WILD THINGS: Deer Hunt Off To A Fast Start

One of the first wild plants to color up in fall is the staghorn sumac, a native shrub or tree that forms thickets via self-seeding and root suckering. Photo by Kevin Naze.

One hundred seasons ago, in 1924, deer hunters using their favorite firearms tagged about 7,000 whitetails in the entire state of Wisconsin.

In the past three decades, Door and Kewaunee County hunters alone have often combined to surpass that number.

Further evidence in how much things have changed: by the end of this weekend, it’s possible that state archers and crossbow hunters will have tallied more than 7,000 deer; they were at 3,745 through the first three days of the 2023 hunt, which began Saturday.

Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Deer Program Specialist Jeff Pritzl, said the 1,645 bucks and 2,100 antlerless deer reported after opening weekend was a significant increase over last year’s start.

The buck harvest was up eight percent, while the antlerless kill was up 18%.

Statewide, there were 1,049 bucks and 1,101 antlerless (2,150) electronically registered by crossbow users, and 596 bucks and 999 antlerless (1,595) by vertical bow shooters.

Kewaunee County was one of the few where archers reported more deer than crossbow users, 17-12. A total of 11 bucks and 18 antlerless deer were registered there.

Eleven bucks and 22 antlerless were registered in Door County, with 19 of the 33 deer taken with crossbows. Brown County had 22 bucks and 22 antlerless, with crossbows outpacing vertical bow harvests 23-21. 

Of the 3,745 total, Central Farmland hunters shot 2,426 deer. The Southern Farmland zone produced 633; the Northern Forest, 569; and the Central Forest, 117.

Top counties in the state were Marathon (165), Marinette (155), Waupaca (152), Shawano (148), Waushara (140) and Oconto (137). The lowest numbers statewide were reported in Iron and Milwaukee counties, with one deer each; Kenosha two; and Ashland and Racine each 10. 

Duck hunt to open

The youth waterfowl weekend was a big success for many area kids and their mentors, with both ducks and geese active in most areas.

Next up is the Northern Zone opener Sept. 23, followed by our Southern Zone opener Sept. 30. The split season in our zone runs Sept. 30 to Oct. 8 and Oct. 14 to Dec. 3. Finally, the Open Water Zone runs Oct. 14-Dec. 12.

This year’s daily bag limit is six ducks, to include no more than five mergansers (two can be hooded); four mallards (two can be hens); three wood ducks; two redheads; two black ducks; two canvasbacks; and one pintail. The daily scaup (a diving duck) limit in the Southern Zone is one per day through Oct. 8, and again Oct. 14-19, then two per day the rest of the season.  

In the Open Water Zone, two scaup can be taken daily through Nov. 27, then one per day the rest of the season.

The bow deer, black bear, wild turkey, gray and fox squirrel, Northern Zone cottontail, Zone A ruffed grouse, and regular Canada goose hunts are ongoing, 

This year’s youth gun deer hunt is Oct. 7-8, and the pheasant season opens at 9 am on Oct. 14.

Deer Processing

If you’ve never processed your own deer and want to learn how, the DNR is hosting a workshop on Oct. 7 at Peninsula State Park with a step-by-step demonstration. 

Participants should come prepared to help skin, quarter, cut, trim and package venison. All supplies will be provided, and participants will be able to take some venison home.

The workshop is limited to 15 participants. Learn more, and sign up via a link, at dnr.wisconsin.gov/events/81071. 

More tutorials are available on the Wisconsin DNR’s Youtube page, including a deer processing guide. Part 1 is available at youtube.com/watch?v=MtAhwjk3uMo and part 2 at youtube.com/watch?v=trMEALQVBPE.

Salmon Run is On

Low flows from lack of rain have kept many of the spawn-minded Chinook salmon swimming in the lake, harbors, Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal or lower-to-middle stretches of the rivers and bays while they await better conditions. 

The next significant rain – an inch or more is ideal – should trigger a run farther up the Ahnapee, and at least to the refuge area off of Strawberry Creek.

Once the pumps are turned on at the Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility (typically around Oct. 1), action at the viewing windows west of Kewaunee will heat up.

This year’s Department of Natural Resources Open House at Besadny is set for 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday, Oct. 7. 

There will be wagon rides, guided tours, Adopt-A-Sturgeon opportunities, games, displays, demonstrations, fish art T-shirt printing, and food and beverages available for purchase.

Never been there? The facility is located at N3884 Ransom Moore Lane, Kewaunee.

Water Levels Dropping

Green Bay and Lake Michigan water levels have dropped two inches in the past month and are three inches lower than they were last September. Water levels are down more than 30 inches since 2020, but are still about five inches above long-term averages. As the lake continues its seasonal decline, levels are expected to drop another three inches by mid-October.