Your Wisconsin Outdoor Community

Because the fall hunting season is fast approaching, the DNR asked that all hunting groups help them by getting out the word on the rules and fees for the youth mentored hunting program that the Governor signed into law yesterday. Please spread the word to all your hunting friends and family and take a kid hunting.

SUMMARY OF THE HUNTING MENTORSHIP PROGRAM - Restrictions & Requirements

Rules that apply to the Hunter:

Must be at least 10 years old.

Must have the appropriate valid hunting license, permits and tags.

May only hunt while within arms reach of a mentor - regardless of the hunter?s or the mentor?s age.

Must follow all other hunting laws, seasons and bag limits.

Even if they have already passed a hunter education course, 10 and 11 year olds may only hunt when hunting with a mentor and comply with the hunting mentorship program rules (one weapon, arms reach, etc.).

There is no limitation as to the number of times/years a person hunt as a mentored hunter. Rules that apply to the Mentor:

Must be at least 18 year old.

If born on or after 1-1-73, must be a hunter education course graduate, or have completed basic training with the U.S. Armed Forces,

Must be the hunter?s parent or guardian, or have the permission of the hunter?s parent or guardian before taking a person under age 18 hunting

Must have a current year?s hunting license. Type of hunting license does not matter unless the mentor will also be hunting, in which case they must have the appropriate valid hunting license, permits and tags for species they will be hunting.

Only allowed to serve as a mentor for ONE hunter at a time if the hunter is either:

age 10 or 11, or was born on or after 1-1-73 and has not taken and passed a hunter education course.

Rules that apply to both the Hunter & Mentor:

Only ONE firearm, bow, or crossbow (if eligible for a crossbow permit) can be possessed jointly by the hunter and the mentor.

HOW CAN THE PUBLIC FIND OUT ABOUT THIS NEW PROGRAM?

Here is a copy of the press release send out today:

http://dnr.wi.gov/news/BreakingNews_Lookup.asp?id=1386

All the hunting regulations had been printed or sent to the printer before this new law was passed. We are working to direct as much traffic as possible to web and call center. Attached below is a copy of the Mentored Hunting Program Brochure, which will be posted on the DNR's web site at the link to the Mentored Hunting page below.

At the link below, we have created a Mentored Hunting webpage. This page will contain information regarding mentored hunting. We are taking out ads in the September 1 edition of the Outdoor News and On Wisconsin Outdoors that encourage participation and direct people to the web or call center for information. We are also producing a series of short videos that outlines the opportunities the new law presents and the conditions under which mentored hunting must be carried out. The first video should be available next week some time.

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/

IDENTIFYING WHO IS HUNTING UNDER THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, AND WHO IS NOT?

When any person age 10 or 11, or any person born on or after January 1, 1973 who is older than 11 but who has not yet completed hunter education, purchases a hunting license, that license and backtag if applicable, will indicate that the hunter is a ?Mentored Only? hunter. This will be printed in the Hunter Ed. Cert. space on the license/backtag. This will identify to the warden that the license holder is someone who must be within arms reach of their mentor and that there should only be one firearm or bow possessed jointly between them. In addition, attached to each "Mentored Only" hunting licenses will be a short list of the key restrictions that apply to the hunter and the mentor. Attached below is what this will look like. It also shows how/where the "Mentored Only" words will be printed on the license/backtag.

NEW FEE SCHEDULE FOR HUNTING LICENSES FOR 10 & 11 YEAR OLDS

Residents & Nonresidents

Small game: $7

Bonus antlerless deer tags (for Regular DMUs): $5 Gun Deer: $7

Herd Control & EAB antlerless deer carcass tags: $2

Class A bear: $7

Each additional wild turkey hunting permit/tag: $5

Archery: $7

Wild turkey: $7

Wild turkey Stamp : $4.50

Non-resident Fur-bearing animal: $7

Pheasant Stamp: $4.50

Class B bear: Not required if under age 12.

Waterfowl Stamp: Not required if under age 16.

