Special Edition
DNR News Sept. 12, 2008

2008 DNR Fall Hunting Forecast

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707

This Week's Articles

• Deer season forecast
• 2008 Venison donation program
• Chronic wasting disease management
• Wisconsin black bear population appears to be growing
• Wisconsin black bear season forecast
• Upland game forecast
• Waterfowl forecast
• 2008-2009 furbearer forecast
• Fall means hunting: Review, Refresh, Stay Safe

Deer Season Forecast

MADISON – Deer hunting is part of a long legacy of conservation in Wisconsin. If that legacy is to continue, it is up to current hunters to recruit and nurture the next generation of hunters. Fall is a magic time of year for the hunting sports and a great time to start a new hunter. There will be terrific deer hunting opportunity statewide again this fall with the early October either sex youth deer hunt plus the mid-October four-day antlerless only gun hunt. Both weekends are a great opportunity to take out a new hunter when the weather is typically nice and the woods are comfortable.

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. Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologists estimate that the herd numbers between 1.5 and 1.7 million animals going into the fall 2007-08 seasons, following a.

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.

Warnke says hunting has had a positive impact on deer herd management in recent years, and hunters deserve credit for that management. Hunters can take advantage of an abundant herd and hunting opportunities to enjoy their pastime, help to secure the future of wildlife conservation by bringing in new hunters and help others by making use of the statewide food pantry donation system to help feed needy families.

Precautions for Eating Deer Harvested with Lead Ammunition

Deer harvested with lead bullets have been shown to potentially have tiny lead particles or fragments remaining in the processed meat. These are often too small to be seen and can disperse far from the wound channel. Although lead in venison does not rival lead paint in older homes as a health risk for the public, the risk is not low enough to ignore. Children under 6 years and pregnant women are at the greatest risk from lead exposure.

The amount of lead found in a small percentage of venison samples suggests that long term effects of lead consumption could occur in people who regularly eat venison shot with lead ammunition. However, there is currently no known evidence linking human consumption of venison to lead poisoning.

These suggestions can reduce exposure to lead in venison:

• Consider alternative non-lead ammunition such as copper or other high weight-retention bullets, such as bonded bullets.
• Practice marksmanship and hunting skills to get closer, making cleaner, lethal shots away from major muscle areas. Aim for the neck or the head, or the vitals behind the shoulder. Don’t shoot at running deer.
• Avoid consuming internal organs, as they can contain extra lead from heart-lung shots.
• Request your meat processor to not use deer meat with excessive shot damage. If you process your own venison, trim a generous distance away from the wound channel and discard any meat that is bruised, discolored or contains hair, dirt, bone fragments or grass. Do not use deer with excessive shot damage.

October gun hunt returns in 2008

There will be an antlerless-deer-only gun hunt Oct. 16-19 in deer management units that are designated herd control in much of Wisconsin. The antlerless-to-antlered deer harvest ratio in most herd control units was well below 2:1 benchmark needed to continue the two-year trial moratorium on October gun hunting that ended last year. The Central Forest Region was the only deer management region that met the 2:1 benchmark during the 2006 and 2007 trial moratorium seasons. Therefore, the Central Forest Region deer management units (DMU) 53, 54A, 55, 56, and 58, will not have the Oct. 16-19 antlerless-only gun hunt in 2008.

The October gun hunt may return in Central Forest Units in 2009 if the average antlerless to buck ratio falls below 2:1.

Baiting

All baiting and feeding of deer is banned in 26 Wisconsin counties due to the presence of either chronic wasting disease or bovine tuberculosis in either captive or free roaming animals. In the rest of the state, the practices are allowed subject to a number of restrictions.

There is a growing body of scientific evidence that clearly supports ending deer baiting and feeding from a disease management and prevention standpoint. In the past two years, the case for prohibiting baiting and feeding in Wisconsin has been strengthened by additional research into deer disease transmission and the behavioral responses of deer to the repeated placement of even a small volume of food.

The Department of Natural Resources and the state Natural Resources Board strongly encourage hunters and citizens to refrain from baiting and feeding deer under any circumstances.

Scouting is important

Even with a huge deer herd, some hunters do not see deer. Why is this? “Part of the answer,” Keith Warnke, DNR deer and bear ecologist says, “is deer biology.

“Deer are not spaced evenly across the landscape. They do not use all habitats equally and over time their patterns change. Deer densities can vary radically over a small area on the landscape, so the deer stand that was productive 10 years ago (or even last year) may not be any good this year. Careful scouting is tremendously important to deer hunter success and satisfaction. Deer hunting magazines are chock full of how-to articles on scouting and patterning deer movements. Hard work is really the one sure thing that will up a hunter’s odds this fall.”

Baiting and feeding also influence deer distribution, a fact most hunters already understand. Deer that are repeatedly baited or fed don’t have to move to find food in a natural way. Deer that move are seen (and harvested) by hunters much more frequently than those that do not move an appreciable distance during the course of the day.

Ecological impacts of high deer populations

Wisconsin’s deer population is about 70 percent over established population goals. All these deer must eat, and deer browsing can cause long term (perhaps permanent) changes to the variety and diversity of plant species in the forests. In a heavily grazed habitat, the tree, shrub and other plant species preferred by deer decline in abundance after years of heavy browsing. Altering the types of plants on the landscape will result in lower carrying capacity for deer populations (and less hunting opportunity) in the future and could cause a decline of other species (birds, mammals, and reptiles) that depend on habitats that are no longer available as a result of heavy deer browsing.

Overabundant deer populations cause other impacts as well. Based on reports required from contractors paid to pick up car-killed-deer (CKD), there are 40,000 to 50,000 deer-vehicle collisions in Wisconsin every year. The state pays contractors to remove road-killed deer. These figures are different from those provided by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) which also compiles deer-vehicle collision figures because DOT only includes collisions resulting in reportable damage to vehicles. At the worst, deer-vehicle collisions can result in injury or death to motorists.

Wisconsin farmers recorded more than $1.6 million in appraised crop damage caused by deer in 2007. Estimates of total crop damage are much higher. In addition to the financial loss suffered by farmers, hunters also pay – license surcharges and bonus permit sales fund payments for damage abatement and damage claims. Lower deer numbers would no doubt reduce crop losses, say biologists and agriculture officials.

“Recreational deer hunting is far and away the most effective way to manage deer populations,” says Warnke. “It is also a foundation of tradition, wise management and conservation of our natural resources. The next generation of hunters will need a conservation legacy of sound, cooperative deer herd management to continue our proud tradition. We all must keep working to pass that legacy along.

“Consider taking a son, daughter, niece, nephew or friend of the family out during the Oct. 11-12 youth hunt. Future support for hunting and hunters is dependent on our youth and society’s perception that hunting results in a properly managed deer herd, ethical and safe hunting and not simply record harvests.”

Deer Management Units for 2008

Regular Units

Deer populations are at or near goal in these deer management units. For the 2008 season, Regular units will have a limited number of Unit Specific Antlerless Deer Carcass Tags. Hunters could begin to purchase unit specific Antlerless Deer Carcass Tags on a first-come, first-served basis until sold out at any license vendor since August 23. Tags can also be purchased by phone (1-877-945-4236) or at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Online Licensing Center. Fees are $12 each for residents and $20 each for non-residents. Hunters must possess a 2008 Wisconsin deer hunting license to purchase the additional tags.

Herd Control Units

Herd Control Units are designated when a deer population is far enough over goal that additional opportunities and incentives are needed to increase antlerless deer harvests. The 2008 Wisconsin deer hunting license will include one free Antlerless Deer Carcass Tag that may be used in Herd Control, Earn-a-buck or CWD Units. There is no limit to how many additional Antlerless Deer Carcass Tags can be purchased at $2 each for use in Herd Control and Earn-a-Buck units. Tags can be purchased at any license sales location or at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Online Licensing Center.

Earn-a-Buck Units

Fifty-seven of Wisconsin’s 134 deer management units will have Earn-a-Buck (EAB) requirements for the 2008 archery and firearm deer hunting seasons. All 21 CWD units will have unlimited earn-a-buck regulations. Earn-a-Buck requires hunters to first tag an antlerless deer before they can legally tag a buck.

Earn-a-Buck units in 2008: 22A, 54B, 54B CWD, 54C, 59B, 59C, 59D, 59M, 60B, 60M, 61, 61A, 62B, 63A, 64, 64A, 64M, 65B, 66, 67A, 67B, 68A, 68B, 70 CWD, 70A CWD, 70B CWD, 70C CWD, 70D CWD , 70E CWD, 70F CWD , 70G CWD, 71 CWD, 72, 72A, 73A, 73B, 73B CWD, 73D, 73E CWD, 74A, 74B, 75A CWD, 75B CWD, 75C CWD, 75D CWD, 76 CWD, 76A CWD, 76M CWD, 77A CWD, 77B CWD, 77C, 77C CWD, 77D, 80A, 80B, 80C, and 81.

First used in 1996, EAB is prescribed if a DMU has been a Herd Control Unit for two consecutive years, and unlimited antlerless tags along with antlerless only hunts failed to reduce the population to near goal. EAB is an effective method of population control. EAB units offer unlimited Antlerless Deer Carcass Tags, one free with each license purchased, and additional Antlerless Herd Control Carcass Tags can be purchased at $2 each.

NOTE: It is illegal to use a car-killed deer to obtain a buck authorization sticker or as an authorization to register a buck.

2008 Earn-a-Buck

Deer hunters hunting in any of the 57 Deer Management Units under Earn-a-Buck regulations for 2008 will be required to “earn” a buck sticker authorizing them to shoot a buck by first shooting an antlerless deer during the current 2008 hunting season or to have earned and not yet used a buck sticker from the 2007 season. Hunters may also tag an antlerless deer and then harvest a buck, which may accompany the antlerless deer upon registration, as long as they are tagged by the same hunter registering both deer.

2008 Earn-a-Buck pre-qualification

Under a program started in 2006, some hunters may be pre-qualified for a buck harvest sticker by virtue of having killed and registered an antlerless deer last year in a unit that is under EAB rules this year. This includes more than 113,000 registered antlerless deer from 2007 EAB and CWD units, which earned hunters green “2007-2008” Buck Authorization Stickers. These stickers were awarded to hunters upon deer registration and are still valid in 2008 if they were not used to tag a buck during the remainder of the 2007 deer season. An EAB Buck Authorization Sticker is good in any EAB or CWD unit, regardless of where the sticker was earned.

If the unit where the antlerless deer was killed was not EAB in 2007 but is under EAB in 2008, the hunter should be in the EAB Prequalification Database. Hunters in this category will be mailed a buck sticker. Mailing began in August, and mMore than 16,000 stickers are being mailed out for hunters who harvested deer from at least one of eight Deer Management Units during the 2007 season that are now under EAB regulations in 2008.

Hunters can also earn a buck sticker for the gun deer season by tagging and registering an antlerless deer during the early archery or the four-day, October antlerless-only season in any EAB or CWD unit.

How to check your EAB status

Deer hunters who believe they have pre-qualified for a Buck Authorization Sticker in one of these units can check their status over the Internet.

Hunters will need to have their Department of Natural Resources customer identification number handy when they go online to the deer hunting page of the DNR Web site and click on the link for “EAB Pre-qualification Status” and follow the instructions to check on your authorization.

The on-line check allows hunters to determine if their information is in the database to receive a buck sticker for the 2008 Earn-A-Buck (EAB) season.

Hunters should be included in this database if they registered an antlerless deer in 2007 in any Deer Management Unit that was not EAB 2007 and is EAB in 2008.

Hunters should not wait until the last minute to check their status. They don’t want to be scrambling for a sticker the week before the opener, so please check and take action now.

