Charlie Elk

pseudonym of a man

Your Secret Hunting Location and Metadata

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Metadata may lead another hunter to your most favored haunts.

Metadata may lead another hunter to your most favored haunts.

So you thought you’d done a good job keeping your prime hunting spots top secret even from most of your closest buddies. Heck, season after season you’ve bagged a trophy so what’s there to worry about now? Except then on occasion, you see another truck parked around “your” area, then another and another. What’s going on? A random hunter invasion or something else?

Well if you took pictures near the kill site, texted or made a phone call. Oops, you’ve marked the location of your honey hole with metadata.

Metadata is information that includes GPS coordinates, information about communications you send and receive, the type of device used, email subject lines, search terms and the websites you visit. It exposes your reading and viewing habits. If you carry your cell phone to a gun range- Don’t worry about any of the firearm databases; you have just disclosed to anyone in the world who understands metadata that you are probably a gun owner. As a matter of fact, if someone cares to track you, metadata can construct a map of your daily movements.

Analyzing metadata requires specialized computer skills right?

Not really, all you need is a computer program with the right algorithms; Google has apps for that which are available for free.   Digital pictures contain the GPS coordinates of where and when they were taken, so do text messages and emails.  You won’t find GPS coordinates listed as such because they are contained in the code, so you need to run a program to sort them out.  With this program you can check out all the vanity pictures posted online, sent by email or texted.

Very soon there will be a new easy to use deer scouting app advertised by some large hunting company that will search the trophy deer picture for its GPS coordinates. Someone somewhere is working on that app marketing right now. In the meantime with an understanding of metadata analyzing and the right Google app,  anyone can find the GPS coordinates of a picture taken with smartphones and the new digital cameras including trail cameras.

Metadata is one of the reasons why charlie does not carry a smartphone hunting, and his camera is old with no GPS capabilities.

Ways to avoid having your hunting location metadata-ed

  • Do not take a smartphone hunting
  • Take your vanity pictures in locations where you do not care about disclosure
  • Do not use your phone as a GPS rather use a GPS that broadcasts no identifying information
  • Do not text or send emails from your hunting spots

Of course, the best-looking pictures are those taken in the field shortly after the game is killed.

How to “scrub” your photo for online use:

Open the photo in one program and open another new file, use a crop box tool to select the open photo displayed on your screen. Paste it into the other empty file then rename it and save.  The only metadata it should have now is the file creation date, file type, and size.

Crossbow Bill AB 194 Wisconsin Assembly Passes

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Update 12/17/2013 Crossbows Now Legal in Wisconsin 2014

Wisconsin Crossbow bill AB 194 passes the Assembly and moves on to the Senate

On Thursday June 6, the Wisconsin Assembly passed AB 194, to create Crossbow Hunting Licenses –

From the Assembly official site

 AB 194
BY CZAJA
CREATE CROSSBOW HUNTING LICENSES
PASSAGE

AYES – 95 NAYS – 0 NOT VOTING – 4 PAIRED – 0

Wow, I did not expect a unanimous vote.  Is this what happens when special interest groups stand down?  The Wisconsin Bowhunters who were the opposition lobbyists and the NRA who are the proponents of hunter freedom and choice agreed to not lobby for or against crossbill bill 194, the Senate’s version or the Governor’s signature.  So the legislators were left to hear from their constituents without any group lobbying.   This demonstrates that there is widespread support for crossbow hunting that cuts across party lines all across the state of Wisconsin.  It will be interesting to see the how the Senate vote goes.

The bowhunter's crossbow

The bowhunter’s crossbow

Assuming this crossbow bill AB 194 becomes law in Wisconsin bow  hunters will have a chance to try a crossbow while deer hunting for their first time.  They’ll find there is a “crossbow” learning curve.  Hunting with a crossbow is the same yet different than a regular bow.  Many bow hunters have heard the stories and claims made about crossbows being so much easier than current legal archery, it will be interesting to talk with those first time  hunters about their perceptions verses actual experience.  I for one can’t wait.

Wisconsin Crossbow Bill as Amended – May 29, 2013

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The bowhunter's crossbow

The bowhunter’s crossbow

Update 12/17/2013  Crossbows are now Legal in Wisconsin 2014

ASSEMBLY SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1,  TO ASSEMBLY BILL 194

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issues hunting licenses and establishes open hunting seasons that allow the hunting of specified game animals.  Among the licenses that DNR issues are resident and nonresident archer hunting licenses.  An archer hunting license allows the holder to hunt all game, except bear, elk, wolf, and wild turkey, with a bow and arrow during the relevant open season established by DNR.  An archer hunting license allows a person to hunt only with a bow and arrow and not with a crossbow unless the person is disabled and holds a permit from DNR that authorizes the use of a crossbow or unless the person is at least 65 years old.  This substitute amendment eliminates the age and disability requirements for using a crossbow.  Instead, the substitute amendment establishes a new resident crossbow hunting license and a new nonresident crossbow hunting license.

The crossbow hunting licenses established in this substitute amendment allow a license holder to use a crossbow to hunt the same game animals that may be hunted under current law with an archer hunting license.  The substitute amendment also allows the holder of an archer hunting license to obtain a crossbow hunting license at a substantially reduced fee and allows the holder of a crossbow hunting license to obtain an archer hunting license at a substantially reduced fee.  As with other hunting licenses under current law, a person may not obtain a crossbow hunting license unless the person completes a course of instruction in hunter education or bow hunter education.
Current law provides that if DNR establishes an open season for hunting deer, elk, small game, wild turkey, or bear with a bow and arrow but not with a firearm, DNR may not open that season for hunting with a crossbow unless the hunter is at least 65 years old or is disabled and holds a permit from DNR.  This substitute amendment provides that if DNR establishes an open season for hunting any of those animals with a bow and arrow but not with a firearm, DNR must also establish a concurrent open season that allows a person to hunt the respective animal with a crossbow regardless of the age of the hunter or whether the hunter has a disability.
The substitute amendment also provides that if DNR requires a person who kills an animal to register the animal with DNR, then DNR must make a record of the type of weapon that was used to kill the animal.

2013 Wisconsin Crossbow Bill – Upated May 30, 2013, June 6, 2013

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Update – March 9, 2014 Wisconsin DNR Cancels Disabled Hunter Permits

Update September 18, 2013 Wisconsin Senate Passes Crossbow Bill

Update August 12, 2013 Wisconsin Senate schedules public hearing

Update June 6, 2013  Crossbow bill passes Assembly

Updated May 30, 2013

Wisconsin Assembly Bill 194, and Senate Bill 185 if passed in both houses and signed by the Governor would make it legal for anyone who has taken hunter education or bowhunter education to deer hunt with a crossbow or xbow as they are sometimes called.

Not all crossbows have cables and pulleys. A recurve crossbow is more challenging to hunt with than a modern compound bow.

Not all crossbows have cables and pulleys. A recurve crossbow is more challenging to hunt with than a modern compound bow.

Education is probably a good idea since many believe the myth that a crossbow is an all powerful weapon capable of shooting vast distances with very little marksmanship practice. (this is the argument made by those who oppose crossbows)

The bill would:

  •  Eliminate the requirement a hunter be over 65 or disabled in order to use a crossbow.
  • Require a separate crossbow license but only allow one buck to be taken with a hunter’s choice of archery equipment.  This license would allow the taking of all species as is currently the case with the archer’s license.  For $2.25 more the license could also allow a bowhunter to use a longbow, recurve, modern compound or crossbow; making it a “bowhunter’s choice” license.
  • Hunters who choose the crossbow would be allowed to hunt during Wisconsin’s regular bow season from mid September thru the first week of January.

