Bad Deer Hunting Regs Warning
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- Опубликовано: 16 окт 2024
- These new deer hunting regs are as bad as they get! It is critical that you check out these new gun season and and crossbow regulations because the state of WI deer hunting opportunity as we know it, could be headed down the tubes. Maybe the state is just placating to ill-informed special interest groups and has no intention of implementing these incredibly devisive and ineffective deer hunting regulation changes but either way, you need to act soon! The new WI deer regulation proposals could destroy the quality of the annual deer season for decades to come, so make sure that you watch the video to learn how you can take action.
You said it, Jeff. Michigan hunter here and our state has some similar ideas cooking. Politics getting in the way of sound science and we the sportsman are no longer who they are working for. The NRC here has become a joke - glad to see you mentioned them. Where this group was originally designed to keep us protected from politicians, now has become a hotbed of politics. We all need to wake up and get active!
Jeff you are spot on! I have been bowhunting 30 yrs. The rules that are proposed will do nothing but cause many issues in Wisconsin for the hunting public whether on publiclands or private. I will be at our meeting in Dane county to represent my views on the regulations. Great video!
Thank you and that is awesome to hear! You are right too, every proposed regulation can do more harm than good. There is not one that you can say, "wow! that will be great for the herd and hunter". A true shame...
Jeff, as a member of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, I totally agree with everything you stated. I believe these changes are driven by a very small interest group. My greatest concern is pitting one sportsman against another. We need to respect any hunter that uses HIS weapon of choice and gets out in the woods to enjoy the experience. It is very important that sportsmen in Wisconsin make the effort to attend the meetings in their respective counties on April 13th at 6pm.
Amen Bob...so scary and divisive! Thanks for your encouragement too! Definately trying to pacify a small, select group with this one. Likely a small special interest group with a lot of money, or they wouldn't have gotten this far...
Jeff... I believe these are the proposals and questions numbers. 19 day gun season…(question #10)
Oct. only crossbow season and open after gun season only (question #14)
no bow hunting during gun season (question #13)
no hunting during the 2-5 days prior to gun season (question #12)
no artful water sources…(question #8)
Jeff, great points and thanks for the notification to all hunters. I don't live in Wisconsin but I appreciate your work and all the educational videos you post.
Northern Mn here. have seen our resources managed like a business for years, its aweful and usually dictated by the state capital and not DNR personnel. Thank you for mentioning the rifle season during the rut here!!! its terrible! Good job Jeff!!!
Studentofthe Outdoors the biggest problem is that the feds controls the wolves and currently the wolves are decimating the deer. DNR wildlife would make a wolf season again if they had the option.
could not agree more. my trail cam and tracks in the snow do not lie. i am all for having wolves but they need to be managed.
HUNT! FISH! RIDE! At my cabin near Bemidji the wolf population is out of control. I find a fresh deer kill almost every week. It is very annoying that I can’t take any action to control them.
@@colet6473 Thats where i am too! Same here
You can always go hunting for coyotes. Never know when you might get an exceptionally large one. It seems to me that quite a few wolves get lead poisoning right around gun season.
This is really sad. My daughter who is 23 years old just started crossbow hunting two years ago. it is great that we get to spend that time together in the woods. i would hate to see here not be able to hunt during the rut. i think the crossbow law would further decrease women and youth hunters from hunting.
Same here; both my kids are still too weak to handle a bow well, but they can archery hunt with me with the crossbow. Just got my mom to take up archery last year by getting her a crossbow. She's 65, you think she's going to learn to take up a vertical bow at her age and strength? She only hunts in blinds in order to not get cold, which is near impossible with a vertical bow.
All fueled by jealousy and money vs. science and deer management.
Man Tom so true. On a whole I believe that largely explains traditional deer management as a while.
Something to think about folks...these regulations actually hurt the public land hunters who has fewer resources, than the private land hunter that has a greater ability to mold and shape their hunt if they do it right. Pretty scary...I feel pretty bad for public land hunters if this passes!
This is exactly what I was getting at. I hunt public land with my little ones in tow. With bow hunting and the season I have way more opportunities to get them out, better encounters, and much more learning. During rifle we fight to try and get away from deer drives that clear areas out. My kids are young so we hit that 3-4 mile deep mark and they are exhausted and hunting becomes boring, we have to do this to just get away from people because of how much pressure rifle season brings to public lands. Last rifle season was a nightmare for us as we never could escape the large deer drives and most of what was left for us to hunt had already been hit hard. Leave shit alone WI. This is not the answer to getting people to buy more license, this is not the answer to increasing revenue, this is only going to create more problems, and more animosity amongst hunters. Also my dad is a disabled vet who can ONLY hunt with cross bow. Prior to crossbow season had to getting Doctors permission slip to hunt with one (cost money) now you are going to force him to go back to that solution to get out and enjoy his archery season? Are you trying to push more people away from this sport?
Wisconsin has it right at this point. These new rules would be a huge step backwards. Last year was definitely an odd season with the timing of the season and the weather being what it was. It would be a shame to see the state officials mess up what already works. There is plenty of opportunity for everyone as it is. Sure bow hunters have a longer season, it takes a longer season to even have a chance to harvest a deer. Being able to be in the woods in the different seasons from early to late is why I bow hunt to begin with.
Thanks for the video. It upsets me to think these things could go through.
