Deer hunting

NOVEMBER 20, 2013 SECTION C © 2013 Inter-County Cooperative Publishing Association

Inter-County Leader and Washburn County Register

H U NTING GUI D E

2013

With a little bit of age, a buck can grow some pretty spectacular antlers in the wild, but left protected, as this buck has been for several years now on a northwestern Wisconsin game farm, the antlers can be even more spectacular. This same buck has been featured for the past few years on the Inter-County Leader hunting guide and continues to be an impressive sight. – Photo by John Reed

Northwest Wisconsin CWD sampling update ••• Deer registration stations ••• Wisconsin is one of the best places in North America to hunt deer ••• Public support key in fighting CWD •••

INSIDE

2 3

3 4

Hunters urged to donate venison for food pantries ••• Your investment in Wisconsin’s wildife ••• Deer hunt for disabled hunters another success ••• Youth introduced ••• Taking the right shot •••

5 5 6 7 8

Hunters safety field day 9 ••• Hunters Code of Ethics 10 ••• First-time hunter education graduate privilege 10 ••• Get involved in Wisconsin’s deer management 11 ••• Tree stand safety 11 ••• Deer season forecast 12

Hunter mentorship program 12 ••• Watch your clocks 13 ••• Gun deer hunt FAQs 13 ••• Wildlife violator compact 14 ••• Lead in venison 15 ••• Four basic rules of firearm safety 15

PAGE 2 • INTER-COUNTY LEADER/WASHBURN COUNTY REGISTER - HUNTING GUIDE - NOVEMBER 20, 2013

Northwest Wisconsin CWD sampling update

SHELL LAKE — Since the discovery of a chronic wasting disease-positive adult doe west of Shell Lake in 2011, local DNR wildlife staff have been working in cooperation with local citizens, wild game processors, taxidermists and car-killed deer pickup contractors to test adult deer, 1-1/2 years old and older, within a 10-mile radius of the CWD-positive adult doe. The 10-mile Intensive Monitoring Area encompasses 318 square miles and contains the cities of Shell Lake, Spooner and Sarona. The table below is an update of the samples collected this year from April 1 to Nov. 1.

The DNR will continue collecting samples from adult deer within the 10-mile Intensive Monitoring Area throughout the remainder of the deer seasons or until sampling goals are reached. An overall sampling goal of 500 adult deer has been set for within the 10-mile Intensive Monitoring Area. Within that area, a goal of 125 samples has been set for within a 2-mile radius of the initial positive deer and 375 samples between the 2- to 10-mile radius.

Archery and gun hunters are encouraged to voluntarily submit samples from adult deer at local registration stations within the Shell Lake and Spooner areas.

This information is crucial in identifying the extent and level of infection within the area. The 10-mile Intensive Monitoring Area includes a large portion of deer management unit 15 and parts of units 17, 11 and 12. DNR wildlife staff will be collecting tissue samples from adult deer for CWD testing in Barronett, Shell Lake and Spooner during the upcoming nineday gun deer season. For a map of the 10-mile Intensive Monitoring Area and more information about CWD in Northwest Wisconsin, visit dnr.wi.gov/topic/ wildlifehabitat/cwdnorth.html. or knowcwd.com.

Northwest Wisconsin CWD fact sheet After sampling over 1,000 deer in the 10-mile monitoring area, no additional CWD-positive deer were detected. This strongly indicates that CWD has been

deer population. For a detailed map see dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/documents/washburnradius2.pdf.

Scientific Collectors Permits are available in 2013 to any willing landowner in the 2-mile area and individuals with landowner permission to hunt in the 2-mile area. The permits authorize the holder to harvest an adult buck or doe within the 2-mile area for CWD testing.

These permits provided almost one-third of the samples collected in the 2-mile area in 2012. Permits are valid from the opening day of archery season until Feb. 28, 2014, and are weapon-specific to the open deer season. For more information contact Tom Carlson, CWD biologist, at 715-635-4025.

Please submit adult deer, especially older deer, you harvest within the 10-mile monitoring area for CWD testing. This helps disease surveillance efforts by providing information to further assess the distribution and extent of CWD in Northwest Wisconsin. For a more detailed map, see dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/ documents/washburnradius.pdf Report all sick deer you observe by immediately calling 800-TIP-WDNR (800847-9367). During a regular deer-hunting season, a hunter that shoots a deer because it appears sick will be issued a replacement tag. Sick deer should be shot in the body and given to your local warden or wildlife staff for CWD testing.

The baiting and feeding ban is an important action to take in CWD management.

Summary of Deer Sampled from the 10-mile Intensive Baiting and feeding cause unnatural conMonitoring Area centrations of deer that increase the risk of disease infection and spread. Repeated

Inconclusive Results use of baiting and feeding areas poses a

Negative Positive Results Pending Totals long-term risk of disease transmission.

2-mile Radius 5 2 7 The best option for disposing of deer 2- to 10-mile Radius 2 9 11 carcasses is through your regular trash Outside of 10-mile Radius 1 1 2 pickup service. Landfills are a safe and Totals 8 12 20 cost-effective option for disposing of carcass waste potentially contaminated with detected early in its infection of the deer ment for long periods of time and expose CWD-causing prions. By putting the carcasses in the landfill, possible CWD-prion herd in Northwest Wisconsin. It is crucial other deer to the disease.

It is important to test every adult deer contamination of the environment is rethat we continue testing deer in the area to monitor the disease since the CWD- that is harvested or dies within the 2-mile duced. When that is not possible, bury causing prions can persist in the environ- area for CWD. This provides valuable in- the carcass 3 feet deep or place back on formation on the geographic distribution the landscape at the site of the kill. – from of the disease, as well as its extent in the WDNR

Dear Wisconsin hunter

Hunting for Quality Health Care?

Planning for the fall, planning for the future, planning together!

Deer hunting and herd management face some exciting opportunities for enhancement, as well as some challenges, right now and in the near future. We want to continue to work with you while plotting the path forward. From season setting to deer trustee report implementation, you are essential partners in the process.

As I’ve been saying since I became DNR secretary, these are your deer, your traditions, and we are your DNR. In planning for this fall, the department made an unprecedented effort to gather input from hunters following the 2012 season, and especially during the 2013 quota and season setting process. Through dozens of local meetings, emails, phone calls, Conservation Congress meetings, club meetings and surveys, we collected valuable information about hunter success, observations and more.

That input helped form the 2013 deer season. For example, we listened to public feedback which has resulted in conservative antlerless quotas across the forested regions in recent years.

And in planning for future hunting seasons, department staff and members of the public have been working together to sift through and implement recommendations from the deer trustee review of Wisconsin’s deer management program. A great deal of time and

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effort is being put into this process, and I am confident it will improve what is already considered by many to be a nationally leading deer-management program. Our goal is to have any new rules and management practices in place for the 2014 deer season.

Much of Wisconsin experienced a tough winter this year, with a delayed spring. However, we are hearing of increased deer sightings in most areas. I am encouraged and looking forward, once again, to the fantastic deer hunting opportunities throughout the state this fall.

I want to personally thank those of you who take the time to learn more and get involved in Wisconsin’s deermanagement program, and to introduce someone new to hunting. If you haven’t been involved, we have many ways for you to connect with the traditions and with the DNR. From providing your viewpoints, to getting out in the field, or helping with deer research and data collection, you are a valued partner in conservation. Please see page 6 of the 2013 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations, or visit dnr.wi.gov and search keyword deer to find out the many ways you can be a year-round participant.

I hope you are as excited as I am about the upcoming deer seasons. Thanks for all you do to keep Wisconsin’s deer hunting heritage strong. Have a great fall!

Cathy Stepp Secretary Wisconsin DNR

Poachers hotline number: 800-TIP-WDNR

NOVEMBER 20, 2013 - HUNTING GUIDE - INTER-COUNTY LEADER/WASHBURN COUNTY REGISTER - PAGE 3

Local deer registration stations NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN – Deer registration stations for 2013 in northwestern Wisconsin are:

Webster Connor’s Marathon Service Station, daily 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Petro-Plus, Monday - Friday 5 a.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. - 9 p.m., Thanksgiving 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Burnett County

Douglas County

Frederic Great Northern Outdoors, Monday Saturday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m. - 4 p.m., Thanksgiving 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.

A&H Tanski’s A & H Country Market, daily 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Danbury The Log Cabin, Sunday - Thursday 6 a.m. - 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 6 a.m.

- 11 p.m.; Hillside Inn, 10:30 a.m. to close.

Falun Backwoods Beer & Bait, daily 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Grantsburg Crex Meadows (DNR Station), opening weekend Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Holiday Store, daily 4:30 a.m. - midnight.

Hertel Thirsty Minnow Bar and Liquor Store, daily 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Siren Big Mike’s Sport Shop, Sunday - Thursday 7 a.m. - 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Trade Lake Trade Lake Valley Store, opening weekend 5:30 a.m. - 9 p.m., daily 7 a.m.

- 8 p.m.

