The 2024 gun deer hunt opens at the latest possible calendar date. In future years that date will sneak ahead one day each year with the 2025 opener on November 22.
Hunters, drivers, farmers, photographers, and anyone else involved with deer should consider these late date impacts. Later seasons could mean sighting snow is more likely; corn and soybean combing beiong finished; and the deer rut over meaning buck movement will be less.
Hunters, and others, did not experience these factors as much in the past because deer drives were plentiful. Hunters kicked deer off their daytime beds. Hunters were on the move, too. Now gun deer hunters are more like archers and crossbowers, spending much of the time sitting, either in a blind, in a tree stand, or just on a pickle bucket or stump on the ground.
Of course, wildlife are never evenly distributed statewide or even in rural town sections.
Jeff Pritzl, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources state deer program specialist, pointed out recently that the mild 2023-2024 winter led to increased fawn productivity, higher deer survival from the previous year, and generally more deer in better physical condition and better antler growth.
Grain harvest has been ahead providing fewer places for wildlife to hide, but the early harvest and less spillage with better combines results in fields having less appeal to hungry animals. Fewer corn ears are waiting for hungry deer, squirrels, turkeys, and raccoons. That coupled with a low acorn drop could put deer in different locations to fatten for winter.
Again, these conditions vary statewide. For example, there are fewer deer in Bayfield County; fewer crop fields, but more acorns in some locations.
Junior hunters have an antlerless authorization that is valid statewide. Always be on the lookout for wandering elk from one of the two gangs in the state. While bears are enjoying torpor, bobcats, coyotes, wolves and foxes are not. Seeing those critters is often what makes deer hunting exciting and talked about.
Chronic wasting disease testing is available statewide, with some areas being of special concern for collecting samples.
Check testing, deer donation sites, and deer processing locations. Outdoor Addiction in the Blue Mounds, Wisconsin area, for example, is no longer doing testing, taking deer donations, or processing deer, so check for the closest station or kiosk before the opener.
Unfortunately donating extra deer is not getting easier and some hunters may have to arrange with someone who wants venison making that connection. There are legal ways to do that. Deer management teams in these areas would also appreciate the effort.
If a deer is shot, registered, and the hunter has a confirmation number from the registration process the carcass may be donated directly to another individual regardless of whether that person is a licensed hunter or not. There should not be any money changing hands, however.
Wayne Smith, of Blanchardville, Wisconsin encourages hunters to have everything ready for what is one of the best deer seasons in the country. “Ready means down to having the truck gassed up; but don’t take the season too seriously. Have some enjoyment along with the hunt,” he said.
Smith laments the loss of in-person registration stations, where hunters and non-hunters could visit over a cup of coffee or a bag of peanuts.
June Voskullen, WDNR field warden in Lafayette County stresses knowing where you intend to sit on public land and scout the area, too.
Bill Jacobson, a gun restorationist at Martin’s in Monroe said to take a little time to get re-acquainted with the gun you’re using and run a couple rounds through the mechanism.
Don’t forget to consider nominating a hunter for the annual WDNR ethical hunter award. This is the 27th year for the award.
Ray Braly, at Wilderness Fish and Game in Sauk City, Wisconsin via Texas, then Alaska, stresses having a good location to hunt and good friends for camaraderie.
“If after getting everything together you don’t feel good, find out why, check with a doctor, and then enjoy the season,” Doug Williams, at D W Sports Center in Portage, Wisconsin,said.
Crossbowers and archers, along with the youth hunt participants, have registered 83,355 deer. Archers have killed 40 percent of those while crossbowers have called in 60 percent. Bucks have accounted for 64 percent of registrations. Fall turkey hunters have taken 3,121 birds.
Always keep safety of self and others at the top of a to do list. Nothing destroys an enjoyable outing more than an injury incident.
Contact Jerry Davis, a freelance writer, at sivadjam@mhtc.net or 608.924.1112.