Great points Paul I appreciate them! I think WI is one of the best and these changes would have a critical impact on the quality of the entire season. Scary...let's just hope that they do not go thru. Any of them...
Whitetail Habitat Solutions right!
Even though archers have a long season, all but the hard core are done by gun season. With gun season, then muzzle loader, then doe only, then Holiday hunt (doe only again) in some counties, it’s not like archers have free reign all season. Couple that with much more need to hunt weather conditions in order to get within bow range of a deer, it’s not like we can hunt every day.
I started bow hunting when I was a teenager and I average about a doe a year and a buck every 4 years. (I pass up small bucks) But some of the rules they want to go back to we’re in place back then. They were archaic then.
Just my friend and i alone spend 2grand more each year than we did as gun hunters since the crossbow season came to Wisconsin. Our kill numbers are the same. 2 or 3 deer each year. Why wouldn't the state want us out there? We enjoy being out as much as possible and watching the season change. We are clearly more selective and are seeing a better heard around us. We hunt public land.
Amen Mark...your story and many others need to be heard! Great comments 👍
Great comment... and to add, in states like Michigan, we are the ones doing ANY management of age structure through self imposed restrictions. The states are doing us no favors with regs and forcing us to manage the herds ourselves. I am thankful for hunters like us!
Sounds like they are listening too the whiners versus the hunters.
Joseph...I should have just said that in the video, would have been much shorter and captured the big picture ☺️ Amen!
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 you kind of did. I can tell you where the problem started in my opinion. Here it started with Wildlife officers finding out they generate more revenue policing humans than they could make from the animals they are paid to protect. Their budget is built on DUI arrest, spending huge amounts on assualt gear, armored vehicles, souped up boats etc. In the meantime, hunting license sales are declining. Less kids are interested in hunting. CWD has crippled much of the hunting in many areas and wildlife in general is on the decline. Yet the pay of Wildlife never gets cut. Nor do the toys. Seems to me they should stick to strictly watching the animals more so than the humans they over regulate
Ty for addressing the crossbow issue as well. Why cant folks just mind their own business and respect others. Especially in a brotherhood of hunters that now involves our wives and children just the same. What an example to set for them
Love your videos. I learn much from them
Great video and I think you absolutely hit the nail on the head! This video needs to spread far and fast!
Thanks a lot Erich...it is doing well so far and I hope that it continues!
Eliminate all the special hunts other then disabled or special needs . Leave the rest alone. Fool’s trying to control what they don’t understand.
I like that! Even leaving everything like it is, is awesome!
This will be my first year archery hunting I grew up in ny where our gun selection is a shotgun or muzzle loader. Now I live in Tennessee and I’m extremely excited to hit the woods with my 7 year old son and his new crossbow.
Man that sounds awesome Matt...really happy for you, I know from experience that will be some Incredible memories ☺️
Spot on Jeff, Its kinda hard to believe anyone would even consider most of these ideas!
Amen Mark...how could they, if they are actually an engaged WI sportsman.
Thank you Jeff ! Wildlife officials really need to listen to your advice !
Hunter from Ontario Canada here. Love watching your videos. Just a comment on how a 19 day gun hunt plus 7 days of reprieve leading into it equals a 26 day blackout for bow hunters. Our gun draw here is only 5 days. Bow hunters are restricted during that period, but still - it's only 5 days out of the whole season, versus 26. That's a significant difference!
Jeffrey Johnston
7 day long gun hunts actually, with the option of hunting the first or second rut, but yes I agree 100% to me that proposed 7 days of no hunting is absolutely ridiculous.
I know personally 4 kids that that use cross bows because there not quit their yet with there vertical bow and don't feel comfortable hunting with them yet but are crack shots with crossbow they shoot there vertical in the back yard. And one more thing about longer gun season people need to get off there butts and move them after opening weekend.land fragmentation to me is the biggest problem we face in deer hunting today.once deer figure out where they can go when the hunting pressure is on and not be bothered by anyone that where they stay.thanks for all the info over the years please keep them coming
I've been hunting WI for 20 years. In the 90s there were a lot of deer drives during gun season. It kept deer moving and I believe more people had chances to shoot deer. Now everyone owns the magical 20 acres with the big buck on it. No one drives and the results show that. We gotta work together and if we do I think we'll have better hunting.
Question#8 restricting use of water holes! Jeff, you forgot to mention this one. I'll be there to vote against these changes!
You are correct.....
Amen...another ill informed and ignorant one. For sure! Thanks for bringing that up...
Great video. One disagreement on the 16% License decrease. Northern Wisconsin from like 1998 to 2008 handed out 1-3 additional doe tags as part of the normal license. This really crushed the population. We refer to it as the wow man and the Buffalo era. It has finally started to come back the past two years but it's still nothing like it used to be. DNR really mismanaged it
I hunt with a longbow. Can I say crossbows shouldn't be included in "archery" seasons? No? Damn. Guess i'll go learn how to hunt then..
This is sad I feel the same but right now the crossbow hunters are "with us" fighting for a longer "archery" season. Just because we are trad hunters doesnt put a chip on our shoulder because of the accomplishments we achieve. Bottom line no else cares if we use a stick.