Webb Lake The Main Store, daily 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Dairyland Cozy Corner Inn, Monday - Friday 11 a.m. - 8 a.m., Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Gordon The Tradin Post, Monday - Saturday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Solon Springs JT’s, daily 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Polk County Amery Lucky’s Sport Shop, daily 6 a.m. - 6 p.m., open Thanksgiving.

Balsam Lake Pap’s General Store, daily 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Thanksgiving 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Clam Falls Clam Falls Tavern, closed Monday, Tuesday - 4 - 9 p.m., Wednesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 11 p.m., Thanksgiving Day 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Clayton Lake Magnor Store, daily 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., Thanksgiving 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Cushing Stop-a-Sec, daily 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., Thanksgiving 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

East Farmington

Milltown Monty’s Sportsman’s Haven, Monday Saturday 7 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Thanksgiving closed.

St. Croix Falls St. Croix Outdoors, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., closed Thanksgiving; Jorgas Food Mart, daily 9 a.m. - 8 p.m., open Thanksgiving.

Wolf Creek River Roads Wolf Creek Bar, daily 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Sawyer Hayward Hillman’s Store, Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Shooting Star Archery, Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Hayward Bait and Bottle, Monday - Saturday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Not registering deer opening gun weekend, Nov. 23 and 24.

Stone Lake Marie’s Hide-away, Monday - Friday 11 a.m. - close, Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. - close.

Birchwood Ed’s Pit Stop, daily 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Minong Sportsman’s Headquarters, opening weekend 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Closed Thanksgiving.

Sarona Teddy Bear Tap, daily 10:30 a.m. close.

Shell Lake United Ag Co-op (Cenex) daily 6 a.m.

- 10 p.m.

Spooner Holiday Station Store (south), daily 6 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Springbrook Carlson’s General Store, daily 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Trego Uncle Mike’s Bar and Grill, 11 a.m. midnight.

Barron Barronett Speedy’s C Stop Inc., daily 6:30 a.m. 9:30 p.m., Thanksgiving 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

– from the DNR

Washburn

Wisconsin is one of the best places in North America to hunt deer STATEWIDE – Typically in the top three states for total harvest, in 2012 Wisconsin was ranked first among the states and Canadian provinces for producing trophy bucks by the venerable Boone and Crocket Club.

Each hunter’s experience is different, though, and harvest success during 2012 varied across Wisconsin.

Many factors were in the hunter’s favor last year, including the earliest possible gun opener on the calendar, good rut ac-

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This doe has sought the safety of the river to protect her stomach from insects during the heat of the summer. – Photo by Larry Samson tivity during the gun season, and the fact that 90 percent or more of the agricultural crops were picked by mid-November.

Good hunting conditions throughout the fall and higher numbers of deer resulted in the third consecutive year of increased deer harvest.

Gun hunters took the most bucks since the 2007 season, and bow hunters harvested the highest number of bucks on record, including a new all-time, staterecord typical archery buck. In total, deer hunters in Wisconsin harvested 368,314 deer in 2012, an increase over each of the previous three seasons.

Although it was a productive season for many hunters, others found it less than desirable. In the eastern half of the northern forested region, hunters shot fewer deer than in the previous year. Antlerless permit levels in many forest units have been conservative in recent years and will be even more so in 2013. While this strategy is designed to increase deer sightings in the future, the number of antlerless deer harvested this year can be expected to decrease in many areas due to the simple fact that fewer permits are available.

Hunters understand that deer densities are not consistent across the landscape.

Local deer populations are influenced by the amount of high-quality habitat, the abundance and distribution of predators, and the level of human disturbance.

These factors can shift from year to year.

Trail cameras and field observations in the early morning and late evening

are great ways to see how many deer are present and what kind of bucks are in a given area. If you are not finding many deer in the area you hope to hunt, you might consider scouting out some new hunting ground for the upcoming season.

The season structure for the 2013 deer season will be almost identical to 2012 with a few changes in individual deer management units, designated as herd control or as regular units. Most DMUs in the northern and central forest regions will have limited or no antlerless harvest in an effort to increase deer populations.

The farmland regions will remain as either herd control or CWD units.

In these areas, deer are generally abundant in relation to their local habitat and are controlled though the harvest of antlerless deer.

Still, local abundance can vary greatly across a unit. One factor that will likely affect distribution across the forested regions is winter weather. Last winter arrived late and stayed long into spring.

Deer, along with migrating birds, found ice and snow-covered ground instead of succulent shoots of new growth.

Late-summer fawn and doe observations will provide clues to winter’s impact. However, no drastic losses of deer were reported, and the prospects for increased deer abundance look promising in most areas. – by Kevin Wallenfang, Scott Roepke and Sam Jonas and taken from the Wisconsin DNR website

PAGE 4 • INTER-COUNTY LEADER/WASHBURN COUNTY REGISTER - HUNTING GUIDE - NOVEMBER 20, 2013

Public support key in fighting CWD

Questions asked, viewpoints expressed at special public meeting in Shell Lake this spring Danielle Moe|staff writer SHELL LAKE - Concerned community members, DNR officials and the CWD Citizens Advisory Team were in attendance at a public meeting Tuesday, May 7.

The meeting was designed to air questions, concerns and the steps that have been taken since a CWD-positive deer was found last year on private property just west of Shell Lake.

Recently discovered to be caused by a mutated protein called a prion, the disease attacks the brain of a host animal.

The highly contagious neurological disease affects deer, elk and moose by causing deterioration of the brain resulting in emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions and eventual death.

According to the DNR, prions that carry the disease are found throughout the body of a deer and can be spread by direct and indirect contact. Direct contact occurs when, for instance, an infected deer touches another uninfected deer on the nose. Indirect contact is associated with prions that may leach into the ecosystem from the carcass of a deceased deer that other uninfected deer may become exposed to.

Both means of contact contamination are reasons why DNR officials banned the baiting and feeding of deer for 2012 in Washburn, Barron, Polk and Burnett counties. Those same counties have remained under the deer baiting and feeding bans for 2013.

Clint Stariha, former Shell Lake chief

Joe Weiss, David Wilson and Clint Stariha listen to Dr. Dave Clausen ‘s speech at the special CWD meeting on Tuesday, May 7, in Shell Lake. - Photo by Danielle Moe

of police, voiced his frustration over the lack of participation from landowners and locals. “Friends that I talk to, most own 40 acres or more, I asked them why they weren’t coming, and they said they think the whole thing has gotten blown out of proportion.” Stariha stated the lack of concrete answers as to how the disease came to be here, among other unanswered questions, has led to increased skepticism by some area residents.

Unanswered questions are nagging reminders of how little is truly understood about the disease, but in Dr. Dave Clausen’s mind the real question isn’t why or how it ended up here but how long it will be before the disease makes its way across the state. Clausen, a veterinarian who served on the state’s Natural Resources Board, spoke before the gathering about the consequences of the disease if it is left unmanaged.

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“and there are serious implications.” Implications that boil down to the threat of smaller herd size, as Clausen observed has already occurred in some southern Wisconsin counties.

Management of CWD The management of CWD includes different methods that aim to better understand the disease and the most effective way of stopping it. Local DNR officials have taken a passive approach since the appearance of the disease in this area by limiting actions to testing and surveying in an attempt to understand how severely the disease is affecting the area’s deer population.

“That doesn’t do anything about eliminating the disease,” pointed out Joe Weiss, a member of the Citizens Advisory Team. “When you speak about options to control CWD, you’re bringing up killing deer.” Weiss believes that if more people understood the significance their opinion had in the management practices used to stop the spread of the disease, like the culling of deer, more people would be involved.

DNR wildlife manager Mike Zeckmeister reminded everyone to consider that the DNR does not know the present geographic spread of the disease. “Before we start talking about taking any serious steps we need more information,” he appealed.

The lack of local interest about the disease leaves many like Weiss very frustrated. Local disregard for the disease may be motivated by the assumption that it is offseason. “Yes it is, as far as deer hunting may go,” agreed Barry Nielsen, a member of the Citizens Advisory Team, “but when it comes to chronic wasting disease there is no off time. That herd out there is in jeopardy of its health whether it be May, June, July or November. It may be an off time of the year for people to be interested, but it’s not an off time of the year for CWD,” he declared.

Landowner permits In addition to the testing and surveying, the DNR has offered “landowner permits” to those who own land in the two-mile zone where the infected deer was initially found.

“If they want to shoot a deer and have it tested, we give them a tag to do that,” Zeckmeister said. Other steps that the

DNR considers effective CWD management practices are to avoid high concentrations of deer in an area of land, and to carry on the ban of feeding and baiting deer.

DNR CWD biologist Mark Rasmussen reported that a total of 750 animals were collected during the 2012 gun deer season, due to the high level of hunter cooperation. Of all the samples taken at that time, no additional positives for the disease were found. The estimated prevalence level is about 0.1 percent of the deer population in the area. “While our prevalence rate is low, it is still likely that within the next four to 10 years there may be additional positives,” stated Rasmussen.

Clausen said he knows the trend. “We don’t want to be congratulating ourselves too soon,” he noted.

Zeckmeister acknowledged that the DNR doesn’t think the disease is widespread. “It’s not a four-county area, and it’s not a high infection rate, but we only have one sample,” he said. “That may not be the center of the circle, that could be the edge of the circle.”

