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Wisconsin Wolves Eat Black Bear

January 7, 2016 by Charlie 7 Comments

The wolves in Wisconsin must be elevated to game animal status in order to prevent them from being viewed as just pests.

The following is a Wisconsin bear hunting story written my friend at Willowridge Calls. This is the first time I’ve heard of wolves eating a large adult black bear. Usually wolves stay well away from bears. There are many reports from hunters regarding their encounters with aggressive wolves and coyotes during the 2015 hunting seasons. Not all want to share their stories because some of the anti wolf hunting/trapping people will harass them and in some cases threaten violence.

I spent most of my fall up north at the cabin Bear hunting. I did all my own baiting and placing stands. I had two good baits that were being hit twice a day by big bears, and lots of sows with cubs. They were hitting the baits at noon and 7pm. I hunted with my crossbow this year. I finally got a big bore that came in at 5pm and he gave me a good clean shot. I drove an arrow in him just behind his front leg and off he went towards the marsh. I gave him 30 minutes, then got down and went to the truck to get my shotgun/slugs for trailing, I had my sidearm on me just in case a sow got to close in the tree. I picked up the blood trail and followed it about 100 yds. and heard growling ahead of me. I hesitated a bit just to be safe, the brush was so thick you could only see about 60 yds. at best. As I waited 5 wolves stepped out of the brush and stood facing me then 3 more showed up. Two went to my left and one to my right. The two on my left kept getting closer when they got to about 30 yds. I fired a few rounds at them with my 357. They backed off about 25 yds. then started coming towards me again, the other wolves just stood watching. I backed off and out. Two wolves I could handle, but 8 would of been trouble. The lone wolf to my right followed me all the way back to the truck, and watched me leave. I went back in the next morning to see how bad they ate my bear; but they were still there feeding on it. I never did get to lay a hand on my bear. That was the last bear that gave me a shot so I ate tag soup on the bear.

That’s the problem up there in that area of northern WI. The wolf packs are getting so big that they are starving themselves because there is so little for them to feed on anymore. I had that bait set out the 4th of July and had cameras on it, got quite a few wolf pics on the bait. The time I spent sitting on that bait I saw a total of 27 different wolves around that bait, I’d see 3-5 usually, but 3 days before I shot that bear there was a pack of 11 that came through. Usually they would send in one wolf to the bait to see what scent they could pick up, if there was a scent of a sow with cubs they would follow it off through the woods. The people up there are screaming about the wolves. The other bear hunters I talked with that ran bear dogs, said they couldn’t run a bait more that once a week and not more that 3 times a season, because the wolves would lay in wait for them to turn the dogs loose and attack their dogs on trail. Even some of the home owners won’t let their little kids wait for the school bus at the end of their driveways anymore because the wolves would come on to their front yards and watch the kids run to the bus. One of the TV bow hunting shows had shot a big buck and the wolves got that before they found it. They warn all the hikers and skiers that use the trails up there to make sure you’re armed before entering the woods. Even when I let my dogs out to go I followed them out with my sidearm because wolves wait in my driveway some days, it doesn’t take them long to learn what times you let your pets out.

I could have shot both those wolves that came at me, but I didn’t want to have an issue with the feds, as long as they backed off and didn’t come at me as fast as they did the first time, if they would have I’d have had to drop them both. That’s why I backed off, being alone with no one around for back-up with 8 wolves is too risky. With having 3 attacks reported this year, and a lot of others that had wolves circling bow hunters in their stands, it’s gonna get worst before it gets better. I had posted my story on Facebook on the Wisconsin Wolf Hunters page there was a lot of reports of the same problem with other hunter in northern WI.

By Willowridge

Perhaps 2016 will be your lucky year.

Take The Wisconsin Slam Challenge

December 28, 2015 by Charlie Leave a Comment

There’s no better place to hunt turkeys

Vic, my turkey dog, a Vizsla (member of the pointer group), and I begin our fall hunting adventure together, typically setting up where Vic scattered a flock of turkeys. Vic lays next to my left leg with the look of happiness only a dog can express at a glance. As the scattered turkeys start their lost “kee kee” whistles looking to find each other in order to regroup, we know that’s my cue to start lost yelping and assembly calling. In the case of scattered gobblers, coarse yelps, and aggressive purrs can bring them back into the gun.

The woods is filled with turkey calls. Vic the turkey dog can't understand why we're waiting.

The woods are filled with turkey calls and Vic, the turkey dog, can’t understand why we’re waiting.

I love it when the woodlands are filled with the sounds of turkeys whistling and yelping at each other and back at us. Vic and I then become part of the flock, talking back and forth. As the conversation continues, Vic stiffens on a laying point towards the direction of the approaching turkeys. My gun will be up at the ready. There are two tags in my pocket and with a couple of gunshots, I’ll be hoping to validate those.

Turkeys are not just another upland bird to be flushed and shot. You can certainly do that; it’s legal. However, to a traditional turkey hunter like me, turkeys are special birds that require more finesse to tag. After all, what other upland game bird can be called in?

And there is no better place to hunt turkeys than in Wisconsin. The combination of seasons, habitat and the fact I can take my dog along in the fall make it turkey hunting heaven.

Summer gobbler Vic’s first hunt. Beginner’s luck?

The Wisconsin Slam

Summer turkey? Wait you can’t shoot turkeys in the summer. There is only a spring and fall season, right?

Most think of Wisconsin’s two turkey seasons; spring (April 15 to May 26) and Fall (Sept. 12 to Dec. 31 — closes during nine-day gun deer season then reopens at the end of deer season).