Hunters who believe they have pre-qualified by registering an antlerless deer in 2007 in units that were not EAB in 2007 and are EAB in 2008 but do not find a buck authorization associated with their customer identification number should contact DNR via email directly from the Web page. Press the ‘enter my info’ button and enter everything you can remember about the deer you killed.

Hunters are encouraged to make sure the address DNR has associated with their customer identification number is correct. This address is where the buck authorizations will be mailed.

People who don’t have access to the Internet either at home or at a local library or through a friend, can contact their local DNR service center who will look up the information. People may also contact the DNR Call Center toll free at 1-888-936-7463.

Repeat EAB Units

Hunters who killed and registered an antlerless deer in an EAB unit in 2007 received a green 2007-2008 buck sticker at the registration station last year and will not be listed in the on-line database.

Units that had earn-a-buck requirements last year and again this fall include: 22A, 54B, 54C, 59B, 59C, 59M, 60M, 61, 61A, 62B, 63A, 64, 64A, 64M, 65B, 66, 67A, 67B, 68A, 68B, 74A, 77C, 77D, 80A, 80B, 80C, 81 and all CWD management units.

The sticker a hunter received last fall is the sticker needed for this hunting season. Hunters who used all their buck stickers last fall or did not kill any antlerless deer in these units last fall will need to register an antlerless deer in an EAB or CWD unit this year to get a buck sticker.

“Hunters were advised last fall to keep track of the green buck stickers they earned. The same is true of stickers that will be mailed in August – close to the start of bow hunting. These will be the stickers they need to harvest a buck this year,” Warnke says..

The EAB “watch list”

Hunters looking ahead to the 2009 seasons can get an idea of which units might be in Earn-a-Buck by looking at the EAB watch list described below.

Based on population trends, deer management unit history and harvest history, deer managers have created an EAB watch list. These are deer management units that could potentially be designated as EAB in 2009. Hunters harvesting and registering an antlerless deer in these units in 2008 will pre-qualify for a Buck Authorization sticker if the unit is designated as EAB in 2009.

Because harvest information is taken directly off the deer registration stub, hunters are reminded to completely and legibly fill out the registration stub if they want to receive their Buck Authorization sticker in 2009.

The following is the watch list for 2009: all 2008 EAB and CWD units, plus units 1, 1M, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 32, 42, 46, 47, 51A, 51B, 53, 54A, 55, 56, 57, 57A, 57B, 57C, 57D, 58, 59A, 60A, 62A, 63B, 65A, 69, 69C, 77E, 77M and 78.

October Antlerless-Only Gun Deer Hunt

This year the October antlerless-only gun hunt will return after a two-year trial moratorium. This hunt will be in affect for all EAB, CWD, and most Herd Control units from Oct. 16-19, 2008. During this hunt, only antlerless deer may be legally harvested by both gun and archery hunters within units that have this hunt. Archery deer hunters must also wear blaze orange if they are bow hunting from Oct. 16-19. In addition, all turkey and small game hunters, with the exception of waterfowl hunters, are required to meet blaze orange requirements during this time.

Throughout the 2006 and 2007 deer seasons, the Central Forest Deer Management Region met the 2:1 antlerless to buck harvest requirement for Herd Control units. Therefore, Deer Management Units 53, 54A, 55, 56, and 58 will not have the Oct. 16-19 antlerless-only hunt. During Oct. 16-19, only archers may harvest deer of either sex in these five Herd Control units and all “Regular” Deer Management Units. The five Herd Control units in the Central Forest Region will have the October antlerless-only hunt in 2009 if the overall 2008 deer harvest does not meet the 2:1 antlerless to buck benchmark within that region.

Statewide December Antlerless-Only Gun Deer Hunt

The four-day December antlerless-only deer hunt will be held Dec. 11-14, 2008. Unlike the October antlerless-only gun hunt, this hunt will take place in all DMUs statewide, except State Park management units, and non-quota units. Hunters will need to have at least one antlerless deer carcass tag valid for the unit that which they will be hunting. All deer and small game hunters are required to meet blaze orange requirements during this hunt.

Youth Gun Deer Hunt

The seventh annual Youth Gun Deer Hunt will be Oct. 11-12. This special hunt was established to get youth involved in hunting under conditions with low hunting pressure, in a safe and educational setting. The hunt will be held in all DMUs statewide, except State Park and non-quota units.

Youth hunters ages 12 to 15 who have successfully completed a hunter education program and possess a gun deer hunting license may participate in this hunt. Qualified hunters may harvest one buck deer using their only Gun Buck Deer Carcass Tag and additional antlerless deer with the appropriate carcass tag. Earn-a-Buck restrictions do NOT apply in EAB units during the youth hunt.

All deer, turkey and small game hunters, with the exception of waterfowl hunters, are required to meet blaze orange requirements on these two days. For more information on the youth hunt, check the 2008 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations pamphlet.

State Park Units

State Park units 23A, 52A, 57D, 59E, 61A, 64A, 69C, 72A, 73A, 77D, 77E and 80C allow deer hunting during one or more deer hunting seasons.

Hunters wishing to hunt in these state parks must purchase a $3 State Park Access Permit online or at any DNR license location for the state park of their choice. Archery hunters may hunt in unit 77D (Loew Lake Unit – KMSF) without a $3 access permit, however, an access permit is required for muzzleloader hunting in the unit from Nov. 22 – Dec. 10. Permits are available beginning Saturday August 23 at noon on a first-come, first served basis until sold out.

A state park sticker or pass is required for all vehicles in a state park. Special season dates, hours and area restrictions may apply within the parks; this information will be mailed to access permit holders prior to the hunt.

New for 2008, Lake Wissota State Park (DMU 59E) will allow deer hunting with an access permit. This hunt will be for antlerless deer only, Nov. 22-30. Lake Wissota State Park is a shotgun area, which only allows the use of legal shotguns, muzzleloaders and handguns.

Unit 59E, Brunet Island State Park (DMU 23A) will have the same antlerless only season structure with shotgun requirements. This is a big change from previous hunting seasons in 23A, as it used to be a state park with a 19-day muzzleloader season. Other state park units may have special weapon restrictions or season dates.

Metro Deer Management Units

Metro units 59M, 60M and 64M are designated as EAB units, while 1M and 77M remain as Herd Control units in 2008. EAB and Herd Control metro units have extended deer hunting seasons.

Hunters should review the 2008 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations pamphlet, available online or in hard copy, for season dates in these units and for other deer hunting regulations.

Check local ordinances on firearm and bow use before hunting because many areas within the borders of the Metro Units do not allow firearm discharge and some may not allow the discharge of a bow or crossbow.

2008 Deer Hunting Regulations

Wisconsin deer hunting regulations and a map of the Deer Management Unit Structure in Effect for 2008 are available at any location that sells hunting licenses or on the hunting and trapping regulations page of the DNR Web site. p>

2008 Season Dates:

Archery:

Sept. 13 – Nov. 20

Dec. 1 – Jan. 4, 2009

NOTE: Archery harvests in all CWD, EAB and most Herd Control units are restricted to antlerless-only Oct. 16 – 19, and in all units statewide Dec. 11-14 (except Non-Quota and state park units).

Gun:

Regular Gun: Nov. 22 – 30

Muzzleloader: Dec. 1 – 10

Early Antlerless-Only Gun Hunt: Oct. 16 - 19 (see deer regulations for eligible units)

Late Antlerless-Only Gun Hunt: Dec. 11 - 14 (statewide)

Youth Gun Hunt: Oct. 11 – 12

Disabled Gun Hunt: Oct. 4 – 12

NOTE: Hunters are reminded that coyote hunting is closed in approximately the northern third of the state if any gun or muzzleloader deer hunt is in progress. See the 2008 Wisconsin Deer Hunting or Small Game Regulations for the southern boundary of this special closed area. The coyote hunting season will remain open during the two-day youth gun deer hunt on Oct. 11 - 12. As with all hunting seasons, hunters are reminded to be absolutely sure of their target before they shoot. Mistakes in identification can be very costly.

Regional Season Forecasts

In the Southeast Region, baiting for deer hunting is only allowed in two counties - Washington and Ozaukee Counties -- and is banned in the remaining six counties. The primary rules are: no baiting until the day before bow season starts (Sept. 1), no baiting within 100 yards of another bite site, no more than 2 gallons per bait site. Location of bait relative to trails, campsites and roadways is also restricted. See the 2008 regulations for more details baiting and feeding regulations.

Unit 69 – Area wildlife supervisor, Dale Katsma, indicates that deer numbers are about the same as last year. The unit was a Herd Control unit last year but we didn’t see a significant increase in antlerless harvest compared to the previous year when it was a regular unit. This year’s Herd Control designation -- with the October antlerless hunt included -- will likely result in more antlerless deer taken, and possibly a decrease in the buck harvest.

Unit 77C – Earn- a- Buck will be implemented again this year and the unit is likely to remain EAB into the foreseeable future. Tom Isaac, wildlife manager, indicates that deer numbers are at very high densities in the Washington County and northern Waukesha County portions of this unit resulting in high numbers of car killed deer and damage to agricultural and nursery crops. Many homes and unhunted areas provide refuges for deer. Extensive scouting and landowner contacts are necessary to find new hunting spots.

Unit 77D (Loew Lake Unit): - This unit will be Earn-a-Buck for both archery and muzzleloader hunting. Hunters can bow hunt for deer at Loew Lake if they have a current archery license and unused archery tag (EAB applies). They don't need a park access permit to bow hunt. Seventy park access permits will be issued for muzzleloader deer hunting, and only permitted hunters can muzzleloader hunt. The season runs 19 days. The park access permits for Loew Lake and other park units are sold on a first come, first served basis from ALIS vendors. Other than the 19 day muzzleloader season by access permit holders, no other gun deer hunting is allowed.

Unit 77M (a metro unit): The deer population and the deer harvest will be similar to last year. Most of this unit is under private ownership and many communities require special discharge permits and hunters need to check with local authorities before hunting.

Units 77B-CWD & 77C-CWD: The boundaries within the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Zone will change in 2008. Tim Lizotte, area wildlife supervisor and CWD operations team leader for southeast Wisconsin, indicates that the Disease Eradication Zone (DEZ) and Herd Reduction Zone (HRZ) have been combined into one zone, called the CWD Management Zone (CWD-MZ). The outer boundary of which is defined by the previously known HRZ boundary. There is one set of regulations for the entire CWD-MZ. In addition, the use of rifles is authorized within the entire CWD Management Zone with the exception of metro units and hunters will now be able to harvest white and albino deer in the entire CWD-MZ (formerly restricted to the DEZ).

Hunters in southwestern Walworth and southeastern Rock counties may be required to submit their deer heads for CWD testing. There will be limited hunter service testing elsewhere. Department wildlife staff and DNR contractors will work with those hunters who wish to have their deer heads mounted. 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.

Beginning on Sept. 1, 2009, hunters will not be allowed to import whole cervid carcasses (deer, elk and moose) into Wisconsin from areas within states or provinces that have CWD and also hunters can not move whole deer carcasses from the CWD-MZ to elsewhere in the state.

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2008 Venison donation program

MADISON -- The 2008 Venison Donation Program in Wisconsin is starting up and cooperating meat processors are beginning to sign up. Hunters anticipating the opening of the 2008 deer hunting seasons on Sept. 13 (archery), Oct. 16 – 19 and Dec. 11-14 (antlerless only gun hunts) Nov. 22-30 (gun hunt) and Dec. 1-10 (muzzleloader) may want to check the drop off loacation page of the Department of Natural Resources Web site regularly beginning in early September for processors in their area.

During the 2007 season, hunters donated 9,200 deer to food pantries. A network of 126 processors in 52 counties butchered and ground the venison into more than 414,000 pounds of packaged venison

“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 63,200 deer, which have provided over 2.8 million pounds of venison to needy people across the state. 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.

