Magic.. please don't take me out of context.. you have no idea how I feel about WI... or its deer herd. I'm poking fun at the poor misfortune of hunters who hate that they don't see 20 deer a sit anymore. BOO HOO.
I don't need to quote you Duke as THIS time you actually worded it more appropriately in having a problem with WI bowhunters that complain about not seeing 20 deer in a sit. When you lumped ALL of WI bowhunters in the mix the first time was bound to ruffle feathers, and you more than likely did it somewhat intentionly. I don't really care either way what the intent of the statement was being it's an open forum, and people can say whatever they want. I know this is the first year in 3 that I haven't seen a shooter buck with a bow in hand, but I've put Kimberley in front of 2 within bow range. To me it has been a great season so far just with her getting to see to good bucks close up despite the fact I've sat half a dozen times this year without seeing a hair. I know the deer are out there, but the massive amount of corn standing, bumper acorn crop, and unseasonably warm weather has things a touch screwy to say the least. Perhaps it would have been better to let w_b_h have his rant about having a tough year so far and leave it....we all have bad years at times as I'm sure you can attest to. The fight will rage on again this year at the spring game hearings between the DNR and Conservation Congress, but in the end the DNR does whatever they fell like. The few outfitters here in WI are the ones pushing the hardest for more rifle hunting, and I doubt I have to tell you IL boys how much of a P.I.T.A. outfitters can be at times when it comes to some hunting issues. Believe it's your turn in the hot seat now so good luck the rest of the season.
I'll have to back Wibowhunter on this one. Yes it's true, we may be spoiled seeing a lot of deer in the past, but that is why there are so many hunters both resident & non-resident, because of the large population that once existed.On gun opening weekend, there are 700,000 hunters. No that number is not exagerated. There were roughly 3-350000 deer taken on opening weekend. Last yr, it was the same with the gun hunters (iam one also), not seeing/shooting deer like they used to. Now the DNR says that last yr harvest was down 20%. Well no kidding, when your handing out 4 free tags everyday, and a earn a buck requirement for the lower part of the state. How much fun is it, if your used to seeing so many deer during a bowhunt & then are reduced to 1or 2? Maybe the state should consider raising the non-resident tags to be the same as Ill, Iowa, and the others at $375 or better. There are large herds in the state, which generally we can't access. In Lake Geneva, there is a 325 acre,state park, that is closed to hunting. There are quite a few deer there. But the public land where we can access, has been overhunted. The herd in certain areas can't recoup the loss by hunters, and wolves up north. Which in my opinion was one of the worst things they could have introduced back into the state.
