Hunting Utopia – Wisconsin Deer Hunting

When I moved to Wisconsin from North Carolina in June of 2000. I was excited about the opportunity to go deer hunting. My father in-law and brother in-law both had long traditions of going out the weekend before thanksgiving with the intent of harvesting a huge Wisconsin buck.

I did not own a rifle so I borrowed my father in-law’s 308 and took to the woods. I shot a small 5-point buck. I was hooked. In those days when you bought a deer license you got a buck tag. If you wanted a chance to take a doe you needed to apply for a choice permit. A few years went by and I wanted more chances to bag that big Wisconsin buck. So I started bow hunting.

I met a few local guys playing softball in a local beer league that owned a few acres of private land that was accessible for bow hunting. I harvested a small buck every year. I never really had a chance to bag that huge Buck.

With seasons coming and going the Wisconsin DNR made doe permits more readily available. They made some deer management units T-Zone units. This meant there were special doe only hunts twice a year. At first I thought this was just a chance to spend more time in the woods. But a few years later when T-Zone units turned into Herd Control Units more and more does were taken.

The measures the DNR took to control the herd depleted one of Wisconsin’s most desired resources. I was finally able to harvest a mature 10-point buck with my bow in 2007. But the last two years my deer sightings were way down.

Deer hunting brings in a lot of money into Wisconsin. Not only by selling licenses. Buying guns, ammo, gear, lodging and food brings in millions to the local economy that struggles up north. I hope the DNR makes a change. If they don’t everyone will suffer.

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