The wealth of people willing to stand up and help prevention of the disease makes the doom-and-gloom picture the disease poses more manageable. Research is currently being done in Canada on a vaccine for CWD, but that is significantly into the future, according to Rasmussen. Even if a vaccine is discovered the seemingly impossible task of how to effectively distribute it to the wild deer population is something that’s not going to be seen in the immediate future, he added.

Community cooperation The DNR and other organizations that recognize the threat chronic wasting disease poses to Wisconsin deer populations rely heavily on the cooperation of the community. Active monitoring of the disease and the removal of diseased animals from the ecosystem are currently the best ways, to curb its spread.

Zeckmeister, Northern District wildlife supervisor for the DNR, pointed out the huge problem surrounding CWD. “People fall into one of three categories, those that ignore it, those that deny it, and those that accept it.”

He said those who choose to ignore the disease can expect the DNR to continue to enforce what the consequences will be.

Their goal is to wake those individuals up to the reality of the disease by keeping the public informed on the stages and actions the DNR will take to ensure the safety of the area’s healthy deer population.

Those who deny the disease leave the DNR with their hands tied, he noted, adding, “It’s not my job to change your mind. But those who choose to accept that the disease could be a threat can help, think about what you can do about it,” he said.

Rasmussen said the best thing individuals can do about the disease is to stay informed of the process, especially hunters and landowners, know that the DNR will not take action without public support and get all adult deer tested, by providing the head or lymph nodes from adult deer to the DNR, in order to keep the disease conscious in the minds of the public.

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NOVEMBER 20, 2013 - HUNTING GUIDE - INTER-COUNTY LEADER/WASHBURN COUNTY REGISTER - PAGE 5

Hunters urged to donate venison for food pantries MADISON – Hunters can donate deer to help feed the hungry through a partnership that over the past 13 years has provided food pantries across the state with 3.7 million pounds of ground venison, state wildlife officials say.

The Wisconsin Venison Donation Program and its affiliates, Hunt for the Hungry and Target Hunger, along with more than 120 participating meat processors, are ready to accept and distribute venison donated by hunters during this deer hunting season, according to Dan Hirchert, the Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist coordinating the venison program.

“There has been great interest this year from hunters who are anticipating a productive season,” Hirchert said. “We need your help again this season to share the

harvest and help families in need.”

In the past 13 years, hunters have donated 83,120 deer which were processed into more than 3.7 million pounds of ground venison and distributed to food pantries across the state.

Two separate programs for donation are available for hunters, one in the chronic wasting disease zone and another in the rest of the state. Be sure to view the list that applies to your area. Both lists of participating meat processors, and instructions for donating, are available on the DNR website: dnr.wi.gov, keywords Deer Donation.

Hunters can donate a deer by following a few simple steps: • Field dress the deer and register it at a Wisconsin DNR registration station be-

fore donating the deer.

• Call first! Contact one of the participating processors before dropping the deer off to verify the processor has space to accept your deer.

• Deer legally harvested outside the CWD zone are registered with a silver metal tag. These deer can be dropped off at a participating processor by Jan. 5, 2014.

• Deer legally harvested and sampled for CWD outside the CWD zone will be marked with a round metal medallion.

Processors that will accept CWD sampled deer, in addition to regular silver-tagged deer, are identified with an asterisk (*) on the Wisconsin Deer Donation 2013 poster. Not all participating processors are equipped to process CWD sampled deer.

• Deer legally harvested in the CWD zone are registered with a red metal tag.

Red-tagged deer can only be donated to a processor participating in the Target Hunger program. Donated red-tagged deer are tested for CWD and only deer that test negative will be distributed to pantries.

• Donate the entire deer to receive the processing for free. (Head and/or antlers may be removed for mounting.)

• When dropping a deer off at a processor, sign the log sheet indicating your desire to donate the deer and the deer will be processed and the venison will be distributed to charitable organizations to help feed Wisconsin’s needy. – from the DNR

Your investment in Wisconsin’s wildlife, 2011-2012 Tracking the Fish & Wildlife Account STATEWIDE – The DNR’S $101.2 million Fish & Wildlife Account comes from the following sources: Fishing and hunting licenses and stamps – 65.09 percent; Pittman-Robertson federal wildlife aid – 11.36 percent; Sport Fish Restoration federal aid – 10.69 percent; miscellaneous grants, donations and other sources – 9.93 percent; and wildlife damage surcharge ­– 2.93. The Fish & Wildlife Account accounted for 21.6 percent of total DNR costs for 2012.

What did your money accomplish in 2011– 2012?

1. Managed and monitored wildlife populations: Working with stakeholders, DNR wildlife staff set harvest quotas, hunting rules, and regulations for several game species. They compiled bird and mammal harvest and age data, waterfowl band returns, and license surveys to as-

sist in season framework and harvest quota development. They continued comprehensive deer research projects in two areas of northern Wisconsin. They banded over 10,000 waterfowl and conducted spring breeding surveys to help monitor their populations. They continued the first-ever national surveys for difficult-tomonitor birds including owls, nightjars, marsh birds and red-shouldered hawks with the help of over 200 citizen-scientists and placed 3,322 tetracycline-laced bear baits as part of a bear population study. A study was initiated to assess badger habitat use, distribution and survival.

2. Enhanced wildlife populations through habitat management: 178 state wildlife areas across 620,000 acres are managed for hunting, trapping, fishing and wildlife watching. Turkey, pheasant and duck stamp revenue was used for wetland, grassland, savanna and forestry projects. The DNR facilitated wetland habitat projects including 10 ongoing federal NAWCA grants and completed 19 waterfowl stamp projects.

3. Customer service: The DNR operated a 15-hour-per-day customer call center seven days a week that included phone, chat and email functions. They provided multilingual communications with customer service representatives who speak Hmong and Spanish. They maintained an easy-to-use automated licensing system and a digital message service. They managed a computer system and vendor network supporting the sale of over 3 million fishing, hunting and trapping licenses.

4. Law enforcement: The Wisconsin DNR held over 880 hunter education courses for 25,000 students taught by volunteers. It helped to sponsor over 155 Learn to Hunt events for over 2,136 participants. Over 1,000 people completed trapper education classes. They responded to over 3,675 hunting, fishing and trapping complaints.

5. Outreach and education: The DNR held programs attended by over 40,000 people, co-hosted the Wisconsin Outdoor Education Expo, and expanded the National Archery in the Schools program

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to over 450 schools. They provided print copies of the regulations to over 1.9 million people and conducted demonstrations about the performance of copper bullets.

6. Improved access to wildlife on public and private lands: 1,427 acres of wildlife area land were added through fee title and easement acquisition. They enhanced access to public lands by improving 46 miles of roads and 168 parking lots. Public access to 21,000 acres of private lands were gained through the Voluntary Public Access program. They completed the master plan for the 87,000 acre SandhillMeadow Valley Work Unit.

7. Stocked wildlife for recreation: The DNR partnered with conservation clubs to release 54,000 pheasants on 71 public hunting sites.

8. Conducted chronic wasting disease management: The DNR continued CWD surveillance in southern Wisconsin and sampled over 5,300 deer for CWD. – from the Wisconsin DNR website

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PAGE 6 • INTER-COUNTY LEADER/WASHBURN COUNTY REGISTER - HUNTING GUIDE - NOVEMBER 20, 2013

Deer hunt for disabled hunters another success

Marty Seeger|staff writer POLK COUNTY – Local DNR conservation wardens and the Polk County Sportsmen’s Club held the annual deer hunt for disabled hunters from Oct. 5-13 in Polk County. As many as 33 hunters took part in the hunt and 10 deer were harvested over the course of two weekends.

Several volunteer guides and landowners help make the hunt a reality each year,

Archille Cassavant took a nice doe during October’s deer hunt for disabled hunters. Cassavant shot the doe on land sponsored by Ed and Dave Dittbrenner. for many disabled hunters who have no place to hunt, or simply need some assistance in getting back to the outdoors to share in the hunting tradition. In order to qualify for the hunt, the hunter must have a valid Class A, long-term Class B that authorizes shooting from a vehicle, or Class C or D disabled hunting permit,

Walter Anderson poses with one of two does Scott Hansen and Joe Madsen (not pictured) taken with guide and conservation warden helped guide Lynn Kruger to a good buck durShaun Tyznik. The deer were taken on prop- ing the deer hunt for hunters with disabilities erty offered up by Dale Wood, near Clam Lake. that took place on properties donated by willing landowners. The hunts took place from Oct. 5 – according to the DNR. Oct. 13.

Landowners, or sponsors, fill out an apFor more information visit the DNR plication to authorize the gun deer hunt website at dnr.wi.gov. Landowners can on their property and hunts are only al- enroll online and a list of current sponsors lowed to take place on the properties that can be found there as well. Traditionally, have been enrolled in the program. Over hunters are required to meet a Sept. 1 parthe years, several hundred acres have ticipation deadline in order to be considbeen generously provided by willing ered for the hunt. landowners in Polk County and several other areas across the state of Wisconsin.

