WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ) – Hundreds of hunters attending a meeting at Waupaca High School Tuesday to hear about next fall’s deer hunt.
“I just bought 120 acres here a year ago for hunting. I’m wasting my time,” John Blosenski of Waupaca said, according to FOX 11.
Blosenski was one of many hunters protesting the recommended antlerless only hunt.
He says hunting bucks is a top priority for many, “It’s important to me. I keep wanting to get one bigger than I have, you know? If it’s a nice eight-pointer or something, I’ll take it.”
At the end of the hearing, members of the Waupaca County Deer Advisory Council voted against recommending an antlerless only deer hunt.
DNR wildlife supervisor Jeff Pritzl tells FOX 11 that the deer herd is becoming a problem in Waupaca County.
“We’ve got deer productivity that requires a significant antlerless harvest just to keep up with that antlerless herd growth,” Pritzl explained.
Pritzl says statistics from past years’ hunts show hunters are not taking in enough antlerless deer, “Those season frameworks are not likely to achieve an adequate antlerless harvest. So the proposal that’s available that probably would is an antlerless only season.”
But Blosenski says he’s worried if there’s an antlerless only hunt too many does might be taken.
“We have too many predators as it is. We have deer, we have coyote, we have CWD, we have car kill and we have people killing does,” said Blosenski.
The final decision is in the hands of Wisconsin’s Natural Resources Board.
“They will make a final determination on the 2016 fall deer seasons based on the input they got from each of the counties’ advisory councils,” Pritzl said.
The Natural Resources Board will make that decision during their meeting in May.
