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2007 archery deer season opens Sept. 15

MADISON – The first of the fall deer hunting seasons is set to open on Sept. 15 with the start of archery deer hunting. The early archery season runs Sept. 15 through Nov. 15 and the late archery season runs Nov. 26 through Jan. 6, 2008. Archery hunting in both Chronic Wasting Disease management zones is open continuously Sept 15 – Jan 6.

State wildlife officials say the statewide preseason white-tailed deer population projection is between 1.6 to 1.8 million animals, which should provide plenty of opportunity for hunters who have scouted hunting spots, renewed permissions from landowners if they hunt on private lands, and have equipment ready.

“Deer hunting opportunity should be great again this season,” said Keith Warnke, deer and bear ecologist with the state Department of Natural Resources. “Hunters put in a great effort last year and archers set a new state harvest record for bow-killed deer. The potential is good again this year as populations are above goals in most deer management units across the state and there are an unlimited number of inexpensive antlerless deer tags available for all herd control and earn-a-buck units.

“But remember,” he adds “high deer populations don’t make them any easier to kill. Deer will still use the best available habitat and they continue to make every effort to avoid hunters. To be a successful hunter requires scouting and patience.”

With the exception of the statewide youth deer hunt on Oct. 6 and 7, and the CWD units, there is no gun deer hunting in October again this year. This is the second year of a trial moratorium on October gun hunting and archers who do their scouting should be successful in filling earn-a buck requirements. The return of October gun hunting hinges on meeting a two antlerless deer for every buck ratio in herd control and earn-a-buck units. Hunters met that goal in the central forest area last year but fell short in other areas. “It will take well more than two to one antlerless to antlered ratio this year in herd control units (not including EAB) or October gun hunting will return in 2008.”

Hunters can donate extra venison to the venison donation program so nothing goes to waste, remind officials. Details of the donation program are available on the DNR Web site and at DNR service centers. Due to impending budget cuts there will not be a donation program for deer from the CWD zones.

“Each archery license will come with an antlerless carcass tag good in any herd control or EAB unit in the state,” Warnke says. “And there are unlimited inexpensive antlerless tags for the herd control and EAB units available over-the-counter. For those archery hunters who also gun hunt and plan on gun hunting in an EAB unit, archery season is a great time to prequalify for a buck sticker. That way you can hit the woods opening morning of the gun deer season with a buck sticker in your pocket giving you the option of shooting any deer of your choice right off the bat.”

Archers need to keep in mind that in any area of the state where a firearm deer season is open, including the regular nine-day hunt, muzzleloader season, Oct. 7-8 youth hunt, December four-day antlerless only hunt or CWD hunts, all hunters except water fowl hunters must meet blaze orange clothing requirements. Officials also remind hunters to be careful in the use of tree stands.

The 2007 deer hunting regulations are available on the Department of Natural Resources Web site and at DNR service centers as well as most license vendors.

Earn-a-buck

Fifty-seven of Wisconsin’s 130 deer management units have earn-a-buck rules in 2007. A map of the 2007 EAB units is available on the DNR Web site.

More than 65,000 hunters “prequalified” for a buck sticker in 2007 by registering an antlerless deer during 2006.

If the unit where the antlerless deer was killed was under EAB last year, the hunter received a purple buck authorization sticker on the spot. The sticker could be used immediately to shoot and tag a buck last year or saved for this year. An EAB buck authorization sticker is good in any EAB unit.

If the unit where the antlerless deer was killed was not EAB in 2006 but is under EAB in 2007, the hunter should be in the EAB Prequalification Database. Hunters in this category will be mailed a buck sticker beginning in August 2007. An EAB buck authorization sticker is good in any EAB unit.

Hunters can also earn a buck sticker for the gun deer season by killing and registering an antlerless deer during the early archery deer season in any EAB unit.

Hunters looking ahead to the 2008 seasons can get an idea of which units might be in Earn-a-Buck by looking at the “EAB Watch List” described below.

The following units are on the “watch list” for 2008: all 2007 EAB units, plus units 1, 1M, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 30, 36, 51A, 51B, 52, 53, 54A, 55, 57, 57A, 57C, 58, 59A, 59D, 60B, 72, 73B, 73D, 74B, and 77M.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Warnke - (608) 264-6023

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2007 venison donation program up and running in participating counties

MADISON – The 2007 Venison Donation Program is up and running with cooperating meat processors being added to the list weekly. Hunters anticipating the opening of the 2007 deer hunting seasons may want to check the Department of Natural Resources Web site regularly for additions to the processor list in their area.