Charles Holmquist shot this 3-point buck during the a deer hunt for disabled hunters.

– Photos submitted

Duane Leier of Ellsworth shot a nice doe while being guided by conservation warden Randy Goglin harvested a nice doe during the disabled deer hunt Jesse Ashton on land sponsored by Jim Madon the Ed Dittbrenner property. sen.

Harvey Yager of Rice Lake shot his deer while being guided by Todd Zagger on Ed Dittbrenner’s property.

First buck

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Owen Ruelas, 11, of Milltown shot his first buck during the October youth hunt. It was also the first day of the hunt. His mentor was Craig Cousins of Luck. – Photo submitted

NOVEMBER 20, 2013 - HUNTING GUIDE - INTER-COUNTY LEADER/WASHBURN COUNTY REGISTER - PAGE 7

Youth introduced A mix of heavy rain and drizzle dampened the air on Saturday morning, as my cousins and I watched TV and ate breakfast, waiting to formulate some sort of hunting plan, and for the Marty rain to finally stop. It Seeger was still early, but my cousins, Makaylin, 10, and Collin, now 12, The seemed eager to get in the woods. Collin Bottom is no stranger to huntLine ing, as he’s already taken two bucks during the previous two October youth hunts, while Makaylin would be hunting for her first deer. Guided by his older sister, Laura, Collin would sit in one area near a family-owned property north of Prairie Farm, while Makaylin and I headed in the opposite direction. Their dad, still wounded from a scary fall from the deer stand a week earlier, would be waiting impatiently for any news that one of his kids had taken a deer.

Our small blaze-orange army of four piled into the truck with safety in mind and rifles in tow, taking the few-mile trip to the woods where we’d spend the next few hours. Turning off the main road to a worn-out field road, we navigated farther north, turning a corner between tall stands of corn. Slowly rounding a bumpy corner, we each caught the glimpse of a small buck before it bounded into the woods in the opposite direction where we planned to hunt. It was a good start to the morning hunt, and eyes were widened with the chance encounter. Each of us was hopeful that the buck might appear for Collin or Makaylin later in the morning, or for my Aunt Val, who was also guiding a youth hunter on the same property. We finally parked the truck, and the rain had subsided enough to

keep us all dry for a little while. Loading up the guns and taking the next several hundred yards by foot, Collin and Laura went east, while Makaylin and I headed north.

“Wouldn’t it be cool if we just saw a buck and shot it right after getting out of the truck?” Makaylin asked as we crossed a fence line.

“Not really,” I said, explaining how much more gratifying it is to kill a buck on the final day of a long, difficult hunt, after sitting on stand day after day, seeing nothing but squirrels and falling leaves.

I was slightly joking, but mostly serious, as Makaylin sneered at me in a “yeah right” sort of way, and we continued a slow walk to the first ridge. We peered over it and caught movement among the fallen leaves under a mystical-looking canopy of a tall mix of oak and maple.

Just then, the bellowing of roaming cattle could be heard somewhere down below, but we couldn’tsee them. It wasn’t an ideal situation, having cattle roaming where deer generally also can be seen feeding, but as we moved farther along Makaylin spotted movement in the distance, and shortly afterward I did too.

“What is that?” she whispered, and so grabbing binoculars, I investigated a set of four grayish-looking legs. Thinking it was a deer, my heart skipped a beat, and no doubt, Makaylin’s did too, but more movement revealed a small calf, ending the brief moment of excitement for the both of us.

The same mist that coated the air was back once again, and it soon turned to rain as we formulated a plan to skirt around the cattle in the pasture without spooking them, or any deer that might be feeding nearby. Eventually the cattle worked their way to the east toward Collin and Laura, and we moved deeper into the timber, getting some reprieve from the rain that was coming down harder with the passing minutes.

Through it all, Makaylin never complained. She wanted a deer and was willing to go just about anywhere, but I could sense after the first couple of hours

she was getting bored.

“Are you having fun or bored?” I asked. After a few seconds to think about it, Makaylin replied, “Hmmm, in the middle.”

We took a bit of a break on one of the other ridges, took some photos and simply enjoyed the views. Makaylin even found a nice stump to balance herself on to kill a little time. It’s no secret, but hunting really can get boring at times.

At that point I realized we would have had a much better time with an umbrella and a .22 rifle. Squirrels literally covered the forest floor at every turn and around every tree as they foraged for acorns.

Soon I was explaining how much fun squirrel hunting could be, and how good they can be to eat. We wouldn’t need to be nearly as quiet and there’d be plenty of targets to hold her interest.

Up until that point, we’d only caught a glimpse of one smaller deer running through the pasture and could only envision the sight of her first buck. Even though Makaylin was holding out for a buck, it wasn’t long before she was hoping to get a shot at whatever deer came into view. It didn’t happen for us, or for the other two youth hunters in the woods that morning. It seemed as though we may have actually been lucky just to glimpse that one deer.

Most mornings, evenings and days out in the field are like this, and I’m confident that Makaylin understands this, but between all the waiting, still finds joy in the beauty of the woods and being outdoors. It’s what has kept me going back year after year, and I can’t imagine a life without it. Hopefully she, too, feels the same someday.

The author’s cousin Makaylin takes a break from the deer hunting action to wait for some cattle to move out of the way. Not every hunt is as action packed and exciting as those often portrayed, but just being outside is part of the fun. – Photo by Marty Seeger

Youth hunt bucks

Markell Ramich of Balsam Lake shot a 9-point buck on Sunday, Oct. 6, during the youth hunt near Frederic.

Good Luck Deer Hunters

Gavin Baker of St. Croix Falls shot a nice 8-point buck during the two-day youth hunt held Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6. Gavin is the son of Paul and Cheryl Baker. – Photos submitted

Poachers hotline number: 800-TIP-WDNR

PAGE 8 • INTER-COUNTY LEADER/WASHBURN COUNTY REGISTER - HUNTING GUIDE - NOVEMBER 20, 2013

Making the right shot So you’ve just taken that buck of a lifetime with your bow or gun, or your son or daughter has just shot their first deer. The tags have been punched, handshakes and hugs have been exchanged, and Marty the deer may or may not have been fieldSeeger dressed already. But while you’re making The haste to get that deer in the truck and out of the Bottom woods to start showing it off, you’ve probably Line overlooked the perfect opportunity to capture the moment for a lifetime.

All too often hunters neglect to take a good photograph of their trophy. With a little practice taking a good photo can become an easy thing to do, in just a half-hour’s time or less. It can also be a lot of fun, knowing that the person with their trophy will have something to remember the hunt by for a lifetime. And oftentimes, the picture lasts longer than a mount from the taxidermy shop, or the antlers on the wall.

With the latest technology in cell phones and digital photography these days, there’s really no need for an expensive camera. While I’m lucky to have been able to purchase a high-end camera, I’ve often taken photos that turned out just as nice with my cell phone, which is a lot easier to carry into the field than a bulky camera bag and equipment. So too, are some of the smaller digital cameras, and you don’t need to be an expert to use them, but it does take a little time and practice. And having an expensive camera doesn’t make you an expert photographer, or even a good photographer.

It takes some practice, and a little bit of patience. Below is a list of things to consider when taking a quality deer photo for a friend or relative.

Clean it up You owe it to the deer to try and make it as presentable as possible. There’s no reason for the tongue to be hanging out or for its face and body to be completely full of blood. Yes, blood, entry holes and exit wounds are part of the hunt, but ask yourself, what looks better? I’ve never seen a head mount with blood everywhere and the tongue hanging out. Placing your bow or rifle over the wounds or brushing up a few leaves or vegetation to hide the body cavity if it has already been field-dressed simply makes for a better photo. And it doesn’t take long.

Good light Taking a good photo of a trophy buck or any deer or any wildlife species requires good light, but sometimes, good light isn’t an option. Deer are oftentimes recovered at night and if it’s at all possible to take it the next morning, when light can be at its best, do so. If you can’t wait due to weather conditions, learn how to use your camera flash in the dark.

Night photos aren’t ideal, but there are ways to make them still look great. Using a truck’s headlights or other artificial

lights might be helpful as well.

Overcast days are often the best days to take photos because it limits shadows. Bright, sunny days can be difficult to eliminate shadows but if you can find some shaded areas it can help. If the hunter or hunters holding up the deer are wearing hats, have them lift them up a bit, or you won’t be able to see their faces.

Avoid the truck Taking a photo of a buck in the back of a pickup truck is a fairly traditional photo but often overused. If at all possible, take it back out of the truck or even go as far to take it back to the area where you killed the deer. The time doing it might seem like a pain, but it’s well worth the effort in the end.

Get low It pays for the photographer to get slightly below the subject. The majority of photos I take are while I’m lying on my belly. Especially if the terrain in the area is flat.

Position is everything Try to position the hunter behind the deer. The hunter doesn’t need to sit a foot behind the deer or hold his/her arms out to make the deer appear larger.

Most times a deer is hard to maneuver as rigor mortis can set in quickly. With as much muscle as you can muster, position the head of the deer so it looks as natural as possible. Try not to tip the antlers forward, or so the head of the deer is looking up. Once you get it into position, the slightest movement from side to side can make a world of difference in assuring the best angle of the deer, and so the antlers are presented in their full glory.