I appreciate all deer hunters and I especially respect the traditional bow hunters. Unfortunately about a year and a half ago I hurt my right shoulder and have since learned I will always have problems with it and surgery isn't a guaranteed fix. That being said I purchased a crossbow so that I could continue hunting in one of my favorite sports. I'm so thankful there is a crossbow option and would be devastated to see it reduced and not be able to hunt like I have been. These changes are bad across the board for hunters and I will fight them but many of us that have to use crossbows would appreciate support as well and the understanding that they are the only way some of us can participate in the archery season due to our limitations.
@@vanessaheeringa1419 here in NY we only allow a 2 week crossbow season...our hunters are getting older and it's a shame we cant see full inclusion or minimally for disabled all bow season instead of a 2 week window...granted it is nov 1st the 2 weeks starts so a little advantage but you should be allowed to hunt when you want with any bow
@@vanessaheeringa1419 I fully agree that crossbows should be available for disability and advanced age, as it had been n Wisconsin for years before the change. Just not laziness.
Thought about writing why it doesn't/shouldnt matter what archery device we use to hunt with. But some things just will never be understood.
"Everyone in Wisconsin is within kne hour of a oublic land trophy buck." Love it!
damn right were just too lazy to find them lol sometimes i see buck in my yard eating my veggies :O thats within city limits
This is indeed an interesting topic.
First, anyone who only gun hunts and only is the classic opening weekend only warrior, should not have any say for anything about bow season.
As an avid bow, gun and muzzleloader hunter, I see and understand all points of view.
Crossbows are getting a bum rap because of bad hunters. We all know those kind... the kind that rarely, if ever, practices, rarely if ever scouts, and now can take a 100 yard shot.
Many of those kind used to shoot a compound bow which they never practiced with... so they moved to a crossbow where they can sight in and never practice again.
If a crossbow brought a new hunter into the sport, or a gun only hunter into the sport, then that is a positive for the sport.
19 day gun season is absurd.
Limiting cross bows is absurd.
Please attend your local meetings!! And if you go, please be RESPECTFUL AND ARTICULATE!!!!
Make your voice heard!!
Jeff, love all your videos, and hope you can keep WI on track. A little off topic, but have you considered a video about drone use for your business? Could be very informative. Thanks.
Great Video! Because of a shoulder injury 6 years ago, I now can only hunt with a crossbow. I am known around my area to kill some of the biggest bucks and I have never shot a deer past 35 yards.Most are under 20. I miss my compound, but life is different now. It isn't the bow, or gun that kills the animal, because they are only the tools used. It all comes down to knowledge or luck, that's it.
WOW Jeff thank you for showing this. I'm still on my yearly, 2 month, deer hunting fast, but I could not pass up watching this Video. I'm very glad I did. I can believe they are trying to take out the absolute BEST bow hunting of the entire year. RIDICULOUS!!
Man Jeff, this is one of your best videos ever! I can't agree with ya more. Similar deal in Indiana with Bobcats. We weren't informed of the meeting with the proposals until it was too late so nobody from any hunt groups showed up. Plenty of animal rights activists did though. Consequently, we still don't have a bobcat season even in the lower half where it's desperately needed now. The special interest groups are getting exactly what they want. They want us fighting amongst ourselves and not showing up to the meetings. It's high time we all unite together and become an alliance to support our sport, tradition, and heritage. Bow hunters, gun hunters, deer hunters, coon hunters, traditional hunters, modern hunters, bird hunters, waterfowl hunters, fishermen, trappers. If we don't begin to unite, the sports we love we be taken away from us. Thanks for a great video jeff. Hopefully this hits home for several people nationwide.
Minnesota Bow Hunter here. I cant tell you how frustrating it is to have to sit out of the rut because of the gun pressure that is in my area of SE MN. Been bow hunting for 9 years now and every year my best chance at getting a buck is the week before the gun season starts. Some years in Nov like last season gun season was later around the 9th, where we got to experience a true RUT hunt. And other years the week before is mostly pre rut hunting when gun falls on the first Saturday of Nov. I know of people that go to Wisconsin and buy out of state tags just to avoid the MN gun season all together and chase bucks during the rut without having to deal with a neighbor doing drives on a property they don't have permission to be on. Gun hunting is fun I get it but seems like its just a weekend activity and not a season long sport. I can say as a bow hunter I am in the stand 3-4 days a week from opening day all the way till it gets too cold to sit for more than an hour.. That is my 2 cents I hope that Wisconsin doesn't fall into this trap that MN is in.
I agree with you Jeff.... all I can do right now is sit here and shake my head and wonder what the heck .......
Scary, eh? Me too...well, also get fired up and make a video hoping to reach 10s of thousands 😁 Been shaking my head at this for weeks...
Thank you thank you thank you! I DO NOT support these proposed regs. Just ridiculous, I will be at the meeting this April and will be quoting you ... thanks for your passion Jeff!
Jeff these proposals if passed will have more hunters leaving the sport in my opinion. Then the way to control the herd will be the front end of people’s car! I’d sell and fish more......... I imagine good bow hunters would also make good poachers too and that wouldn’t help matters either.
Moving here from Texas, and having been stationed in Maryland for a few years, I was shocked by how little freedom there is here. From fish to deer, this Wisconsin is a highly regulated state.
Here in the South we have rifle seasons that last 2-4 months. People choose to bow hunt on their own during that time if they wish. So I will abstain from my opinion of this for I see it as comparing apples to oranges. But good luck giving legitimate feedback to the counties/state. I have seen it influence DNR's.
