Statewide antlerless deer only hunt set for Dec. 11-14
Hunt to include central forest deer management units
MADISON – Following the traditional nine-day deer hunting season several deer hunting opportunities remain. The Dec. 1-10 muzzleloader hunt immediately follows the nine-day season and leads to the statewide four-day, Dec. 11-14, antlerless deer hunt.
The antlerless deer only hunt is open to bow and gun hunters and will take place in Regular, Herd Control (HC), Earn-a-Buck (EAB), Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), metro and some state park deer management units. Antlerless deer carcass tags in HC and EAB units are available in unlimited numbers at $2 each.
Hunters are reminded that the Dec. 11-14 antlerless hunt will include the Central Forest deer management units 53, 54A, 55, 56, 58. These units had been excluded from an October antlerless deer hunt in 2008 because hunters in these units had met a 2:1 antlerless to antlered deer harvest ratio over the previous two seasons. These units could be included in future October antlerless hunts if the 2:1 ratio is not met during the 2008 seasons.
In regular deer management units hunters will need a unit specific $12 antlerless carcass tag. These are limited in number but are still available in 8 of 22 regular units in this year’s hunt. A list of units with permits still available can be found on the DNR Web site.
Hunters are advised to consult the 2008 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations for specific tagging and weapon regulations for the deer management unit or state park in which they plan to hunt.
The statewide December antlerless hunt was created in 2006 following hunting groups’ request for additional opportunity to hunt antlerless deer. Hunters also requested, and the Department of Natural Resources made available, a limitless supply of $2 antlerless deer carcass tags in Herd Control and Earn-a-Buck units to assist hunters in pressuring overpopulated deer management units downward, closer to population goals.