Follow the same set of rules if it’s an antlerless deer, but try to hold it at the base of the neck, and not the ears.

Take your time/hurry up One of the first things I tell someone before I begin taking photos is that their arm or arms will get tired, and I jokingly tell them that there’s absolutely no whining or eye-rolling allowed. I’m picky when it comes to taking a good photograph, but if the hunter doesn’t cooperate it’s going to be difficult to get the right photo. Because the deer usually has rigor mortis, it can be difficult to hold the deer in just the right spot for more than a few seconds. It’s the photographer’s job to take the photo as quickly as possible, take a break and do it all over again.

Fading light was working against this photo, and despite grumblings with having to pull this buck back out of the truck for photos, it was well worth the effort. Although it would have been nice to have the rifle in the photo as well.

Getting lower than the subject creates a unique perspective when taking a photo and seems to help highlight the antlers. In this case, there’s not much you can do to make this buck of a lifetime look smaller.

Photos by Marty Seeger

Study someone else’s hero shot There are thousands of other photographs of successful deer hunters out there online and in magazines. These photos are probably the best possible tool in trying to figure out how you’d like your deer to look in a photograph. Study how the person is positioned behind the deer, or holding the antlers. Notice too, that the weapon used during the hunt is an important part of the photograph.

Please, smile!

Perhaps the easiest part of the phototaking process is to smile, and there’s no reason to hide it. You’re happy, right?

So, even if you’re not one to smile for the camera, and even if you take your hunting seriously, there’s reason to celebrate and be happy. After all, isn’t that why we hunt in the first place?

Overcast skies helped to eliminate shadows with this buck photo. More than 50 photos were taken of this buck, with only a handful turning out. There were also several angles taken of the deer and hunter, which allows for more to choose from.

Bright sunny days are difficult for taking photos, but using flash even on a bright day wasn’t a bad idea. And capturing two bucks that were shot by these girls in the presence of their grandfather is something they’ll never forget, so every effort was made to get a decent photo.

A first buck is worth spending as much effort as possible photographing, even if the conditions aren’t right. This deer was photographed in a yard, with a spruce tree serving as a better background than a barn or truck.

NOVEMBER 20, 2013 - HUNTING GUIDE - INTER-COUNTY LEADER/WASHBURN COUNTY REGISTER - PAGE 9

Hunters safety field day held at Indianhead Rifle and Pistol Club

As the final test before hunters safety graduation, Alexis McCracken must demonstrate her general knowledge in handling firearms to hunters safety instructor John Haack.

Anna Mikula is showing hunters safety instructor Guy Evans how to safely cross a fence. With the light snow, the students practiced under real-life conditions. Over 56 students rotated through the five learning stations.

Cassidy Mehsikomer takes aim in shooting skeet. She shot the first clay thrown, not bad for her first time shooting.

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Hunters safety instructor Pat Kraetke supervises the firing range during Range Day at the Indianhead Rifle and Pistol Club in Spooner this spring on Saturday, April 13. The day was set up for the hunters education students to demonstrate their knowledge of firearms and how to safely handle them.

PAGE 10 • INTER-COUNTY LEADER/WASHBURN COUNTY REGISTER - HUNTING GUIDE - NOVEMBER 20, 2013

Watchful doe

Cautious mom

A doe keeps alert as her fawns feed nearby. The deer had an extra week to get ready for the upcoming gun season that starts Saturday, Nov. 23, and ends Sunday, Dec. 1. In 2012, 633,000 hunters took to the woods harvesting 243,000 deer with 114,822 of those being bucks. In the nine-day season there were seven shooting incidents with one fatality. — Photo by Larry Samson

First-time hunter education graduate privilege This doe, with her solitary fawn, was seen north of Shell Lake earlier this year. The fawn was old enough to spend most of her time with her mother as she browsed the fields and fence lines. — Photo by Larry Samson

Young buck

STATEWIDE – All residents 10 years and older who graduate from a Wisconsin Hunter Education course for the first time are entitled to the following: • Certificates issued after Jan. 1, 2013, will serve as your small game license and are valid for hunting small game until March 31, 2014. You must carry your Hunter Education Certificate with you while hunting if it is acting as your small

game hunting authorization.

• Exemption from the requirement to purchase the pheasant and state waterfowl stamps while the certificate is valid for small game hunting. Note: The above does not exempt a person from the requirement to purchase goose permits, a federal waterfowl stamp if age 16 or over, or from becoming HIP registered. – from the Wisconsin DNR website

Hunters Code of Ethics STATEWIDE – Positive hunter behavior and ethics will preserve the future of hunting and will help ensure continued opportunities and places to hunt. Ethics cover behavior related to issues such as respect, responsibility and fairness which cannot always be addressed with laws.

Responsible and ethical hunters should always:

1. Respect landowners

• Always know where you are hunting and gain permission before entering private lands. Know how to use a map, compass or GPS unit when needed.

• Be courteous, follow the landowner’s rules and treat their property with respect.

2. Respect other hunters

• Don’t interfere or disrupt the hunt of another. Treat other hunters in a manner that you would expect to be treated.

3. Respect nonhunters

• Understand that not everyone supports hunting. While everyone is entitled to their own view, positive hunting behavior will not turn someone who is neutral into someone who is opposed.

4. Respect wildlife and other natural resources

• Follow all hunting laws and report violations observed to your local warden.

• Assist or support landowners and the DNR with wildlife habitat projects. – from the DNR Website SPO

Hunting accidents STATEWIDE – Any person involved in an incident in which a person is injured by a projectile fired from a firearm or an arrow fired from a bow or crossbow while A spike buck was on the move recently in Polk County, trying to get in on any rutting activity hunting or trapping must first render necessary assistance and then immediately he could find on an early frost-covered morning. – Photo by John Reed

Mon.-Fri. 8 Sat. 8

report the incident to the local warden, sheriff or police. In addition, every person HAYWARD involved in a hunting accident must render a written report to the DNR with 10 days. – from the Mon.-Fri. Wisconsin DNR 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.website Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

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NOVEMBER 20, 2013 - HUNTING GUIDE - INTER-COUNTY LEADER/WASHBURN COUNTY REGISTER - PAGE 11

Vension and CWD: What hunters should know Info from the Wisconsin Division of Public Health STATEWIDE – Chronic wasting disease is a fatal disease that affects the nervous system of deer, elk and moose. The disease is caused by an abnormal protein called a prion, which can survive cooking

temperatures. Prions concentrate in certain tissues, such as the brain, spinal cord, lymph nodes and spleen, and are present in lower concentrations in other tissues, such as muscle. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control state that there is currently no strong scientific evidence proving that CWD may be transmitted to humans.

However, in the interest of safety, this organization advises that people not con-

sume meat from deer, elk or moose which test positive for CWD. In keeping with this recommendation, the Wisconsin Division of Public Health recommends that venison from deer harvested inside the CWD Management Zone not be consumed or distributed to others until CWD test results on the source deer are known to be negative.

Venison from multiple deer should be

kept separate and labeled before freezing.

For more information, call the Wisconsin Department of Health Services at 608-2679003 or see dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/documents/Venison_CWD.pdf.

– from the Wisconsin DNR website

Get involved in Wisconsin’s deer management STATEWIDE – There are many opportunities for you to take an active role in the management of white-tailed deer in Wisconsin. The DNR encourage you to visit dnr.wi.gov and type in the keywords listed below to participate and help monitor the state’s deer herd. The information you provide is used for deer management.

• Deer hunter wildlife survey: keyword deer hunter wildlife Help monitor the relative abundance and distribution of deer and other wildlife species in Wisconsin. Use the online form provided to simply record and submit information that you experience during your time afield.

• Operation Deer Watch: keyword deer

watch Help monitor deer reproduction in Wisconsin. Keep a tally sheet in your car to record all deer sightings during the summer months (Aug. 1 – Sept. 30). The department is interested in all deer sightings of bucks, does and fawns. Your data is combined with DNR staff observations to estimate the fawn-to-doe ratio and ultimately the deer population estimates.

• Trail camera photos: keyword deer hunter wildlife Trail cameras can serve as a valuable resource in documenting the distribution and abundance of various wildlife species, especially rare or endangered animals. Send in your photos during any season of the year.

• Deer herd forums and online surveys: keyword deer hunter forum Informational meetings are held around the state each March. It’s a perfect opportunity to speak directly to your local wildlife biologist and learn about deer biology and management, population estimates and harvest statistics for your favorite deer hunting area. Participants at both the in-person forums and participating from home can provide their personal input to the DNR. • Conservation Congress Spring Hearings: keyword spring hearings The Wisconsin Conservation Congress holds its annual meeting to provide citizens with the opportunity to comment and vote on proposed fish and wildlife

rule changes and to submit resolutions for new rule changes for the future. This meeting is held in every county of the state on the second Monday in April. It’s an opportunity unique to Wisconsin and plays a significant part in determining how you enjoy your time in the outdoors.