I appreciate the input! So difficult to compare state to state in particular when comparing deer numbers and hunter influence overall. I just look at it if it isn't broke...don't fix it!
Shouldn't you be at work? lol. Still love this channel.
Wisconsin had one of the best deer management programs for many years until 7 years ago when the state eliminated tagging and physical deer registration.
Hunter back tags/licenses were eliminated; deer carcass tags were eliminated; physical deer registration was eliminated.
The results are a decrease in license and tag sales; a decrease in deer registrations as much as 30+ % and an increase in poaching and a very poor CWD monitoring system. The Disc observation Congress and majority of hunters statewide have begged the legislature and DNR to bring back tagging, but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
None of these are DNR proposals. All are advisory-only from the 7-citizen state Natural Resources Board and 360-member Wisconsin Conservation Congress. Simply seeking public input. IMO, few if any will pass. However, in a perfect world if they want to stop bleeding gun deer licenses may be worth a try to stop allowing bow/crossbow five days before gun opener (like it used to be) to put more focus/anticipation on "opening day." Gun deer is Wisconsin's biggest revenue generator. In many areas (not all, esp.large-acreage, private tracts), no doubt the increasing and nearly non-stop pressure negatively impacts deer sightings. When "crossbows for all" was allowed, it was with the caveat that the impact on bow/gun seasons would be gauged, and the crossbow season adjusted as necessary. Many believe crossbows are a superior weapon (thus their use only by age 65 and over, or handicapped prior to Dr. Deer and the rest of the crossbow lobby pushing for full inclusion), and should have a shorter season. While I will stick to archery as long as I'm physically capable, I really don't care what my neighboring hunters use as long as it's legal. That said, I do believe the high harvest rates of bucks prior to the gun opener may be having a negative impact on the gun hunt in some areas -- esp. up north where crossbow use is extremely popular. Wolves, bears, bobcats and coyotes get a lot of the blame, perhaps rightly so, for tough hunting in much of the north. Yet year after year we read about people busted over shooting deer after hours over bait -- and wardens say they're only catching a tip of the iceberg.
Kevin Naze you are right , it is the NRB proposal ( their still uneducated fools)
Hey Jeff,
Now that these public meetings have been cancelled it would be great if you could put out an updated video with how the online process is going to work and any other options that we may have to express our concerns about these new regulations.
Thanks Jeff
I’ll be at the Douglas county meeting. Absolutely absurd to extend the rifle season. So a hunter can see the same 4 deer they seen the first 9 days? If they want more people to buy licenses and more deer harvested,they better worry about managing the Wolf population. I have a fresh deer wolf kill 200 yards from my back door that I found yesterday. What’s the use of buying a deer license when you aren’t going to see deer?
JW The wolf population up north here in Minnesota is getting out of hand. Every week I find a fresh deer kill. I hope they open up a lottery soon.
Cole T That sucks. They better open up a season again. You guys got it way worse up there with the wolves than we do. My son was 12 and drew a tag the year they had the lottery. He trapped his wolf in 2 days, they’re not afraid of anything.
I live in Alabama and we can bow hunt with either a crossbow or a compound bow or long bow whatever type bow you choose to use from October 15th - February 10th, our gun season usually opens around November 17th but this season it didn’t open till the 23rd and it runs through February 10th. They extended our season dates two years ago through February 10th because the rut in our area is so late. Before they extended it season would end on January 31st and the rut would just be starting good. I agree with you that there’s a lot of gun hunters that would love to push the archers out, I do both, I Crossbow hunt and I rifle hunt, I personally don’t have a problem with someone who chooses to archery hunt only, to each his own lol. Good Luck with these regulations! Thanks for sharing your knowledge, I made a mock scrape like yours and I have been blown away by the activity it’s got the past two years lol. Thanks Jeff!
I dont mind an increase in the days. I work 6 days a week and can only hunt one day a week on public land in FL. unless I take vacation, which I do during bow season, but its hard to get it done hunting one day a week. cause you never know who or what has been in the area so if you sit and the deer move somewhere else you cant just adjust for the next day cause you wont be back for a week. so more time does help some hunters who cant be in the woods as much as others. Maybe its different in your area but in northern FL. we have a long season so guess it does not matter. I still killed my limit this year of doe and bucks which changed this year too 2 doe and 3 bucks for the year. which is not a lot cause the deer are small. love your videos
Thanks for mentioning the Minnesota gun season.. drives me crazy that it's in the middle of the rut. You're also right about bow hunter's time in the woods. I was putting miles on the boots this weekend partially for turkey but mostly for next deer season. We put time in because to be successful, we need to... to get within 40 yards undetected, we need to be educated on our stand locations as well as our access.
these potential proposals are insane. 19 day gun season is ridiculous. i shoot a compound and could care less if someone shoots a crossbow. restricting them to oct is BS. what they will accomplish is pissing off long time hunters like myself and who will have had enough and quit hunting all together. we have a great state and they will ruin it. I'm thrilled that the kill was down last year, i think that many more people will have a chance at a much nicer buck this year.
Spot on Jeff. We left Wisconsin and now only hunt Iowa and Illinois. If the WI DNR wants to sell more licenses and keep more people interested, then the quality and quantity of deer both need to improve. These regulations wouldn’t support that. You’re right, the sky is not falling but it’s also not trending in the right direction.