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

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Chronic wasting disease management

MADISON -- Hunters will see some changes in the deer season framework this fall in the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Zone. These changes reflect a blending of CWD Stakeholder (citizen) Advisory Group recommendations, feedback from eight public hearings DNR held this spring, and the agency’s recommendations to manage the disease.

“The first change you will note is that we combined the Disease Eradication Zone and the Herd Reduction Zone into one zone, called the CWD Management Zone (CWD-MZ) with consistent regulations and one season framework,” said Alan Crossley, outgoing CWD project leader, who is phasing out his CWD duties prior to assuming a public lands specialist position in the Bureau of Wildlife Management

“The season structure in the CWD Management Zone is very similar to the season structure used elsewhere in the state for units that are over goal. We hope this reduces confusion for hunters,” noted Crossley.

The one season that is unique to the CWD-MZ is the holiday firearm season from Dec. 24 to Jan. 4.

Hunters can use rifles throughout the CWD-MZ, except in metro unit 76M, which will be shot-gun only and white and albino deer may be harvested throughout the entire CWD-MZ (formerly restricted to the Disease Eradication Zone).

No Landowner Permits

The department is also discontinuing the $2 DEZ landowner and hunter permits this year.

“We estimate that the agency would lose over $850,000 in license sales if we offered those permits throughout the entire CWD-MZ. It did not make sense to continue the program in the face of funding shortages for CWD management, as well as the interest in funding the pantry program, expanding testing, supporting research, and bolstering our information and education efforts,” pointed out Crossley.

“We recognize the important role that landowners and hunters play in managing CWD, but need to consider more cost effective ways of supporting that role,” he added.

From 2002 to June 2008, nearly 139,000 deer were tested for CWD across the state. A total of 990 free-ranging deer have tested positive. All of the positive cases have been found in the CWD Management Zone. The southeast Wisconsin cases are adjacent to an outbreak in northern Illinois where 189 CWD positive deer have been found since 2002.

“This fall we will be doing a second round of disease testing in our Northern Region. We encourage deer hunters to turn in the heads from their registered adult deer as part of this surveillance effort in northern Wisconsin,” Crossley said.

DNR will also be sampling within the CWD Management Zone, and hunters are required to submit samples from adult deer in the following areas:

• Eastern Iowa and Western Dane Counties, between Ridgeway and Mt. Horeb and stretching from Highway 18/151 north to the Wisconsin River.
• Between Lake Geneva, Lake Koshkonong, Beloit and Palmyra.
• Around Devil’s Lake State Park, from Highway 12 west to the Interstate.

“The first two areas support ongoing research to help us better understand how the rate of disease infection changes over time. The Devil’s Lake area has the additional purpose of monitoring the ‘northern front’ of the disease in Wisconsin. We can work with hunters who plan to cape-out their deer to get a sample,” noted Crossley

Looking further ahead, the Department will begin imposing carcass movement restrictions beginning Sept. 1, 2009. Wildlife officials believe that this gives hunters time to find local processing and taxidermy options for complying with the movement restrictions.

“Starting in September 2009, we will prohibit the importation of whole cervid carcasses (deer, moose and elk) into Wisconsin from areas within states or provinces that have CWD and prohibit whole deer carcass movement from the CWD Management Zone to elsewhere in Wisconsin,” Crossley said.

Agency biologists say that CWD in southern Wisconsin represents a significant threat to the state's white-tailed deer population and the culture of deer hunting in the state. Wisconsin has more than 700,000 deer hunters who have harvested an average of 480,000 deer annually during the past decade. Deer hunting provided more than 7 million days of recreation each year. In 2006, deer hunting generated nearly $900 million dollars in retail sales and nearly $1.4 billion in total impact to the state’s economy.

Successfully managing CWD in Wisconsin will require a sustained effort over many years, necessitating cooperation and communication among natural resources and agricultural agencies, hunters, landowners, farmed cervid producers, and the many citizens of the state who benefit from a healthy deer herd, emphasized Crossley.

2008 season framework in the CWD-Management Zone

Archery season: earn-a-buck Sept. 13 to Jan. 4

Youth hunt: Oct. 11-12

Early firearm season: antlerless only Oct. 16-19

9-day firearm deer season: earn-a-buck Nov. 22-30

10-day muzzleloader season: earn-a-buck Dec. 1-10

Late firearm season: antlerless only Dec. 11-14

Holiday firearm season: earn-a-buck Dec. 24-Jan. 4

Unlimited Earn-a-buck regulations in effect with pre-qualification

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Crossley at 608-266-5463

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Wisconsin black bear population appears to be growing

By Keith Warnke, DNR Deer and Bear Ecologist

MADISON -- Early results from an on-going University of Wisconsin research project indicate that there may be as many as two-and-a-half times more black bears in Wisconsin than currently estimated. The current estimated black bear population is 13,000.

What a pleasing discovery and exciting new knowledge!

A larger population dispersing into new habitat areas means more residents and visitors will have a chance to see these large forest mammals, possibly with their young. Down the road, after we’ve had time to fully study the study results and carefully consider any impacts from changing season rules, sportsmen and women could see additional hunting opportunity with shorter waiting times between permits.

A population increase raises the chances of sighting a black bear in many areas but especially in the southwest and central Wisconsin counties of La Crosse, Monroe, Vernon, and Richland counties. These counties offer some of the best available new habitat for yearlings searching for a territory they can call their own. The year and half old bears have been pushed out on their own by the sow or female who is now likely pregnant with her next cubs which will be born in the den sometime this coming January or February.

Wisconsin has always depended heavily on the best available scientific knowledge in managing its wildlife populations. This new study, conducted by graduate student Dave MacFarland under the guidance of Dr. Timothy Van Deelen of the University of Wisconsin Department of Wildlife Ecology, enlisted the help of Wisconsin bear hunters in gathering samples.

Roughly 3,500 baits marked with tetracycline were set out across the state’s bear range in 2006. Tetracycline, when ingested, is harmless to bears but leaves a telltale line in a bear’s bones. Successful bear hunters in 2006 and 2007 were asked to provide a section of a rib bone from bears they harvested for analysis. From those samples, the biologists were able to use a formula to calculate the estimated bear population.

Using tetracycline is a variation on a wildlife population estimating technique known as mark and recapture. Other examples of mark and recapture are banding of waterfowl and songbirds and radio collars or radio implants on other species. When hunters report harvesting a banded game bird or biologists recapture a banded songbird, that information is used in a model to estimate total populations.

When the final results are in we’ll be able to use this information to assess bear population goals and adapt our bear management program. Any changes to bear management policies will be done carefully, with public input and only after thorough analysis of potential impacts. The first priority is and always will be conservation of the resource.

For more information on black bears in Wisconsin people can visit the bear page of the DNR Web site.

Tips for living safely with black bears

Biologists offer the following advice for avoiding unwanted encounters with black bears:

• Never feed bears – the bear will not forget the feeding experience and will return, possibly becoming a nuisance.
• Make bird feeders inaccessible to bears by hanging them at least 10 feet off the ground and 5 feet away from tree trunks or on a limb that will not support a bear.
• Bring feeders in around mid-April when bears emerge hungry from their winter dens.
• Keep garbage cans indoors if possible.
• Bring in pet food at night.
• Do not keep food in your tent if you are camping.
• Store camp food and cooking utensils away from your campsite.
• Dispose of food scraps in closed containers away from the campsite – not in the fire.

If you encounter a black bear:

• Make noise – let the bear know you are there so you don’t surprise it.
• If you happen to surprise a black bear at close range, back away slowly or, if available, get into a vehicle or structure until the bear leaves the area.
• Leash your dogs in known bear country.
• Respect black bears as wild animals and enjoy them safely - from a distance.

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Wisconsin black bear season forecast

By Linda Olver, assistant DNR deer and bear ecologist

Hunters harvested 2,797 black bears in 2007, with a hunter success rate over 63 percent. Bayfield, Price and Sawyer counties recorded the highest harvests. Bear Management Zone A led the state with 1,020 bears harvested, followed by A1 with 697, B with 513, and C with 565 (2 from “unknown” zone).

Statewide, 6 percent more permits were allotted for the 2008 drawing. Department of Natural Resource wildlife officials established a harvest quota of 2,950 bears for the 2008 season and 4,660 black bear harvest permits will be available to achieve this goal.

This year wildlife biologists are again asking successful hunters to submit a tooth sample from their bear for aging. Letters with tooth collection instructions and registration materials will be mailed to all hunters eligible to receive a Class A Permit. Hunters who harvest a bear this season are being asked to follow the directions carefully, to collect the tooth prior to registering their bear, and to leave the samples with the bear registration station. When the aging results return from the laboratory, hunters will be notified by mail of the age of their bear. The information obtained from the tooth helps us to determine the age structure of the population, the age when females produce their first litter and the years in which they produced litters.

Hunters are also asked to turn in any ear tags found on their bear at the time it is registered. The ear tags indicate the bear has been previously captured and released. The most likely reason for capture was the bear was causing a nuisance but bears are also tagged during winter den surveys and as part of other research projects.

2008 season dates:

Zone C where dogs are not permitted: Sept. 3 - Oct. 7

Zones A, A1, and B where dogs are permitted:

Sept. 3 - 9 (with aid of bait and with other methods not utilizing dogs)

Sept. 10 –30 (with aid of hounds, bait, and other methods)

Oct. 1 - Oct. 7 (with aid of dogs only)

Detailed information on bear hunting in Wisconsin is available on the Wisconsin Bear Hunting page of the DNR Web site.

Note: there has been change in Black Bear hunting zones

Zone A1 is now Zone D beginning with the 2008 season. Hunters will no longer be able to hunt in Zone A1 if they possess a permit for Zone A. The deadline to apply for 2009 bear hunting permits is Dec. 10, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Olver – (608) 261-7588

Bear Forecasts by DNR Region

Northern Region

A healthy black bear population awaits successful tag holders in our primary bear range in northern Wisconsin. As in the past, high success rates can be attributed to those hunters who do good pre-season scouting, have alternate hunting locations arranged well ahead of time, and most importantly really stick it out. Bear hunters play a vital role in controlling bear numbers.

Preliminary reports from a new population survey that is nearly complete and calls on bear sightings or damage reports suggest that populations are expanding. Calls reporting bear complaints in 2007 (1,193) were up 7 percent from 2006 (1,107).

Most bear conflicts near residences can be eliminated by following simple preventative measures. Implementing these safeguards can help prevent unwanted bear encounters. For more information on reducing conflicts with Black Bears see our fact sheet entitled “Living with Bears in Wisconsin”.

Northeast Region

Bait hunters will have the first chance at bears in Zone B this year. A higher number of permits was issued to hunters in Zone B in 2008 than in recent years to take advantage of the healthy population in the zone. A cool spring and early summer with regular rainfall should lead to abundant soft mast. This may affect visitation to bait sites. Hunters in Zone B have enjoyed a high success rate in recent years and that is expected to continue in 2008

Zone C bears are much harder to pattern consistently. Abundant food sources throughout bear range in Zone C and lower densities of bears lead to a lower success rate in this Zone. Hunting bears with hounds is not allowed in Zone C. Public land hunting opportunities are more limited in this portion of the region, so hunters with a Zone C tag should consider contacting private landowners early to establish a place to hunt. Farmers with fields interspersed with woodlands or swamps may welcome hunters as bears can cause agricultural damage.

West Central Region

Bears are continuing their southward expansion and are now known to be present throughout the region. While they may be hunted throughout this area, the best opportunities for hunting continue to be in the central forest and toward the northern reaches of the region (Chippewa, Clark and Marathon Counties) where there are higher bear numbers and larger blocks of public land. Spring and early summer moisture has been good which should result in an ample food supply. The Zone C harvest quota is again 600, with 1650 permits being issued.