But if you check the calendar, the fall turkey season dates overlap the official calendar dates of summer and winter. Summer officially runs June 21 to Sept. 22 allowing one to bag a summer turkey in the fall season, and winter officially starts on Dec. 22 giving Wisconsin fall turkey hunters a 10-day opportunity to shoot a “winter” turkey.

It was about eight years ago when it dawned on me that Wisconsin hunters can shoot a turkey during each of the four calendar-based seasons of the year: spring, summer, fall and winter.

Think of it as “The Wisconsin Slam” — taking a turkey in each of the seasons. Who do you know who has accomplished this? No trophies are awarded, and there is no official recognition. It’s all about the personal satisfaction a turkey hunter who understands turkeys and their year round behavior gets from this distinction.

Bar none; Wisconsin is a unique stand-alone wild turkey hunting state offering thousands of tags over the counter that in some units do not sell out by season’s end.

Why pursue a Wisconsin Slam?

The Wisconsin Slam is fun motivation to get out turkey hunting during a time when you might be distracted by something else to do or hunt. The “summer” and “winter” turkeys are harder to bag and offer a fun challenge. The vegetation is thick in the summer making the turkeys harder to find and see. Winter season is the opposite — there is no vegetation, so the turkeys are easier to find, but that means it is also easier for the turkeys to see the hunter and his dog.

Being able to hunt in all seasons of the year is a uniquely Wisconsin hunting opportunity that so many hunters are overlooking. The spring season is the most popular but I’d like to see more hunters take advantage of hunting turkeys during the four seasons of the year. Need more incentive? Summer, fall and winter turkeys are more tender and taste much better than the spring gobblers who are the survivors of winter starvation.

Extend the season winter turkey hunting with your dog

Not only can you complete a Wisconsin Slam but the state offers a variety hunting flavors.

Want to chase turkeys in miles of forests? Head to the northern big-woods. Want to try mountain turkey hunting? Wisconsin doesn’t have any “real” mountains but western Wisconsin does have some mighty steep bluffs. Marshland and river bottoms across the state can provide hunting with the feel of southern swamp turkeys, minus the large reptiles. Don’t forget to try southern Wisconsin for some prairie turkey hunting.

I’d argue that no other state offers such a myriad of turkey hunting opportunities.

Another important dimension to Wisconsin’s wild turkey hunting happened when turkey dogs were legalized for the fall turkey hunt season starting in 2011. It is widely believed hunting turkeys with dogs is a new method; however, turkey dogs in North America are one of the original turkey hunting practices which date back to the founding of Jamestown in 1607. A small contingent of turkey hunters are now bringing the sport of turkey dogging back.

In spring, gobblers advertise their location by gobbling. In fall, this is not normally the case which makes finding the turkeys more challenging. Thus, a turkey dog comes in handy during the fall season. A turkey dog’s job is to find the turkey flocks then flush them in different directions while barking or yipping to let his master know where the action is. When turkeys scatter in different directions, it is easier for the hunter to call the turkeys back together while setup with their dog at the point of the break.

Hunting with a dog in the fall brings the excitement that makes spring hunting seem tame by comparison. When turkeys respond for gathering they do so with gusto, gobbling, purring, kee kees, yelps — you name the call, and they do it. Many times a group of gobblers will not only gobble and purr they’ll fight with each other as they come back.

Turkey dogging also extends the time of contact and interaction with wild turkeys. The first contact is when the dog is flushing or breaking up the turkey flock this is particularly rewarding for the hunter who enjoys the flush of wild birds. The second contact occurs when the turkey answers your call. Yes, turkeys talk to you. Then of course, hopefully, the interaction brings the turkeys in close to you and your dog. A trembling dog close by your side adds to the excitement of the incoming birds as you know you have trained this dog with the skills required. It’s fun to share the excitement, and there’s no better place to do it than in Wisconsin.

After breaking up a flock, Vic sets up with anticipation of the turkeys reappearing.

Wisconsin’s turkey management plan

Wisconsin Turkey Management Plan

The Wisconsin Wild Turkey Management Plan, a product of coordination between the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, key stakeholder groups, and the public, is available on the department’s website.

People can view an electronic copy of the plan by searching the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, for keywords “turkey management.”

The Wild Turkey Management Plan will guide decisions regarding the allocation of turkey permits, the structure of our spring and fall hunting seasons, the use of Wild Turkey Stamp funds, and many other aspects of turkey management in the state through 2025. The current plan reflects recent scientific research and changes in turkey distribution and hunting tradition. The management plan was guided in part by input received at 12 meetings held statewide in April and May 2012, as well as an online survey available during the same time period.

Article appeared in the Wisconsin Resource Magazine in August 2015. Written by charlie elk.

Wild Turkey Donation Bill

July 3, 2015 by Charlie Leave a Comment

As turkey hunters are all to aware- Turkeys do not share our dinner plans.

OK I have to admit this law change caught me by surprise mainly because I had no idea that it was not legal to donate wild turkey meat. A hunter can not sell the meat. Thanks to 2015 Wisconsin Act 31 and AB107 wild turkey are now the same value as deer.

It was legal to donate a wild turkey to whomever a hunter desired to give it to. What’s changed is the payment to the processor of the turkey. If a county decides to operate a donation program and pay for all the processing they’ll be reimbursed by the state.

