you have to do is go to the deer pictures thread above and read the comments about good eating on those tiny button bucks and does.


Letting a buck grow old, I just don't see how that makes for a healthy herd really. Our herd is health now and I don't see letting a buck grow a monster rack makes it any more healthy.


Here every DMU better have the very same rules other wise your just going to make a poacher out of a other wise legal hunter.


Can you really tell a spike was shot in DMU 37 and Not DMU 38 where spikes are legal?


:D Al

antler restriction at 2 points on 1 side is almost a joke I would have to say. I do agree with 3 points on 1 side but 4 on 1 side keeps mature 6 points from being shot which is completely stupid.

mature is mature and points doesn't make a deer any more mature. I also understand people don't know how to age bucks so you have to do the obvious and do antler points to have a restriction that is enforceable

A 4-pointer is most assuredly a yearling. Maybe in some rare cases it wouldn't be, but I'm sure that restriction doesn't save many yearlings.

I hunt in southeast Minnesota and we have had an antler point restriction for the past 6 years ( at least 4 pts on one side). It's the best thing to happen to our area during my 23 years of deer hunting. It took 2-3 years to notice a change but now we see so many more 3+ year old bucks running around. It has really made bow hunting fun knowing that there are deer 150" or larger that can come by at any moment. We have a couple trail cameras out in the early fall to get an inventory of deer. The last 3 years we have always had more mature deer on camera than young bucks. A lot of "meat" hunters were against it in the beginning but now I haven't heard of anyone that doesn't like the outcome. Even the meat hunters are shooting trophy class deer.

It sounds like an idea to improve the chance of getting a trophy buck. But I don't like it because it is putting meat hunters or those who feel lucky enough to even get a deer behind hunters who want antlers, pictures, and bragging rights.

In theory if you don't shoot small antelered deer then those small antelered deer will become larger antelered deer. But many are looking for meat and who would I, or anyone else be, for telling others how to hunt.

Honestly if people are upset over not getting a trophy every year to the point of lobbying the government then they are impatient. A trophy buck should be somewhat rare or the results of a hard effort, not every other deer and decently not at the expense of other hunters.

I'd be happy if Wisconsin would just make you burn your buck tag on button bucks instead of allowing one to use their antlerless tag.

How is letting a buck grow to 5 or 6 years old helping the biology of the deer herd?
I do not shoot does unless it is late in the season and I haven't gotten a buck to put in the freezer (not a trophy hunter). Shoot three does off your property and next year you have lost at least three fawns probably more like five with 2 of them being buck fawns that never have a chance to reach your magical 5 to 6 years of age. I really don't think we need the dnr telling us what a quality deer should be there job is to manage the herd numbers not make us into trophy hunters. If you don't want to shoot little bucks don't, let it cross the fence the neighbor will.