Attn Wisconsin Bowhunters VERY Important

[Paul Mattson]

This is per an email that I recieved:

*****Bowhunting threat alert*****

Your bow season is at risk. While reading through the Conservation Congress Spring hearings questions, I came across question 57 which seeks to make the archery season an antlerless only season except for opening weekend and two weeks during the rut. Bowhunters would not be allowed to harvest a buck at any other time of the bow season if this passes.  

It is being labeled an "EAB alternative" is really an attack on bowhunters. The wording is sneaky enough not to mention the bow season which is most likely an attempt to trick unsuspecting CC voters into voting for it as an "Alternative" to EAB on the grounds of fairness. By fairness, it means that since gun hunters get an opening weekend and the 9 day season to hunt bucks that bowhunters should only get that same amount of time to harvest bucks.

As a Bowhunter, you have more reason than ever to attend the April 13th spring hearing to vote NO to question 57. Please make sure to spread the word about this assault on the bow season.

Here is the wording as it appears in the CC spring hearing book.


QUESTION 57 – An EAB Alternative
The use of the Earn-a-Buck deer season in Wisconsin has been controversial, unpopular, and seemingly
unfair to many hunters since its inception. Yet, EAB has proven to be effective at reducing high deer
populations. It accomplishes this by tying the ability, opportunity, and desire for harvesting a buck with the
biological necessity of harvesting antlerless deer. Sadly, EAB does this on an individual hunter basis where
one hunter may be able to hunt bucks for over 100 days, while another hunter may never have even one
day’s chance.
Another way of utilizing the same “ability, opportunity, and desire for harvesting a buck” would be to
implement a full-length antlerless season with a shortened buck harvest period. Season opening weekends
(and perhaps a two or three week rutting period) would always be open for buck harvest so everyone in the
DMU has the same chance at that time for a buck every year that the program is in effect. Antlerless
harvest would be spurred on during the rest of the season by the desire to return to a full-season buck
hunting opportunity again. Specific time periods and trigger points for the implementation of such a
management tool could be developed cooperatively with the DNR. All hunters under this system would and
should be treated equally.
In areas or DMUs of high over-goal deer populations and in an effort to provide equal buck-hunting
opportunity to all hunters in those units, would you prefer the concept of shortening buck hunting
opportunity by limiting the buck harvest equally for all hunters on a seasonal basis instead of
limiting individual opportunity through the use of EAB?
57. Yes _____ No _____

[BowHuntingFool]

Thanks Paul, I got the same email today! This news is spreading like a wildfire.

[wihill]

:mad:            

Seriously - who comes up with this nonsense....

[ChetterB]

Thanks Paul will spread the news. WOW!!!

[bowmaster12]

wow for real whats going thru their heads how d i fidn out about where these meetings are and when they are in my area?

[Paul Mattson]

Can you believe that the person that authored this calls himself a bowhunter.

Sure, that's correct. I authored this question and even posted it here back in January.

It should be understood that this is a "concept" question. The Executive Council is casting about for some bedrock on which we might build a foundation for a new over-goal deer management tool.

Don't take this as an attack on bowhunters! Firearm hunters would would have their buck hunting opportunity limited in the same percentage proportion, too.

If you think a little deeper about this concept, it treats all hunters in the DMU equally. It makes no difference how rich you are, or how much land you own. Unlike EAB which has lead to further privatization, this may provide a catalyst for some private landowners to offer access for antlerless harvest to those who are less fortunate.

Deer hunting has become a classic struggle between the "Haves" and the "Have Nots", especially in the privately controlled units.

Remember, DEER HUNTERS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM, THEY ARE THE ANSWER! Access to the deer has proven to be the wrench in the works, yet we have never had a season structure that even began to address the access issue. This concept may lead to an answer, or it might not. The important message here is that we all need to keep thinking outside the box.

 


For the record, I started bowhunting in the sixties and continue to do so. I am among the "Haves" and I and my family are enjoying the "good ole days" right now. I'm sorry if you fault me for trying to find a fair solution to some apparent inequities. Wisconsin harvests around a half million deer every year and nobody's happy. Go figure.

[vermonster13]

Why don't they just make archery season EAB too? Then anterless kill will go up like they want and the general season hunters aren't at a "disadvantage".

[Nate Fikkert]

Archery season is already EAB.  It goes by the zone and having a buck tag.  Shoot a doe (any weapon), earn your buck sticker for any weapon.  For example, archery season opens you need to shoot a doe to get a buck tag.  Then if you fill your buck tag with the bow, you will need to shoot another doe before you could "EAB" for the upcoming rifle season.  I have generalized it a bit but that is the basics.

BUT, what if this guy is on to something?  I have long said the deer "problem" in this state is a private land issue and I am sick of the public land hunt being punished because most of the deer are on private land and most the hunters (and where doe tags are filled) are on public land.  What happens, still tons of deer on private land and no deer left on public land.  I don't know if this proposal would actually work, and I really don't like it.  I am however happy to see the private land deer issue addressed in someway.  

I would prefer the use of the "T-zone" October hunt as a private land hunt only.  For that 4 day weekend the only way to hunt would to be on private land and only harvest does.  I as a public land hunter would gladly give up 4 days of my archery season to see the end of public land seek and destroy.  This would be fairly easy to enforce because if anyone was seen with a dead deer during those 4 days on public land they would have a lot of explaining to do.

Something needs to be done, I am not sure what.

Nathan

[ChuckC]

Does this give me the right and ability to hunt someone elses' property ?  (no)  does this give me the ability to shoot 300 plus yards at running deer (no)  does this make the owners of private property stay off the public lands for their doe hunts and  push some of their deer out so everybody else can access them ? (no).  Can I have more days off (work) during the season so I can hunt? (no)    Can I all of a sudden be blessed with more skill.. to figure out the sytem, or desire.. to be able to wake up early and hunt late,  or money.. so I can afford to go places, buy equipment and property I need, and to buy new improved bows and heat seeking arrows so I never miss a shot, even one I shouldn't have taken in the first place ?  

So how does this make anything "fair" among all hunters.   Nothing about the entire system is fair or equal or just. It just is what it is.

Why not just make the T-zone apply only to private lands.  That would address that issue as well as anything.
ChuckC