“The process for donating extra venison hasn’t changed from previous years,” said Laurie Fike DNR venison donation program coordinator. “If you think you’d like to donate to the program there are only a few simple steps you need to know.

“First, call ahead to the processor to be sure of their hours and workload. Then harvest, tag, field dress and register the deer as you normally would. Once it’s registered simply bring it to the processor. There is no cost to the hunter other than transporting the deer and it puts high quality meat in food pantries for needy families.”

“Donating deer to the program does more than provide food to families,” Keith Warnke, DNR big game ecologist. “By harvesting additional deer you also help reduce crop damages, deer-vehicle collisions and the impacts of selective deer browsing on the forest.”

Since the fall hunting season of 2000, hunters have donated more than 54,000 deer which have provided over 2.4 million pounds of ground venison to needy families. A large network of volunteers including sports groups, church groups, civic organizations, Hunt for the Hungry and food pantry staff work together to distribute the meat from the processor to the food pantries. USDA – Wildlife Services staff, Department of Natural Resources staff and county wildlife damage staff also help administer the program.

No Deer accepted from CWD Zones

Due to expected funding cuts to the chronic wasting disease operations budget by the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee, processors will not be accepting deer harvested in either the disease eradication zone (DEZ) or the herd reduction zone (HRZ) for the venison donation program. This action was necessary so that remaining CWD funds could continue to pay for CWD-testing of deer hunters plan on taking home for personal consumption. Deer harvested in CWD zones will be tagged with red registration tags at registration stations.

Deer harvested from outside the DEZ and HRZ will be tagged with silver registration tags. If counties within the CWD zones elect to participate in the pantry program meat processors in those counties could choose to accept deer for the donation program but could only accept deer with silver registration tags.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurie Fike – - (608) 267-7974

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2007 fall wild turkey and ruffed grouse seasons open Sept. 15

Hunter safety should be a top priority

MADISON – The 2007 fall wild turkey and ruffed grouse seasons are set to open at the start of shooting hours on September 15. The grouse population continues to climb as it is still on the upward side of this popular game bird’s 10-year population cycle and wildlife officials have increased the number of fall turkey permits to 94,800 from last year’s 90,600 as the wild turkey continues to expand its populations in Wisconsin.

Hunters need to keep safety in sight due to the nature of hunting these challenging game birds.

“There’s something very special about turkey and grouse hunting,” says Tim Lawhern, hunter education administrator for the state Department of Natural Resources. Lawhern notes. “And with the enthusiasm that goes with this type of hunting, we should all be mindful of making sure we return home safe and sound at the end of each hunt.”

Here are some things Lawhern says hunters need to keep in mind when going afield after ruffed grouse and fall turkey:

• In grouse hunting, two is company and three is definitely a crowd. Any hunt with more than two will become difficult to manage from a safety aspect.
• Communicate. Grouse cover is thick and sometimes it will be difficult to see a hunting partner who might only be a few yards away.
• Plan your hunt and hunt your plan. Keep it simple. Know in advance how far and in what direction you will be going and when turns will be made.
• Advise someone else of where you will be hunting and when they should expect you back. Then, if something goes wrong, at least someone will know where to start looking.
• Know your safe zone of fire. If you are on the left, your safe zone is to the left and slightly forward. The opposite is the case if you are on the right. Always advance forward in unison and don’t get ahead or behind your partner.
• In heavy cover, shoot only at birds that are at least eight feet above the ground. Don't shoot at low birds that could have a hunter or a dog behind them!
• Wear blaze orange clothing and stay in visual contact with your partner at all times. If you lose sight of your partner stop hunting, call and listen until you locate each other.
• Turkey hunters need to be sure of their target - shooting into heavy brush without positive identification can lead to tragedy
• Follow the four basic rules of firearms safety: TAB+K.
• Treat every firearm as loaded;
• Always point the muzzle in a safe direction;
• Be certain of your target and what’s beyond it;
• Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.

Grouse and turkey hunters also need to be aware that there might be other hunters afield at the same time after other types of game. Bow hunters may be perched in tree stands and other turkey hunters may be under a tree. Most of them will be wearing full camouflage and very hard to see.

Lawhern suggests hunters also consider wearing some type of eye protection. A good pair of clear or light colored safety glasses can go a long way toward avoiding injury to eyes and sight.

“Famed conservationist Aldo Leopold once wrote, ‘There are two kinds of hunting: ordinary hunting, and ruffed grouse hunting,’” Lawhern says. “Don’t let careless hunting practices spoil this special tradition.”