• Contact your local biologist: keyword contact Wildlife biologists are available to speak with you to answer questions, address any concerns you have and to gather input when setting the upcoming deer season framework. – from the Wisconsin DNR website

Tree stand safety STATEWIDE – Falls from a tree stand are the leading cause of injuries during the gun deer season, according to a 2008 Wisconsin study, recently confirmed by a 2010 Ohio study. The good news is such falls are easily preventable. You can continue to gain the benefits that hunting from a tree stand delivers – increased field of vision and avoiding detection by your prey while reducing your risk of injury if you follow a few simple safety tips.

Get a full-body harness The most important thing you can do is use a full-body harness, which keeps you in the stand if you slip or fall. Eighty-

two percent of the hunters who fall from tree stands are not wearing full-body harnesses, according to the Tree Stand Manufacturers Association.

Find out which models meet revised national standards, TMA Standards.

Take a free online tree stand safety course A 15-minute investment of your time in taking an online safety course could save your life. The Tree Stand Manufacturers Association provides a free, interactive course that you can finish in minutes.

Wear your full-body harness Hunters must wear their harnesses for them to work. A 2003 survey of Wisconsin gun deer hunters showed that two-thirds of hunters who hunted from tree stands owned a harness but less than one-third of them reported actually using the harness. Another third did not own a fullbody harness.

Take these other steps to stay safe • Select a tree that is substantial enough to support your weight.

• Read, understand and follow all of the manufacturer’s recommended procedures.

• Do not alter your equipment.

• Have three points of contact while climbing into and out of the tree stand;

either two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand, at all times.

• Use a haul line to raise and lower your unloaded firearm.

• Use a short tether between you and the tree when seated in the tree stand.

• Let people know where you’ll be hunting, where you’ll be parking your vehicle and when you intend to return.

• Carry a cell phone with you if you have one, and keep it in a pocket you can reach and in a pocket the phone will not fall out of in the event of a fall. – from the Wisconsin DNR website

First-time buyers get a price break on fishing and hunting fun STATEWIDE – Get a major price break on your hunting, fishing or trapping license if you are a first-time buyer or are buying your first license in 10 or more years. Discounted fees are available for residents and nonresidents alike and are automatically applied when a license is purchased.

How to get a discount Under a 2012 law, certain hunting, trapping and fishing approvals are sold at a reduced fee to people who have not been issued that same type of license, or a conservation patron license or a sports license, in any of the previous 10 years.

For Wisconsin residents, $5 buys you an annual license for fishing, trapping or many hunting seasons. Nonresidents also

qualify for discount rates.

Reward your recruiter First-time hunters and trappers can also recognize that special person who introduced them to the sport. Let the Department of Natural Resources know and they reward him or her with points toward a discounted license the next year. Wisconsin residents who have been designated

as a recruiter three or more times within one license year are eligible for a discount on the license of their choice the next year.

Give the DNR a call at 888-936-7463 and be ready to give your customer number and your recruiter’s customer number.

Recruiter points are available only for Wisconsin residents. Give credit where credit is due. – from the Wisconsin DNR website

Barron, Burnett, Polk and Washburn counties CWD collection and registration stations SPOONER – During the bow and gun deer hunting seasons the Department of Natural Resources – in cooperation with local businesses – will be collecting lymph nodes or deer heads for chronic wasting disease testing. If you shoot a deer within a 10-mile radius of Shell Lake, please contribute a sample for CWD testing.

The information collected will help establish what, if any, impact CWD has on the local deer herd and may be used in making CWD management decisions in the region. The agency’s goal is to col-

lect 500 samples to test for CWD within the 10-mile area, and the cooperation and help of hunters is critical in achieving the goal, DNR officials said.

The following registration stations, meat processors and taxidermists will be collecting samples during the upcoming seasons:

Registration stations United Ag Coop (Cenex), Shell Lake, 715-468-2302 Holiday Gas Station (South), 730 S.

River St. , Spooner, 715-635-9112 Holiday Gas Station (North), 621 N. River St. , Spooner, 715-635-9421 Speedy’s C Stop, 2962 Main St. , Barronett, 715-822-8979

Meat processors Thompson Wild Game Processing, W5098 CTH D, Sarona, 715-469-3234 Taxidermists Gram’s Taxidermy Studio, W3038 Hwy. 63, Springbrook, 715-766-3300

A&H Taxidermy, N6496 Ellsworth Lake Road, Spooner, 715-635-7017 Zimmerman Taxidermy, N5015 10th St. , Spooner, 715-635-8822 Thompson Taxidermy, W2511 CTH A/M, Springbrook, 715-766-3432 Long Bow Taxidermy, Hwy. 64 , Cumberland, 715-822-4257 Wolf’s Taxidermy, 6931 Lakeview Road, Siren, 715-349-2025. – from the DNR website

2012 hunting incident report STATEWIDE – A hunting incident is when a person is injured by the discharge of a hunting firearm or bow and arrow arising from the activity of hunting, including travel to and from the hunting field.

There were 28 total hunting incidents during the 2012 hunting season. Four of the 28 incidents were fatal. Thanks to the efforts of the hunter education program, hunting is a safe activity in Wisconsin and getting safer all the time. Hunting incidents are continuing a downward trend and for 2012 the state was below the 10year average of about 30 incidents per year.

Gun deer hunting, squirrel hunting and turkey hunting were the three hunting activities with the highest number of incidents, with gun deer hunting having the most. Hunting on game farms continues to be a location where several pheasant

hunting incidents occur annually. Other game hunting remained basically the same compared to 2011.

Rifles and shotguns remain the hunting implement involved most often in hunting incidents, shotguns, 43 percent, and rifles, 50 percent. No handgun or muzzleloader incidents occurred in 2012. Two incidents involved archery, 7 percent.

There were three major causes for incidents for 2012: Shooters failure to positively identify the target, victim out of sight of the shooter and victim covered by shooter swinging on game. It’s not a good enough reason to take a shot when a hunter only thinks they are seeing a legal target; they must know and be certain the target is legal. Having a safe zone of fire and safe backstop is equally important to knowing your target.

Planning your hunt and hunting your plan is important. Know where your

hunting partners are at all times.

Self-inflicted injuries accounted for 46 percent of the total number of incidents.

This is an increase of 8 percent from 2011.

Juveniles (under age 18) made up 21 percent of the incidents in 2012. That means that 79 percent of all hunting incidents were caused by adult hunters.

Historically juveniles have contributed to nearly 30 percent of the total numbers of incidents. It is important to note that the numbers of incidents caused by juvenile shooters was a single digit (six) incidents out of 28 incidents for 2012.

To summarize this report, 2012 was a safe year with only one fatality during the nine-day gun deer season. Hunters education instructors, sportsman organizations and conservation wardens should be congratulated for making 2012 a safe year to hunt. 1972 was the first year without a fatal incident for gun deer hunting. The

state was well below the 10-year average for hunting incidents and expects to continue that trend into the future. Incidents that were caused while hunters were either moving or shooting at moving game increase the propensity for something to go wrong. We cannot rest on past success and must stress the importance of knowing and practicing the four basic rules of firearms safety every time we handle a firearm. Remember the slogan Safe Hunting is No Accident. 2013 can be the safest season ever, if all hunters follow these 4 simple rules: • Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.

• Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.

• Be certain of your target and what’s beyond.

• Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot. – taken from the Wisconsin DNR website

PAGE 12 • INTER-COUNTY LEADER/WASHBURN COUNTY REGISTER - HUNTING GUIDE - NOVEMBER 20, 2013

Deer abundance and densities in Wisconsin deer management units

STATEWIDE – The Wisconsin DNR annually estimates the size of the population of deer in each deer management unit. Deer population estimates may be expressed in terms of abundance or density. Abundance estimates are the total number of deer estimated for an entire unit.

Density can be calculated by dividing the abundance estimate by the area (square miles) within the unit. Density estimates are useful for comparing population estimates among deer management units because they standardize abundance estimates by taking into account the difference in size of deer management units.

Deer population estimates are made for two time periods, a fall or prehunt estimate and an overwinter or posthunt estimate. Posthunt population estimates are annually compared to the deer population goal for each deer management unit as a basis for annual adjustments of antlerless harvest quotas. Population goals and density estimates are usually expressed as deer per square mile of deer range (i.e., suitable habitat).

Fall deer population estimates are based to a large degree on the number of antlered bucks harvested in each deer management unit. Buck harvest density in 2012 varied among deer management units from less than one to more than 12 bucks harvested per square mile of deer range. Fall deer densities in 2012 varied from nine to more than 100 deer per square mile of deer range. Deer management units with the highest fall densities were

mostly in the east-central and southern parts of the state.

Units with the lowest fall deer densities were mostly in north central and northeastern Wisconsin. Overwinter deer population estimates are derived from the fall population estimates and the total registered harvest. Overwinter deer densities in 2012 varied from about seven to about 100 deer per square mile of deer range.

Deer range is used for determining population goals and density because it provides a standard for comparison of density among deer management units, and it helps biologists to understand the ecological and economic effects of different deer densities. The amount of deer range varies greatly among deer management units.

In some northern units, more than 95 percent of the land area is classified as deer range. In contrast, less than 25 percent of some of the highly urbanized and/or agricultural units in the south is considered to be deer range.

