Other News: S737

More than 20,000 apply for Wisconsin wolf hunting license

20,000 licenses applied for the first wolf hunt in WI in sixty years

photo c. WDNR ©2012

MADISON – A total of 20,272 people have submitted applications for the drawing for a gray wolf hunting or trapping license for Wisconsin’s first wolf season in more than 60 years. It is scheduled to begin Oct. 15. There were 19,788 applications from Wisconsin residents and 486 from non-residents.

The state Natural Resources Board approved a quota of up to 201wolves that could be harvested during the first season, 85 of which are reserved for Native American Indian tribes within the ceded territory of northern Wisconsin.

The Department of Natural Resources plans to issue 1,160 licenses for the 2012-13 season. Those permits will be awarded by random choice in a drawing that will be held this week. Successful applicants will be notified by letter and then be able to purchase a wolf harvest license for $100 for residents and $500 for nonresidents.

The DNR received nonresident applications from people in 38 other states from Maine to California and Alaska to Texas, with the largest numbers from Illinois (179) and Minnesota (102).

Applicants who are not successful in the drawing will be awarded a preference point toward future drawings.

Starting with the 2013-14 season, one half of available permits will be issued randomly among all permit applications and the second half will be issued through a cumulative preference point drawing.

Dane County Circuit Court Judge Peter Anderson last month temporarily blocked wolf hunters from using dogs or training dogs to hunt wolves while he considers the lawsuit. A DNR motion to dismiss the case is scheduled to be heard on Sept. 14.

As a result of this ruling, the Department of Natural Resources is advising people that the use of dogs for tracking and trailing of wolves is not authorized when hunting wolves under a wolf harvesting license. Also, the use of dogs for training to track or trail free ranging wolves is not authorized at this time. As this is a temporary injunction, the injunction on the use of dogs for wolf hunting and training could be lifted at a future date.

Read more here:

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

• Kurt Thiede, DNR Land Division administrator, 608-266-5833


• Bill Cosh, DNR spokesman, 608-267-2773

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2012 deer hunter wildlife survey begins

2012 Deer Hunter Survey time is here again. Trailcam photos are needed. See details below.

photo c. WDNR ©2012

MADISON -- The opening of the archery deer season on Sept. 15 marks the beginning of the 2012 Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey. Hunters can find survey instructions, record sightings, and view survey results online at the Wisconsin Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey page by searching for “deer hunter wildlife” on the Department of Natural Resources website dnr.wi.gov. A tally sheet is also available for times when hunters do not have access to a computer.

“Deer hunters often ask if there is a way they can tell the DNR what they are or are not seeing from their deer stand, this survey provides them with the means to do that” said Jes Rees, DNR wildlife survey technician.

Wildlife officials ask that hunters record all of their hunting activity throughout the deer season, even if no wildlife sightings were made during a hunt. The survey period ends January 2013. These observations have provided the DNR with an index to abundance for many wildlife species.

“With the recently released Deer Trustee report recommending more input from the hunting public on herd status, this tool provides the hunter with an excellent way to communicate their sightings,” Rees said. “All they need to do is record the date, number of hours, county, deer management unit, weather conditions, and the type and number of animals observed each day of deer hunting. Hunters can also enter their email address along with their observations and I will send them an email summary of their hunting activity at the end of the survey period.”

Many other states in the Midwest and around the country use these types of surveys to gather hunter input into deer and other wildlife abundance.

This is the fourth year of the survey and deer hunters are asked to report their field observations of a variety of wildlife species, hunting conditions and hours spent pursuing game. Thousands of observations are reported each year.

The Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey overlaps another citizen-participation survey. Operation Deer Watch started Aug. 1 and runs through Sept. 30. The primary objective of Operation Deer Watch is to determine trends in deer reproductive success by reporting does and fawns seen together during the late summer and early fall.

Trail Camera Photos Wanted

The wildlife surveys program is also interested in photographs of rare or endangered species hunters may have captured on their trail cameras. Photos can be emailed to DNR Wildlife Management. This information will help document their existence and location within the state. Trail camera photos can be viewed in our online trail camera gallery on Shutterfly.com.

Questions about the Wisconsin Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey, accessing the tally sheet, reporting your observation, or the results of the survey, can be referred to Jes Rees at 608-221-6360.

