Charlie Elk

pseudonym of a man

2013 Wisconsin Hunting Licenses

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March 6th is the big day for those who can’t wait to purchase their new 2013 hunting licenses.

Diane Brookbank, DNR Customer Service Bureau Director said-

“We’ve had many people calling in asking us when they can buy their new licenses and that’s a great reflection on the fantastic fishing and hunting Wisconsin offers. We’re excited that they’re excited and we want to let anglers and hunters know they can purchase their new license starting next week.”

Why would anyone want to purchase a new license when the old ones are good until March 31st?

To be ready to hunt of course.  Anyone who plans on hunting with charlie better have their license pre-purchased before the hunt.  Nothing makes charlie angrier than when his partner says he has to stop and buy his license on the way to the hunt.  This ex-pardner quickly finds  himself dumped out along the roadside.

Three ways to purchase your license
  1.  Online Licensing Center on the DNR website
  2.  authorized license agents
  3.  DNR Service Centers  (Hours for service centers vary; check the DNR website for service center days and hours of operation; DNR Service Centers are not open on Saturdays), or by calling toll-free 1-877-LICENSE (1-877-945-4236).

 

The Sun Sets on 2012 Wisconsin Fall Turkey Season

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I have a personal tradition of hunting the last day of a season to reflect and say “good bye”.  This is the sunset of the final hunting day of 2012.  Vic and I had just flushed a flock of 50 turkeys, the last we saw they were flying off into the sunset; a fitting end indeed.

 

What a great season 2012 was and many of us are sorry to see it end.  There are high numbers of game birds across the landscape especially turkeys.  After an easy 2011/ 2012 winter followed by a spring with just right weather recruitment was outstanding.

I think the wild turkey in Wisconsin has not only recovered from the devastating losses suffered during winter 2010 but also significantly increased above the population level of 2009.  There is no official census just my gut feeling after fall hunting turkeys over 3 months’ time in units 1, 3, and 4.

 

Vic became much more polished in 2012 I am very proud of his progress I lucked into a very fine turkey dog, in October he earned his turkey dog diploma with pair of unit 1 turkeys.

Vic did a text book scatter, barked to call me other to the break area where we setup.  I called in the first turkey on a hen wingbone made from a turkey we killed last year.  Vic laid low next to me as the turkey approached within gun range and waited for the “get turkey” command.  We retrieved the first turkey and called in the second.  Both times Vic lay very still next to me, waited for the shot and “get turkey” command. 

This was the first time Vic had done it all right; usually his excitement would get the best of him causing movement or noise at the wrong time whereby saving the turkeys life.

 

 

 

 

 

Back to the day of the last sunset we started morning hunting in unit 1 and killed a turkey at 9 in the morning after a very cold setup.  Back in unit 4 we killed another turkey at 3 in the afternoon after a slightly warmer setup.

 

With one 2012 tag remaining we watched the sun set on 2012 hunting.

 

Fall Turkeys and Kids

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We covered the 100 yards to where the turkey had disappeared. The quivering of Vic’s legs and tail indicated the turkey was near, the electricity of excitement crackled through the air between the kids and dog. I whispered to my grandson tell Vic to “Get em up Vic; TURKEY!” his young voice quivered as he gave the command.  Vic launched charging uphill, but I had seen the turkey go down towards the creek. The sudden chain cackling, putting and large wings beats certainly proved Vic knew more than me at that moment. He busted a big flock; turkeys ran by us, flew overhead and some landed in trees all around us; the kid’s eyes bulged with excitement as they gleefully giggled with delight.

Then it was quiet even the creek seemed to stop for a moment, the kid’s mouths were agape with no sounds and their wide eyes darting around to catch another glimpse of a turkey.

Breaking the silence in a trembling whisper my grandson says “what now grandpa?”

I told him to watch and listen this is what grandpa does when hunting-“kee, kee, yelp, yelp, yelp yelp”

Turkey talk exploded everywhere around us, we stayed, watched and listened for about half hour as the turkeys regrouped giving the kids a lesson in turkey flock reorganization.

My 9 year old grandson begged me to take him hunting with me this fall, he even promised to carry the turkey for me; of course I readily agreed to take them both.

There is no doubt fall turkeys, turkey dogs and kids go together. 

 

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?

Reason for the Loss of Hunters?