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Upland game forecast

Ring-necked pheasant

Visitors to the DNR’s pheasant Web site will find the 2008 Pheasant Stocking Information Sheet identifying public hunting grounds slated for pheasant stocking. This fall the DNR plans to stock around 70 public hunting grounds with approximately 52,000 game farm pheasants. This is a slight decrease from 2007 when 56,700 game farm pheasants were stocked on 70 public hunting grounds. Please note that the stocking numbers are preliminary and final numbers will not be known until late September or early October.

Hunters heading out to Wisconsin’s fields in search of ring-necked pheasants will find this year’s pheasant hunting rules included in the 2008 Wisconsin Small Game Hunting Regulations. In previous years, the pheasant regulations had been published separately. Hunters will need to purchase a 2008 pheasant stamp and small game license. They should carefully verify which public hunting grounds have a 2 p.m. closure and/or allow hen pheasant hunting.

“Generally, given the survey information we have received thus far, it appears that the population did decline somewhat over the last year,” says Sharon Fandel, assistant upland wildlife ecologist. This is likely due to a combination of factors including, in part, the spring rains experienced by the southern half of the state. Brood survey data showed a 42 percent drop in broods seen per observer compared to last year and average brood size also was down. Even so, overall the pheasant population has shown little change over the past few years despite these year to year fluctuations.”

Despite a decrease in the current pheasant population, wildlife managers feel hunters can still look forward to a moderate to good fall pheasant season.

Wildlife managers use two annual surveys as a basis for estimating pheasant populations. For 2008, both indicate a downturn in pheasant populations, likely due to spring rains.

Results from the 2008 rural mail carrier pheasant survey indicate an 18 percent decrease (from 0.83 in 2007 to 0.68 in 2008) in the number of pheasants observed by rural mail carriers per 100 miles driven. Despite the decrease, the results remain higher than the long-term mean of 0.61. Counties with the highest number of pheasants seen per 100 miles driven were St. Croix (3.21), Green Lake (1.81), Polk (1.80), Washington (1.78) and Lafayette (1.69).

Results from the spring crowing count survey indicate a decrease of 30 percent in the statewide average of roosters per square mile.

Changes in pheasant populations also have coincided with changing agriculture and land use patterns. Pheasants once relied on small grain and hay fields for nesting and brood rearing. These areas are now being replaced with larger row crops such as corn and soybeans. Areas that contain adequate winter cover (cattail and shrub-carr marshes and thick switchgrass fields which have more than 15 percent of the landscape in idle grassland) will have the highest pheasant densities. In addition, research has shown that wetlands are one of the most important year-round cover types for pheasants. It will be important for hunters to identify areas with high quality habitat and concentrate hunting efforts in that area.

During the 2007 pheasant hunting season, more than 70,000 hunters went out in search of pheasants and reported harvesting 360,207 (±44,208) birds. The top counties for harvest included Kenosha, Dane, and Dodge

The 2008 pheasant hunting opens statewide on Oct. 18 at noon and closes on Dec. 31. From Oct. 18-19, the daily bag limit is 1 cock and possession limit is 2. For the remainder of the season the daily bag limit is 2 cocks and the possession limit is 4. Some public hunting grounds have both hen and cock pheasant hunting (requires free permits and tags) and/or 2:00 p.m. closure times.

See the 2008 Small Game Hunting Regulations available at any location that sells hunting licenses or on the hunting and trapping regulations page of the DNR Web site for additional details or visit the pheasant page of the DNR Web site.

Wild turkey

This fall, 95,700 wild turkey permits will be available to hunters. This is an increase over 2007, when 94,800 permits were issued. Brood counts showed a 12 percent decline in broods seen per observer compared to 2007 and an 8 percent decline in average brood size. Nonetheless, average broods observed in 2008 (3.5 broods per observer) is still well above the long term average of 1.6.

Historically, wild turkey occupied much of southern Wisconsin with the northern boundary of distribution fluctuating in response to severe winters. Following reintroduction efforts throughout the state, coupled with several years of mild winter weather and expanded habitat development and improvement, the Wisconsin wild turkey population now extends well into the northern part of the state.

Come fall, there generally is a slight shift in habitat use where turkeys move from more open, or field, habitats to forested habitats. Flocks make extensive use of areas dominated by oak and hickory. This habitat shift coincides with food availability as succulent vegetation and insects become less available and mast becomes more available. Mast crops, such as acorns, can influence hunting success. In years of poor mast production, turkey flocks are drawn to localized areas where food can be found; often this results in turkeys frequenting farmland and open fields where they become more visible and vulnerable. Turkey hunters should monitor the mast crop in the area they hunt to determine where turkeys will be feeding.

Permits remaining following the drawing went on sale at noon on Saturday, Sept. 6. The fall 2008 season will run from Sept. 13 through Nov. 20 for all permit holders.

New zone structure starts this fall

New this fall is the consolidation of Turkey Management Zones. Turkey hunting zones have been consolidated from 46 to seven large zones beginning with this fall 2008. The seven-zone structure will also apply for the spring turkey season beginning in 2009. There will still be the same amount of turkey hunting area. Each of the new zones combine a number of the smaller zones to give hunters more flexibility to move around in search of wild turkeys.

Ground blinds must have blaze orange

Also new this fall, all hunters hunting on DNR lands must comply with the blaze orange requirement for ground blinds during the youth firearm deer hunt on Oct. 11-12 and during the October gun hunt in certain units on Oct. 16-19. Turkey hunters must also follow blaze orange clothing requirements during these gun deer hunts. Check the 2008 Fall Turkey Hunting Regulations for more information.

The 2008 fall bag limit is one turkey of any age or sex per hunting approval notice. Hunters should remember they must bring their tagged turkeys to a registration station no later than 5 p.m. the day after it is harvested. As an additional reminder, most turkey hunting occurs on private land so it is important to keep landowner relationships a high priority. Landowners in Wisconsin are usually willing to allow hunters to use their land as long as they ask politely for permission to do so. And as always, remember to focus on safety during the fall hunt!

Additional information on wild turkey is available on the Wild Turkey page of the DNR Web site.

Ruffed grouse

Each spring, biologists, wardens, foresters, members of the Ruffed Grouse Society and other volunteers travel survey routes recording the ruffed grouse drumming activity. Drumming is the sound produced by a male grouse during the spring breeding season. The male will display on a drumming log and then rapidly beat his wings producing a drumming sound with the intention of attracting a female. Ruffed grouse drumming surveys have been used since 1964 as an indicator of ruffed grouse population trends. Brood data is available online.

For reasons not well understood by biologists, grouse populations cycle up and down over an 8- to 10-year period. The previous high population point was in 1999, with the population hitting the low ebb in the 8 to 10 year cycle in 2004-2005.

“Overall, drumming counts increased by 7 percent over the last year, on top of a 12 percent increase recorded between 2006 and 2007,” said Scott Hull, DNR upland wildlife ecologist. “It’s an indication that the population is still slowly increasing toward the peak in the cycle.” The statewide average was 0.91 drums per stop in 2008, compared to 0.85 drums per stop in 2007. The northern and southeast regions of the state saw the largest increases in drumming activity (up by 12 percent and 33 percent, respectively), while both the central and southwest regions showed decreases of 3 percent and 20 percent (respectively) fewer drums per stop than in 2007. This remains another small swing in an otherwise strong upward population growth trend.

Brood surveys confirmed the upward population trend suggested by the drumming counts by showing a 12 percent increase in number of broods seen per observer and a 12 percent increase in size of brood observed.

DNR research personnel have also conducted a census of drumming males on the Sandhill Wildlife Area and Stone Lake Experimental Area since 1968. Sandhill Wildlife Area had an increase of 7 percent from 40 in 2007, to 43 in 2008. Stone Lake Experimental Area in Oneida County also increased slightly by 4 percent in drumming activity from 2007 to 2008.

“Ruffed grouse drumming surveys are helpful in tracking statewide population changes over the long term,” said Hull. “However, they are not good predictors of local harvest or hunting opportunities. The most successful hunters usually are those who spend the most time in the field and cover the most ground.

“Scout different sites to find the pockets where good numbers of birds can be found. Ruffed grouse use a variety of habitat types, but young, early successional forest types are most important when trying to find a good grouse hunting location.”

More birds generally lead to more hunting days in the field and higher success rates, say wildlife managers. During the 2007-2008 grouse season, about 97,700 hunters reported spending 797,000 days in the field hunting grouse. “Hunters reported harvesting roughly 394,677 grouse in 2007,” said Hull. “At the time of the last population peak, back in 1999, they reported taking about 768,000.”

Hunters are reminded that there are only two grouse hunting zones this season – Zone A and Zone B. The Zone A (the northwestern portion of the state) ruffed grouse hunting season opens Sept. 13, 2008, and closes Jan. 31, 2009. The Zone B (the southeastern portion of the state) season runs from Oct. 18 to Dec. 8, 2008. The daily bag limit is 5 birds for Zone A and 2 birds for Zone B. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit (i.e., 10 birds for Zone A, 4 birds for Zone B).

Overall, the message for the 2008 ruffed grouse season is “these are very good survey results and I’m very optimistic that we’ll have another great grouse season in 2008,” said Hull.

Additional information in ruffed grouse can be found on the ruffed grouse page of the DNR Web site.

Sharp-tailed grouse

Sharp-tailed grouse populations are monitored each year using dancing ground surveys, which are a cooperative effort between DNR, USFS, GLIFWC, Northland College, members of the Wisconsin Sharp-tailed Grouse Society, and volunteers. A complete census of these displaying grounds is attempted on those properties designated as sharptail management tracts. Sharp-tailed grouse surveys on unmanaged lands are concentrated within a portion of northwestern Wisconsin (primarily in deer management units 2 and 9), often on private lands. Dancing grounds found within suitable habitat blocks are approached and birds are counted.

This year’s dancing ground surveys indicate that populations of sharp-tails were low again this spring.

“Sharp-tailed grouse numbers remain quite low and birds can often be challenging to locate,” said Sharon Fandel, DNR assistant upland game ecologist. “Because of this, we emphasize and encourage hunters to enjoy the challenge and experience of the hunt knowing the opportunity to harvest a bird may be rare.”

Last fall, 417 applicants applied for 695 permits. Hunters harvested 40 birds during the 2007 season. A total of 875 permits are available for the fall 2008 sharp-tailed grouse hunting season Oct. 18 through Nov. 9. Four units, which have the same boundaries and designations as deer management units (DMU), will share the available permits. Those units with sharp-tail permits available for fall 2008 are: DMU 2 (700 permits), DMU 8 (50 permits), DMU 9 (100 permits), and DMU 10 (25 permits).

“This spring there was an increase in observations of sharp-tailed grouse this season in some of the areas surveyed,” said Scott Hull, upland wildlife ecologist for the Department of Natural Resources. “The increase is likely a combination of cyclical grouse population dynamics and an increased effort to survey additional areas within the units. Although there were a few more males observed this spring, traditional sharp-tailed grouse dancing grounds have become less stable over the last few years, warranting a continued conservative approach in our harvest framework this year.”

The sharp-tailed grouse is native to Wisconsin and historically occupied suitable habitat throughout the state. Long-term population declines across North America, including Wisconsin, have occurred since the early 1900s. Sharp-tailed grouse management began in northern Wisconsin during the late 1940s and early 1950s in response to concerns of habitat loss. Sharp-tailed grouse require specific habitat for courtship, nesting, brood-rearing, and wintering sites. However, suitable habitat currently exists only in relatively small patches separated by large tracts of unsuitable habitat. Today, sharp-tailed grouse in Wisconsin are primarily found in the early successional pine barrens and savannas of the northwestern portion of the state. Some of the larger state-owned areas that focus on sharp-tailed grouse management include Crex Meadows and Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Areas in Burnett County.