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources administers a program to reimburse eligible counties for the costs incurred in processing and donating venison from certain deer (venison donation program). To be eligible for participation in the venison donation program, the county must accept deer carcasses for processing, it must pay the costs of the processing, and it must make reasonable efforts to donate the venison to a food distribution service or a charitable organization. Another eligibility requirement is that the county must participate in the wildlife damage abatement program and the wildlife damage claim program (wildlife damage programs). The wildlife damage programs reimburse a county for certain costs incurred for providing abatement assistance or for paying damage claims with respect to wildlife damage that occurs in the county. The venison donation program is funded in part by a wildlife damage surcharge on, and by voluntary contributions paid by persons who purchase, certain hunting approvals.

This bill expands the venison donation program to include wild turkey. Under the bill, a county is eligible to receive reimbursement for the costs incurred in processing and donating wild turkey, as well as the costs incurred in processing and donating venison, if the county accepts deer or wild turkey carcasses for processing and meets the other eligibility requirements for participation in the program.

Wisconsin Spring 2015 Wild Turkey Harvest Statistics

June 26, 2015 by Charlie Leave a Comment

2015 Mail Issued Spring Turkey Permits

Zone	Permits Available	Applicants	Period 1	Period 2	Period 3	Period 4	Period 5	Period 6	Total
01	74,646	0	12,442	12,439	8,136	1,836	677	278	35,808
02	45,036	0	7,507	7,512	7,512	7,510	3,026	696	33,763
03	63,018	0	10,505	10,503	6,125	1,433	439	211	29,216
04	34,968	0	5,831	5,829	5,699	1,632	604	274	19,869
05	12,000	0	2,000	2,001	2,002	1,743	326	195	8,267
06	4,500	0	751	750	751	751	749	461	4,213
07	3,600	0	600	600	600	600	570	172	3,142
FM	460	337	75	97	65	33	5	15	290
Total	238,228	337	39,711	39,731	30,890	15,538	6,396	2,302	134,568

2015 Mail Issued Spring Turkey Permits

Zone	Permits Available	Applicants	Period 1	Period 2	Period 3	Period 4	Period 5	Period 6	Total
01	74,646	0	12,442	12,439	8,136	1,836	677	278	35,808
02	45,036	0	7,507	7,512	7,512	7,510	3,026	696	33,763
03	63,018	0	10,505	10,503	6,125	1,433	439	211	29,216
04	34,968	0	5,831	5,829	5,699	1,632	604	274	19,869
05	12,000	0	2,000	2,001	2,002	1,743	326	195	8,267
06	4,500	0	751	750	751	751	749	461	4,213
07	3,600	0	600	600	600	600	570	172	3,142
FM	460	337	75	97	65	33	5	15	290
Total	238,228	337	39,711	39,731	30,890	15,538	6,396	2,302	134,568

2015 Spring Turkey “Over-the-Counter” Permits

Zone Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Period 4 Period 5 Period 6							Total
01			4,305	10,606	7,714	2,597	25,222
02					4,484	6,808	11,292
03			4,374	9,069	5,458	1,946	20,847
04			130	4,190	5,225	2,313	11,858
05				256	1,673	1,805	3,734
06						288	288
07					13	428	441
FM							0
Total	0	0	8,809	24,121	24,567	16,185	73,682

			2015 Spring Turkey Total Permits
Zone	Permits Available	Applicants	Period 1	Period 2	Period 3	Period 4	Period 5	Period 6	Total
01	74,646	0	12,442	12,439	12,441	12,442	8,391	2,875	61,030
02	45,036	0	7,507	7,512	7,512	7,510	7,510	7,504	45,055
03	63,018	0	10,505	10,503	10,499	10,502	5,897	2,157	50,063
04	34,968	0	5,831	5,829	5,829	5,822	5,829	2,587	31,727
05	12,000	0	2,000	2,001	2,002	1,999	1,999	2,000	12,001
06	4,500	0	751	750	751	751	749	749	4,501
07	3,600	0	600	600	600	600	583	600	3,583
FM	460	337	75	97	65	33	5	15	290
Total	238,228	337	39,711	39,731	39,699	39,659	30,963	18,487	208,250

			2015 Spring Turkey Harvest
Zone	A	B	C D	E	F	LTH	Youth	Total
01	3,064	2,233	2,064 1,729	1,169	553	43	703	11,558
02	2,083	1,861	1,586 1,406	1,445	1,103	108	752	10,344
03	2,695	2,097	1,806 1,370	846	415	53	678	9,960
04	1,389	1,074	867 945	701	376	20	409	5,781
05	488	402	309 246	277	164	19	118	2,023
06	178	163	106 71	64	73	3	59	717
07	127	117	97 67	37	42	2	29	518
FM	23	20	11 9	1	7	0	2	73
Unks						3		30
Total	10,047	7,967	6,846 5,843 4,540 2,733			251	2,750	40,977


Z	A	B	C D	E	F	LTH	Youth	Total
01	3,064	2,233	2,064 1,729	1,169	553	43	703	11,558
02	2,083	1,861	1,586 1,406	1,445	1,103	108	752	10,344
03	2,695	2,097	1,806 1,370	846	415	53	678	9,960
04	1,389	1,074	867 945	701		20	409	5,781
05	488	402	309 246	277	164	19	118	2,023
06	178	163	106 71	64	73	3	59	717
07	127	117	97 67	37	42	2	29	518
FM	23	20	11 9	1	7	0	2	73
Unks						3		30
Total	10,047	7,967	6,846 5,843 4,540 2,733			251	2,750	40,977

