Wisconsin Considering A Wolf Hunting Season

The Wisconsin Conservation Congress seems to be testing the waters a bit by seeking input from residents on the prospects of offering a wolf hunt, partly in efforts to slow down the growth of the animal and keep human encounters and livestock damages to a minimum. Nothing being proposed is binding.

Last year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared the wolf fully recovered in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan and removed the wolf there from the list of endangered animals. None of the states currently offer wolf hunts and they still protect them through state mandates. Read more

Pittman-Robertson Act Provides Funds For Hunter Safety

On Monday of this week I reported that eight states (Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri and Ohio) were going to request grant monies available through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, also known as Pittman-Robertson, in order to conduct studies on tree stand safety. The article I wrote generated some discussion and comments, one coming from reader MadJack.

Yes the P/R Act was to improve hunting & wildlife habitat, NOT to WASTE in an attempt to control hunters & how they hunt! I believe this would be a direct violation of the Pitman Robertson Act as well as very unlawful.

More Government waste!

While I tend to agree with MadJack, I wasn’t aware that revenues generated through PR were used via the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to fund programs for hunter safety and education. According to PR Act Title 16, Chapter 5B, section 669h, $8 million will be apportioned back to each state for certain hunter safety programs.

Of the revenues covered into the fund, $7,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 and 2002, and $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2003 and each fiscal year thereafter, shall be apportioned among the States in the manner specified in section 669c(c) \1\ of this title by the Secretary of the Interior and used to make grants to the States to be used for–

(A) in the case of a State that has not used all of the funds apportioned to the State under section 669c(c) \1\ of this title for the fiscal year in the manner described in section 669g(b) of this title–
(i) the enhancement of hunter education programs, hunter and sporting firearm safety programs, and hunter development programs;
(ii) the enhancement of interstate coordination and development of hunter education and shooting range programs;
(iii) the enhancement of bow hunter and archery education, safety, and development programs; and
(iv) the enhancement of construction or development of firearm shooting ranges and archery ranges, and the updating of safety features of firearm shooting ranges and archery ranges; and

(B) in the case of a State that has used all of the funds apportioned to the State under section 669c(c) \1\ of this title for the fiscal year in the manner described in section 669g(b) of this title, any use authorized by this chapter (including hunter safety programs and the construction, operation, and maintenance of public target ranges).

An act that was originally designed for the protection of wildlife and habitat, it has been amended many times in order that these funds can be used for other programs not directly related to it original purpose. As I understand the Act, monies are apportioned back to each state for the specific purposes described concerning hunter safety and education programs. If that money has been used up, USFWS grants additional monies collected via PR for further hunter education and safety programs.

Tom Remington

9 Days - 344,000 Dear Taken By Wisconsin Hunters

Wisconsin’s 9-day gun deer season racked up a total of 343,644 deer. That translates into 218,584 antlerless deer and 125,060 bucks. These totals are far from the record total harvest set in 2000 when an ideal hunting season produced a harvest of around 442,000.

Wisconsin wildlife officials guesstimate that there were around 1.8 million whitetail deer in the state. That’s approximately 100,000 more than a year ago. They also say that they believe a lack of snow, some rainy days and fewer hunters account for the reduction in harvest totals. This year the state sold 641,432 deer hunting licenses for this hunt. That’s down about 3,500 from last year.

Never fear as there still remains deer hunting opportunities. On Monday a muzzleloader season began that runs through December 5. That will be followed by a statewide antlerless deer hunt that will run for four days. The archery hunt continues until January 6.

Congratulations to all the successful hunters and good luck to those still trying.

Tom Remington

Wisconsin Hunter Attacked By Black Bear

I’m confused! The Duluth News Tribune reports that a Wisconsin man, whom they describe as a hunter, was attacked by a black bear this past Thursday. In the report it says the hunter, Jim Zamaitis, wasn’t carrying a gun.

He said the incident won’t deter him from hunting, although he may consider carrying a gun from now on during deer drives.

I know I have Wisconsin readers so would anyone like to explain why Zamaitis wouldn’t be carrying a gun during a drive. I’ll take the lazy way out here and just ask questions. Am I to assume that “driving” deer is legal in Wisconsin? Is it also law that you cannot carry a gun when participating in a deer drive or was this just a case of a volunteer driving deer for others? Is it legal to participate in a deer drive unlicensed provided you are not carrying a gun?

It seems that during this drive, Zamaitis spotted a black spot and thought perhaps it was a burned or charred stump. The stump reared up.

“I saw teeth and then it reared up on its hind legs, charged me and I rolled over into a ball, started screaming,” he said.

He put his hands over his head.

“Pretty soon I felt the bear on me and then chomp, chomp,” he said.

His cousin Rick heard the screams and came to the rescue to find the bear on top of the man. He was able to scare the bear away.

Tom Remington

Too Many Deer Not Good For Anyone

Here’s an article some of you may be interested in reading. It’s written by Tim Eisele of the Capital Times in Wisconsin. It’s an interview with Keith McCaffery, a retired research biologists for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. McCaffery shares his ideas of why too many deer are not good for much and also touches on some negative aspects of quality deer management programs.

It is bad for deer because it has cheapened their value. It is not good for hunters because non-hunting constituencies tend to blame hunters for having badgered the DNR into allowing higher population goals and permitting herds to grow.

It is bad for DNR because it gives the appearance that the DNR is incapable of managing deer at goal levels.

Check it out!

Tom Remington