The variation in the amount of deer range across the state may be one of the factors that contributes to confusion about deer population estimates.

Deer population and harvest densities can also be expressed in terms of total land area. This results in a somewhat different picture of the distribution of deer in Wisconsin. Deer management units in which a small percentage of the total land area is classified as deer range may show a high number of deer per square mile of deer range but a lower number of deer per square mile of land

area. Using land area as the basis, the harvest density of antlered bucks in 2012 varied from less than one to nearly nine bucks harvested per square mile of land area.

In a number of deer management units in southeastern and southwestern Wisconsin and also in north central and northwestern Wisconsin, fewer than two bucks were harvested per square mile of total land area in 2012. In contrast, more than five antlered bucks were harvested per square mile of land area in many east-central and a number of western deer management units. Based on land area, fall 2012 densities were highest in east-central and west-central Wisconsin. By comparison, fall densities were much lower in southeastern Wisconsin and in a number of north central and northeastern management units. Overwinter deer densities showed a similar geographic pattern.

It is important to keep in mind that density estimates for deer management units are based largely on the number of antlered bucks harvested in the unit. The resulting density estimates are averages for the entire unit and may not accurately reflect local deer density. There can be considerable local variation in density within deer management units due to differences in deer habitat quality and local hunting pressure. – from the DNR website

Deer season forecast Northern District Mike Zeckmeister|Northern WDNR wildlife manager NORTHERN WISCONSIN – Whenever we talk about how deer are doing in northern Wisconsin, we start with conditions last winter and late spring. We experienced a colder than average February and March with snow coming later and lingering longer into April. Snow depths as of April 1, in many locations, set historic records. Our past experience in the north is that this has a greater impact than snow coming early with more moderate temperatures midwinter.

Across the north, mild “winter severity index” readings were not fully reflective of winter impacts on deer, with broad variations locally. Severe “crusty” snow conditions were noted in many areas and this made it much more difficult and strenuous for deer to move. Overnight lows in the mid-teens made this crust more pronounced due to daytime melting. As a result, this past spring we received numerous reports of deer in poor shape. Local

field biologists were attentive to this and examined bone marrow from deceased deer – car-killed deer, for instance. These examinations confirmed that deer had a difficult time this past winter in many areas of northern Wisconsin.

Although we did not expect significant direct mortality, we do expect reduced recruitment. The late spring resulted in a delayed green-up and likely compounded the stress caused by late winter conditions. For this reason we ratcheted down the antlerless quota in many forested units. This means fewer antlerless permits, if any, in many units across northern Wisconsin.

This begs the question, Why harvest any antlerless deer, especially in the north? The short answer is that these conditions did not occur everywhere and some level of antlerless harvest is almost always a good management principle. There are many areas, especially in our farmland fringe areas, where deer populations are still very high. The following are some more detailed reasons for a low quota compared to a zero quota in our primarily forested deer management units:

• The majority of the public commenting, both online and in person at the annual herd status meetings, preferred low quotas to zero quotas.

• Since these units can sustain an antlerless harvest, zero quota means we will likely have to play catch-up the following year with a much higher quota. A big jump makes it harder for people to have confidence in the management strategy.

• It gives archery hunters the opportunity to harvest an antlerless deer.

• It gives interested gun hunters and especially novice hunters a better opportunity to harvest a deer.

• It reduces waste of antlerless deer that are inadvertently shot and left untagged.

• It provides better integrity of data with deer being registered and reported more consistently in the correct unit.

• It helps reduce large swings in the population. – from the Wisconsin DNR website

Hunter mentorship program STATEWIDE – The hunter mentorship program allows a person to hunt without the need to first take hunter education, provided the hunter and the mentor comply with the following: Rules that apply to the hunter. The hunter must: • be at least 10 years old; • possess the appropriate hunting license, permits, stamps and tags; • hunt within arm’s reach of a mentor regardless of the age of the hunter; and • comply with all other hunting laws, seasons and bag limits.

Rules that apply to the mentor. The mentor must: • be at least 18 years old;

• be a hunter education graduate unless they were born before Jan. 1, 1973, or have completed basic training with the armed forces; • be the hunter’s parent or guardian, or have the permission of the hunter’s parent/guardian before acting as a mentor for a person under 18; • possess a current year’s Wisconsin hunting license (type of hunting license does not matter unless the mentor will also be attempting to harvest game).

Note: Certain exemptions for the hunting license requirement apply if mentoring on a licensed bird or deer hunting preserve or on land the mentor owns or occupies. Contact DNR for details and • only serve as a mentor for one hunter at a time if the

hunter is either of the following: • age 10 or 11; or • born on or after Jan. 1, 1973, and has not yet completed hunter education.

Only one firearm, bow or crossbow (if eligible to use a crossbow) can be possessed jointly between the hunter and the mentor while participating in the hunting mentorship program. A concealed weapon, legally possessed by a permit holder, is counted toward the one weapon limit. Note: Ten- and 11-year-olds may only hunt under these mentorship rules, even if they have already completed hunter education. – from the Wisconsin DNR website

Deer trustee report implementation updates

What’s new in 2013 STATEWIDE – There are a number of rule and regulation changes this year that may be of interest to hunters.

The most notable changes are listed here. Check the 2013 Deer Hunting Regulations for more information.

• The coyote season no longer closes in the northern portion of Wisconsin during the gun deer season.

• There are now expanded opportunities for hunting and trapping in state parks. See page 40 of the 2013 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations for additional information.

• Baiting and feeding deer is no longer allowed in Washington County. See page 32 of the 2013 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations for more information.

• As of Nov. 1, the use of rifles will be allowed statewide. Hunters will need to check with the local municipality where they will be hunting for any local ordinances that restrict the use of certain firearms. – from the Wisconsin DNR website

reviewing all of the recommendations and developing rules that can be advanced for implementation.

The four action teams that were created are: • Deer management assistant program; • Herd health and chronic wasting disease; • Regulations and seasons; and • Science and research.

The implementation recommendations developed by each action team will be advanced for rule adoption. As part of the rule-adoption process, the recommendations were available for public comment at formal public meetings held in late October 2013. They were also presented to the Natural Resources Board in September and will be presented again in December 2013. All new rules are intended to be in place for the 2014 deer hunting season.

To learn more about this process or keep up to date

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NOVEMBER 20, 2013 - HUNTING GUIDE - INTER-COUNTY LEADER/WASHBURN COUNTY REGISTER - PAGE 13

Watch your clocks!

STATEWIDE – Before heading out, hunters should make themselves aware of legal restrictions on hunting activities related to time of day.

• Times listed are one-half hour before sunrise to 20 minutes after sunset.

• Firearm hunting prohibited on Nov. 22.

• Calculating hunting hours: Determine your location in either the Northern or Southern Area and add the minutes shown in the zone in which you are hunting to the opening and closing times listed in the Northern Area Hunting Hours table.

• Night hunting: Coyote, fox, rac-

coon or unprotected species may be hunted without hunting hour restrictions except: 1. During the bow deer season when hunting hours listed in the the regulation book apply to bow hunting all species.

2. During the regular gun deer season from Nov. 23 - Dec. 1 in nonmetro units when normal hunting hours apply to hunting all species.

• Caution: Consult your migratory bird regulations pamphlet for migratory bird hunting hours including woodcock, crows, doves, snipe and rails.

- from the Wiconsin DNR website

Find us on the Web at:

the-leader.net or wcregisteronline.com 2013 Deer, Bear, Small Game and Fall Turkey hunting hours listed from 30 minutes before sunrise to 20 minutes after sunset for Zone A in the Northern Area. If hunting in a zone other than Zone A, add the appropriate minutes to the opening and closing times. See the appropriate regulations for hunting season dates.

STATEWIDE – Some of the more frequently asked questions during the Wisconsin November nine-day gun deer hunt taken by the DNR call center last year were: Question 1: After removing a tree stand completely from state-owned public hunting land at the end of the hunting hours, is there a specific time hunters can put the tree stand back up for the next hunting day?

Answer: There is no set time after midnight that a person must honor before putting up a tree stand. But, if a hunter leaves the tree stand unattended, the tree stand shall have the owner’s department customer identification number or the owner’s name and address, written in the English language, attached to the tree stand in a manner so it is clearly visible to a person standing on the ground. The identification notice left on the tree stand shall be kept legible at all times. And it must be removed completely from the property at the close of hunting hours each day.

Question 2: Who handles trespass violations?

Answer: Landowners who suspect their properties are being trespassed should contact their local sheriff’s department or other local law enforcement agency. Conservation wardens do not have the authority to investigate trespassing complaints. Any person convicted of trespassing is subject to a penalty of up to $1,397.50. According to s. 943.13, of the Wisconsin Statutes, it is illegal to enter land of another without the expressed or implied consent of the owner or occupant of the land. This includes railroad tracks and their adjacent property. Also, it is illegal to enter or remain on land after having been notified by the owner or occupant not to enter or remain.