		2015 Spring Turkey Success Rates
Zone	A	B	C	D	E	F	Total
01	25%	18%	17%	14%	14%	19%	18.9%
02	28%	25%	21%	19%	19%	15%	23.0%
03	26%	20%	17%	13%	14%	19%	19.9%
04	24%	18%	15%	16%	12%	15%	18.2%
05	24%	20%	15%	12%	14%	8%	16.9%
06	24%	22%	14%	9%	9%	10%	15.9%
07	21%	20%	16%	11%	6%	7%	14.5%
FM	31%	21%	17%	27%	20%	47%	25.2%
Total	25%	20%	17%	15%	15%	15%	19.7%

2015 LTH and Youth Turkey Harvest					Grand Total43703111752536782040919 118 3 59 2 29 2,999
Zone PeriodLTH1YouthLTH 2YouthLTH 3YouthLTH 4Youth LTH 5 Youth LTH 6 Youth LTH 7 Youth Total:	Female		Male
	Adult1513345— – . . . . 31	Juvenile–2—-2- – . . . . 4	Adult1952769606385461232117 100 3 51 2 24 2,335	Juvenile2317127143111278862 18 . 8 . 5 629

Wisconsin 2015 Spring Turkey Harvest Down 1.29%

May 15, 2015 by Charlie 1 Comment

Wild turkey hunters across Wisconsin continue to enjoy the hunt of 2015. See table below. As of the end of the 4th mini season (D Season), 2015 harvest is down 1.29% from the same period 2014. Unit 4 hunters have experienced a turkey increase of 5.12%, unit 6 & 7 increased 23.6 %, 36%. WDNR cut the permits in these units by 25% in 2014 so with the permit numbers back to normal this year increase was expected.

All other units have decreased harvests. Likely this is due to hunters holding out for a mature gobbler rather than taking a jake. According to hunters, jake numbers are much higher this year, and fewer adult toms are being seen than in 2014.

Preliminary 2015 Spring Turkey Harvest, by Turkey Management Zone, through time period D.
Zone	2015	2014	% change
1	9,732	10,273	-5.56%
2	7,701	7,793	-1.19%
3	8,584	8,916	-3.87%
4	4,645	4,407	5.12%
5	1,565	1,569	-0.26%
6	576	440	23.61%
7	430	275	36.05%
FM	70	59	15.71%

Statewide Summary
	33,303	33,732	-1.29%

Wild turkey hunters across Wisconsin continue to enjoy the hunt of 2015. The weather has been cool and until recently dry. Rains have been moderate setting the stage for excellent nesting conditions. If the weather trend continues to be favorable poult recruitment will be excellent providing for a superb 2015 fall hunt.

Spring 2015 hunters are seeming more jakes than adult gobblers.

Spring 2015 hunters are seeing more jakes than adult gobblers.

Preconceived Notions Hamper Turkey Hunt

March 29, 2015 by Charlie 1 Comment

Are these turkeys laughing or snickering?

A frequently asked question; What is the one most important thing that makes a great turkey hunter?

I can’t speak to the great part, not sure what that exactly means. Great is probably defined differently by each person. Let’s assume great is not a video star; instead, they’re a successful turkey hunter who enjoys the hunt and bags some birds.

For most turkey hunters Preconceived Notions are the number one impediment to killing wild turkeys.

Pick up most any hunting magazine or read online articles this time of year and you’ll find a plethora of expert advice:

About where the turkeys will fly down to,
you must be there early, in the dark.
How they’ll travel certain routes,
respond to individual calls,
Only call once every 20 minutes or whatever period of time the author made up. All of these examples assume turkeys are creatures of habit that show up, fly down and act according to preset rules or as I’ve learned to understand this advice as Preconceived Notions.

When I started turkey hunting, I heard all the advice above and assumed it was correct. After five turkey hunts during which I was out somewhere in the dark woods setup by a preselected tree in an area that should hold roosted turkeys. Only to discover as the sun rose the gobbling turkeys were everywhere I was not. There I would sit making a call every 20 minutes, after all, I surely did not want to make the turkeys call shy. This setup had everything a turkey could want an open slightly elevated strutting area, with drag marks and scratchings all over, and this is a classic example of a preconceived notion. This type of planning and setup works for deer, not usually turkeys.

The turkey hunting light bulb burst on in my head one day when my hunting partner was too sick to leave camp early in the morning. Upon my return to camp, he told me about a hunter who drove into the parking area then just sat there until a turkey gobbled. He slipped out in the turkey’s direction. In short order, there was a shot, and this mystery hunter returned to his truck with a fine gobbler. All of this happened while I was much further away in the dark at a preplanned location. At that point, I was a lifelong deer hunter, and now the epiphany hit. Turkeys are random in action.

The next morning found me on the ridge not far from camp listening with no intention of moving until the gobbling started. When it did, I walked towards that area in the light after the turkeys had flown down. My calls answered almost every sound the turkeys made. Shortly a magnificent strutting turkey appeared. My heart raced, and I forgot to shoot until he was down the ridge out of sight. Those iridescent feathers catching the multi colors of the sunrise mesmerized me, in all my years of hunting I’d never seen a more hypnotically beautiful display. Without more thought, I propped the gun on my knee and called. Nothing, call again, nothing called a lot, not loud just persistent and that Tom reappeared to become my first turkey.

There was no looking back since that time some 33 years ago I have filled a tag during every season. Nowadays some hunting units allow more than one tag, in those cases, I have not always filled all the tags in my pocket but filling just one is perfect ably acceptable.

