Hunting outlook outstanding for 2008 deer hunting season
MADISON – The first of the major 2008 gun deer seasons opens Oct 16 with a four-day antlerless only hunt. All signs point to a healthy and abundant whitetail deer herd and the Department of Natural Resources wishes hunters a satisfying and safe hunt.
Even after a pretty tough winter in parts of the state and a harvest of more than 520,000 deer in the 2007-08 seasons, the deer herd is still a good deal larger than established population goals in much of Wisconsin. Wildlife biologists estimate that the herd numbers between 1.5 and 1.7 million animals going into the fall 2007-08 seasons.
Managing Wisconsin’s deer herd is a long term commitment, according to Keith Warnke, DNR deer and bear ecologist. With herd control and earn-a-buck (EAB) season structures and strong hunter commitment to herd management through hunting, Warnke says, the state is making progress toward population goals. Large antlerless deer harvests will always be needed, however, even with populations near goal, to stay at desired levels.
The Oct. 16 to 19 antlerless hunt will be held in deer management units across Wisconsin that are listed as Earn-a-Buck and CWD management, and in most units listed as Herd Control (See map for details). All hunters except waterfowl hunters are required to wear blaze orange clothing in any area that is open to gun deer hunting.
A complete review of preseason forecasts, unit descriptions, season dates, successful hunting tips, deer impacts on the ecosystem, Earn-a-Buck qualification and directions for hunters wanting to check their EAB status go to the deer hunting page of the DNR Web site.
Regional season forecasts in brief
Northern Region
A more complete review of the Northern Region’s deer outlook for 2008 is also available.
In the north in 2008 biologists want to give the October antlerless gun season a good chance in herd control units rather than using Earn-A-Buck (EAB). We are keeping the EAB option on the table for next year if we do not get enough antlerless deer harvested in the 27 EAB watch units.
Northern Region hunters will be asked to participate in disease surveillance deer head collection in 2008. DNR will be collecting all adult deer heads (no fawns) from 18 Northern Wisconsin counties including: Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Florence, Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, Vilas, and Washburn. A sample of 500 deer heads from each county is required for disease surveillance. Periodic disease surveillance is necessary to maintain a healthy deer herd.
Much of Northern Region had a harsh winter throughout in 2007-08 impacting deer survival and recruitment. There were 31 DMUs east of a line approximately from Ashland to Ladysmith where the Winter Severity Index (WSI) was well above 90 (a severe rating) and many stations reported above 100 (a very severe rating). History reminds us that fawn to doe ratios have been about 20 percent lower after severe winters and the buck kill has fallen as much as 25 percent when the WSI is well over 100 in Northern Forest Units. The end result was that several units dropped off Herd Control status and antlerless quotas were reduced in others. See the 2008 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations pamphlet for maps and details on hunting unit status.
Northeast Region
A more complete review of the Northeast Region’s 2008 deer outlook is also available.
Deer hunting opportunities and deer populations in the DNR’s Northeast Region vary from north to south in 2008. Hunters should review the regulations for season structure in units they have traditionally visited as there are some changes from 2007.
Northern Forest DMUs in Marinette and Oconto counties are at or near management goals. These units were affected by cold temperatures and deep snow during the winter of 2007-08. Permit levels were set to reflect both the population level and the expected reduction in productivity due to winter severity. All of these units will have the traditional hunting structure plus a December antlerless season.
In the southern two-thirds of the region deer populations remain above population goals. Many of these units had Earn-a-Buck regulations in 2006 and 2007. Harvest numbers have been high over the last two seasons and progress in managing populations was noted in many of the units. Some units have come out of Earn-a-Buck regulations although populations are high enough to maintain liberal hunting opportunities. Herd Control regulations will be in effect in many. See the 2008 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations pamphlet for maps and details on hunting unit status.
West Central Region
A more complete review of the West Central Region’s deer outlook for 2008 is also available.
Deer remain plentiful in the 19 counties of the DNR West Central Region, and with the return of the four-day October hunt in most of the region, hunting opportunities are plentiful as well.