A person has received notice from the owner or occupant if he or she has been notified personally, either orally or in writing, or if the land is posted. Remember: Although hunters are required to make a reasonable effort to re-

Gun deer hunt FAQs

trieve game they have killed or injured, hunters may not trespass to retrieve such game, even if the game was shot from outside the posted area. Ask first for permission.

Question 3: I have a hypothetical question. The hunter shoots a deer, but is unable to find it before sunset. The hunter finds the deer the following morning. However, the hunter discovers that the deer’s hindquarters have been eaten by coyotes. Does the hunter tag the deer?

Answer: The hunter is to tag and register the deer. A hunter who kills any deer must validate their tag and place it on the deer, no matter what the condition of the carcass. This is clearly the obligation under s. 29.347(2), Wis. Stats. and s. NR 10.103(2), Wisconsin Administrative Code. A deer license provides an opportunity, not a promise, of edible meat, or any meat at all. If the deer carcass is not in a condition that is appropriate for transport or presenting to a registration station due to decay or missing parts, the hunter should contact the local warden or wildlife biologist for instructions and assistance in registering the deer. Once registered, the hunter can keep the antlers or other salvageable parts of the carcass. It is not legal to simply cut off the antlers or head without tagging and registering the deer first.

Question 4: If someone gets hurt while hunting on another person’s land, is the landowner held liable?

Answer: Under section 895.52 of the Wisconsin Statutes, landowners are generally immune from liability for injuries received by individuals recreating on their lands.

This law provides liability protection to landowners for injury or death of individuals participating in outdoor recreation on their land. This includes activities such as fishing, hunting, trapping, hiking, camping, boating and berry-picking. This immunity does not apply when the landowner receives more than $2,000 a year in income from the recreation activity or when the landowner acted

maliciously with an intent to harm the person recreating.

There also is an exception for social guests invited specifically for an occasion on residential or platted property or property within 300 feet of a commercial building or structure. Courts have consistently interpreted this statute to protect landowners in furtherance of its purpose, which is to encourage landowners to allow others to recreate on their lands. This statute applies to the landowners of Managed Forest Law (MFL) lands as well.

Question 5: I am calling in regard to the solid blaze orange material that needs to be visible on a ground blind used on DNR-owned or -managed lands. Would this requirement also pertain to hunters on their private land?

Answer: The requirement for blaze orange on blinds applies only to blinds placed on lands under the ownership, management or control of the DNR. However, it does not apply to blinds made solely of dead vegetation found on the property nor does it apply to tree stands or other elevated stands. This rule also generally applies to those private lands leased by the DNR for public hunting, such as Voluntary Public Access properties. This rule does not apply to federal, county or municipal lands open to hunting, or to private lands not leased by the DNR for public hunting. It also does not apply to privately owned lands that are enrolled in the state’s Managed Forest Law or Forest Crop Law programs. At least 144 square inches of blaze orange material must be visible when looking at the blind from any angle, the full 360 degrees around the blind. When the ground blind is left unoccupied, the owner must post their DNR customer identification number or name and address written legibly in English somewhere in a conspicuous spot on the outside of the structure and near its entry. – published in Outdoor Recreation and taken from the Wisconsin DNR website

PAGE 14 • INTER-COUNTY LEADER/WASHBURN COUNTY REGISTER - HUNTING GUIDE - NOVEMBER 20, 2013

you may not engage in those activities in Wisconsin or purchase any license, permit or tag that authorizes those activities in Wisconsin during the period of the revocation or suspension.

• If a person is cited for a wildlife violation in this state and fails to pay or appear in court, Wisconsin will revoke all that person’s hunting, fishing and trapping privileges and will communicate that information to that person’s home state and other participating states. The participating states include: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California,

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STATEWIDE – The state of Wisconsin is a participating member of the Wildlife Violator Compact. The Wildlife Violator Compact is an agreement between participating states that prohibits a person whose hunting, fishing or trapping privileges are suspended in a participating state from obtaining licenses or permits, or participating in those activities in all participating states.

• If your hunting, trapping or fishing privileges were suspended or revoked for a fish- or wildlife-related violation by any of the member states after April 15, 2008,

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NOVEMBER 20, 2013 - HUNTING GUIDE - INTER-COUNTY LEADER/WASHBURN COUNTY REGISTER - PAGE 15

Four basic rules of firearm safety

Lead in venison STATEWIDE – Deer harvested with lead bullets have been shown to 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 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 harvested with lead ammunition. However, there is currently no known evidence linking human consumption of venison to lead poisoning.

The following measures can reduce your potential exposure to lead in venison: • Consider alternative nonlead expanding ammunition such as copper or other high-weight-retention lead bullets, such as bonded bullets.

• Practice marksmanship and outdoor skills to get closer to your target, making cleaner, lethal shots away from major muscle areas. Aim for the vitals behind the shoulder or the neck. Don’t shoot at running deer.

• Avoid consuming internal organs as they can contain extra lead from heart-lung shots.

• Process small batches so you can frequently check the grinder and remove lead fragments.

• Remind your meat processor to not use deer meat with excessive shot damage.

• 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.

For additional information: LUNCH SPECIALS issue: dnr.wi.gov, keyword: • on the lead-in-venison Served 11 a.m. - gone lead.

• on lead poisoning: dhfs.wisconsin.gov.

• on deer processing: datcp.wi.gov/uploads/Food/ pdf/CommonSense.pdf.

FAMILY• on where to find copper bullets and nontoxic ammunition for hunting: dnr.wi.gov.STYLE – from the Wisconsin BREAKFAST DNR website

STATEWIDE – As you join thousands of hunters heading into the woods, fields and marshes during the fall hunting seasons, Wisconsin DNR safety experts remind you to review and think about firearm safety each and every time you head out.

Essential to any responsible hunting trip is an ironclad adherence to the four basic rules of firearm safety that can be easily remembered using the TAB-K formula.

T = Treat every firearm as if it is loaded. Never assume a firearm is unloaded and never treat it that way, even if you watch as it is unloaded. Make it a habit to treat guns like they are loaded all the time.

A = Always point the muzzle in a safe direction. About one third of all hunting incidents are self-inflicted injuries. That means the muzzle was pointed at some part of the hunter’s body. A safe direction is a direction where the bullet will travel and harm no one in the event of an unwanted discharge. There are no accidental discharges with firearms, only unwanted discharges.

B = Be certain of your target and what’s beyond it. Positive target identification is a must. To shoot at something you only think is a legal target is gambling. In the case of human injury, that means gambling with human life.

You must be absolutely certain and correct in judgment before deciding to shoot. Otherwise, it’s reckless behavior. In addition to identifying the target, a hunter must

know that a safe backstop for their bullet is present in every shooting situation. We don’t always hit our target, and, in some cases, the bullet passes through the target.

A safe backstop guarantees that no one will get hurt.

K = Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot. If a hunter stumbles with a firearm in one hand and nothing in the other, whatever that person does with their free hand will automatically happen with the hand holding the gun. If a finger is inside the trigger guard, that hand is likely going to close around the pistol grip of the gun and on the trigger, causing an unwanted discharge.

Planning your fall hunting trip also means having your gear in proper working order. Firearms should be cleaned and closely inspected for any signs of mechanical wear that could result in a problem in the field.

Firearms aren’t the only items that need to be checked well in advance of a hunting trip. Clothing and other equipment should also be inspected for signs of wear and tear. Anything that might cause you to compromise safety should be repaired, discarded or replaced. Blaze orange clothing that has faded over time, a jacket that doesn’t fit right or a scope that isn’t adjusted correctly can compromise your safety and the safety of others. – from the Wisconsin DNR Website

STOP IN & SIGN UP ON OUR BUCKBOARD

DUGOUT BAR & GRILL Cushing, Wisconsin

715-648-5275

STOP IN & SIGN UP ON OUR BUCKBOARD

LUNCH SPECIALS 595901 3a,dp 3DHp

Served 11 a.m. - gone

BORDER BATTLE

Main Street, Luck Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.

715-472-2378

Serving Breakfast All Day, Every Day! Daily Breakfast Specials 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Serving Biscuits & Gravy Daily

595986 3DHp

Jenell’s Main Dish ATTENTION HUNTERS! Opening at 4:30 a.m. Sat. & Sun., Nov. 23 & 24

Suzy Q’s Snowshoe Tavern

Cushing, WI • 715-648-5223

AME LEGIONRICAN RAFFLE MEAT T 6:30 P HURS. .M.

HAPPY HOUR: MON. - FRI. 10 A.M. - NOON & 5 P.M. - 6 P.M.

HUNGRY?

SERVING BISCUITS & GRAVY, ALL DAY, EVERY DAY!

FRIDAY NIGHT

FISH OR SHRIMP DINNER.....$7.95 SERVED 5 P.M. TILL GONE

FOOD & DRINK ALL HUNTING SEASON!

595895 3DH

GOOD LUCK HUNTERS! Four rules of firearm safety Treat every gun as if it were loaded.

Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.

Be sure of your target and beyond.

Keep your finger out of the trigger guard

until you are ready to shoot.

596045 3DH

PAGE 16 • INTER-COUNTY LEADER/WASHBURN COUNTY REGISTER - HUNTING GUIDE - NOVEMBER 20, 2013

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