The sharp-tailed grouse resembles its close relative, the greater prairie chicken, and is also sometimes mistaken for the female ring-necked pheasant. Sharp-tails have a distinctive pointed tail edged with white, and produce a “chuck, chuck, chuck” call when flushed. They are largely known for their spring courtship display on clearings called “dancing grounds.” During this display, the male uses a stiff-bodied stepping motion, with tail and head feathers pointed up, wings spread, and head held low. This is followed by a vigorous “dance” (feet stamping) in small circles. While dancing, the male vibrates his tail feathers, which produces a clicking or rattling noise. Males also inflate and deflate lavender-colored air sacs in their breasts, creating soft cooing sounds.

Additional information in sharp tailed grouse can be found on the sharp-tailed grouse page of the DNR Web site .

Bobwhite quail

Data on male bobwhite quail densities have been collected biennially since 1991 using roadside surveys along predetermined transects in 15 counties comprising the species’ primary range. Annual surveys initially began in 1949, and have been run biennially since 1991. The number of whistling males heard during a two-minute period is recorded. Populations have shown a small increase, but the overall trend is still a significant decline. The mean number of whistling males per stop decreased 30 percent, from 0.10 in 2003 to 0.07 in 2005. This number decreased again by 26 percent between 2005 and 2007, from 0.07 to 0.05. This remains well below the long-term average (0.57).

Bobwhite quail populations have been declining across the Midwest and Great Plains states over the last 20 years primarily due to a loss of critical nesting and brood rearing habitat. These declines have been more dramatic in states like Wisconsin that are on the northern edge of the birds’ range. Habitat loss and habitat fragmentation are the top two primary causes for population declines in many bird species.

Current research information has shown that hunting mortality has contributed little to this overall decline. The annual lifespan of quail is about 1.5 years and 60-80 percent of the quail population does not survive longer than a year. In addition, studies have shown that hunting mortality is largely compensatory, meaning that the quail harvested by hunters are birds that would have likely died by another, natural reason. The result is a difficult challenge for wildlife managers. Efforts to “stockpile” quail by temporarily closing hunting seasons, or tinkering with the hunting regulations would not curb the decline or increase population numbers. Among the Midwestern states, Wisconsin already has the second most conservative quail hunting season. Only Ohio has a more conservative season.

In order to help bobwhite quail, the Wisconsin DNR is actively engaged in habitat programs for quail and other upland and grassland nesting species. Wisconsin is part of the Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative which aims to restore quail populations across the country through habitat restoration [www.bobwhiteconservation.org] (exit DNR). In addition, the DNR has been partnering for decades with the United State Department of Agriculture to restore habitat on private lands through the Farm Bill.

However, there are still good to excellent local quail hunting opportunities on both public and private lands especially in west-central and south-central regions of the state. Green, Iowa, Lafayette and Rock counties have some of the best quail hunting opportunities. During the 2006-2007 season 514 hunters reported harvesting 1,134 (±1,095) bobwhite and the top three counties included Fond du Lac, Pierce, and Green. Habitat programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program and the Upland Buffers for Wildlife Program have been extremely beneficial for upland game birds like bobwhite quail and should continue to provide good local hunting opportunities.

The 2008 bobwhite quail season opens statewide at noon on Oct. 18 and runs through Dec. 10. Daily bag limit is 5 birds and the possession limit is 10.

Please see the 2008 Small Game Hunting Regulations available at any location that sells hunting licenses or on the hunting and trapping regulations page of the DNR Web site for additional details.

Cottontail rabbit

Cottontail rabbits are a very popular small game animal and typically provide for great recreational opportunities across the state. Rabbits are extremely prolific and their annual reproduction is usually dependent upon local weather conditions during the breeding seasons. Portions of the state with adequate rainfall resulting in plenty of green, succulent vegetation should result in good rabbit production and good hunting opportunities this fall.

Surveys for cottontail rabbits are conducted in unison with the biennial bobwhite quail surveys. All cottontail rabbits seen on the bobwhite quail survey route are recorded. The numbers of cottontail rabbits seen per transect increased 27 percent in 2007, from 0.22 in 2005 to 0.28 in 2007. During the 2006-2007 hunting season, the results of a mail-in survey indicated that hunters harvested approximately 249,302 (±38,705) cottontail rabbits, with the top counties being Grant, Waupaca, and Manitowoc.

The 2008 cottontail rabbit season opens on Sept. 13 in the north zone and Oct. 18 at noon in the south zone. The season ends in both zones on Feb. 28, 2009. The daily bag limit is three and the possession limit is six in both zones.

Please see the 2008 Small Game Hunting Regulations available at any location that sells hunting licenses or on the hunting and trapping regulations page of the DNR Web site for additional details.

Squirrels – gray and fox

Squirrels are a very popular game species and can provide some great early season hunting opportunities especially for beginning hunters. Squirrel production and resulting hunting opportunities are strongly tied to the previous year’s mast production. While the DNR does not have a formal mast production survey, local biologists have reported mixed mast production reports across the state over the last several years. Drought conditions seem to be one of the biggest factors impacting both hard and soft mast production at the local level.

During the 2006-2007 hunting season, the results of a mail-in survey indicated that hunters harvested approximately 492,495 (±56,126) squirrels, with the top counties being Pierce, Juneau, and Grant.

The 2008 gray and fox squirrel season opens statewide on Sept. 13 and closes Jan 31, 2009. Daily bag limit is five squirrels and possession limit is 10.

Please see the 2008 Small Game Hunting Regulations available at any location that sells hunting licenses or on the hunting and trapping regulations page of the DNR Web site for additional details.

Snowshoe hare

During the 2006-2007 hunting season, the results of a mail-in survey indicated that hunters harvested approximately 34,642 (±13,517) snowshoe hares, with the top counties being Lincoln, Price, and Washburn.

The snowshoe hare season is open statewide year-round with an unlimited bag limit.

Please see the 2008 Small Game Hunting Regulations available at any location that sells hunting licenses or on the hunting and trapping regulations page of the DNR Web site for additional details.

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Waterfowl forecast

By Kent Van Horn, DNR waterfowl biologist

MADISON - Variable spring habitat conditions observed in the United States and Canada present a mixed picture for fall 2008 waterfowl seasons in Wisconsin, according to the state waterfowl biologist.

Hunting season restrictions on some waterfowl species will be in place for fall 2008. Survey data indicate that waterfowl breeding areas across North America ranged from good wetland conditions to very dry with the prairies of Canada and the United State experiencing very dry conditions. Waterfowl population data also present a mixed picture with some species at average numbers while others are showing a decreased breeding effort as a result of the dry conditions.

Three primary sources of information on yearly waterfowl breeding conditions are used to determine the fall season structure for Wisconsin, according to Kent Van Horn, Department of Natural Resources migratory game bird biologist.

“We’ve completed the annual Wisconsin Breeding Waterfowl Survey, which is very important since a large proportion of the ducks harvested in Wisconsin are raised in Wisconsin,” Van Horn said.

The second source of information is a cooperative survey of Canada geese, the Mississippi Valley Population (MVP) Breeding Survey, organized by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

The final piece is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service breeding waterfowl survey for the northern U.S., Canada and Alaska which was released in early July.

Wetland conditions

Canada - Waterfowl breeding is expected to be mostly poor to fair across much of prairie Canada, but better in areas to the east in Ontario. Prairie Canada experienced a 39 percent decline in pond numbers from 2007.

U.S. Prairies – Moisture and precipitation conditions were mixed, with most of North Dakota in very dry conditions and South Dakota with poor to good conditions. Overall breeding duck numbers were similar in North Dakota compared to 2007 but reduced breeding success is expected due to dry conditions. Overall, U.S. prairies experienced a 30 percent decline in wetland numbers from 2007.

Wisconsin - In Wisconsin, high winter snowfall helped to create wet conditions across most of the state. Spring precipitation was above average from March through May for all of Wisconsin. Flooding later in the spring may have impacted some nesting but renesting and good habitat overall should compensate for any losses. Breeding and brood rearing habitat in Wisconsin is expected to be good in 2008.

Ducks - Wisconsin

The four most abundant ducks in Wisconsin's fall hunting harvest are mallards, wood ducks, green-winged teal and blue-winged teal. Van Horn notes that many of the ducks harvested in Wisconsin come from birds that breed in Wisconsin, in contrast to other states in the flyway that rely more heavily on birds raised in the prairies or boreal forests of Canada.

The 2008 total state breeding duck population estimate of 626,924 (+/- 77,236) is up 33 percent from 2007 and 45percent percent above the long-term mean. This number is a little larger than the average for the last 10 years as was expected given the improved wetland conditions in 2008. Overall, breeding duck survey results indicate a healthy, relatively stable population of breeding ducks in Wisconsin experiencing normal annual fluctuations. This is a positive indication of hunting regulations and habitat management/protection.

“These are population estimates – not exact counts – so changes of near 20 percent up or down in the estimates each year may not reflect any real change in the actual population,” Van Horn said.

“In addition to the science of the survey, experience plays a role,” said Van Horn. “There are many things that can impact the results of a single year's survey results. That's why it's important to look at the long-term and recent trends in populations rather than focus only on year to year variations in order to get a real feel for how populations are doing in the long haul,” Van Horn said.

Mallards

The 2008 Wisconsin breeding population estimate for mallards of 188,429 (+/- 23,850) is similar to last year’s estimate of 210,219 given the level of precision in the survey. The 2007 estimate is 4 percent above the long-term mean (35 years).

Blue-winged Teal

The 2008 blue-winged teal breeding population estimate of 179,549 (+/- 38,772) is up 45 percent from 2007 but statistically similar between these 2 years given the high variation and 58 percent above the long term mean that excludes the migrant years of 1981, 2004 and 2005. The 2008 estimate is the third year of population estimates over 100,000 in recent years after several years of estimates under 100,000. Additional years of data will be needed to reveal whether the long term blue-winged teal population decline has halted.

“We continue to have a concern for sustainable breeding habitat for both mallards and breeding blue-winged teal in Wisconsin,” Van Horn said. “While our conservation efforts of the past have been successful, the threat of decreased grassland nesting habitat for blue-winged teal and mallards has increased with changes to the federal farm bill and high corn prices which are expected to result in more corn in areas that had been grasslands set aside in the Conservation Reserve Program.

Wood ducks

The 2008 breeding population estimate for wood ducks of 126,440 (+/- 24,157) is up from 2007 as expected. During 2007, Wisconsin was experiencing drought conditions in key wood duck breeding areas and the 2007 count was very low. The 2008 estimate for wood ducks returned to a level similar to the last 10 year average. Current trend analysis for wood ducks in Wisconsin suggests that the long term increase in the breeding population is leveling off.

Ducks – Continentally

Across North America mallard numbers were down 9 percent from 2007 in the traditional survey area of the US and Canada but similar to the long term average. Combining the traditional survey area number with the breeding mallard numbers from the Great Lakes states (MN, MI, WI), a total of 8.37 million breeding mallards were counted compared to 9 million in 2007. However, dry conditions are expected to reduce 2008’s production of new ducks. Green-winged teal numbers (3 million) in 2008 were similar to the 2007 population and are 57 percent above the long term average. Green-winged teal are generally the third or fourth most abundant duck in Wisconsin’s fall harvest and many of these teal breed in northern Ontario where habitat conditions are good. Continental blue-winged teal breeding numbers (6.6 million) were also good, similar to 2007 and 45 percent above the long term average. An overall duck season of 60 days will be available for 2008.