Resident Patron: Fess unchanged = $75

Nonresident Patron: Fee unchanged = $77

Just passsing along an email I just received.


Governor Doyle will take action on SB 167 on Thursday, August 13 in a private ceremony in the Governor?s Office.  Legislators are invited to attend.

Where: State Capitol, The Governor?s Conference Room ? 117 East

When: Thursday, August 13 ? 10:00 AM

This committee was formed by the Natural Resources Board in response to the EAB restriction being suspended indefinitely. The Earn-A-Buck Alternative study committee is charged with formulating season structures and incentives to increase antlerless deer harvests during all seasons in areas that may have populations above prescribed goals. You might be asking why the NRB would form a committee to come up with ways to further reduce the deer herd? I know I asked the same question. As a committee member we were told that we could not expand the charge of our group to focus on the reasons many hunters are unhappy about the current deer management plan and that discussions of improving the accuracy of population estimates and increasing the over winter goals were "off the table". Committee members had the play the cards we were dealt so in keeping with the scope of this committee, we came up with some ideas that will hopefully reduce the need for such thing as EAB in the future. 


Committee members want to gather public input on the proposed ideas so a public survey has been created to give you a chance to view the options and provide input. Once the results from this survey are collected, our committee will be using that data to gauge the support of the season structures we have developed and adjust them according to your input. This survey will go live on Sat. July 25 at noon. If you go to the survey now, you will be told to come back on the 25th. In order to meet our deadline, this survey will only be available for a very short time, ending on July 28th, . This survey will include a comment section and you may wish to let the NRB know your views about herd management and the issues causing hunter frustration. Please make sure to pass this survey along to all of your deer hunting friends so we can maximize the amount of public input.

Below is the link to the survey main page

http://deerherd.editme.com/PublicComment

Thanks for taking the time to assist our committee by providing your input

The tickets are now available for the WBH support our sport raffle and the list of prizes is pretty impressive.  The attached image may not view well so here is the list for the 48 prizes (not in order).

Hoyt AlphaMax 32

BowTech Air Raid

Mathews Monster

BowTech Admiral

Mathews Reezen

Diamond Black Ice

Hoyt Gamemaster II recurve

Bear Grizzly Recurve

TC Encore .50 Cal ML

Browning X-Bolt 300 WSM

Browning A-Bolt Stalker 30-06

Browning A-Bolt Stalker 30-06

Rem. 700 SPS 30-06

Rem. 700 SPS 30-06

Winchester Model 70 Ultimate Shadow 300 WSM

Weatherby Vanguard 30-06

TC Triumph .50 Cal ML

Benelli  Nova camo 12 Ga.

Mossberg 835 Ultri-Mag Camo 12 Ga.

TC Omega .50 cal ML

Marlin 917 Lam/SS .17 HMR

Rem. 870 Express deer 12 Ga. FR/FS

Rem. 870 Express  12 Ga. Lam. stock

Rem. 870 Express 20 Ga.

Rem. 597 .22 LR W/scope

Rem. 597 .22 LR W/scope

Ruger 10/22 Realtree AP Camo

Ruger 10/22 Realtree AP Camo


Moultrie Game Spy 4.0 MP IR Game Camera

GM Grizzly 8 person tent

34" Gas smoker

Bushnell Sport 450 Rangefinder

Flambeau Master Series Buck Decoy

Garmin Etrex H GPS

GM Adventurer 12-50x50 spotting scope

Moultrie Game Spy 4.0 MP Flash Game Camera

Ameristep G30 Blind

GM Vista Dome screen tent

Hunters Safety system Tree Stalker Vest

Hunters Safety system Tree Stalker Vest

GM 2-Way Radio Pak

Roadtrip Tabletop grill

GM tracker Cot

GM Performance all day pack

La Chaise Lounge chair

Bushnell Pro Series 10-42 Binocs

GM Guide Series 5 Mill Candle Power Spotlight

GM Flatirons Sleeping bag

Plus 2 earlybird prizes

Cuddeback Capture Digital Game Cam

The Boss Stop Block Target

Tickets are $5 each  or 3 for $10. You can get the tickets through any WBH Director or call the WBH office 715-823-4670. The Drawing will be held at the Broadhead shoot on Sept. 7th in New Lisbon