Those proposals are absolutely insane. Makes me want to scream at the ignorance. Can't stress enough how ridiculous those sound. Keep fighting the good fight Jeff. Folks better fight back before it's too late.
Hopefully folks will give their online input...I'm curious if these meetings will be cancelled!? I hear you tho...keep spreading the word. These could kill our proud, incredible WI deer hunting opportunities...
WI.Here, I grew up hunting as a group of neighbors gun hunting traditional season. It was awesome and great memories. Did very little bow hunting until older. The mentality from the gun hunter mine also was “i hope the bow hunter does not have success”. Over a period of time i decided to really getting into bow hunting to try to get the edge when the deer are moving calmly or in the possible chaotic rut period. I absolutely love the bow season. I also continue to gun hunt the regular season. The whole 9 days I’m hunting as we still have a few of the original die hard hunters in that time frame. I’ve taken plenty of flack from bow hunters (compound Bow) because i now use a crossbow for the accuracy and the fact that i can pull my Bear Bow but can’t hold back for very long would leave me unleashing a arrow that could be unsteady and missing my target or worse wounding one to die a long painful death. I don’t shoot more than 30yards with it. Thats only 5 yards further than my comfortable limit with the compound. I have no problem sharing all the deer hunting seasons with anybody who just plain loves to hunt and be involved the outdoors.
I grew up hunting in NE Wisconsin...then moved the Southern tip of Michigan's UP (I actually saw you speak just North of Menominee - near where John Komp lives now probably very early 2000s). It was the move to Michigan and seeing basically only 1.5 year old bucks that made me realize how even Michigan's Nov 15 gun opener overlapping the tail end of the rut is devastating on the number of quality bucks. Been back in Wisconsin the past 12 years - North Central area now - and experiencing the best deer hunting of my life. I routinely pass up 5-10 bucks every Nov 3-10 and only shoot bucks if I take them to the taxidermist - happens about every 3-4 years. Jeff you nailed it when you said it's not broke. Hopefully the powers that be in Wisconsin realize how good things are right now. If they want to do something, bring back a controlled hunt on wolves that have ballooned to probably 10x the DNRs original recovery goals. If gun hunters in the Northern part of the state want to see and shoot more deer, reducing wolf densities is the best place to start. Keep up the excellent work and content Jeff.
As a hunter that has been hunting since 1967.with gun and bow. I can tell you a lot has changed. When I started we could not hunt from trees. A lot of gun hunters hunted from the dirt roads and rail road right of ways. Very little hunting pressure in the woods. By the 70's gun hunting pressure in central Wisconsin was high. I remember the DNR trying to get us to vote in a 16 day gun season starting on Nov.15th. We voted it down several time at the spring game hearings in April. The next thing we know they added a 10 day muzzle loader season and then a 4 day antler-less season. So we now have what amounts to a 23 day gun season. Just as a note I bow, gun and muzzle loader hunt. Last year I saw 2 deer in 19 days of gun and muzzleloader hunting. I saw 16 deer during bow hunting. I hunt in South West Oneida County. I've hunted all over the state of wisconsin and can tell you the deer population varies widely. Please vote these changes down. Show up and vote.
I feel they should have to rewrite these pathetic questions. There is a sales pitch in every question along with a strong bias. These are extremely unprofessional and far from simple straight forward questions. My "favorite" questions are the one where they mention trying to make the regulations simpler, meanwhile the previous 10 questions have been more confusing than any thing in the past. Thanks for the video, this is going to be one heck of an interesting WCC meeting, we need the names of those who wrote and approved these proposals thus far.
Jeff I agree. I hunt mostly Pa but everything you just talked about is extremely sad. I hope you guys can come together and get this stopped.
I agree with a lot what you have to say Jeff. I always make my recommendations to the deer board every year. As a land owner in Wisconsin, and being on active duty stationed away for the last 18 years, I can only make it back for the gun hunt, which normally falls after the first rut. Which I rarely see anything larger thank an 8 pointer. Extending the gun hunt earlier I believe would benefit those that would like to have an opportunity to get a big buck during the rut. Veterans Day weekend would be a prime time to allow rifle and bow hunters. I’m looking at getting into bow hunting for the ability to hunt the rut, but dropping more funds on another platform isn’t the most economical when a simple change in hunting dates for rifle will allow better opportunities. This last weekend I went and looked at the Matthews bow and it’s bare bone was 1199$ and that’s just a bow, how much does all the other nicknacks cost to get into bow hunting hobby?
Good info. I suggest you publish the answers to each problem listed on the whiteboard. Then attendees can read their comments to give solutions and not just complain. This will encourage better dialogue at the meetings. Thanks for your effort Jeff.
Crazy to extend gun season. Most gun hunters only hunt opening weekend. What makes them think extending the season is better. Just crazy. Last year while hunting the second weekend up north I saw one other hunter.
MN is now considering making the entire state available for rifle use during the gun season. I guess we will see what happens. We are just barely into the shotgun zone as it stands now. Even if they pass it into law, the most I would use or need is a 44 mag. lever gun where we hunt. It's all thick cover mixed up against Ag fields. We are in a 1 deer a year only zone in west central MN. This will be my first year bowhunting. SO excited!!
Man Jeremey I hope you bowhunt...that would be awesome ☺️ I don't think which gun is allowed makes too much of a difference either way....at least not a bad regulation where it impacts herd and hunt too much anyways.
