Prospects for return of October gun deer hunting
After a two-year trial moratorium, the October antlerless deer gun season is likely to return in 2008, according to wildlife officials. The trial was set up to test the theory that herd population control goals could be met without statewide October gun deer hunting.
The benchmark objective of the two-year trial was an antlerless to antlered deer harvest ratio of 2:1 in herd control units (not including EAB units). In four of five Deer Management Regions in the state, the ratio was substantially below the benchmark and in the fifth (the Central Forest Region) the ratio was exactly 2:1. In Deer Management Regions where the two-year average ratio is below 2:1, the October antlerless deer gun hunt will be an option next year.
“Hunters did a good job with the trial season structure last year,” says Warnke. “The reality, however, is that it simply appears to be a matter of increasing the number of days of gun hunting opportunity in order for herd control seasons to be effective enough to avoid EAB.”
If the October antlerless deer gun hunt is in place in 2008, it will start Thursday Oct. 16 and extend for four days through the Oct. 19.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Warnke - (608) 264-6023