The citizen (floor) resolutions are now posted on the DNR web site at:
   
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/nrboard/congress/spring_hearings/2009/2009_Resolution_Master.pdf
 
Here are some that caught my eye (that passed) there are others that are equally interesting that didn't pass, such as a ban on all bear hound hunting and bear bait hunting from Dane County which also produced a proposal to ban trapping in WI. and another from Dane to ban beaver trapping. I think we can guess which animal rights group in Dane county was behind that. In all, there were about 200 floor resolutions but a few were duplicates (such as 18 that passed to increase the over winter deer population).   
 
County.......Res. #......................Description   

Adams............10109 ..............Increase in Deer Management Unit Overwinter Goals   
 
Barron........... 30309.............. Increase in Deer Management Unit Overwinter Goals 
   
Barron........... 30509.............. Ag. Tag Program 46 6 Passed Big Game 
 
Columbia........110209............... Crop / Ag. Tags Proposals 
   
Columbia.........110409............... One Buck per Weapon 
     
Dunn...............170309.............. Discontinue $2 HC Tags and EAB
     
Florence..........190309.............. QDM Trial in DMU 50   
   
Florence .........190409.............. Include Archers Under Antlerless Quotas 
   
Florence..........190609............... Allow hunting of Predators Over Bait 
   
Forest .............210309.............. 16-day Deer Gun Season 
     
Jefferson..........280309.............. Increase in Deer Management Unit Overwinter Goals
     
Juneau.............290409.............. Change in the Use of SAK 
   
Juneau.............290509............... Increase in Deer Management Unit Overwinter Goals
     
Lincoln..............350209.............. Increase in Deer Management Unit Overwinter Goals 
     
Manitowoc .......360109............... Stop EAB hunts 
 
Marathon..........370209................ Increase DMU goals by 25%
     
Marathon..........370409................. Increase in Deer Management Unit Overwinter Goals 
     
Marathon..........370709................. Prohibit Hunting within Fenced Enclosures
     
Marinette...........380309 ...............Increase in Deer Management Unit Overwinter Goals 
     
Oconto ........... 430209................ Use of Blinds on State Owned & Managed Lands
     
Oconto............. 430709................ Landowner Antlerless Deer Permits 
     
Oconto..............430809................ Half-price Licenses and Permits for Senior Citizens 
     
Oneida.............. 440409................ Legislation to Mandate DNR Follow Recommendations for Doe Tags 
     
Outagamie.........450209.................. Increase in Deer Management Unit Overwinter Goals
     
Portage..............500209................... Increase in Deer Management Unit Overwinter Goals
   
Racine................520209.................... Increase in Deer Management Unit Overwinter Goals
     
Rusk .................550209.....................Ban deer baiting in Wilderness and Primitive Areas 
     
Sauk..................570109..................... Extended EAB Authorization 
     
Sauk..................570409......................Increase in Deer Management Unit Overwinter Goals 
     
Sauk .................570509......................Group Hunting for Archery in EAB Units 
     
Shawano...........590309...................... Stop EAB hunts 
   
Vernon ............. 630409...................... Group Deer Hunting During Archery Season 
 
Vilas..................640209....................... Re-establish the 5-day rest period prior to the November Deer Season
     
Vilas..................640309........................ North / South Deer Season Proposal 
 
Walworth...........651009.........................Increase in Deer Management Unit Overwinter Goals
     
Waukesha..........680209........................ Increase in Deer Management Unit Overwinter Goals
   
Waukesha..........680509........................ Limit of Non-Resident Harvest Tags
   
Waukesha .........680609........................ Quartering of Harvested Deer 
   
Waukesha..........680809........................ Sportsman's License Gun or Bow Proposal 
 
Waupaca............690109....................... Increase in Deer Management Unit Overwinter Goals 
     
Waupaca............690309........................ Lower Age to 55 for Crossbow Eligibility 
     
