Please Make Your Voice Heard Today!

We urgently need your help.  Recently, the Department of Natural Resources asked the Natural Resources Board to bring back the October antlerless deer season (T-Zone) and the Earn-A-Buck program.  Wisconsin has a Constitutional Amendment set up to protect the right of the tradition of hunting, this right is subject to “reasonable” regulations.  There have been a number of public votes at the Annual Meetings of the Conservation Congress that have supported the belief that T-Zone and EAB are considered unreasonable.

T-Zone and EAB have not been proven effective and inappropriately dictate hunter behavior in the field. They discourage many sportsmen, especially those whose schedules allow them to hunt only a few days a year, from hunting at all.  T-Zone would create a special antlerless-only season in certain areas during October.  EAB would require hunters to harvest a doe before taking a buck.  At a time when hunter numbers are declining, the state should be seeking ways to recruit and retain hunters, not discourage them from entering the field.

You must act quickly.  There will be a meeting of the Conservation Congress in every county in Wisconsin on Monday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m.  To find the location in your county, please call (608) 266-0580 or go to: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/nrboard/congress.

It is important that when you show up to Monday’s meeting, that you cut-and-paste the following information into a word processor, fill out the necessary information including your county and signature, and bring 2 copies of the resolution to the hearing.

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Wisconsin’s deer hunting heritage and tradition is protected by a Constitutional Right to hunt, limited only by Reasonable restriction.

Deer hunting is more than killing deer.  To many, the traditional deer season and hunting with family and friends was the most important social event of the year. Unreasonable changes imposed by DNR the last several years have negatively impacted many hunting traditions.

October gun seasons and especially Earn-A-Buck have alienated hunters across the state, yet do little to solve the problem of deer densities on private land. Those fortunate enough to hunt private land, can control harvest and October hunting pressure, providing an obvious advantage to earn bucks.  Those less fortunate, hunting public land over-harvested due to these regulations, are being denied the right to hunt bucks.  Six years of these Unreasonable regulations, in the CWD management zones, have lead to the lowest hunter densities in decades causing deer populations to explode.

Whereas, in 2000 without Earn-A-Buck, Wisconsin established the national record harvest simply by providing hunters two free antlerless tags.

Whereas, in 2005 at the Conservation Congress Annual Meetings the public rejected October hunts and Earn-A-Buck as Unreasonable restrictions with overwhelming support of Question #44.

Whereas, in 2007 without October seasons, hunters harvested antlerless deer at a 2:1 ratio statewide, the second all time harvest, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, the Conservation Congress at its annual meeting held in ____________________ County on April 14, 2008, recommends the Natural Resources Board take action to eliminate October antlerless hunts and Earn-A-Buck statewide.

Name:    __________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________

               ___________________________________________________

County:  __________________ Telephone: (        ) _________________

Signature: __________________________________________________   

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This effort needs to be fought on two fronts simultaneously.  The Conservation Congress reports back to the Natural Resources Board who make the final determination.  It is important that your voice be heard by both groups.  Your help in this issue is vital to the future of deer hunting in Wisconsin.  Please help us eliminate T-Zones and Earn-A-Buck in Wisconsin. 

If you cannot attend Monday’s meeting, please cut-and-paste only the document below and mail it to the Natural Resources Board by Friday, April 18 or fax it by Monday, April 21 to 608-266-6983.

Natural Resources Board
101 S. Webster St. PO Box 7921
Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7921

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Resolution to Restore Traditional Deer Seasons

In Wisconsin, the deer hunting heritage and tradition have very deep roots.  This hunting culture is so ingrained in our society that the right to hunt with reasonable regulation is protected by our state constitution.

Deer hunting is more than just killing deer.  To many, the traditional deer season and the ability to hunt with family and friends is the most important social event of the year. Unreasonable changes imposed by the DNR to the deer seasons over the last several years have negatively impacted many hunting traditions.

October gun seasons and especially Earn-A-Buck have alienated hunters across the state, yet have done little to solve the problem of deer densities on private land. Those fortunate enough to hunt private land can control October hunting pressure providing them greater opportunity to earn their buck. However, those less fortunate, hunting public land that has been over-harvested for years are being denied the right and opportunity to hunt bucks.  Years of these unreasonable regulations on hunters in the CWD management zones have resulted in the lowest hunter densities in decades causing deer populations to explode.

Whereas, in 2000 the national record deer harvest was achieved in Wisconsin without Earn-A-Buck by providing two free antlerless tags.

Whereas, in 2005 the public overwhelmingly rejected October hunts and Earn-A-Buck as unreasonable regulations to their right to hunt with overwhelming support of Question #44 at the Annual Conservation Congress County Meetings.

Whereas, in 2007 hunters harvested antlerless deer at a 2:1 ratio statewide without October seasons, resulting in the second all time harvest, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, _______________________________________ in the County of
                                               ^{(Individual, group or business)}
_______________________________ on _________________, 2008, recommends the Natural Resources Board reject the DNR 2008 deer season recommendations and return to the Traditional Gun and Archery seasons statewide without October antlerless hunts or Earn-A-Buck.

___________________________          _________________________

                       ^{(Individual or officer)                                                                     (Title)}

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