Some preconceived notions to avoid:

You must be somewhere in the woods before first light. Entering an unknown hunting area in the dark when you have not put a turkey to bed risks bumping the birds off their roosts before a hunter can set up.
Restraining your calling for fear of making turkeys call shy; Experience teaches you when to call how much and at what volume — not an arbitrary rule established in advance of the real-life hunting situation.
Assuming a turkey will only travel through an area one way or that he must pass by a particular spot. Remember turkeys have wings they can and do fly across the water, valleys and from tree to tree. During late season hunts, gobblers have come into my calls using leafed out trees to find the hen/ me on the ground.
Believing turkeys have left the area due to hunting pressure, weather, etc. The turkeys are always there even when they can’t be seen or heard. Turkey dogging has taught me turkeys will lay on the ground unmoving and unseen as a hunter passes by. However, a turkey dog finds those birds, and in the fall I’m shocked at how hard it is to see one laying on the leaf-strewn ground a few feet away.

CWD Infects Bucks Twice the Rate of Does

March 7, 2015 by Charlie Leave a Comment

CWD-infected buck. Courtesy Green Bay Press Gazette

The rate of CWD infection continues to increase in Wisconsin’s deer herd. Whitetail bucks 2.5 years old and up have a higher rate of infection according to the most recent sampling.

Statewide in 2014 5,400 deer were sampled for CWD. 324 deer were found CWD positive mostly in Wisconsin’s southern endemic area this is a 6% infection rate.

The infected deer by age and sex-

25% – adult male white-tailed deer (2.5+ years-old)
8% – yearling males
10% – adult female deer
7% – yearling females

Since the beginning of sampling in 2002 CWD infection have continued to increase mainly among bucks 2.5 years and older. The best hypothesis regarding the spread of CWD is that it is spread via body fluids containing the prion. Many researchers believe this is due to the natural behavior of the adult buck.

Creating and maintaining scrapes,
Licking branches to leave a scent that is then licked by other bucks and some does.
Adult bucks wander a wider geographic area which risks spreading CWD to new areas.

So far, research indicates the best thing to do to contain or at least slow CWD’s progress is reduce the herd density while removing as many 2.5-year-old bucks as possible. The problem with implementing this strategy is hunter opposition. During the last couple of decades, hunters have come to believe they should let small bucks pass in order to grow them up for bigger antlers, referred to as Quality Deer Management (QDM). When CWD was first discovered in Wisconsin, the DNR set in motion a deer extermination policy in the believe they could eliminate all CWD-infected deer in what has become known as the CWD Zone. During this failed effort a system known as Earn a Buck (EAB) was instituted. However, according to the documented infection rates an Earn a Doe (EAD) should have implemented instead. Assuming the infection rates by age and sex above it makes more sense to push down the buck population. A lower population of bucks may keep bucks in the area. When bucks become crowded in an area, some move-out or are pushed out by dominate bucks. Causing a certain number of bucks, some which could be infected to move on and infect new areas.

According to Tami Ryan, DNR wildlife health section chief.

“Long-term monitoring of disease patterns is crucial in understanding the dynamics of this CWD, and it’s also important to make sure we keep the public informed, prevalence continues to increase within the department’s long-term monitoring area in Southwest Wisconsin, and remains higher in males than females and higher in adults than yearlings.”

“The department is very grateful for the cooperation that hunters and landowners have provided over 13 years of sampling, they are helping monitor the health of Wisconsin’s deer herds and providing information that is of interest to many.”

WDNR statements regarding CWD monitoring.

Monitoring efforts also included ongoing surveillance within a 10-mile radius of the each new positive found in 2012 in Juneau, Adams and Portage counties in central Wisconsin. Four additional positives were found in 2013 in Adams and Portage counties, while two additional positives were discovered in Adams County in 2014.

Surveillance was also conducted surrounding a CWD-positive captive deer farm in Marathon County, with no wild CWD deer detected.

Following the 2012 discovery of a CWD-positive adult doe near Shell Lake, 2014 marked the third year of surveillance efforts in Washburn County in Northwest Wisconsin. Following recommendations from a local community action team, local landowners and hunters helped the department sample more than 1,900 deer in the area over the last three years. No new positives have been detected. Based on three years of sampling, all information has indicated CWD is not widespread in the Washburn area, and occurs at a very low prevalence rate.

CWD-infected Doe.
Courtesy WDNR

Turkey and Turkey Hunting Contact Post

February 23, 2015 by Charlie Leave a Comment

Over the years I’ve enjoyed discussing all things turkey with the forum members on Turkey and Turkey Hunting. Unfortunately that forum has all the appearances of a website about to go dark.

For those who would like to stay in contact with charlie elk or willowridge please fill out this contact form.

Real Traditional Bow Shooting

February 18, 2015 by Charlie 1 Comment

Centuries ago master archers were able to perform incredible feats of archery. These skills have long been forgotten probably due to the invention of gun powder. Danish archer Lars Anderson has studied and practiced these long forgotten archery skills. If you have smallest interest in archery this is a must see video.

While watching take notice of smooth speed of shooting while moving with No Quiver – Lars holds all arrows in one hand while shooting. He is right handed but shoots the arrow from the right side of the bow rather than the left.

Perhaps your interest in real traditional archery has be been peaked. For more reading visit The Archery Library Book List to begin your own journey of archery discovery.

About this library

Old archery books still contain a lot of useful information. They are hard to find and often very expensive. This site is dedicated to preserving them by creating an online repository for the benefit of all archers and as a record of passed times of archery.

The library started when the maintainer thought it could be interesting to put some books from his collection online of which the copyright had expired.

The Library is a non-profit site. The proceedings from advertisement go towards purchase of new books and hosting costs.

Wisconsin 2015 Spring Turkey Permit Drawing Completed

January 19, 2015 by Charlie 2 Comments

2016 Drawing Update

January 16, 2015 – Wisconsin has completed and posted the results of spring turkey 2015 permit drawing. Notification cards are being mailed to successful hunters. Turkey hunters can login Wisconsin Online License Center to check the status of their spring turkey application.

