Wisconsin deer hunters gear up for 2011 season

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The 2011 gun deer season opens on Nov. 19 and barring bad weather, wildlife officials say all the pieces are in place for a successful season.

While portions of the state (96 deer management units) are included in Herd Control or CWD seasons that allow for additional harvest to curtail growth, 38 deer management units (DMUs) will have limited or no antlerless harvest to regulate or allow for herd growth, under the 2011 deer season structure.

This year, eight DMUs in the northern forest will have buck-only hunting during the archery and gun deer seasons. Some exceptions may apply to qualified members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are home on furlough or leave, Class A and C disabled permit hunters and youth ages 10 through 17 who have an unused any DMU antlerless tag (see 2011 Deer Hunting Regulations booklet for details. The Dec. 8-11 antlerless-only hunt will still be held statewide; however, in the eight units where zero antlerless tags are available, only hunters who qualify under the exceptions listed above will be eligible to hunt.

New in 2011, youth hunters ages 10 through 17 who purchase a firearm deer license will automatically be issued an antlerless permit that can be used with gun or bow in any DMU statewide.

The elimination of earn-a-buck outside of the CWD management zone in 2009 allowed hunters to take bucks and pass on antlerless deer.

Hunters are reminded that coyote hunting is closed in approximately the northern third of the state if any gun or muzzleloader deer hunt is in progress. See the 2011 Wisconsin Deer Hunting or Small Game Regulations for the southern boundary of the closed area. As with all hunting seasons, hunters are reminded to be absolutely sure of their target before they shoot.

Regular units deer populations are at or near goal in these deer management units. For the 2011 season, most regular units will have a limited number of unit-specific antlerless deer carcass tags available.

Hunters may purchase one antlerless tag per day. Fees are $12 each for residents and $20 each for non-residents. Units with lower numbers of available permits can be expected to sell out quickly. The supply of available permits in units with high numbers can be expected to last longer. Hunters may want to monitor permit availability online which is updated periodically. Hunters must purchase a 2011 Wisconsin deer hunting license before purchasing a unit-specific antlerless tag. Licenses and tags can also be purchased by phone (1-877-945-4236) or at the DNR Online Licensing Center.

Eight Regular units will not have any unit-specific antlerless tags available in 2011: DMUs 3, 7, 29B, 34, 35, 39, 44 and 45. These units are below deer population goals.

Tags: outdoors, hunting, wisconsin