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Across the country the number of hunters continues to decline.  If trend continues at its present rate wildlife conservation will dramatically suffer due to the lack of funding via hunting license purchases.   No other outdoor user group as stepped up to the plate to willingly pay the fees and taxes required to maintain wildlife populations.  If think this is wrong thinking feel free to comment.

As hunters we continually contemplate reasons why this hunter decline is happening:

  • Historically hunter numbers  ebb and flow peaking about every other generation.  So perhaps this current decline is part of that natural ebb and flow.
  • Modern education is demeaning and derogatory when it comes to man’s role in the natural evolution of development.
  • The technological advances have made  would be hunters more comfortable in their homes so the incentive to go and spend extended periods of time in inclement weather without all conveniences of modern life.
  • Hunter population is aging and quitting for health reasons.
  • Fractured families and the increase in single female parenthood  households are not conducive to introducing kids to hunting.
  • There are too many other  entertainment distractions that are more fun than hunting.

    Is this young hunter a hunter for life?

Distractions, hmm.. Who is getting distracted?  The potential young new hunter?

Or is it us old-timers?

How could that possibly be so? “I love hunting and love to share it with beginners.”  OK I understand, but hang with me a minute.

Many of us old-timers or experienced hunters if you prefer, jump at the chance to introduce kids to hunting.  After all isn’t that what WI learn to hunt program and all special youth hunts are all about?  Well, yes, that is the intention of these programs.  But there are times I will hear a father comment about taking the kid out on the youth hunt, get them their deer or turkey and then “I” get to “really” hunt.  Responsibility discharged.  Of course not all verbalize it this way.

Thinking back on my introduction to hunting I realize there  is more to it than that.

52 years ago there were no minimum age requirements to hunt or learn to shoot. charlie was shooting a Red Ryder BB gun at age 3 by the time he turned 6 charlie was profiecent with 22 rifle and successfully hunted small game.

Where are the stories told anymore?  Adults have a lot of things going on, we get tired and on those occasions when our adult children come to visit with the grandkids do we mostly talk to the kids or our adult kids?  Hey, I miss my kids so I talk to them along with the grandkids but not as much.  My 9 year old grandson on his last visit said he was “going to play because adult talk is boring.”  This raised no eyebrows, pretty normal, kids like to play.  Something about this comment stuck with me and when that happens I reflect.

After arising before the sun I was enjoying a quiet moment reading an old book of hunting stories, when my grandson’s words popped into my head.  It hit me then.  Many of today’s hunting books and articles are how to, or if they make an attempt at a story it is a description of the kill with plugs for the latest products used to make the kill and you must have these if you too want to be successful. Uff.

Hunting allows you to be a participant in nature rather than just a casual observer

Do we tell the stories any more?  The stories of hunts successful or not sets off sparks of desire, they did for me as a young lad.  Those recounted tales of the hunt sparks ignited all that dry rambuncous tinder into a raging fire of desire to hunt.

Correcting the Wisconsin Wolf Hunting & Trapping Misunderstandings

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The wolves in Wisconsin must be elevated to game animal status to prevent them from being viewed as just pests.

In some quarters hysteria is developing over the thought of the wolf elevation to big game status.  Which by the way is a good thing for the wolf’s long-term outlook.

No matter how you feel about wolves in the wild, they are here to stay so get used to hearing and seeing them. The protection, preservationist extremists, also must get used to the idea that wolves have entered into the royal order of the respected game animals.

We have argued about wolves long enough so for the sake of the wolf let’s begin proper management enabling the wolf to live within the carrying capacity of the available habitat; this goes for some of my fellow hunters too.

 

The established wolf season framework is useful and makes sense.  There are some controversial points that I feel compelled to address.

Here is a brief outline of Wisconsin’s wolf regulations-

These are not too controversial unless of course, you oppose wolf hunting:

• Season dates: October 15 to end of February
• Legal Weapons: Firearms, bows, crossbows
•Shot size: Larger than BB allowed

Use of dogs is controversial even some hunters are up in arms:

 • Dogs: May use up to 6 dogs in a pack to track or trail wolves beginning day after Nov. gun deer season

Some deer hunters have concerns about dogs running during the gun deer season, that is not a problem due to dogs not being allowed until after the Nov gun deer season.  Others including those who do not hunt and some misguided hunters just plain do not like the use of dogs for any hunting let alone wolf hunting.  Some of your minds are most likely closed and not open to change, that is too bad; while others may be on the fence or think “to each his own” good for you guys and gals.