Sponsors of AB 194 are Representatives Czaja, Danou, A. Ott, August, Ballweg, Bewley, Born, Brooks, Endsley, Hesselbein, Jacque, Jagler, Kleefisch, Kuglitsch, T. Larson, Milroy, Murphy, Mursau, Murtha, Petryk, Smith, Spiros, Strachota, Swearingen, Tittl, Tranel, Vruwink and Wright. It was also cosponsored by Senators Farrow, L. Taylor, Lassa, Petrowski, Schultz, Tiffany and Lehman.

Crossbows kill with arrows making them no different than any other archery equipment.

Crossbows kill with arrows making them no different than any other archery equipment.

Before anyone gets too excited about using a crossbow in 2013 be aware that as of this writing there is no Senate version of AB194 and this point is crucial.  On a variety of issues in the past if there is no bill in both houses and only one passes a bill without a companion bill in the other house; in the end nothing happens and the process must start all over again in the next legislative session.  So if you want this passed into law and effective for the fall of 2013 make sure you contact your state senator to get a senate version introduced.

 

Update 5/30/13  Senate Bill 185      fiscal estimate from WDNR

SB185 opens any archery season to crossbows- Section 1.  29.014 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB185,2,62 29.014 (1m) (b)  If the department establishes an open season for hunting deer, elk, small game, wild turkey, or bear with a bow and arrow but not with a firearm, the department shall also open that season for hunting with a crossbow.
Introduced by Senators Farrow, L. Taylor, Lassa, Petrowski, Schultz, Tiffany, Lehman, Olsen and Hansen, cosponsored by
Representatives Czaja, Danou, A. Ott, August, Ballweg, Bewley, Born, Brooks, Endsley, Hesselbein, Jacque, Jagler, Kleefisch, Kuglitsch, T. Larson, Milroy, Murphy, Mursau, Murtha, Petryk, Smith, Spiros, Strachota, Swearingen, Tittl, Tranel, Vruwink, Wright and Tauchen.

 

What Ate My Deer?

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While in a ground setup along the edge of a cornfield overlooking a bean field, waiting for the deer to show up Monday evening; something growled at me.  I don’t mean like a little doggie groan; I mean a seriously deep growl, coming from corn rows behind me, judging by the sound just a few rows back. 

I held my position while keeping a cautious eye out for the growler; probably needless to say no deer showed up that evening. 

The Tuesday morning I went back to look for some sign in the corn field to try and figure out what the heck it was; found nothing.

On Wednesday morning I shot this doe.  The shot did not feel right, so I decided to wait a couple of hours just in case.  No hurry I thought the temp was coolish so the meat would be okay.  However, a lot of the meat was not there.  The shot was good so I could have recovered this deer earlier and sure wish I would have.

What could have eaten this deer in a little less than 3 hours during the day?

What could possibly have eaten a half a deer in 3 hours? None of the bones had teeth marks, as you can see the top side of deer’s hide is gone, lots of meat was removed cleanly from the skeleton.  The top half of the hide along the backbone looked as if it has been cut off and I could not locate it anywhere in the area.

A lone coyote could not eat this much meat.  A group of them would have fought and left the vegetation ripped up, plus they would have made a lot of noise, I was about 200 yards away and heard nothing.  A bear or wolf would have left teeth marks on the bones; right?

A neighboring farmer claims his son has trail cam pics of a cougar.  I have not seen them but have no reason not to believe it.

I am wondering if the growl and this deer have any connection.

Do Deer Eat Aquatic Plants?

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The short answer is yes.

Deer feed on many things including aquatic plants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are plants the deer were eating.

The seemed to be eating the broad-leaf plant pictured here. As I observed them feeding there were times when the does would submerge their noses and come up chewing a lot of plant material. Leaving the impression they may have been consuming all the plant material.

It is easier to list the things deer do not eat than to list the things they do eat.  On a couple of occasions I’ve witnessed deer eating dead fish. In one case a deer caught a stranded 6-8″ sucker chewing it from head to the tail much the same as they would chew an ear of corn.

