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MADISON – Wisconsin deer hunters shot 200,206 white-tailed deer during the opening weekend of the 2000 gun deer hunting over the Nov. 18-19 weekend, according to preliminary numbers compiled from registration stations by Department of Natural Resources wildlife managers.
The total set a new opening weekend record and was up 8 percent from 1999 when hunters shot 184,347 deer opening weekend.
Wildlife managers credited near perfect deer hunting conditions in most areas of the state with helping hunter success.
"Cool but not to cold, not much wind, a little tracking snow, bright and with the rut still in progress," was how DNR chief deer and bear ecologist, Bill Mytton summed up the hunt in his home area. "All the elements really came together, to produce what I’d call the best opener in years."
DNR staff working registration and deer aging stations across the state reported, in general, hunters were extremely satisfied with the conditions, especially the snowcover, which ranged from just a dusting in the south to nearly a foot in some places in the north. The Cold temperatures and snowcover provided a sharp contrast to the past two deer season openers when temperatures were unseasonably warm.
"It was like an old-fashioned deer season," said Dave Matheys, DNR wildlife manager, who reported steady business at the registration station at the Viroqua Fire Department.
Twelve hunting accidents, including one fatality, were reported over the opening weekend according to hunter safety coordinator Tim Lawhern. The fatal accident occurred in Burnett County and is still under investigation.
Lawhern said that the total number of accidents was lower than the historical average of 15. The types of firearms used and the situations in which these accidents occurred mirror the statistics.
"Deer drives continue to be a significant factor in deer hunting accidents," Lawhern said. He stressed that hunters must take greater care in planning each deer drive and points out that shooting at running deer takes great skill to accomplish with any degree of success and generally should be avoided all together.
Through midnight Nov. 17, license vendors had sold 694,111 gun hunting licenses, the second highest total in history. The record number of 699,275 was sold in 1990. Around noon on Friday, the last day to buy a license, statewide sales transactions were averaging 80 per minute.
Wildlife managers across the state are hoping for a successful hunt in 2000-2001 to trim a state record herd estimated at 1.7 million animals. Two additional antlerless only hunts were established this year to concentrate on the female segment of the state’s deer herd in order to slow reproductive rates. Hunters registered a harvest in excess of 67,000 antlerless deer in the first of the special hunts Oct. 26-29. A second Zone T hunt will be held Dec. 7-10.
Mytton said that despite good harvest numbers opening weekend, wildlife managers hoped hunters would continue to hunt using the free antlerless deer tags they received with their license in order to help bring the statewide deer herd closer to population goals.
Hunters can donate antlerless deer to participating meat processors who will distribute the venison to charitable food pantries throughout Wisconsin. Processing costs are being paid from Wisconsin^s Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program which is funded by hunter dollars.
Hunters can get a list of participating meat processors from the DNR website. Hunters should call processors first to confirm they have space to accept donated deer before dropping off venison. Hunters must also drop off the entire field dressed deer in order to qualify for the cost-free processing.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Mytton (608) 266-2194
Uploaded: 11/25/2000
Uploaded: 11/25/2000