Hunters, WDNR debate deer numbers
By Kevin Naze • Press-Gazette
A reinforcing shot of cold air and more snow are welcome signs to winter sports enthusiasts, but Northwoods deer hunters are left wondering what the future holds.
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"If it's a long, cold, snowy winter, there will be nothing left," said 77-year-old Don Bins of Green Bay, who hunts in Florence County. "This (deer hunting) is getting terrible. There are a lot of guys teed off."
Bins has been hunting up north since 1946. In 21 days of bow and gun deer hunting this fall, Bins said he saw just two deer. As a group, his camp saw more black bears than whitetails during the archery season along with one wolf.
"I don't sit in the cabin — I hunt," Bins said. "I like to hunt, but I just might hang it up."
Bins said the only place they see any deer sign is in recently logged areas, which are few and far between. He'd like to see more aggressive forest management to create better deer and grouse habitat on public lands.
"There are very few tracks (in the snow), and deer don't fly," Bins said. "We just didn't see diddly this season."
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