The picture for several other species of ducks that breed in Canada and are of interest to Wisconsin hunters is poor. Very dry conditions in key canvasback breeding areas moved canvasback out of the survey area resulting in a 44 percent decline in observed canvasbacks (490,000) and production in 2008 is expected to be very low. The season for canvasback ducks will be closed in 2008 in the Mississippi Flyway.

Similarly, northern pintails numbers were reduced (2.6 million) and data indicate they moved out of the dry prairies and on to northern boreal forest areas. Hunters will be allowed a single pintail per day in 2008.

While 2008 scaup breeding numbers (3.74 million) actually showed an 8 percent increase over 2007, they remain 27 percent below the long term average and bags will be limited to 1 scaup for 40 days and 2 scaup for 20 days according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service regulations for the Mississippi Flyway.

Canada geese

“Depending on fall weather conditions, goose hunters in Wisconsin should have a good season,” Van Horn says.

“There are two different populations of Canada geese that are present in Wisconsin during the regular fall hunting season,” says Van Horn. “One population, called giant Canada geese, nests in Wisconsin. The 2008 breeding population estimate of 116,715 for these resident birds is down 7 percent from 2007 but 48 percent above the long-term (22-year) mean. While the long term trend for Wisconsin’s resident Canada geese has increased, recent survey years suggest that this increase may have leveled off near 120,000.

Another population of slightly smaller birds nests in northern Ontario along the coast of Hudson Bay and then migrates through Wisconsin and other Midwestern states. These geese are referred to as the Mississippi Valley Population (MVP). Results from the most current banding data indicate that half of Wisconsin's regular goose season harvest comes from the MVP.

The breeding survey of MVP Canada geese estimated 305,190 breeding adults, which is down from 2007 and 17 percent below the 1989-2007 average. However, the total spring population estimate (breeding and nonbreeding adults) was 626,358, larger than in 2007 (574,383) and about 4 percent above the 1989-2007 average. This indicates the MVP Canada geese from the last 2 years of good production will be in the fall flight, however, poor nesting conditions in 2008 will result in fewer young of the year geese in this flight.

The harvest of MVP geese is shared by several other states and provinces. For many years, quotas had been set to protect the breeding population and distribute harvest among several states. Last year a new management strategy in the Mississippi Flyway replaced the quota system for a five-year stable season trial. Because there are many more giant geese in the flyway, it is thought that the impact of hunter harvest on MVP geese will be buffered by that of the resident giants. In the end, the hope is that this will better control the increasing numbers of resident geese, while still providing for ample hunting opportunity. MVP populations will continue to be monitored during this five-year trial.

The Canada goose hunting seasons in Wisconsin include the Exterior Zone season of 85 days with a two bird daily bag, a Horicon Zone season of 92 days with six harvest tags per hunter and a two goose daily bag limit, and a Collins Zone season of 67 days with six harvest tags per hunter and a two goose daily bag limit. Horicon will be divided into two permit periods this year: Period 1 - Sept. 16- Nov. 2; and Period 2 - Nov. 3-Dec. 16.

Early Canada goose season

The early Canada goose hunting period specifically targets local breeding giant Canada geese and is held before migratory geese begin to move into Wisconsin. A new record high of 21,760 geese were harvested during this season in 2007. “This has become a popular early hunting season and an important part of our resident Canada goose population management,” Van Horn says. Hunters should note that this season requires a special permit and $3 fee.

The Early Canada goose season will run statewide from Sept. 1-15, with a daily bag of five geese.

Youth Waterfowl Hunt

This special hunt aims to recruit new hunters in Wisconsin. In recent years, about 2,500 youth have taken advantage of this opportunity and harvested almost 9,000 ducks and about 250 geese. The dates for this year's youth hunt are Sept. 20-21. The daily bag for ducks is the same as the regular season. In the exterior zone a youth must purchase and possess an exterior goose permit. In the Horicon and Collins zones, a youth possessing a valid tag for any time period within that zone may hunt geese within the zone where the tag is valid.

Mourning doves

Hunters must use non-toxic shot when hunting doves on DNR managed lands beginning in 2008 and in all future seasons.

Wisconsin's sixth dove hunting season has been extended by an additional 10 days this year and runs from Sept. 1 to Nov. 9 because of federal rule changes. This change is not reflected in the 2008 small game regulations because they were printed prior to the federal decision. Approximately 15,000 to 20,000 dove hunters are expected to take to the field at some point during the season.

Hunters are again being asked to examine harvested doves closely for any leg bands. For the fourth consecutive year, Wisconsin is participating in a national plan to monitor mourning dove populations for harvest management. Biologists set a goal of capturing and banding 750 doves at several locations in south, central and eastern area of the state with a small aluminum U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service leg band. Hunters who harvest a banded dove are asked to report them to the Bird Banding Lab online at [www.reportband.gov] (exit DNR) or by phone at 1-800-327-Band (2263).

In recent years, the spring call count surveys, coordinated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, estimated that the continental population of mourning doves was about 400 million, making it one of the most abundant birds in North America. The 10-year population trend for Wisconsin shows a 3 percent increase. Hunters should expect to see numbers of doves similar to the last couple of years.

Regulations and license requirements for dove hunting are contained in the 2008 Small Game Hunting Regulations pamphlet, which is available at any location that sells hunting licenses or on the hunting and trapping regulations page of the DNR Web site. Hunters are reminded that mourning doves are migratory game birds so hunters must be HIP certified and hunt with a plugged gun that only holds three shot gun shells.

“Doves use a wide range of habitats but fields with an abundance of weed seeds or grain, open gravel areas and water sources are all good locations to find doves. Successful hunting is usually a product of good location scouting,” said Kent Van Horn, migratory game bird ecologist.

Woodcock

Over the last 30-plus years, the woodcock population across its range in the Midwest and northeast U.S. has shown a steady decline which biologists believe is primarily related to changes in forest habitat. However, in Wisconsin, this decline appears to have leveled off with no significant change over the last 10 years.

Interest in pursuing the “timberdoodle” throughout the forests of Wisconsin remains high with over 17,000 woodcock hunters participating in 2007. Wisconsin ranks second in the nation for woodcock harvest, with over 48,000 birds harvested in 2007.

Overall, hunters should expect to see woodcock numbers similar to the last few years and depending on the weather, should enjoy a good fall. Hunters are reminded that they must be HIP certified while hunting woodcock.

Woodcock season: Sept. 20 to Nov. 3, with a daily bag of three birds.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Van Horn, DNR migratory game bird ecologist - (608) 266-8841

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2008-2009 furbearer forecast

By John Olson, DNR Furbearer Specialist

Wisconsin is blessed with a wonderful diversity of common and unique furbearers. Beaver, coyote, raccoon, and muskrat are good examples of the more abundant and common furbearer species across our large state. In contrast, the more secretive bobcat, fisher and otter are doing well in the North, and slowly expanding southward. And then there's the American marten, our only state endangered species and barely holding its own in two small regions of the North.

It starts every year about this time, folks anticipate going out there and want to know what they can expect to see this fall. In a nutshell, most furbearer populations are doing well, but spring floods may have affected a few species.

Raccoon

Raccoons are found in a wide variety of both rural and urban habitats. Those areas close to a wetland or farmland mosaic have the highest populations, with even the northern forests now being home to raccoons.

“We have large populations of raccoons with the highest densities in the southern one-half of the state,” reports John Olson, furbearer specialist for the Department of Natural Resources. “Raccoons are very abundant in all counties in a wide variety of habitats -- often to nuisance levels, with populations extending northward into portions of southern Canada where the ancient language of native Americans doesn’t even include the word ‘raccoon’!”

On the western front, Kris Johansen, wildlife biologist for Buffalo and Trempealeau counties reports, “The raccoon population in southern portions along the Big River may have been affected by floods, but in the northern portion of our area they’re doing well, making this species a great opportunity to gain access to private lands, as farmers and landowners experience nuisance and damage problems. Through regulated harvest, trappers and hunters can work with landowners in efforts to control these large populations.”

Julie Langenberg, department wildlife veterinarian notes, however, that high populations of raccoons can produce localized effects or pockets of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) infection. In the past, there have been widespread problems with CDV causing raccoon deaths.

“This disease acts as a population regulating factor that controls high raccoon numbers and once it’s in the environment, can spread to other mammals,” said Langenberg. “Infections have been found in less commonly affected furbearers including badger, opossum, and mink in recent years. Everyone should take special care with abnormal acting raccoons, as the distemper clinical signs mimic those of the rabies virus. Rabies is a fatal viral disease for humans and other warm blooded mammals, and cannot be differentiated from canine distemper without laboratory testing.”

Wildlife managers from around the state suggest that 2008 will be a good year to train that young dog or ask permission to trap on new lands. Raccoon is a species where landowner permission to hunt or trap is normally not a problem, but ask for permission now, don’t wait until the week prior to the season opener.

Mike Zeckmeister, northern region wildlife supervisor from Antigo, urges trappers and hunters to “make sure you do your homework with pre-season scouting and make sure you obtain permission from the landowner well in advance. Pre-season planning can make lines more efficient, which reduces fuel consumption. This saves money for the trapper and reduces our carbon footprint.”

The raccoon season opens statewide for residents on Oct. 18, 2008 with the exception of the Mississippi River Zone where the season opens with the muskrat and mink season. The non-resident raccoon trapping season is from Nov. 1, 2008 to Jan. 31, 2009.

Raccoon Season: Oct 18, 2008 – Jan 31, 2009.

Except: Mississippi River zone, which opens day after duck season closes or the second Monday in November (Nov. 10), which ever occurs first, through Jan 31, 2009.

Bag Limit: None

Beaver

With good to excellent mid-winter fur prices at the international auctions, the average Wisconsin beaver pelts sold for just over $20.00 on the January sale, maintaining trapper interest in this furbearer. Longer seasons, initiated in the 1980s, have helped to reduce beaver populations as planned, especially in northeastern Wisconsin.

Statewide, the beaver population estimate is around 87,000 animals. This number varies dramatically depending on the area of the state and has not shown any impacts from density-dependent wetland diseases such as botulism or tularemia, but can be affected directly by drought, or floods.

Regionally, beaver numbers in southeastern Wisconsin appear to be stable, decreasing in west-central and southwestern portions of the state, and remaining at good levels in the northern one-third of the state.

Mike Woorland, of the DNR wildlife research section from Rhinelander, coordinates intensive aerial surveys, conducted every three to four years in northern beaver management zones. Using data collected during the 2005 fall surveys Woorland estimates a population of approximately 40,800 beaver in northwestern Wisconsin, known as Zone A, and around 29,000 beavers in northeastern Wisconsin, known as Zone B.

“At one time these zones were at similar levels, but the need to manage cold water streams for additional values such as trout habitat, has resulted in a gradual reduction in beavers in Zone B,” Woorland said.

For example, Tom Isaac, wildlife biologist for Ozaukee, Washington and northern Milwaukee counties reports that, “beavers are present in all of our river systems and have steadily increased in my counties during the past 10 to 20 years.” However, Tom Meier from Marathon County and wildlife biologist at the Mead Wildlife Area also suggests, “beaver in my area are down over the past few years.” According to Pat Beringer, wildlife biologist for Price County, “Beaver populations remain stable, with high numbers still found in remote areas where accessibility is limited.” He also suggests that, “…gas prices may be a key factor impacting the 2008-09 harvest.”

In Zone B, where more intensive management programs exist, the population has declined and is now at a level where damage to trout streams and town roads is manageable. Because beaver populations are now at acceptable levels, the trapping season in Wisconsin opens in early November, rather than mid-October, and Zone C closes the end of March rather than the end of April.