103,516 Leftover Spring 2015 Turkey Tags

Remaining permits will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Each zone has a designated sales date starting at 10:00 a.m. and running through midnight each day. These sales will be held for five consecutive days with hunters able to purchase one permit per day. Remaining permits for all zones will go on sale on the sixth day (one permit per day). Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 10 a.m.

The scheduled sales dates are:

•Zone 1 – Monday, March 23

•Zone 2 – Tuesday, March 24

•Zone 3 – Wednesday, March 25

•Zone 4 – Thursday, March 26

•Zone 5 – Friday, March 27

Table of leftover Wisconsin Spring 2015 Permits

Time Periods A April 15-21 B April 22-28 C April 29-May 5 D May 6-12 E May 13-19 F May 20-26

Zone

1 0 0 4304 10,605 11,763 12,163

2 0 0 0 0 4485 6,810

3 0 0 4376 9069 10,063 10,292

4 0 0 128 4196 5225 5,554

5 0 0 0 257 1674 1805

6 0 0 0 0 0 289

7 0 0 0 0 30 428

Ecology of Wild Turkeys in Wisconsin a 2015-2025 Plan for Their Management

January 6, 2015 by Charlie Leave a Comment

Here is the draft of Wisconsin’s new turkey management plan. There is a lot good turkey information included in this document that all turkey hunters and anyone with an interest in wild turkeys should read. You can click the image to download a PDF of the entire plan.

Ecology of Wild Turkeys in Wisconsin

A Plan for Their Management 2015-2025

Click to download all 116 page draft plan

For the most part it appears the current spring season scheme will remain in place for the foreseeable future. A majority of active turkey hunters will be very happy about this. However, those who would like to turkey but do not know their schedule and family commitments months in advance will likely continue nonparticipation. These potential turkey hunters are not surveyed about their thoughts. In a time when hunter recruitment has all the buzz these potential hunter’s opinions are left out.

A few glaring problems regarding future turkey management in this draft plan:

Any change to future season and licensing will require a 70% approval of turkey hunters. How will this be determined? Currently there are no scientific surveys taken. Yes the DNR sends a random survey to licensed turkey hunters each year and they do some online surveys. These are interesting but in no way representative of hunters as a whole, only those who choose to respond. What about considering the opinions of hunting organizations. This is another problem; few hunters are involved in any hunting organization less than 3% of all hunters are members of hunting or conservation groups. Many groups pretend this is not the case but that is for another post.
There is some discussion about eliminating the fall drawing. If the fall drawing is eliminated these same flawed surveys indicate a majority of hunters support only a 1 bird limit. There are very few fall turkey hunters in Wisconsin the net number is around 26-30,000 statewide per year. There are more permits sold and many of the DNR numbers reflect permits as hunters.
Oak regeneration for improving turkey habitat. Be careful here. Unlike deer and grouse, turkeys require open mature oak woodlands. Turkeys do not like to hang out in brush or dense new growth. In west central Wisconsin where many “mature” oak woodlands are being clear cut including state owned wildlife management areas, the turkeys have moved out. Many of what were the finest turkey woods in the nation are no more. This strategy of clear cutting mature oaks was done in the Missouri Ozarks during the 1950’s to such an extent turkeys nearly vanished for a generation. Don’t believe me, then ask Ray Eye or any other old Missouri turkey hunter.

The plan as written contains good wild turkey ecology information and is a must read for all Wisconsin turkey hunters. However, it is, perhaps intentionally vague about specific future management strategies. This may be because turkeys in Wisconsin don’t require active management. So long as their habitat is not destroyed. But even then urban / suburban turkeys are doing quite well in many areas.

A Thought about Learning Turkey

September 29, 2014 by Charlie Leave a Comment

Learning about turkey hunting is not to know everything about turkeys – It’s to enjoy life more.

This popped into my head while turkey dogging the other day. For those who don’t know about turkey dogging- that is when you hunt with a dog to flush and scatter flocks of turkeys in order to call them back. Anyway, I read and talk a lot about turkeys and their hunting so I’m not sure if this is something I read somewhere or an original random thought that flowed in from the spirit of the hunt. If someone knows who wrote or said that quote please leave a comment to credit them. Good hunting.

Take your dog turkey hunting. You’ll both be the better for it.

Wisconsin Electronic Deer Registration

September 2, 2014 by Charlie 3 Comments

During Wisconsin’s 2014 deer seasons some hunters have been selected to test the new electronic deer registration system. These hunters can voluntarily use the pilot program to register their deer via internet or phone call in. They also have the option to continue in person registration.

Selected hunters may receive a survey about the electronic registration experience. The DNR will use the survey results along with the data from the 2014 registrations to fine tune the system so that it will be ready for all hunters starting in 2015.

Charlie elk is proud to have been selected for this test and looks forward to registering all his 2014 deer using the electronic registration. In person deer registration has always been extremely inconvenient; time/gas consuming and in some warm weather late night recovery situations just plain hard work. There are no direct roads to the registration stations where charlie hunts.

How did charlie get selected?

Not sure. charlie does kill more deer than the average hunter each fall. However charlie has no inside knowledge whether or not that was a factor. charlie never wins any drawing. Even if his name were to be placed in a hat 99 times with only 1 other entrant, that other would be drawn first. This was proven years ago at a MNDNR Advanced Hunter Rendezvous when 100 instructors names were drawn to determine the order of selecting from 100 paintings donated as instructor rewards. Guess what. charlie was picked number 100. They are all nice paintings and charlie’s hangs in a place of prominence just so charlie is always reminded he must work for everything he gets.