2007 Ruffed Grouse Season Dates:

Zone (A): Sept. 15–Jan 31, 2008

Zone (B): Oct. 20 – Dec. 8

2007 Fall Wild Turkey Season Dates:

Sept. 15 – Nov. 15

Grouse and turkey hunters should also note that during any gun or muzzleloader deer season, including the Oct. 6 - 7 Youth Deer Hunt, antlerless hunts and CWD hunts (see 2007 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations), Blaze Orange clothing is required. A hat, if worn, must be at least 50 percent blaze orange.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Lawhern - (608) 266-1317 Tim Lawhern, hunter safety, (608 266-1317 Scott Hull, grouse and turkey seasons (608) 267-7861

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Groundwater rules kick in Sept. 1

Annual pumping reports, more review of some wells required

MADISON – Rules and recommendations aimed at getting a better handle on how much groundwater is pumped out of Wisconsin aquifers and at assuring trout streams and other high quality waters get the groundwater to sustain aquatic life take effect Sept. 1, 2007.

One of the rule’s benefits for Wisconsinites is to start getting a handle on how much groundwater is being pumped out of aquifers and who is doing the pumping, according to Larry Lynch, the Department of Natural Resources hydrogeologist who led development of the rule. The state has more than 9,000 high capacity wells and understanding how water is used and by whom is important for protecting that resource for all users.

The rules carry out a 2004 law that enjoyed broad, bipartisan legislative support and that state water officials have hailed as a first step in protecting the water resources that need protection.

A groundwater advisory committee jointly appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle and legislative leaders has issued recommendations on how to manage groundwater in areas already experiencing significant decreases in groundwater levels and is due to issue recommendations by the end of 2007 advising lawmakers on additional steps.

Under the rules, owners of all existing high capacity wells -- those which alone or together with other wells on the same property pump more than 100,000 gallons a day -- are required to report annually how much water they pump.

In addition, applicants for new high capacity wells are required to submit more information and face environmental review for wells proposed within 1,200 feet of a trout stream, a water body designated as an Exceptional Resource Water (ERW) or Outstanding Resource Water (ORW), springs with a minimum flow of one cubic foot per second for a least 80 percent of the time, and wells where 95 percent of the water produced is not returned to the Mississippi or Great Lakes drainage basins.

“Before these rules, the law required people to give us information only on how a well was built – there was no information about the possible impacts of a well on a nearby lake, river or springs,” says Lynch. “Now we’ll get that information and be in a better position to understand the wells’ impacts on the rivers, streams and lakes we so value in Wisconsin.”

Applicants for wells near trout streams and the other high quality waters covered by the law will need to submit information on stream width, depth, and flow, as well as a description of the stream channel. DNR hydrogeologists will evaluate the information and potential impacts.

Proposals that have the potential to impact protected resources will undergo an environmental assessment process. If necessary to protect rivers and streams, DNR will issue an approval limiting pumping, the schedule of operation and well construction requirements to make sure the well doesn’t impact the resource, Lynch says. If the well cannot be built without causing significant adverse impacts, DNR could deny the application.

Lynch expects that only a handful of wells will face the comprehensive environmental review process, stressing that the law only applies to new wells and applications to increase pumping in existing wells. The law does not apply to all existing wells.

“How this more comprehensive review process should be applied to existing wells or to new wells near other types of water bodies is a key subject for the Groundwater Advisory Committee to comment on in their report at the end of this year,” Lynch says.

The committee’s report will address whether other types of waters should join trout streams, some springs and ORW and ERW as protected waters.

DNR is already working with well owners to make voluntary changes to protect waters, including a Vernon County trout stream that has been affected by high capacity well pumping, which was the subject of a February 2007 Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine story.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Lynch (608) 267-7553; Barbara Hennings (608) 264-6021

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Flood safety is more than just high water

MADISON – Record-setting rainfalls have left many parts of the southern half of Wisconsin under water, with flooding, washed-out roads, basements under water, downed electrical lines, and the uncertain safety of drinking water just a few of the hazards faced by people living in the rain-soaked and flooded areas.

There are ways people can minimize the effects of flooding on their health and safety, starting with checking for possible contamination of water supplies. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has updated its Web site with information on Coping with Recent Floods.

Those with hookups to public water systems will be advised if there is contamination in the system. Homeowners with flooded private wells need to know that contaminated water may have entered their well through the well cap and that testing and decontamination must be done before the water can be used for drinking, brushing teeth, or washing dishes.