Beaver Season: Zone A (Northwest) Nov 1, 2008 – Apr 30, 2009

Zone B (Northeast) Nov 1, 2008 – Apr 30, 2009

Zone C (South) Nov 1, 2008 – Mar 31, 2009

Zone D (Mississippi River) Day after duck season closes to Mar 15, 2009

Bag limit: None

Otter

“Factors that impact beaver populations have similar effects on otter, although there are differences, mainly in diet,” according to Caleb Bilda, assistant furbearer specialist. “Beaver are herbivores that prefer the inner bark of aspen, willow and cottonwood for food, and their branches for construction of dams and lodges, but otter prefer other animals for food, mainly small fish, crayfish, and amphibians.”

Current statewide otter populations are at or slightly below the management goal of approximately 13,000 animals. Although a majority of the population is found in the north, otter numbers in central and southern Wisconsin appear to be increasing. They are now present in many of our major river systems of the southwest, namely the Kickapoo, Black, Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers and tributaries.

Otter, like many of our furbearers, depend on clean rivers, lakes and streams. As Dave Matheys, wildlife biologist for Vernon and Crawford counties suggests, “people interested in otters should thank all those who have worked so hard to improve the water resources of southwestern Wisconsin – farmers, landowners, DNR, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Land & Water Conservation Districts, and Trout Unlimited to name a few.” Matheys has observed high-quality riparian habitats that are supporting abundant aquatic furbearer numbers, but the early summer floods may have affected survival of young.

“The otter harvest is highly regulated to control harvest pressures at a time when recent fur prices have fluctuated, with an average of over $100 per pelt in 2006 to a more moderate level of $41 this past spring,” says Todd Naas, wildlife biologist for Ashland County. Permits are issued based on estimated fall populations and expected success rates.

The statewide opening date is the same as beaver, Nov. 1, and continues until March 31, 2009 in the Central and South Zones, and April 30th in the North Zone.

Otter Season: North zone Nov 1 – Apr 30, 2009

Central zone Nov 1 – March 31, 2009

South zone Nov 1 – March 31, 2009

Bag Limit: One per permit.

Fisher

Strong interest in fisher harvest has resulted in more applicants than permits, especially in Fisher Management Zone A in northwestern Wisconsin, and in Fisher Management Zones E and F in west-central and southern Wisconsin. Permit availablility is the same as last year, but the number of applications received for each zone determines whether a trapper receives a permit in their zone of choice or is awarded a preference point.

There are six fisher management zones in Wisconsin. Zones A, B, C and D have the highest fisher populations, with low fisher numbers in northern portions of these zones, and high populations in the southern portions of these zones. Zone E is in west-central Wisconsin and has a growing population, and the best opportunities will be in the northern portions, namely Chippewa, Clark, Eau Claire and Marathon counties, according to John Dunn, wildlife biologist at Eau Claire. Zone F includes the remainder of the state and will be open for harvest in 2008 for the fifth year. In this zone good opportunities exist on the eastern portion, in southern Shawano and Oconto counties and southeastern Marathon. Be sure you have landowner permission prior to applying for any permits.

However, even in areas where fishers have flourished for more than four decades, we’re experiencing localized declines, while adjacent areas have strong numbers.

“Fisher numbers remain spotty in Price and southern Ashland and Iron counties,” says DNR biologist Pat Beringer. “Although localized areas may still have considerable fisher, many trappers reported low numbers of fisher during the last two years.”

Yet in other areas local wildlife managers are reporting an increase in fisher presence. Jess Carstens, wildlife biologist of Dunn and Pepin counties and Harvey Halvorsen wildlife biologist for St. Croix County observes a growing population in this part of the state. And two years ago a fisher was caught and released in Columbia County!

Fisher Season: Oct. 18 – Dec. 31, 2008 for all zones

Bag Limit: One per permit

Bobcat

Bobcat populations have increased across the north. Although Wisconsin is at the northern edge of bobcat range, good habitat and mild winters compared to regions north of Lake Superior are supporting a healthy bobcat population, according to John Olson, DNR furbearer ecologist. Conservative management efforts have nurtured this steady increase to an estimated population of just under 3,000 bobcats with an average annual harvest of around 300.

Final permit numbers are determined in late summer when success rates and quotas are calculated. A preference system allows the continuous applicant a bobcat tag about every four to five years. Wildlife biologists and wardens in northern and even central portions of the state report an increase in bobcat sightings.

As with fisher and otter, bobcat must be tagged at the point of harvest and registered with the department. Hunters and trappers keep the pelt, but bobcat carcasses, and in some years otter and fisher carcasses, are collected from the trapper or hunter.

“Registration and carcass collections allow biologists to gather important management information such as harvest pressure, overall age structure of the population, reproductive age, and previous litter sizes,” explains Bruce Bacon, wildlife biologist from Mercer and an active member of the department’s furbearer committee.

In 2008, carcasses will be required from all bobcat and fishers from Zones E and F. There are no otter collections planned for the upcoming season.

Season: Oct 18 – Dec 31, 2008. North of highway 64 only.

Bag Limit: One per permit.

Coyotes and foxes

Coyotes, the second largest of Wisconsin’s native canids, have expanded their range throughout southern and western Wisconsin. In the remainder of the state they continue to do well with the greatest challenge being in established eastern gray wolf territories, where coyotes have learned to be less vocal and avoid their larger cousin.

An adaptable animal, coyotes seem to fair equally well in rural, urban and suburban settings. Wildlife managers across much of Wisconsin are reporting a marked increase in coyotes.

“In the urban complex more people are seeing coyotes in 2008 where high rodent or rabbit populations still are present,” says Richard Nikolai, wildlife biologist for Brown, Calumet and Outagamie counties

Both gray and red fox are doing well also with “reds” observed more often closer to human dwellings and grays in the brush land and woods.

Red fox numbers have increased across many areas of the north, with mange and coyote competition impacting populations in western and southern portions of the state. A density dependent disease, sarcoptic mange, was observed across Wisconsin in susceptible canid species including red fox, coyote, and gray wolf in 2003. Gray fox have fewer cases of mange and appear to be doing well in southern and central Wisconsin.

Nikolai reports a mixed bag with increases in red and gray fox in Calumet County, yet a slight decline, due to mange, in Brown and Outagamie counties.

Nate Kroeplin, conservation officer in Dane County reports coyote and red fox trapping and hunting is good, with little to no mange present.

“Foxes, the smallest of our three native canids, prefer a more rural setting,” says Tami Ryan, DNR southeast regional wildlife supervisor from Waukesha. “coyote numbers are stable and steadily increasing in the southeast portion of the state, where they’ve been known to cause quite a stir around some communities.”

A new tool, called the cable restraint, is now available for use during the latter portion of the existing coyote and fox season, namely from Dec. 1, 2008 to February 15, 2009.

According to Steve Hoffman, wildlife biologist from Waupaca, “…this tool was thoroughly tested during three years of science-based research, and was remarkable in its ability to restrain without injury, any wild or domestic canine.” After four years of use by licensed trappers, things are going well, with further studies on the horizon. For additional information, request DNR Publication WM-443-2004, Cable Restraints in Wisconsin, A Guide to Responsible Use.

Trapping Season: Coyote and all fox species:

Northern Zone: Oct 18, 2008 – Feb 15, 2009 (North of US Highway 64)

Southern Zone: Oct 25, 2008 – Feb 15, 2009 (South of Highway 64)

Hunting Season of Coyote:

Year round with seasonal closure during gun deer season in some areas

Hunting Season of Fox:

Oct 18, 2008 - Feb 15, 2009 (North of Highway 64)

Oct 25, 2008 – Feb 15, 2009 (South of Highway 64)

Bag Limit: None

Wolf

A September 29, 2008 federal district court ruling has returned the gray wolf to the federal endangered species list making it illegal to shoot wolves at any time. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had removed the wolf from the list in February 2007 but the agency's move was ordered vacated by the court. Wisconsin has a state and federally approved wolf management plan ready to be implemented once the wolf's status is finalized and the states take over full management responsibility for the gray wolf within their borders.

For more detail on current wolf management and wolf depredations visit the DNR Web site.

The gradual increase in numbers and expansion of the gray wolf across northern and west-central portions of the state offers a unique opportunity for hunters and trappers to observe these wild and wonderful canines.

“We encourage the public to report their observations, especially hunters and trappers who are intimately familiar with their area of the state,” says Adrian Wydeven, DNR mammalian biologist. “This kind of information is valuable in our efforts to monitor populations. Every observation counts and we welcome the help.”

Muskrat and Mink

Mink and muskrat populations appear to be doing relatively well in most of the state, with pockets of good numbers, and other spots with low numbers.

“Recent early summer floods have negatively impacted muskrats,” observed by Dave Matheys, wildlife biologist for Vernon and Crawford counties. This comment is echoed by several other biologists in southern and southwestern Wisconsin.

Areas outside of the flooded regions appear more normal. “Fresh-water inland marshes and river systems in northern Wisconsin received an increase in precipitation, making for improved conditions for mink and muskrat,” says Conservation Warden Dave Oginski of Ashland.

On a statewide basis, opportunities to trap muskrat and mink are quite good, as they exist in most areas where permanent water can be found. Mark Anderson, wildlife biologist for the Mississippi River suggests muskrat populations “appear to be fair.” He further reminds trappers that trappers on the Mississippi need to have a USFWS trapping permit and tags, as well as the Wisconsin license in order to trap.

Season: Muskrat & Mink:

North zone, Oct 18, 2008 – Feb 29, 2009

South zones Oct 25, 2008 – Feb 29, 2009

Winnebago zone Oct 25, 2008 – March 15, 2009

Mississippi River – begins the day after duck season closes or the second Monday in November, whichever occurs first – Feb 29, 2009

Bag Limit: None.

American (pine) marten

American marten, known by most as “pine marten,” appear on the state protected list as the only endangered mammal in Wisconsin. Reintroduced into the Chequamegon and Nicolet National Forests in northwest and northeast Wisconsin decades ago, they’re barely hanging on. Jim Woodford, conservation biologist for our Endangered Resources program and chair of the marten management committee says marten are a unique and rare mammal of northern forests.

“We hope to retain and conserve martens in Wisconsin, and to improve their chances, we are stocking additional wild marten into northwest Wisconsin beginning this fall,” he says.

Although they’ve not ventured far from the original release sites biologists have discovered one additional, small population of marten in northern Iron County. “Local trappers have helped us determine where these rare marten have been living for the last ten years, and through their help we may learn of their connection with healthy marten populations in our neighboring state of Michigan,” says Bruce Bacon, wildlife biologist for Iron County.

Other efforts connected to the American marten include a unique partnership with the Hurley and Mercer High Schools. Biologist Bacon is working with the schools to track a number of radio-collared marten.

More restrictive trapping regulations have been in effect in the areas of the two reintroduced populations. However, in northern Iron County DNR biologists are hoping that trappers will voluntarily use cage traps for fisher trapping rather than body-grip traps.

Anyone with marten observations please forward this information to their local wildlife biologist or Jim Woodford at 715-365-8856, or Adrian Wydeven at 715-762-1363.

Additional responsibilities

Incidental catches

Trappers are required to turn in incidentally trapped animals to local conservation officers. They can use the 1-800-TIP-WDNR hotline (1-800-847-9367) to report incidentals. These specimens are used in furbearer research and training classes, and if pelts are sold, the proceeds are used in the trapper education program.

Local ordinances

Some villages, cities, and towns throughout the state, primarily in urban areas, require special permits and/or have ordinances that restrict trapping, or the discharge of firearms or bows. Check with local town or village offices before you hunt or trap to see if special rules apply. A quality hunting or trapping experience can be found on public or private lands, but pre-season scouting and permission from landowners is critical to making it happen.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) for trapping

In a progressive effort to improve the science of furbearer management, the State of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Trappers Association, Wisconsin Conservation Congress and individual trappers have been actively involved in an international effort to develop BMPs for trapping. This is one of the largest collective trap research efforts ever undertaken, with the final product being information and suggestions that each state and their trappers can use to improve on animal welfare, trapping in general, but specifically, in their trapper education programs.