Winnebago.........710109 ........................Increase in Deer Management Unit Overwinter Goals   
   
Winnebago.........710309......................... Lesser Weapon Proposal
     
Wood............... 720209......................... Three year moratorium on EAB and HC 
     
Wood................720509...........................Increase in Deer Management Unit Overwinter Goals

Now that the first hurdle has been crossed, it's time to focus on the core issue which is the over winter goal. I have been saying for some time that once we get to goal, most hunters would not like it. Using the DNR's DMU Master table (which lists expected harvest values in an "At Goal" scenario) and gathering up the harvest data from all the 2008 deer seasons, I put together a spreadsheet and this map comparing your season last year to what you can expect if the over winter goal of 737,000 is realized. I wish I had completed this task prior to the Madison hearing but there is time to get this info into the hands of those that have supported us.

This is why I had my over winter goal increase resolution submitted in about 15 counties. The goal is the next target that will be focused on with greater emphasis. Raising the Over Winter goal is what myself and a few others have been advocating while sitting on the DMU goal advisory board. That board meets again on Sat. (April 25).


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/DMUmapgunbeloworatgoal.jpg

At the request of a writer for a small town newspaper, I spent some time looking over harvest data for the last few years and DNR population goals since a lot of talk has surfaced about populations goals at the hearing on Wednesday and the fact that this is a DMU review year.  I wondered what harvests would be like if we ever got to goal. Goal is a pretty low number and I contend that most hunters will not like the harvest potential that an "At Goal" scenario will bring.  I looked at a few units and the 2008 harvest data. I picked units that were a mix of regular, Herd Control and EAB season structure.

 2008 gun deer hunter harvest by unit

Unit.............. Gun/buck

14....................434
39....................371
59C.................2,582
62A.................1,770
67A.................1,693
69...................1,493

Here are the DNR expected gun/buck harvests for those units when these units reach goal. This Document was given to me in Jan. as part of the DMU Goal setting advisory board paperwork that each member received. It lists the expected harvest for each DMU in an "At Goal" condition.

Unit.............. Gun/buck

14....................515
39....................844
59C.................3,701
62A.................2,328
67A..................1,968
69....................2,305

If you're like me, you noticed something. In 2008, these units experienced a gun/buck harvest that was below what we can expect even in an at goal condition to the tune of the following values:

Unit................ %

14...................15% below what can be expected when at goal
39...................56% below what can be expected when at goal
59C.................30% below what can be expected when at goal
62A.................24% below what can be expected when at goal
67A.................14% below what can be expected when at goal
69....................35% below what can be expected when at goal

I don't think it's a stretch to say that these units are likely, already below goal and that a cold wet spring effecting fawning did nothing to cause this sort of drop in the harvest of antlered bucks.

It should be noted that this includes the units that have been EAB units for the last 3 years and were originally slated for EAB in 09. The 08 harvest data was finalized back in Feb. and the initial season structure map was released back on March 5th and it was the above data that was used by the Dept to make the map (as well as SAK estimates). That season structure map included many EAB and Herd control units even though the harvest data showed totals far lower than would be realized even if those units were at goal.

Why then was the initial EAB and Herd control season structure presented? and why  does current SAK data show so many units above goal? At the Wednesday hearing, I was asked what I thought the current population was. I said that I thought there were roughly 780,000 deer on the landscape today and that we are far closer to goal than DNR is estimating.  After reviewing this data, I am even more inclined to think that we are very close to an at goal condition on a state wide level and clearly FAR BELOW goal in much of the North.

While I have problems with current SAK population estimates, the above data used historic harvest trends to predict harvest rates when goal populations are reached. I compared that to actual harvest data from last year so I cannot understand why the early season structure map was released unless actual data was ignored in favor of SAK estimates telling the Dept, that the herd is still far over goal.

I apologize for the length of this post and for expressing my distrust in the SAK estimates. I seem to be beating a dead horse but no matter which way I slice this thing,  I keep coming up with data that tells me that SAK is a bucket with many holes in it.