Another Disappointing Deer Season in the North

Well, I hope your gun, Whitetail deer hunt was a safe one. Mine was.

That is all I can say about my family's deer hunt this past season. It wasn't the only good thing, but it was pretty hard to find a deer. We did have a good time of laughing and discussing strategies, etc. But, we just couldn't see any deer.

The numbers here in Northern Wisconsin, must be way down. I saw 2 deer and heard a third one as I was getting down out of my tree-stand shortly after shooting hours on Opening Day. After that I have seen nothing on the stand, or during shooting hours. I did see several deer at dark while driving back to camp or home.

My younger brother did kill a small buck on day 2 of this season. I think that was one of the two deer he saw all year.

My nephew had a wolf come to within 5 yards of him while in a tree-stand. It bounded away and maybe never knew he was there. I know there must be several around the area where we hunt, because a fellow hunter found several fawn bodies and adult deer bodies in February of '09 while he was in that area.

So, I have cleaned the gun and changed the barrel on my Thompson Center over to a muzzle loader barrel. I enjoy being in the woods too much to completely stay away from hunting the rest of the year.

So, what is going on with the deer population in Wisconsin? I believe several things are occurring that are hurting our chances in the woods.

First of all, I believe there are more predators in the woods these days, than in the past. There are way too many bears, coyotes, and wolves in the state today, and no one wants to admit it. The DNR admitted underestimating the bear population recently. Thank You, but what makes us believe you can estimate the wolf population then? or the coyote? or the deer?

Second of all, we allow deer baiting in this state, and we shouldn't. Most people in the woods today couldn't even hunt if baiting wasn't allowed. What ever happened to scouting, calling, using scents and trying to outsmart a buck, and therefore, really being proud and deserving of a trophy buck once he was harvested?

How many different hunting tools does the DNR need to try and reduce the deer herd? We have so many seasons(tools) now. Let's start listening to the people that actually do the hunting not the politicians and insurance companies....

The deer are being pushed by the predators closer and closer to the towns and cities across this state. Baiting has congregated the deer into an area and allowed the predators to have a feast when they are found. We just keep adding more seasons and charging more fees to the hunter to control the deer herd.

Well, stop the baiting and start trying to manage the predators better, and let the hunters manage the deer herd.

Let me apologize for the tone of this blog, but this was obviously the talk of the hunt this year in many if not all camps.

I hope you continue to enjoy the outdoors. I know I will. Good Luck with the muzzle loader.

--Outdoorwiz