Hunters need to stand together, not fight over what gear to hunt with and when. I plan on going to the meeting in my area. A 19 day gun season is just ludicrous in my opinion, and to start it a week sooner will decimate the buck population in the entire state. No one I know is in favor of these regulations. You are right on with this video. I now have to hunt with a crossbow, I’m unable to draw a compound bow or recurve bow any more. So to cut my bow season short makes me very mad.
It's incredible how short sighted Wisconsin has become year after year with regulation proposals and changes (deer, waterfowl, etc.). The mindset of killing more deer with an extended gun season is what will completely put this state in a much lower tier for whitetails. Remember when WI was touted as one of the top states to go have a chance at a trophy deer? The state managing as a whole via regulations that are backed with proven science will be the only thing that can create the age classes of deer that then have the potential to grow to "trophy class" with further self management. 16% decrease in sales over 25 years is slow, in 10 years if managed right and WI is producing trophy deer again that trend will be going the opposite direction fast.
The people making those changes have never hunted.How do they come up with these ideas??Pa finally opened 3 Sundays for deer.They opened season on Saturday and had an increase .in license sales. Now you can hunt the first 2 days of rifle.Which is Saturday and Sunday. Let's see how much revenue that brings in.They are trying to make it so the kids get back into it.Whats next??
They sure do not hunt...at least some of them. Scary. I love PA and I hope that they don't change ANYTHING!! BTW, I was shocked at home few hunters were in the public land woods in PA where I hunt the last 2 seasons. Heavy rain 2 seasons ago but this season was on a Saturday. Crazy!
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 The #s are down .Hunters that is.But their are some good deer in those game lands.30 minutes from my house is 5000 acres of gamelands.Never been in it.But I know people that do??And the are shooting some dandys..
Simple regulations would help to get an already intimidated beginner behind a bow, crossbow, or firearm and that is the win in the end. Educated and ethical hunters are what conservation should strive for not more regulations. Thanks for bringing this up in the Hope that it may educate lawmakers.
Just read an article last week where a dnr official claimed that science drives our deer regs. Now is the time for the dnr to prove it, and as Jeff just said, we should let them know our perspective. Great job of leadership, Jeff!
I totally agree Jeff. I spent my hard earned money on a crossbow and feel cheated if I can't hunt with it in November. I gun hunt too and it was just a bad season latest start, alot of corn still in, and warm conditions. These regulations proposals are dangerous for true outdoorsmen.
Do you have to be present at the April 13th meeting to voice an opinion in your county? It'd be awful nice to be able to answer the proposed changes in an online format.
No you don't Jeffrey ☺️ starting at 7pm that night there will be an online comment process available for 72 hours.
Pennsylvania already has the "calm time" between Full Rut and gun hunting. Archery ends just when things start to get good. it picks up again after gun but the Rut is over by then.
Yep. And we can’t hunt Sunday’s.
I'm hoping things are going to change for the better in PA. Two WMU allow archery only from Mid September until opening day of gun season. Plus the proposed 3 Sundays for hunting starting 2020 if it gets final approval. Its a positive trend for PA guys like us.
Thanks Jeff!! I’ve been saying that for years, why MN has there rifle right during the rut.. totally backwards..
Jeff I have been huge fan of your work/writing for many years. I also agree with you that these new proposed rules are garbage. That said let's be real about a few things. First of all crossbows are a superior weapon in "archery" season. I don't agree with taking them away or limiting the season although that is how the original law allowing them here in WI was written. We do need some kind of limit on them though. Compound bows have pretty much limited out technology wise as they have to drawn and held. There really is no limit to a mechanically drawn/held crossbow with a magnified scope. I don't have the answer, but crossbows have to be "limited" or next there will be air bows allowed. Second there's special interest groups involved in EVERYTHING!!! Special interest groups are what got crossbows pushed through in WI. Technically you could say you have a special interest against certain rules as you are sponsored by Mathews who also makes crossbows. Plus your consulting business. Not busting your chops here, just playing devil's advocate a bit.
Another thing no one talks about is the fact that they always base the success of the season on the prior years total which is ludicrous in itself. A steep drop off % wise coming a high kill year doesn't mean the year was a failure and we have to enact knee jerk changes. Goofy weather, a ton of standing corn and the latest possible start along with numerous other factors affected the gun season. That's just the way it is. I know it will never happen but my dream reg changes would be an antler restriction for adults and/or 1 buck per season per person. I absolutely agree with everything in this video and will be at the meetings.
Great video Jeff, couldn't agree more - Thank you for taking the time to put this together. 4/13 is already marked on the calendar. You're comments regarding property values are great. Think about how many hunters have literally made land the single most important thing that they have saved money for, and now to tell them they can't hunt it the best 5 or so days of the season...... I've given a lot of thought about this, and should this pass, I think I would just make a point to spend my money on an out of state rut-hunt every year in late Oct/Early Nov, and forgo the gun season, despite the fact that I have been doing it 20+ consecutive years. I hate to do it, but to me the only way to get the DNR's attention at this point is with actions, those being me giving my hunting budget to another state that seems to "get it".
