More than 24,000 Wisconsin deer hunters scored in the past week, including more than 1,000 combined just in Oconto and Marinette counties. The season kill statewide through Monday was 92,405, with 57,122 of those whitetails sporting antlers.
Through the first eight weeks of the season, the overall harvest is up more than 10%. Marinette County’s central farmland hunters were up to 1,890 registered (913 bucks), while Oconto County’s central farmland zone hunters had tagged 1,923 (1,116 bucks). In addition, adjacent management units 125 (523, including 372 bucks) and 126 (778, including 537 bucks) combined for more than 1,300 whitetails.
Hunters can share their harvest to help feed those with food insecurity issues.
That could mean giving directly to a neighbor, friend or family member in need or participating in the state’s deer donation program.
Since 2000, Wisconsin hunters have donated more than 100,000 deer totaling over four million pounds of ground venison. Deer must be field-dressed and registered (bring the confirmation number) before dropping off. You must donate the entire carcass, though you can make arrangements to keep the head, cape and antlers.
Local processors in the program include Pelkin’s Smokey Meat Market, Meatski’s Quality Meats and Liljestand’s One Stop in Marinette County and Hillcrest Meats and Wisco Meats in Oconto County. Get contact info and learn more at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/donation.
Hunters can support the program by donating a dollar or more at hunting license sales locations or online via the DNR’s Go Wild website.
Opening day of Michigan’s traditional firearm deer hunting season is this Saturday and Wisconsin’s is Nov. 22. Now’s the time to make sure you’ve got everything you need, including licenses, clothing, ammo, stands prepped and a properly sighted-in firearm.
If you hunt with a group, get together to discuss plans and talk safety. Teaching beginners the importance of being familiar with the firearm and discussing every possible safety issue is just as important as making sure you have snacks and handwarmers packed.
Talking through what type of shots to look for and take — and what should be passed up — is another consideration when beginners are involved.
Blaze orange (or blaze pink) clothing is required, as is marking ground blinds on state land with hunter orange. But even if you’re on private property, or other land where orange on blinds is not required, using it helps hunters on adjacent lands know not to fire in that direction. What good is hunter orange if you’re totally enclosed in a camouflaged blind?
Michigan allows hunters to legally shoot until 30 minutes after local sunset. In Wisconsin, it’s 20 minutes after. Both states start legal hours 30 minutes before sunrise locally. But no matter the legal hours, if it’s too dark to safely make out your target and what’s beyond, don’t take the shot. Those in heavy cover inside swamps, for example, might not be able to see to shoot when it’s legal to start.
The Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health notes that research has found that 79% of youths who die by firearm suicide obtained the gun from a family member. Additionally, about 75% of guns used in school shootings are obtained from a family member.
The group’s director, Linda Hall, said firearms should be stored safely and securely. She also recommends that health care professionals implement a universal screening process into their routine and be trained in strategies to prevent access to lethal means.
Nov. 22 is International Survivor of Suicide Loss Day.
“While we take time to comfort those who have lost someone to suicide, let’s remember that there are clear, actionable steps we can take together to ensure children are safe so other families don’t need to endure this unimaginable loss,” Hall said.
The DNR and Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin have announced that more than $100,000 from the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund will support six habitat projects on public lands in Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee and Wood counties.
The DNR and NRF invite hunters purchasing their licenses this fall to consider donating to the fund, which is primarily built through voluntary contributions from the public when they purchase their hunting and fishing licenses through https://gowild.wi.gov/ or directly on at https://www.wisconservation.org/cherish/.
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