DSORe eNews S647

VOL: eNews NOVEMBER 19, 2011 ISSUE: SHOW #647

• Wisconsin’s new deer trustee launches review of state’s deer management program
• Prepare now for ice fishing season/p>

• Jeff and Dan head for deer camp
• New uncased firearm rule clarified

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RESULTS FOR POLL s646
Do you approve of Wisconsin’s new law allowing uncased firearms in vehicles
any time and loaded/uncased firearms in stationary vehicles?
YES 72.4% | NO 20.7% | MAYBE 6.9% | UNDECIDED 0% | COMMENTS [3]

INSTANT SURVEY VOTE ON - POLL s647
Do you approve of the Wisconsin DNR’s
current CWD surveillance plan?

CWD surveillance plans for 2011

MADISON – State wildlife officials will conduct sampling and testing of hunter-harvested deer for chronic wasting disease primarily within the disease management zone of in southern Wisconsin during the 2011 deer season.

Map of surveillance Areas for 2011

Surveillance Areas for 2011 [PDF 4.8MB] The CWD-Management Zone covers all or parts of 18 counties and 22 deer management units (DMU) in southern Wisconsin.

“Our goal is to continue to track trends in disease prevalence and distribution and to assess the impacts of CWD management,” said CWD Assistant Coordinator Tim Marien.

Mandatory sampling of adult deer will take place in the western (parts of Dane and Iowa counties) and eastern (parts of Rock and Walworth counties) monitoring areas, and within an 84 square-mile area that encompasses Devil’s Lake State Park. Active surveillance utilizing solicited but voluntary sampling will also be conducted in the area surrounding the western monitoring area in parts of Dane, Iowa, Richland, and Sauk counties.

Surveillance: a tool in disease management

THE EVENTS CALENDAR HAS BEEN MOVED DANSMALLOUTDOORS.COM/EVENTS

•FISHING CONTESTS: Find them ALL online @ American Fishing Contests
•RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY BANQUETS & EVENTS: »ONLINE INFO:
•MILFORD HILLS ACTIVITIES & EVENTS: »ONLINE INFO

DNR prepares for deer hunt with launch of Facebook, Twitter and website changes

MADISON – With the opening day of the nine-day gun deer hunt right around the corner, the Department of Natural Resources is unveiling new tools it’s using to keep in touch with hunters this year.

Just days ago, the DNR launched its first Facebook page and Twitter account and laid out plans for special coverage on the DNR website.

The Wisconsin DNR Facebook page is an agency-wide page that has a focus on the fun experiences of recreating in Wisconsin’s outdoors. It will cover a variety of seasonal subjects. So, in the most immediate future, visitors to the page will likely see many posts about the upcoming hunting season, fall fishing, and bird migration, to name a few.

People with Twitter accounts can follow DNR by typing @WDNR in the Twitter search bar and they will see the Wisconsin DNR Twitter account pop up on the right hand side of the screen, and then can click “follow” to receive Wisconsin DNR tweets.

As the gun-deer hunt gets underway Nov. 19, the DNR homepage will begin special coverage of the hunt. Each day visitors to the page will find new material on the main page. Topics will range from initial opening weekend numbers to special messages from DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp to inside looks at special programs geared to getting more people involved in one of Wisconsin’s greatest traditions. Make sure to stop by every day to see what’s new!

“This is an energizing time for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and we look forward to having you a part of our new adventure,” Stepp said.

Cougar hits Northwoods in time for annual gun deer hunt

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. -- A cougar ranging through west central and northern Wisconsin likely has tripped a trail camera for a third time, leading biologists to believe it is heading into the Northwoods just in time for the annual gun deer hunt.

State wildlife officials are asking hunters to report any sightings of the young, wild cougar. Based on the times and locations of the three photographs, it could be in the Flambeau State Forest or in heavily wooded Price County by now.

The state Department of Natural Resources also is reminding hunters that the cougar is a protected animal in Wisconsin. It can only be shot in self defense or to prevent harm to another human being, situations that would be considered extremely unlikely but not impossible.

The cougar, which appears to be a young male in search of territory and a mate, was photographed Nov. 8 by a trail camera located near the Rusk-Taylor county line, just east of Hawkins and south of U.S. Highway 8.

Previously, a young cougar was photographed Oct. 20 by a trail camera near the community of Pray in eastern Jackson County. Four days earlier, it was captured by a trail camera near Mauston in Juneau County. The two locations are about 42 miles apart. Cougar sightings are tracked on the DNR website.

Adrian Wydeven, DNR mammalian ecologist, said the pattern of spots and markings on the animal in the first and second photographs appears to be the same. From Pray to Hawkins, where the third photograph was taken 21 days after the second, is about 80 miles. Assuming it is the same animal – and it does have similar markings on its rear legs – it averaged about 3.8 miles a day.

To report a cougar sighting please contact the nearest DNR office or take advantage of the DNR’s rare mammal observation form located online. This page can be easily located by going to the Cougars in Wisconsin page of the DNR website (type the word “cougar” in the search box).

Also, biologists would be interested in photographs of the cougar’s tracks. Pictures of tracks should include a ruler or other measuring tool in the frame. Advice for gathering and protecting any biological samples can be found at the same location online. The DNR should be contacted before any samples are shipped.