Thank you and I hope the video makes a difference! Great comments btw 👍 I bet the state of WI could really use your voice on the 13th! The bad thing is that any state wildlife organization that I know of, hasn't really made that connection that bad hunting opportunity translates into lower property values...or vice versa
In Bama, things have changed as well. Used to, it went out 31Jan. Now, 10Feb. Supposedly for better opportunity at rutting bucks which, happens late Jan/early Feb. It has helped - along with reduced buck kills (3 per season,now).
I agree that these would not benefit Wisconsin deer herd, and would affect Wisconsin in revenue loss
All across the board, certainly very bad. So true!
"Change your tactics."
That I think is the #1 thing hunters need to do. I can't begin to tell you how many times I read bitching and moaning on the Illinois DNR FB page about:
- "Herd #'s are down."
- "I don't see any deer."
- "The shotgun season is too long."
- "Stop the late season."
I've asked multiple times if they are hunting the same sites year after year and never get an answer, which might as well be "yes". I hunt public land because I don't have the $$$ to pay a greedy owner for a lease. I see deer every season. Why? I move around.
I've seen stands left in place all season long on public land when the site regulations say they must be removed daily. At that point it's not about getting the deer used to the stand, it's being lazy.
Man I love your comments Marshall! So, so true. Folks want to get something better by doing the same ole thing, over and over again. Just up the skill level and work hard. Change tactics. Find deer.
It isn't the state's job to improve a deer hunters favorite deer stand.
As an Iowa resident, I hope this stupidity doesn't trickle south. I however, have no problem with legalizing crossbows here. I agree with everything you mentioned about them. I'd also be for combining our 2 gun seasons here or allowing an unused 1st gun season tag during season 2. I'm all for giving people oppurtunity and the ability to hunt how theyd like to.
Didnt know u are from Wisconsin. Cant wait to get back home after 26 yrs of serving for the Air Force. Ready to get into the woods and excited to do it back home.
I emailed the dnr and told them to go look at your videos and talk to you about it personally because your the #1 expert I think on this stuff
Great video Jeff. I hope your state pulls it together and shoots down these ridiculous changes. In my opinion all of the regulations and red tape almost make it feel like you are doing something you shouldn't be doing. This is the first year that I have been an avid outdoorsman since I was younger, and I'll be honest I sometimes get anxious making sure I am doing everything right. I had to call multiple DNR offices to get a resolution to a question regarding coyote hunting that was weird on the hunting digest. It is a total turn off for new hunters. Took my best friend on a trip and he was appalled by all the regulations you have to follow with serious legal ramifications if you don't. They want license sales to go up? SELL THE SPORT, don't make it seem like a weird cult that you have to already know all the rules to be in. By the way Jeff shoo some of that nice dandy habitat over here to Michigan!
Nothing good comes out of politicians trying to make hunting and fishing regulations and game management. Best example here in MN... Mille lacs. It's all about the Ben Franklins to them.
I would love to hear what you think of proposed regulations in other states you hunt. Michigan/Pennsylvania.
Dnr are the same in Michigan, making stupid rules based a on knee jerk reactions.
Exactly Jeff in it's not broken don't fix it !!!!!!! Thanks 4 the video
I've hunted the Wisconsin woods (both archery and gun) for many years. Recently retired to Texas, but have still hunted in Wisconsin because of the awesome herd. This past gun season, I saw more bucks than does - six just in the first weekend. I have been afraid this was going to happen ever since they started discussing limitation of opportunities for archers. My hope is that clearer heads will prevail, but if things go in the direction that penalizes archers to placate some whiney gun hunters, It's doubtful that I'd be interested in coming back to Wisconsin for any future hunts.
I live in MN. Is there anything that could be done to try and move gun season back like Wisconsin has? I'm embarrassed by much of what the MN DNR does in regards to deer hunting. I'm in SE MN and the "CWD" management is a joke. Thanks!
Have these meetings been postponed now with the virus lockdown going on? I haven't heard anything.
I wonder how much effect lobbying by insurance companys has to do with trying to get the deer population down .
Like you said it's all about the money,the less road kill the less they have to pay out.
A lot. Less deer means less car deer accidents which translates to fewer claims. It's all about money and these politicians sadly are bought and paid for. We hunt in Michigan and our regs are geared towards eliminating the deer herd. They are currently using CWD as their Trojan Horse but it's pretty easy to see who is pulling the strings.
I agree with you. If some gun hunters are upset regarding the days archery hunters are allowed, they should pick up a bow and learn the skill and get out there. Those changes are an awful idea!!
There has been a significant trend that started about 4 decades ago that spawned the popular sport of archery hunting. This segment has been growing and continues to grow today. The reasons are obvious; longer season, better weather, more natural hunt, quiet time spent in the outdoors, etc. The new recommended changes are counter to this trend, attempting to stop and reverse a natural progression in deer hunting preference that is occurring. This will not work.
If the DNR does not embrace this change in hunter preference, more hunters will become disgruntled and will drop out; this is already happening. You cannot change the flow of a trend with counter-regulations; these attempts will fail and create new problems. Limiting when hunters can enjoy what they like to do with shorter seasons is counter productive; the solution should be more, not less. That is basic Marketing 101; give people what they want, not limit or take it away.
On the other hand, I understand the concern for having quality bucks available for all segments of the season. There are hunters who still consider the gun deer season to be their only option to hunt; that's fine too. In light of this, i would suggest implementing a one buck per hunter, per season. From a practical standpoint, who needs more than one deer per season, plus a doe to round out the freezer for the year? It would cause some to be more selective in their buck harvest, knowing they get only one buck kill, allowing more young bucks to survive, further strengthening the buck herd.
