Off the Publisher’s Desk 9-18-2024
Hunting season is now open!
The annual hunting season is now upon us with the opening of the archery and crossbow deer hunting season this past Saturday and the Canada goose season opened on Monday, September 16th, and the regular duck season opens on September 21 for the northern zone and the 28th for the southern zone.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) noted, “The early archery and crossbow seasons are great opportunities for hunters to harvest antlerless deer before they change their patterns and experience additional hunting pressure during the gun deer season.”
The DNR stresses to hunt safely just like the gun season and they offered these tips when using a tree stand including “always wear a safety harness in a tree stand, use three points of contact when going into or out of the stand, use a haul line to bring the unloaded bow or crossbow into the stand, let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return and operate and ATV or UTV soberly and responsibly.”
For those who like goose hunting, the season opened on September 16 and runs until December 16th in the Northern Zone and the southern and Mississippi zones have a varied opening and closing dates with opening being on September 16 with varying closing dates. Hunters should check regulations for the season structure.
Duck hunters also will have a varied opening date through out the state and hunters should check the regulations for the date in the area in which they will be hunting. The daily bag limit for ducks statewide is six ducks, including no more than four mallards, of which two may be hens, three wood ducks, two black ducks, two redheads, two canvasbacks and one pintail.
According to the DNR “Licenses and stamps required for duck hunting include a Wisconsin small game license, a Wisconsin waterfowl stamp and a federal migratory stamp. The federal duck stamp cost $25.00 and can be purchased at a U. S. Post Office or at a DNR licenses vender for an additional $3.50 surcharge. The purchase will be noted on their license, but the stamp will arrive in the mail later.”
The DNR also released information on the Harvest Information program and the Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
“Waterfowl and other migratory bird hunters must register each year with the federal Harvest Information Program and may receive a survey regarding their harvests.”
According the DNR, “Waterfowl can be infected with the avian influenza virus without showing signs of disease. The DNR recommends the following precautionary measures:
Avoid handling sick or found dead birds.
Prevent dogs from contacting sick or found dead birds.
Wear rubber gloves when handling game.
Field dress in ventilated areas.
Always wash hands and equipment thoroughly with soap and water.”
The DNR further stats, “This strain of HPAI has not been shown to pose a food safety risk. However, hunters should always ensure proper handling of game meat and harvest birds should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F. Do not let hunting dogs consume any raw game meat or found dead birds.”
More information on waterfowl hunting, including how to find places to hunt, Learn To Hunt opportunities and regulations, can be found on the DNR’s Waterfowl Hunting webpage.
The DNR says; “Hunt Smart and Safe.” And if you bag that big buck, stop by the Tribune Office so we can take a picture of you and your trophy.
With all those rules and regs, I think I will be eating chicken.
Thanks for reading! ~Carlton