It takes a very specialized dog to run wolves, and I am not sure there are very many wolf hounds in Wisconsin.  The wolf hounds that may be here are probably not trained for wolf hunting.  I wonder if there any trained wolf hounds in the United States other than those used by government hunters whose job it is to eliminate problem wolves in the West. (good  work if you can get it)

If any hounds-men think they can use their bear hounds for wolves be very careful, the required training is different.  Wolves are territorial in the extreme, packs of wolves fight each other when one pack violates the territory of another.  Wolves kill each other in these battles so the average pack of hounds unfamiliar with “fight to the death tactics” will be at a disadvantage.  A wolf being chased is not going to come to bay or tree like a bear does,  rather it will find the rest of the pack to engage the trespassers. There are plenty of sad stories here in Wisconsin of hounds and other hunting dogs being killed by wolves.

Once hounds-men do their research I doubt they will run their dogs after wolves, so the concerns of those opposed to wolf hunting with dogs are overblown.

• Baiting: Shall be allowed but regulated

• Calling: Allowed including electronic calls
• Night Hunting: Legal option beginning day after Nov. gun deer season
• Use of Lights: Flashlights only at point of kill

Night hunting wolves raised some hackles; again not allowed until after the gun deer season.  Coyotes and raccoons are hunted at night.  So what is the problem here?  Most night time wolf hunting will most likely be done from a calling setup as is with coyote hunting.

• Cable restraints: Shall be allowed as a trapping method
• Trapping: Shall be allowed with specific regulations

Trapping too gets under the skin of some who are just plain anti-trapping.  Others worry about their bird dogs, yeah me too, but then if an area is known to have a lot of wolves they are a bigger threat to my bird dog than a few traps lying about.  Currently during bird seasons trapping season is also open so I am already on the lookout for sets to steer my dog away.

Most wolf trappers will probably use a cable restraint so that non-target animals can be released unharmed.

Here are the preliminary wolf trapping regs-

Methods for Trapping
Traps: It is illegal to set, place, or operate steel-jawed traps
with a maximum spread width of more than:
• 7 inches from Oct. 15-Nov. 30 unless it is a water set.
• 8 inches from Dec. 1-Feb. 28.

Cable Restraints: It is illegal to set, place, or operate any cable
restraint for wolves except from Dec. 1-Feb 28. To be a legal
set, the cable restraint must:
• be 10 feet or less in length with a diameter of 3/32 inch or
larger and be composed of multiple strands of wire;
• have cable stops that ensure that the portion of the cable which
makes up the noose loop may not be longer than 48 inches
when fully open or less than 8 inches when fully closed;
• be set with the bottom of the cable loop 6 to 14 inches above
the surface;
• include a reverse-bend washer lock with a minimum outside
diameter of 1¼ inches and a 1,500 pound roller swivel that
acts as the maximum opening cable stop; and
• be staked in a manner that does not allow the restraint device
to reach any part of a fence, rooted woody vegetation greater
than ½ inch in diameter, or any other immovable object or
stake that could cause entanglement.

The 2012 wolf hunting season proposal is a temporary framework, known as an emergency rule. During next year, the department will begin work on a permanent rule.

Information on the hunting season proposal can be found on the DNR website dnr.wi.gov search for keyword “wolf.”

Hunting for Sustainability: A course for novice hunters

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Man has been hunting since the beginning of his time.  Hunting is the natural state of nature which is why hunting is commonly considered  “a way of life” rather than just a sport or hobby.

Madison College is offering a continuing education course Hunting for Sustainability. This sounds like a great course which is directed at the new or novice hunter.

Madison College, in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources, is offering this continuing education course that aims to show how hunting plays into conservation and healthy living. You’ll also learn hunting skills, ethics, tools, and techniques from experienced hunters. And, you’ll be able to participate in a mentored deer or pheasant hunting experience. Become a more sustainable omnivore. Learn from experienced hunters.

Kudos to Madison College for making this course available.
Hunting is critical to funding conservation and perhaps more importantly hunting makes you into a participant rather than just an outside observer of  nature and your food.

Register online Madison College or call (608) 246-6210