Fortunately, the numbers how that the state of WI is still the #1 hunting state...and that trend has held fast. Also we have lost 10s of thousands of bowhunters...just like fun hunters. The numbers have been dropping across the board for decades.the fair weather hunters just gun hunt. The engaged hunters are the ones spending dollars. Local economy, etc. Gun season is just a short blip. Right now there is a great balance and more opportunity than most states in the north 1/2 of the country. It isn't broken...so it doesn't need to be fixed. Other states have proven time and time again that a 1 buck license does nothing but diminish hunter opportunity.
I hear and understand what you are saying. Again, hunters of all types of hunting should stick together. We need to fix the laws. We can't do it one person at a time. I am not from Wisconsin. I am from Michigan. The laws are just as bad if not much worse. Michigan told me that I could not use a electric wheelchair on state land to hunt. I am disabled and have a permanent to hunt for a vehicle. I just can't take any Motorized vehicles Into the Woods. So that screws all are disabled hunters unless you on private property. I like to say please help pass new laws.
It seems to me that you will be a great spokesperson for the WI hunting public!
Jeff should we be going to the county we hunt or the county we live which for me is Dane. Might be more impactful closer to liberal land?
These regs make 0 sense, would have a terrible impact on QDM, thank you for bringing this information to my attention and many others.
Do not worry. PA and WV have some stellar rules also. I gave up on PA with suggestions while living there. The mentality is horrible.
Hi Chaz...I live hunting public land in PA...will be my 20th season this year ☺️ Love driving 13 hours to head back there every year and hoping that they don't change...
For the most part Sir I agree with you, things are just fine here in Wisconsin, ive been deer hunting here for over 40 years. However, as a Disabled hunter who cant walk into the woods any more & cant deal with the cold either, Hunters in this situation should be able to harvest a deer when the temps are warm enough for us to hunt. Yes I know there is a disabled hunt in Oct but for only two days and good luck in trying to get into a group that sponsors one of these hunts, ive tried. Vernon County is to me the best place to harvest deer in the state.
I agree with you 100% Jeff!
Thank you Phil... hopefully the video can make a difference!
Where can we find the dates for the meetings in each county?
Hi Keith...same time in every county. 4/13, 7pm. Online comment procreedure begin for 72 hours at that same time.
I almost always fill my tags before gun season. If I don't I actually have the same mentality gun hunting as archery ( ideally 20-30 yard shots). Learning to archery hunt will make you a much better hunter with better choices.
We wish you would put some attention to northern Missouri. Please ! We follow you religiously.
We here in TN are dealing with some dumb new regs as well. The biggie for me, and one that I am ADAMANTLY against, is opening up 3 days in August so the trophy hunters can get their velvet buck.
I do not understand the opposition to the longer gun season. A 9 day season during the school year means you have a maximum of 4 days to take kids out hunting, if they are busy with other activities one weekend that means you have 2 days to get them out, if the weather is bad they may only get out for 1 sit. The same applies for someone who has to work alot of hours during hunting season.
If you can control deer numbers through the amount of tags issued why not extend opportunity for the majority of hunters by having a longer gun season?
Some states like Florida have a 2-3 month gun season. Living in Montana for 12 years, Dee,& Elk & Antelope rifle is over a month. Bow season stops when gun season opens. I'm not seeing an issue with much of this. At least with 19 days the whole friiggen state might not shut down......
First they tell us we have way to many deer, then they decide they want to only let crossbow hunters hunt in October. In Buffalo County I know many guys that shot there bucks earlier in October that went out and shot doe's in November for herd management. Myself included! These regulations are ridiculous.
Great points Marcus! Well these regulations aren't for the serious folks, that's for sure. Largely trying to bring along the folks and pacify the folks that are not completely engages already. Not all...but mostly.
I think about every state had a lower kill this year, in WV our numbers were down 17% during the 2 week rifle season. Some attribute it to a heavy oak mast and a later season than normal. I personally don't have an answer for the low numbers but I do know that most hunters I know didn't see many deer. I personally saw plenty of does and yearling bucks but never a shooter. My state has a 3 buck season limit and no antler limitations which doesn't help things. I believe most of the regulation changes that have been introduced over the past decade have come about more to encourage license sales and disregarded common sense, which I'm sure is probably a driving factor in most states. I like that buck at 7:06, nice kickers on the G2's.
Here in Michigan it has been proposed to move the November 15th opener to November 5th.
Just another bad management decision by people that don't get it. I hunt in NW Wi and all they want to do is reduce numbers (basically unlimited doe tags in a region where deer numbers are next to nothing). Catering to one type of hunting over another isn't going to solve anything. You can continue rifle hunting with your muzzle loader for the week after the "rifle" season is closed. My dad is 79 and loves to hunt with his crossbow in November, really October only. What next gun hunting only areas on public ground? The people in Madison don't get it!!!!
Amen Mark...love all of your comments! If we leave the management to Mad town politicians...we are in big, big trouble.
MN rifle hunter here. I would be angry if I couldn't hunt the rut. Bow hunters get the pre-rut which is the best time to hunt bucks. I would support a minimum size (at least four on one side) restriction. Farmers crops are significantly damaged by deer that they feed. Telling them they can't fill their freezer is wrong.