“Advances in trapping through scientific study are the future of resource management in Wisconsin and in the United States, where our natural resources belong to all citizens,” says Tom Hauge, Director of the Bureau of Wildlife Management. “Regulated harvests, combined with science-based knowledge, a caring public, and highly trained conservation officers will provide us with reasonable tools to continue to manage wildlife populations while knowing we’ll have intact, natural systems”, concludes Hauge.

According to Scott McAuley, president of the Wisconsin Trappers Association, “If you would like to learn about furbearers, trapping history, responsibilities and ethics of the modern-day trapper, consider taking the trapper education course offered by the department and taught by dedicated volunteer instructors of the Wisconsin Trappers Association.” If you are interested in becoming a trapper, completion of the 12-hour, $12 course is mandatory. To locate a current trapper education class near you, check the DNR Web site or contact your local DNR office.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: John Olson, Furbearer Specialist, (715)685-2934, or Caleb Bilda, Assistant Furbearer Specialist, (608)261-6452.

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Fall means hunting: Review, Refresh, Stay Safe

New laws, old rules, good reminders for an enjoyable season

MADISON – The chilly morning air and changing tree hues mean now is the time to make sure hunting equipment, sport knowledge and safety skills are ready for loading.

“There is no replacement for safety,” says DNR Warden Tim Lawhern, also administrator of the agency’s Hunter Safety Education program. “That includes knowing the four basic rules of firearm safety, proper shooting methods, new laws and longstanding regulations in play for all of our hunting seasons.

“Taking the time now to prepare for the hunting seasons will add to your enjoyment, as well as your safety,” Lawhern said. “Wisconsin is rich with wildlife and beautiful areas to hunt. Why not equip yourself with the skills and knowledge to make sure the 2008 season is your best yet? Ignorance is not bliss – it’s dangerous.”

Four rules of firearm safety

“There is nothing more important for a gun hunter to know than the four rules of safety when handling a firearm,” Lawhern said. “They’re easy to remember and logical.”

T = Treat every firearm as if it is loaded. Consider all guns are always loaded – until you determine the firearm is not.

A = Always point the muzzle in a safe direction. Never allow the muzzle point at anything you are not ready to destroy – that means keeping your firearm pointed in a safe direction at all times.

B = Be certain of your target and what’s beyond it. Make sure you know your target – what it is, what is in the line of fire and what is behind it.

K = Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot.

“You must never shoot at a target unless you are absolutely positive of what it is and where it is,” Lawhern said.

Inspect, clean equipment

Patience, proper equipment and an unloaded barrel are needed to safely clean firearms and prevent turning them into unusable conversation pieces. Lawhern said it is not uncommon to hear from well-intentioned gun-owners who learned the hard way about how to maintain equipment.

“According to the tales from some, they were doing more damage than good by the methods and products they used,” Lawhern said.

“Make sure the gun is unloaded before you do anything.” Before you start the cleaning process, Lawhern recommends gathering the proper equipment in advance. That list includes: Gun vise or cradle to support the firearm; one-piece cleaning rod, sized to fit the firearm; bore guide, sized to fit the firearm; jag tip of proper caliber for rifles and handguns, or correct bore brush for shotguns; powder solvent to remove residue by burning powder; copper solvent to remove copper left by jacketed bullets; cotton patches (cotton does not melt when burned); and gun oil.

Always clean the barrel from the breech to muzzle when possible, he said. First, install the bore guide so the cleaning rod runs down the center of the bore. Install the proper sized jag tip on the rod. For shotguns, Lawhern says, the slotted patch tip is fine. If your firearm is equipped with a scope, make sure you leave the lens caps on or provide some sort of protection like a cloth to cover them.

All patches should go only one way down the bore. “Do not push a patch down the bore and then bring it back in. All that does is return the dirty patch along with its grit into where it came from.”

Also, he said, the motion of the rod should be one smooth stroke. Do not push a few inches in and then stop and push some more. Run a dry patch down the bore to wipe out the large crud.

“Make sure your patches are the right size,” Lawhern said. “If you need a jack hammer to get the patch all the way through the bore, either off-center the patch by placing the jag tip halfway between the center of the patch and one corner.”

Next, alternate a wet patch with powder solvent and then a dry patch down the bore. Repeat until you no longer get gray or black on the patches. After that, switch to the copper solvent.

“Follow the manufactures recommendations for copper solvent,” Lawhern said. “The vast majority of copper solvent has ammonia as a base component. Left in your bore too long and it will cause pitting. When you no longer get green or blue on your patches you are almost done.”

For rifles and handguns a bore brush is not needed, Lawhern said. “For shotguns, a bore brush should be used to remove stubborn spots,” he said. “Bore brushes should only be nylon or bronze bristled.”

Next, soak a single patch with gun oil and run it down the bore, remove it from the jag tip and use that patch to wipe down the outside of your firearm. No additional oil will be needed. Remove the bore guide and clean the action and chamber area with either patches or cotton swabs. Be sure to lightly oil the inside of the action when done.

Check your muscles, your skills

Muscle conditioning coupled with regular, disciplined practice and equipment inspection are what Lawhern calls three key factors to becoming a successful and responsible bowhunter.

“If you haven’t been practicing with a bow, you’re already late,” said Lawhern, also a bowhunter. “Shooting with archery equipment is not something that comes back to you just like that. You use specific muscles in archery that have to be conditioned, and it can’t be done overnight.”

Before the first practice session, inspect the bow limbs, string, handle and other parts to ensure proper working condition. “If there is anything not in excellent condition, take your bow to any archery shop for repairs or replacement parts.”

Once the equipment is in order, Lawhern advises to create the habit of practicing at least 20 minutes each day. Two weeks before opening day, Lawhern says, your first practice shot is your gauge of whether you’re ready to go into the field. “If that first shot is right on target, you’re set,” he said.

Equally important is to practice from the same set-up used for hunting.

“This means if you hunt from a tree-stand while wearing heavy clothing, you need to practice that way,” Lawhern said. “Try it from an elevated position in your backyard while wearing your hunting clothes.”

Dry-firing with firearms, use of pellet or BB guns or time at a local firing range will pay off with greater accuracy and skill in the fall, Lawhern says. “Everyone can benefit from dry-firing.”

Lawhern said. “Check your owner’s manual before you do this. Some small-caliber firearms do not react well to dry-firing. You won’t damage any center fire firearm by dry-firing.”

Pellet guns or BB guns are a less expensive and effective practice tool for sharpening shooting fundamentals. Try cardboard boxes stuffed with magazines or newspapers which are sure to stop the pellets. Intensify the challenge by shrinking the box size.

Shooting ranges and trap leagues provide more options for summer training. Check in with your rod & gun club. Many maintain ranges available for practice with live ammunition for an affordable fee. Trap leagues, skeet ranges and sporting clays courses also provide excellent practice options.

Have a place to hunt?

Securing permission to hunt from landowners is the first and mandatory step for those planning a successful hunt on private lands – and may even involve bartering some neighborly manual labor for acreage access. Lawhern says hunting on private lands without the landowner’s permission is illegal, making it an act of trespass. “It’s equally important to behave courteously and considerately while hunting – especially if you want to be invited back to hunt on that property,” he said.

When hunters ask landowners for their permission, Lawhern says, they should remember to introduce themselves, show their hunter education card and be direct about hunting requests. If the answer is no, be polite and leave.

“If the landowner says yes, one way to show your appreciation for the opportunity to hunt is offering to do a few chores,” Lawhern said. “You might be surprised how far your willingness to shovel manure for a whole day will get you. Sending a thank-you note or small gift during the holidays or right before the hunting season also is a nice touch.”

Blind safety, new law

Wisconsin gun-deer hunters who use ground blinds should note a new state law requires a highly visible blaze orange square displayed on the exterior.

DNR Warden Tim Lawhern, also administrator of the agency’s Hunter Safety Education program, said the patch of blaze orange material must be seen with from any direction.

“This blaze orange material must be at least 144 square inches – that’s 12 inches by 12 inches. And it must be visible all around the blind – that’s 360 degrees,” Lawhern said of the state law that took effect this year. “This law is all about keeping hunters safe while they enjoy one of Wisconsin’s traditions.”

Lawhern said the new law, however, does not apply to blinds made of dead vegetation found on the property nor does it apply to tree stands or other elevated stands. But the law does contain requirements for unoccupied ground blinds, he said.

“When the ground blind is left unoccupied, the owner must post their customer identification number or name and address written in English somewhere in a conspicuous spot on the outside of the structure and near its entry,” Lawhern said.

Tree stands are popular among Wisconsin hunters -- especially among archery enthusiasts -- because they help improve the hunters’ visibility and decrease the chance their scent will spook prey. But the stands also can be precarious perches if they’re used incorrectly or carelessly, hunting safety specialists say.

“Research has shown that one out of three hunters will fall from a tree stand sometime during his or her hunting career,” Lawhern said. Falls can be caused by a variety of factors, including a weakness in the stand’s structure, incorrect installation, failure to use a fall restraint device, and hunters dozing off while on the stand.

Tree stands can also be a factor in other hunting incidents, such as when hunters shoot themselves while climbing trees with their guns, or when bow hunters fall on their arrows.

Lawhern recommends hunters who use tree stands follow these precautions to avoid accidents:

• Check permanent tree stands every year. Replace worn, weak lumber.
• Read, understand, follow factory-recommended practices and procedures.
• Inspect portable stands for loose nuts and bolts each time the stand is used.
• Use either a safety belt or harness.
• Use three points of contact while climbing into or out off the tree stand (two feet and one hand; two hands and one foot etc.).
• Use a haul line to raise and lower your equipment – and keep firearms unloaded and arrows in a covered quiver.
• Select a tree – one large enough to support your weight -- before the season. Some mishaps occur if hunters are hurrying to set up their stands on opening morning.
• Make sure someone else knows the location of your tree stand and knows when you will be hunting there.
• Stay awake.

New ID number

Future students and volunteer instructors of Department of Natural Resources recreational safety classes will benefit from a new customer identification system designed to create an all-purpose individual account covering classes, licenses and registrations.

Lawhern called the merger of the education program with the agency’s database of license purchases and recreational vehicle registrations a logical business move with real customer benefits.

“For the outdoors sports enthusiast, this new system is all about convenience and saving time,” Lawhern said. “Once the hunter or angler has his or her DNR Customer Identification Number, that same number – or account – can be used for all their courses, license purchases and registering their recreational vehicle.”

Work is under way to make this system accessible to all customers on the Internet, Lawhern added. “That means you can learn about a class, register for that class, buy your deer license or register your boat from the comforts of your home on your computer,” he said. The system will also allow printing their student recreational safety record at home. “There will be no need to go to DNR Service Center to get a duplicate card. We hope to have these things phased in by the end of the year.”

First-time students of recreational safety classes will be required to get a DNR Customer Identification Number, which creates the individual’s account.

“As part of the new system, students will provide their customer ID numbers to the course instructor before the class is completed,” he said. “The instructor will use the customer ID numbers on the course roster when submitting the graduate list to the DNR for processing.

“This system ultimately will lead to students receiving upcoming class notices electronically, and the ability to duplicate personal recreational safety records at home without a stop at a DNR Service Center,” Lawhern said. “It also should be noted not all volunteer instructors will opt to announce their courses online.”

To get a DNR customer ID number, call 1-888-936-7463 between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. or visit a DNR Service Center.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Lawhern - (608) 266-1317

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