Hunters to expect similar deer-gun season
by Steve Ottman Review Correspondent
Although early regristrations of bow and youth hunting are down, compared with last year, state deer hunters are expected to have a deer-gun harvest similar to last season.
The nine-day, deer-gun hunting season opens Saturday.
Sheboygan County (deer management unit 69) isn’t a herd-control unit in 2009 and is projecting that a low antlerless kill is expected. Many antlerless deer were taken in the earn-a-buck system and herd-control units. This may result in lower counts of younger deer taken this season. Unit 77 is a herd-control unit.
The Department of Natural Resources also stated that Wisconsin has experienced two years of low deer reproduction and two longer winters. According to the DNR estimates, the state had one million deer after last year’s season and its goal over the winter is to have about 733,000 deer.
The deer population is similar to last year. Deer population goals are where they are suppose to be for this time of year. In 2008, the registration in the nine-day gun season was 285,243 deer, down from 354,384 in 2007 statewide.
Locally, 431 deer have been registered during early bow season and the two-day youth hunt. That number is down, but last year there was also a four-day T-Zone hunt.
Access to wetlands may be more difficult this season and expect warm conditions opening weekend. This could allow for more hunters to stay out longer thatn they did in cold conditions last season. Also, corn is still standing and this may provide more cover for the deer.
DNR wildlife managers and conservation wardens want to remind hunters of some important changes for this year's hunt. There is no earn-a-buck season in 2009 except for CWD (chronic waste disease) units.
Hunters who wish to harvest an antlerless deer in unit 69 must purchase a unit-specific antlerless deer carcass tag. Bonus tags are still available and can be purchased anytime.
DNR wildlife biologists Dan Weidert and Dale Katsma for Sheboygan County want to remind everyone to have a safe hunt. Always remember: treat every firearm as if it is loaded, always point the muzzle in a safe direction, be sure of your target and what is beyond it and keep your finger out of the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.
Deer donation is available at Miesfeld Meats in Sheboygan and Quality Cut meats in Cascade if hunters wish to donate their deer.
Deer registration stations in the county include:
Better Tymes Inn, 447 Second St., Random Lake, 994-9400; DNR Service Center, 1155 Pilgrim Road, Plymouth, 892-8756; Fudgienuckles, 133 W. Main St., Glenbeulah, 526-3511; Gander Mountain, 4308 County J, Sheboygan, 208-0800; and Howards Grove Meat Market, 211 S. Wisconsin Drive, Howards Grove, 565-2215.
Kim’s 5 Corner Tavern, N3701 County I, Sheboygan Falls, 467-8375; Marsh Lodge, W7039 County SR, Elkhart Lake, 876-2535; Miesfeld’s Market, 4811 Venture Drive, Sheboygan, 565-6328; and Mills Fleet Farm at state highways 23 and 57 in Plymouth, 893-5115.