Read more here:

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

• Jes Rees at 608-221-6360

Other News: S732

Results available from survey on turkey management plan revision The results, from a recent survey on turkey management, in Wisconsin show strong support of current turkey management practices, photo courtesy WDNR ©2011 MADISON –- Results from a recent survey on turkey management in Wisconsin show strong support of current practices, with 80 percent of respondents indicating they believe the current seven turkey management zones provide good hunting opportunity, and over three-quarters of respondents favoring the six separate time periods of the spring hunting season. “While there’s a lot of information yet to comb through, our initial summary provides unique insight into how hunters view various aspects of Wisconsin’s turkey season framework,” said Krista McGinley, assistant upland wildlife ecologist for the Department of Natural Resources. The survey showed strong approval of the current permit drawing process for the spring season, but also suggested that it might be time to make some changes to the fall permit drawing process. “Over half of the survey takers indicated that they’d support the elimination of the fall permit drawing in favor of over-the-counter permit sales,” McGinley said. “We greatly appreciate the time folks took to participate in the public input process. Thanks to this input, we’ll be able to develop a plan that continues to reflect the desires and concerns of our state’s hunters.” Following their successful reintroduction to Wisconsin in the 1970s, wild turkeys have expanded their range so that they now occupy all counties in the state, and spring and fall turkey hunting have become very popular outdoor activities. DNR biologists believe the current Wisconsin Wild Turkey Management Plan, written in 1996, is in need of revision in order to remain pertinent to contemporary issues related to turkey management in the state. A critical part of the revision process includes soliciting, gathering, and analyzing input from the public regarding challenges and opportunities in turkey management and hunting in Wisconsin. During late April and early May of 2012, 11 public input sessions were held around the state, during which attendees were presented with background information and asked to complete a survey that addressed important issues related to the future direction of turkey management. The survey was also available online through the end of May. Information from this survey will help all of the partners involved in managing our state’s turkey flock in developing a plan that protects the turkey resource, but also optimizes recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. “There's no question that the DNR and the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation have done a masterful job restoring wild turkeys back to Wisconsin,” says Cory Catlin, president of the federation’s Wisconsin chapter. “This was particularly evident a couple of years ago when our state led the nation in spring harvest. Now that we've seen those numbers level off a bit, it's time to move forward with management changes that improve habitat, hunting opportunities, and the overall health of our sport.” People can review the survey results by going to dnr.wi.gov and searching for turkey management. Read more here: FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Walter - (608) 267-7861 Krista McGinley - (608) 261-8458 Friends of Poynette Game Farm to host Learn to Hunt Pheasant programs Friends of Poynette Game Farm The friends group supports the mission of the DNR State Game Farm and is dedicated to providing pheasant hunting opportunities and to promoting the strong tradition of upland bird hunting in Wisconsin. photo courtesy Friends of Poynette Game Farm©2012 POYNETTE, Wis. – The Friends of Poynette Game Farm are hosting Learn to Hunt Pheasant programs this fall as a way to involve youth and family groups in the long-standing tradition of pheasant hunting in Wisconsin. The friends group will run four free programs at the MacKenzie Environmental Education Center in Poynette this September and December. The programs are focused on youth and novice hunters over 10 years of age. “The two-day Lean to Hunt programs focus on the basics of pheasant hunting in a fun and relaxing atmosphere,” said Bob Nack, Poynette State Game Farm manager for the Department of Natural Resources. Nack said adults and family groups are encouraged to attend. Free programs include classroom instruction, dog training demonstrations, trap shooting, tours of the Poynette game farm and a mentored pheasant hunt. Dates and audiences for the pheasant programs include: Sept. 8-9 - Open to females with no pheasant hunting experience Sept. 15-16 - Open to any individual with no pheasant hunting experience. Parents or legal guardians are encouraged to participate Sept. 22-23 -Open to individuals 18 years or older with no pheasant hunting experience. Bring a friend Dec. 1-2 - Open to any individual with no pheasant hunting experience. Parents or legal guardians are encouraged to participate Applications are due August 24, and programs are limited to 20 participants. Overnight lodging is provided at the MacKenzie dormitories. Learn to Hunt application forms and other Friends of Poynette Game Farm information can be found on the Friends of Wisconsin Hunting website (exit DNR), or by calling 608-635-8120. Friends of the Poynette Game Farm can also be found on Facebook. Applications should be mailed to FPGF PO Box 606 Poynette, WI 53955 The friends group supports the mission of the DNR State Game Farm and is dedicated to providing pheasant hunting opportunities and to promoting the strong tradition of upland bird hunting in Wisconsin. More than 50,000 pheasants from the Poynette facility are annually released on more than 70 public hunting grounds annually. These pheasants provide the only pheasant hunting opportunities for the average WI hunter. One of the friends group’s goals is to increase the number of pheasants released on public hunting grounds through public awareness and fund raising. "We have many fond memories of hunting trips and want new hunters to make memories of their own,” said Vic Connors, FPGF president. Read more here: