Sales of hunting licenses up 53,000 from 07

[mudbrook]

MADISON, Wis. -- Sales of hunting licenses are up this year.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, about 640,000 licenses have been sold so far this year. That's 53,000 more than last year.

The main difference between this year and last year is the addition of the October deer season this year.

The price for a hunting license is $24.

It's a great bargain and more importantly it's a great tradition here in Wisconsin, right there with the Packers, bratwursts and beer, so I think it would be one of the last things people give up.

There are more deer to eat.

The DNR estimates the deer herd at 1.7 million.

A great season would harvest about half the herd.

Hunters with extra venison can donate it to target hunger and help feed the needy.

[Rancid Crabtree]

This is not 53,000 new hunters but rather 53,000 hunters who bought there tags earier this year as compared to last so that they could partisipate in the Oct. T-zone hunt. There has not been a Oct. T-zone hunt for the last two years. In the end, there will be the same number of hunters in the woods but a few just bought their tags soon than last year. I estimate the number of tags sold will be about 648,000.

[Bukmastr]

 Good point Rancid...  I know more people who are quitting hunting in Wisconsin than I do new ones buying permits.