 

 

These deer stayed and fed on water plants for a long time.

 

 

 

 

 

Trespassing, A Problem

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Gun Deer Season in Wisconsin can be challenging in many different ways.  Even if you’ve spent the money, time and effort on your won land to avoid the crowds; things can still happen which will cost you a day of hunting.

Wisconsin 2011 Gun Deer Season:

A trespasser stumbled into  view at 8 AM. He was very excited claiming he was tracking a deer he shot earlier that morning. After introductions I informed him he was deep onto private propery, that being,  my property during prime hunting hours. Waiting until later in the day and calling for permission would have been the courteous thing to do.

Many hunters when caught on private propery claim they got turned around, lost their way. following a wounded animal or some such excuse.  However, in the case he showed me the blood trail.  We following the blood trail a short distance I quickly concluded it indicated a bad hit; gut shot with maybe a liver nick. I informed him the deer needed some time to settle down.  He wanted to charge ahead to find his deer.  I would not let him, its my land, I am trying to hunt and he is not making that easy.

I insisted on escorting him back to his stand setup. He starts telling me about all the deer he saw while on stand and just had to risk a shot he was not sure about.  A neighbor had given him permission to hunt but he traveled a long way off the neighbor’s land crossing another’s land then set up in a tree 200 yards on my land which placed him within 50 yards of my son’s stand.  My son was not hunting this morning.   I showed him the boundaries he crossed and  he claimed confusion in the morning dark and promised not to trespass again.

I found his deer a nice doe early that afternoon, called him to come get it and helped him haul it out. The trespasser ends up with a nice deer and no charges filed for his violation that burned up a day of my hunting.

Was I too nice?

Now that he clearly knows the property lines will he honor them?

Whitetail deer trustee final report released

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We have been waiting for the Wisconsin Deer Trustee’s final report and here it is.  Click the links to read the report in its entirety.  I will be posting thoughts on certain details of interest, check back and leave your comments.

FINAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS
BY,  WISCONSIN WHITE-TAILED DEER TRUSTEE AND REVIEW COMMITTEE
JUNE, 2012
Drs. James C. Kroll (Trustee), David C. Guynn, Jr. (Committee Member), and Gary L Alt (Committee Member)

Presented to, Wisconsin Department of Administration, Madison, Wisconsin
 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Final Recommendations

Video 

Along with the release of the final report, Governor Walker released the following statement:

Today’s report marks the conclusion of an independent study aimed at evaluating our current deer herd management practices. Moving forward we need to act on the report to enhance Wisconsin’s rich hunting tradition.

While DNR staff has worked hard, we need to do more to ensure hunters and conservationists have confidence in the department’s ability to manage the deer herd. Dr. Kroll and his team have gone through an exhaustive process to receive and evaluate comments from the public. The input incorporated into this report from hunters and conservationists will help us restore trust in the DNR’s ability to enhance Wisconsin’s hunting heritage as we move forward with implementation.

I look forward to working with Secretary Stepp and her team to follow through on Dr. Kroll’s report.

Last year Governor Scott Walker signed Executive Order #44, which created a Whitetail Deer Trustee position to independently and objectively review and evaluate Wisconsin’s deer herd management practices.

Statement on the deer report from DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp:

Today we received the Wisconsin deer herd report from Deer Trustee, Dr. James Kroll and his team Dr. David Guynn and Dr. Gary Alt.

 A comprehensive report such as this will take several weeks to review, but the Department of Natural Resources is ready, willing and eager to roll up our sleeves and get started. We look forward to working with the public, the Natural Resources Board, Governor Walker, Dr. Kroll, Wildlife Management Professionals, Legislators and the Conservation Congress to find ways to make deer hunting even better in Wisconsin.

I want to thank Dr. Kroll and his team for their efforts. All along we’ve had the same goal, to make sure Wisconsin leads the nation in deer management and that our rich deer hunting tradition remains strong.”