Perhaps a new day is starting with charlie’s luck and that world record big bugger better look out.

May your season provide a mindful of great hunting memories and check back for updates on e-registration.

2013 Hunt of a Lifetime-Moose Hunt in Jericho Lake State Park

August 19, 2014 by Charlie Leave a Comment

Hunt of a Lifetime grants hunting wishes to kids with life threatening illnesses. Watching this video will warm your heart and put a smile on your face. If it doesn’t, well then, I don’t know what will.

Wisconsin 2014 Anterless Deer Carcass Tag Availability

August 19, 2014 by Charlie Leave a Comment

Wisconsin bonus deer tags must be purchased before they are sold out. This is new starting with 2014 deer seasons. The first days are zone specific then they will all go on over the counter sale with a limit of one per hunter per day until they are sold out. Many hunters are unaware of this change and those who decide to buy their license and tags at the last minute may be out of luck. Especially those who hunt on public land due to low number of tags available. Due to hunter requests WDNR set the public land bonus antlerless tags at a low level in an effort to increase the deer herd on public lands.

You can check the status of bonus deer permits sales here – Antlerless Deer Carcass Tag Availability

Monday, August 18 at 10 a.m. – Northern and central forest zones
Tuesday, August 19 at 10 a.m. – Central farmland zone
Wednesday, August 20 at 10 a.m. – Southern farmland zone
Starting August 21 at 10 a.m. – All zones can be purchased

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bonus Tag Information Video

Wisconsins Fall Turkey Drawing Completed August 14, 2014

August 14, 2014 by Charlie Leave a Comment

Good News for Wisconsin’s fall turkey hunters. As of today August 14, 2014 the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has completed the 2014 fall turkey drawing. Cards will be sent out next week to notify the successful hunters. If you are an avid turkey hunter who can’t wait results are posted in Wisconsin’s Online Licensing Center

Leftover fall turkey permits go on sale over the counter starting Saturday August 23th at 10:00 AM. Hunters may buy one per day until sold out. Hunters who were not drawn are still eligible to purchase leftover permits.

Details on the leftover turkey permits available can be found here soon when they are posted. As of this writing the final number of leftover permits are not available. Should be there within a couple of days.

Most turkey hunters do not realize toms gobble and respond to calls in the fall too.

2014 Wisconsin Fall Wild Turkey Permits Stable

August 1, 2014 by Charlie Leave a Comment

Wisconsin 2014 wild turkey permit status:

After the last minute spring turkey permit reduction fiasco that very few knowledgeable hunters thought was a good idea. Fall turkey hunters were concerned those same few complainers would manage to convince the WDNR to reduce fall turkey permit availability in 2014. Thankfully, wildlife management based on science prevailed and the fall turkey permit numbers will be equal to the number offered during the 2013 fall season. Statewide 96,700 permits will be available with permits allocated to specific turkey management zones based on the amount of habitat available.

Fall permit levels are set by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources after review by the Turkey Advisory Committee, a group that includes representatives from the department and numerous partner organizations with an interest in Wisconsin’s wild turkey resource.

Zone-specific fall 2014 permit levels are as follows:

Zone 1: 27,500

Zone 2: 18,000

Zone 3: 30,000

Zone 4: 15,000

Zone 5: 3,800

Zone 6: 1,400

Zone 7: 1,000

Scott Walter reports:

“We certainly heard from hunters who were concerned that this past winter might significantly impact our northern turkey flock,” said DNR upland wildlife ecologist Scott Walter. “We do know from research in the Midwest that prolonged periods with deep snow and cold can lead to increased mortality, and with up to four feet of snow on the ground and weeks of bitter cold in some areas this year, those concerns were justified. However, when the snow finally began to melt and winter flocks broke up, folks began to see turkeys in large numbers across the north.”

Fall either-sex harvests can impact turkey populations if hen harvest is excessive, but the number of hens harvested in Wisconsin is very low. Biologists are not concerned that fall harvests will influence turkey populations. Given these low hen harvests and indications from the spring season that turkeys came through winter in decent shape, the advisory committee decided to maintain fall permit availability at 2013 levels.

“In northern zones 6 and 7, hunters harvested just one hen for every 50 to 100 square miles of forest cover last fall,” said Walter. “In some counties, total registered hen harvest was in the single digits – these very low hen harvests are well below the level capable of influencing population abundance.”

According to Scott Walter,

since all permits are utilized in the northern zones, every permit not allocated would lead to one hunter that would not be able to pursue turkeys in that zone in 2014. A permit reduction would provide no benefits for the turkey population, so a reduction in hunting opportunity is not necessary.

In layman terms think of turkeys this way; Turkeys live about 2 and half years whether you hunt them or not.

Most turkey hunters do not realize toms gobble and respond to calls in the fall too.

So even if you did not apply by August 1st for a fall turkey permit you can still purchase over the counter tags when they go on sale August 23. Successful applicants will be notified by mail the week of August 18. Hunters who did not apply for the drawing will not a receive a tag with their turkey license, they will need to purchase a tag over the counter.

Wisconsin 2014 Deer Hunt Is All Different

July 25, 2014 by Charlie Leave a Comment

Be aware Wisconsin Deer Hunters, August 18th at 10 o’clock starts the over the counter sale of antlerless permits on a first come first serve basis. There are numerous changes concerning deer hunters they need to get informed, understand and be ready for deer hunt 2014 well in advance of the season’s start.

