WDNR nine-day deer hunt forecast for West Central Wisconsin
Deer remain plentiful in the 19 counties of the DNR’s west central region.
All deer management units are well over population goals, though high antlerless harvests in recent years have been successful at reducing deer numbers in some units.
Hunters have a big job this year. This season is set up as the largest herd control effort to date, but with the late start on the calendar, deer will no longer be in the rut by the time opening day arrives. The next best hope for many hunters will be snow cover, even a slight one, to make it easier to spot and track deer.
All of the units in the region will see either a herd control or earn-a-buck framework this year. As in the past, this means a free antlerless tag will be issued with each gun and archery license and additional antlerless tags can be purchased for $2 apiece. These tags are good in any herd control or earn-a-buck unit in the state.
The Central Forest Units (53, 54A, 55, 56, 58) are herd control units this year, but did not have an October antlerless gun hunt because hunters were successful in meeting the harvest benchmark of two antlerless deer for every buck harvested over the past two years. Hunters must continue to harvest at that high level of antlerless deer in this block of units if they are to stay out of the October hunt in future years. The long period of deep snow may have resulted in lowered fawn production which will help keep the herd in check. The winter did not have a significant effect on the deer herd overall.
Other Herd Control units in the region are 23, 24, 27, 33, 46, 57, 57A, 57B, 57C, 59A, 60A, 62A and 65A. These units had the October antlerless gun season. Several of these units could have qualified for an earn-a-buck framework, but were recommended for herd control status because we believe that with the return of the October hunt enough antlerless deer can be harvested to move the deer herd down toward goal. We hope hunters prove us right.
If not enough antlerless deer are harvested during the October hunt in combination with the regular seasons, many of these units could become earn-a-buck next year. Hunters who shoot an antlerless deer in 2008 in a unit that becomes earn-a-buck in 2009 will have earned their buck for that season, so harvesting antlerless deer will be a good strategy in either case.
Units 22A, 54B, 54C, 59B, 59C, 59D, 59M, 60B, 60M, 61, 72, 74A and 74B were once again host to the antlerless only October gun hunt and each will see the earn-a-buck framework this year. Some of these units that have been in EAB in previous years have seen their deer herds decline as a result and could be taken out of EAB next year with a good antlerless harvest.
Wildlife managers believe it is important for hunters to keep the pressure on the deer herd by taking advantage of opportunities to harvest antlerless deer.
Even though deer numbers are high overall, the deer population in any particular area can vary from higher to lower, so it is still important to scout your hunting areas and put yourself in the best position to have a deer come in range.
Hunters play a crucial role in the conservation of our wildlife resources, and an excellent example of that is the role they play in keeping the deer herd at a level that acceptable both socially and ecologically. There is plenty of opportunity available in 2009, so please have an enjoyable and most importantly, a safe hunting season.