While hunters have been able to reduce deer numbers in some areas, every deer management unit in the region is above deer population goals. All but five of the 29 west-central Wisconsin deer management units will once again have an October season.
All deer management units in the west-central region will see either a Herd Control or Earn-a-Buck framework in 2008. The free antlerless tag issued with each gun and archery license can be used in any of these units. Additional antlerless tags can be purchased for $2 each.
The central forest units – 53, 54A, 55, 56, 58 – are Herd Control units this year but will not have an October gun hunt because over the last two years, hunters met the benchmark of two antlerless deer harvested for every buck. However, another high harvest of antlerless deer is necessary if these units are to remain without an October gun season in the future. See the 2008 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations pamphlet for maps and details on hunting unit status.
South Central Region
A more complete review of the South Central Region’s deer outlook for 2008 is also available.
Overall, South Central Region will offer abundant deer hunting opportunity this fall. Deer numbers throughout the DNR South Central Region which includes the counties of Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland, Rock, and Sauk continue to be significantly over population goals. Although the region experienced higher than normal snowfall throughout the winter, deer adjusted their feeding locations and as a result, starvation of deer in the region was not detected. We feel the winter didn’t have a negative impact on the population.
As a result of the continued population growth, all South Central Region deer management units within the CWD management zone and the three units outside of the zone -- 68B, 73B, and 73D -- will have Earn a Buck Season Structure this fall. Hunters who want to earn their buck sticker prior to the nine-day season will need to do so during the archery season or the four-day October antlerless gun season or have an unused sticker earned in 2007.
If hunters within the CWD Management Zone find freezer space at a premium but are still interested in providing food for people in need, a coalition of community action programs, conservation organizations and the Wisconsin DNR will be launching the Target Hunger Initiative. More information and a list of participating meat processors will be available on the South West Community Action Programs Web site closer to the fall seasons. See the 2008 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations pamphlet for maps and details on hunting unit status.
Southeast Region
A more complete review of the Southeast Region’s deer outlook for 2008 is also available.
The 2008 deer harvest for the Southeast Region will likely be as high -- or higher -- than the 2007 season. Impacts from extreme weather events of last winter and spring may have had some local impacts on deer and fawn recruitment, but deer populations remain above goal throughout the region.
Significant portions of the Southeast Region fall under Earn-a-Buck rules in 2008. Hunters are urged to check the 2008 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations to determine the kind of unit they hunt in and utilize the October antlerless season to “Earn their Buck” if need be so they are ready for opening morning of the November 9-day season. Extra venison can be donated at participating deer processors. Check the DNR Web site or your local DNR service center in early fall for a list of processors.
Deer populations within the eight southeast counties (Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha) continue to be highly variable due to diverse habitat conditions and variations in hunting pressure. Some of the best deer habitat is found in the Kettle Moraine State Forest and within our DNR wildlife areas located throughout the region.
The remainder of the region is covered by urban areas and agricultural landscapes with inclusions of scattered habitat that deer also utilize.
All CWD Management Zone deer management units, with the exception of metro units, are open to rifle hunting in 2008. However some local units of government may have shotgun only restrictions within their jurisdictions Hunters should always check with local municipalities on their ordinances to determine if there are any prohibitions regarding firearms or archery equipment.
Hunters in southwestern Walworth and southeastern Rock counties may be required to submit their deer heads for CWD testing. There will be limited hunter testing elsewhere. Chronic wasting disease sampling and testing will continue to be conducted free of charge and the test results will be provided to the hunter by the DNR.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Warnke, Madison, (608) 264-6023
Mike Zeckmeister, Northern Region Wildlife Supervisor (715) 623-4190
John Huff, Northeast Region Wildlife Biologist (715) 582-5047
Kris Belling, Westcentral Region Wildlife Supervisor (715) 839-3736
Eric Lobner, Southcentral Region Wildlife Supervisor (608) 275-3474
Tami Ryan, Southeast Region Wildlife Supervisor (414) 263-8710