In case you have not heard 2014 deer licensing has major changes. Counties are now the new deer management areas with each one assigned to one of these 4 zones. Wisconsin Deer Management Zones 2014

Northern Forest
Central Farmland
Central Forest
Southern Farmland

Antlerless tags sales begin on August 18th and continue until sold out. A hunter may buy one tag per day until the county is sold out. It is very likely all permits will be sold well before the opening of gun deer season, perhaps before the archery deer season. So plan to purchase your permits early. Remember permits are good for private or public land but not both.

Monday, August 18 at 10 a.m. – Northern and Central Forest Zones
Tuesday, August 19 at 10 a.m. – Central Farmland Zone
Wednesday, August 20 at 10 a.m. – Southern Farmland Zone
Starting August 21 at 10 a.m. – all zones can be purchased continuing until sold out.

Wisconsin 2014 Antlerless Permit Information this link includes a county by county number of available antlerless permits for both public and private lands. Permits cost $12 for residents and $20 for nonresident deer hunters. $5 for ages 10 and 11 hunters.

Crossbows are legal for all Wisconsin hunters starting fall 2014. The crossbow season is concurrent with the archery season and requires the purchase of a crossbow license. Or the combination archer/crossbow license for $27. With the combination license a hunter is free hunt with either as their mood or conditions dictate.

Wisconsin 2014 Fall Turkey Application Deadline

July 21, 2014 by Charlie Leave a Comment

Most turkey hunters do not realize toms gobble and respond to calls in the fall too.

Yes it is true Wisconsin has available more turkey permits than they sell each year in units 1,3 and 4. However, in the other units; 2,5,6 and 7 turkey permits are available to those who enter the drawing, sometimes there are no or very few permits available for over the counter sales. The application deadline is August 1 and you may apply online, phone or in person at a license agent.

I posted details on all fall appllication deadlines here

Wisconsin 2014 Fall turkey

96,700 wild turkey permits are expected to be available to hunters for the fall 2014 turkey hunting season same number of permits that were offered in 2013.

Please note that this number is preliminary and may be revised following review.

Any fall turkey permits remaining after the initial drawing will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Aug. 23.

Leftover fall turkey permits will be sold by zone until sold out or the season ends. Hunters who receive fall turkey permits in Zones 1-5 will be able to fill their unused permits during the extended season in the zone where the permits were issued.

Application Deadline is August 1, 2014

Wisconsin Fall Turkey 2014 Season Dates

Sept. 13 to Nov. 20 for all seven of Wisconsin’s turkey management zones; and an extended fall turkey season for Zones 1-5 from Dec. 1 to Dec. 31.

Wisconsin has one the longest most liberal fall turkey seasons in the country. Make plans to give it a try.

2014 Wisconsin License Permit Application Deadlines

July 8, 2014 by Charlie Leave a Comment

Wisconsin 2014 Fall turkey

96,700 wild turkey permits are expected to be available to hunters for the fall 2014 turkey hunting season same number of permits that were offered in 2013.
Please note that this number is preliminary and may be revised following review.
Any fall turkey permits remaining after the initial drawing will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Aug. 23.
Leftover fall turkey permits will be sold by zone until sold out or the season ends. Hunters who receive fall turkey permits in Zones 1-5 will be able to fill their unused permits during the extended season in the zone where the permits were issued.

Application Deadline is August 1, 2014

Wisconsin Fall Turkey 2014 Season Dates

Sept. 13 to Nov. 20 for all seven of Wisconsin’s turkey management zones; and
an extended fall turkey season for Zones 1-5 from Dec. 1 to Dec. 31.

Canada geese

NRB will set waterfowl season dates at its Aug. 13 meeting.

Note that Horicon zone hunters no longer need to apply in advance for hunting tags. Hunters in this zone will simply need to indicate their zone preference when they purchase a license. Licenses are available for purchase at any time prior to hunting.
Season dates for waterfowl vary annually and will not be available until the Natural Resources Board acts in August.

Bobcat, fisher and otter

Quotas for bobcat, fisher and otter will be available on the DNR web page in late July

No major changes are expected from last year. An additional Southern bobcat zone (all of Wis. south of Hwy 64) has been approved for 2014.
Those interested in hunting and/or trapping bobcats will need to apply to a specific zone (north or south) and time period (period 1 or 2) for the upcoming season. Bobcat applicant preference points will continue as in the past.

Final permit numbers will be final in August

Drawings for all three species will take place in late August or early September.

Application deadline is August 1, 2014

Season dates

bobcat hunting and trapping: Period 1: Oct. 18 to Dec. 25; Period 2: Dec. 26 to Jan. 31, 2015;
fisher (trapping only): Oct. 18 through Dec. 31; and
otter (trapping only): North Zone Nov. 2, 2013 through April 30, 2014; Central & South zones Nov. 2, 2013 through March 31, 2014.

Wolf

The total wolf quota has been set at 156

quota available to state-licensed hunters and trappers may be adjusted depending on state response to tribal declarations.
WDNR will maintain a 10-to-1 license-to-quota ratio.
One-half of available permits will be issued randomly among all permit applicants
Second half will be issued through a cumulative preference point drawing.
Successful applicants will be notified by letter or check their drawing status through the DNR website or via licensing agents.
It is the applicants responsibility to know their drawing status. Applicants who are not successful in the drawing will be awarded a preference point toward future drawings.

Season Dates

Starts in all zones on Oct. 15 and is open until the zone is closed by DNR or the last day of February, whichever occurs first.
WDNR has the authority to close hunting zones when quotas are met or if deemed biologically necessary.

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