Electricity and refrigeration are also of concern. Most everyone knows that electricity and water don’t mix. But often people forget, and that is where a tragedy can occur. Always turn off the electricity before entering any flooded building or home. Wires may also be down and dangerous in flooded areas. It is vital to be aware of this danger and to take steps to eliminate it. Also, use flashlights, not candles or units that provide light by using gas and flames. It is possible that a gas main may have ruptured and open flames could spell fire or an explosion.

If the power has been off for a period of time, the items in refrigerators or freezers may have thawed or the temperature may have risen to the point above which things can be safely stored. Freezers can keep food frozen for 24 hours, refrigerators without power can keep food at safe temperatures for four to six hours. Throw out any milk, meat of other food if the inside temperature of your refrigerator rises above 40 degrees.

Flood damage can result in significant amounts of waste materials that people need to dispose of properly to ensure they protect their safety as well as the environment. The DNR’s “Coping with Recent Floods” Web page has extensive information on proper disposal of waste materials from flooding, including a pre-demolition environmental check list.

As people work to get their homes and their lives back to normal, practicing good hygiene is a must. Washing hands thoroughly with soapy water multiple times each day will help, especially when preparing food. People with any symptoms like nausea, fevers, cramps, vomiting or diarrhea, should see their doctor.

Sanitation is important, especially in areas of the home where flooding has occurred. Experts recommend that all indoor areas be scrubbed with soapy water. Pay attention to soaping down your counter-tops, cutting boards, eating and cooking utensils, the inside and outside of your stove, refrigerator and other appliances. Make a water/bleach solution from half a cup of bleach to each gallon of water. Use this solution to rinse what has already been washed with soapy water.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Wisconsin Emergency Management – (608) 242-3232

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Survey shows need for all boaters to take steps to prevent spread of invasive species

40 percent move their boats from lake to lake

MADISON - Wisconsin enters one of its busiest boating weekends of the year with 40 percent of boaters surveyed at landings this summer saying they use their boats frequently and move them from lake to lake.

Such “lake hopping” can be part of the fun of boating and fishing, but unless these boaters clean their boats every time they leave a launch and take other prevention steps, they may accidentally spread aquatic invasive species and fish diseases to new lakes or rivers, says Julia Solomon, who leads aquatic invasive species outreach efforts for the Department of Natural Resources and the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

“We want everyone to enjoy this last big fishing and boating weekend of the summer, but to recognize that moving their boats from one water to another increases their risk of bringing unwanted hitchhikers like zebra mussels and Eurasian water milfoil along for the ride,” Solomon says.

“All boaters, especially those who move from lake to lake, need to take appropriate prevention steps every time they leave a boat landing and remind others to do the same.”

The major way that aquatic invasive species get spread to new inland waters is by clinging to boat trailers, boating or fishing equipment, or being carried in bilge water or live wells. Viral hemorrhagic septicemia, a new fish disease, also spreads through the movement of water from infected waters and through anglers moving live infected fish from one water body to another. To help prevent possible spread of the disease, angles should buy minnows from licensed Wisconsin bait dealers or catch their own and use it to fish in the water from which it was caught.

Last week, DNR staff confirmed that zebra mussels have become established in Lake Ripley in Jefferson County, and the previous week, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection announced the discovery of an aggressive invasive plant, hydrilla [exit DNR], in a manmade pond in Marinette County.

While the vast majority of Wisconsin waters don’t have zebra mussels or Eurasian water milfoil, two of the most problematic invasive species, Solomon stresses the importance of boaters taking the prevention steps wherever they boat. Wisconsin has 15,081 lakes and 44,000 miles of streams that flow year-round; close to 500 inland waters have Eurasian water milfoil and about 100 have zebra mussels.

“We can’t monitor every lake in the state, and unfortunately, the lake you boat on may have invasive species that just have been discovered yet,” she says. “Because of this, we urge all boaters to make a habit of cleaning their boats and equipment every time they leave a boat landing to keep Wisconsin waters and fish healthy.”

Every time boaters, sailors, anglers, or paddlers leave a launch they should:

• Inspect boats, trailers and equipment and remove visible aquatic plants, animals, and mud.
• Drain water from boats, motors, bilges, live wells, and bait containers.
• Not move live fish, including minnows, from one water to another.
• Dispose of leftover bait in the trash, not in the water or on land.
• Wash your boat and equipment with high pressure or hot water, or let it dry for five days

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia Solomon (608) 267-3531 or Ron Martin (608) 266-9270