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Wisconsin Deer Hunter's may get Final Word in Earn-A-Buck Program for 2009.

by Bow Staff 4. March 2009 10:07
Bow StaffBowhunting.com’s Wisconsin readers may just be interested in having their voices heard this April. The following story comes to us out of this state’s capital.

Madison, Wis. (AP) —
A select group of sportsmen who advise state wildlife officials will ask outdoor lovers this spring whether earn-a-buck regulations should end.

The earn-a-buck program forces hunters to shoot antlerless deer before taking a buck. It’s designed as a population-control measure, but many hunters despise it because it forces them to pass up trophy kills.

Preliminary totals indicate hunters killed 19 percent fewer deer during November’s gun hunt, leading many to conclude the deer population has shrunk. State experts are still crunching the final figures.

The Wisconsin Conservation Congress plans to ask outdoor lovers at its April hearings whether they support ending the earn-a-buck program. A yes answer would only advise state officials, not end the program.

The staff at Bowhunting.com wants to hear the Wisconsin hunter’s thoughts on the earn-a-buck program. Do you feel as though deer numbers are down enough to do away with the program this next deer season? And why?
Comments

Comments

3/4/2009 4:14:10 PM #

Stanley

I would love if they got away from this program for at least a year or two. Numbers definitely seem WAY WAY down where I hunt.

While I do agree with the earn-a-buck program and what it represents. Over the last few seasons.. the numbers I hunt seem to just be lower than they once were.

Stanley United States |

3/4/2009 5:04:36 PM #

Tony

Yeah right this will not happen. Earn a Buck is here to stay in the CWD area's you can bet on it. As stated advise state officials so basically our yes vote will fall on deaf ears. They have these meetings every year honestly we have no say.

Tony United States |

3/7/2009 1:50:09 PM #

Ryan B

First off, the WI DNR as Tony said, has deaf ears. They are fueled by who knows what, but it seems they are really not sportsman, more like stuck up college graduates where everything is cut and dried.
Deer Management Units need to be smaller so herds can be managed better.
In hindsight, by me at least, EAB has been a success, as long as it doesn't happen this year. We saw far less deer than previous years, but saw more than most had. If it happens again, we'll be in the same boat.
We need a new DNR

Ryan B United States |

3/9/2009 12:19:27 PM #

Dan

Deer #'s were down in non EAB area's also. If they really wanted to get the #'s down the DNR should give out either or tags.If a hunter shoots a buck with the tag and still wants to hunt then it should be EAB.If the hunter shoots a doe then they get another either or tag.

Dan United States |

3/29/2009 10:29:43 AM #

ben

With this earn a buck program I've heard and seen that more guys are taking worse shots and wounding more deer(doe) just to try and get their EAB sticker.And the DNR probably don't count the deer that die from being wounded.Deer numbers are definitely down.I hunt just about every night of the season and I would go 25 days consecutively without seeing a deer. During the gun season, my buddies and I walked just about a whole public marsh where I've taken and seen many deer in the past and were lucky to find a track out there, even with the fresh snow. And that just didn't happen to us, I've got friends that hunt all over the state. I've heard people are so fed up with this EAB they probably won't buy tags this year if it happens again.  

ben United States |

3/31/2009 6:06:40 AM #

King of cool

If the DUMB N R would let nature cycle like it did back in its day we would not worry about anything.I wish the D.N.R. would listen 2 the hunters insted of the insurance company`s! I think it`s all about money!!!!!!!

King of cool United States |

5/25/2009 12:55:43 AM #

Rick Black

THIS YEAR I HUNTED THE JIM FALLS AREA GUN AND BOW.WE DID GREAT GUN HUNTING 6 GUYS  1 GIRL 5 DEER MY 12 YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL TOOK 2 SMALL DOE, BUT WHEN I WENT BOW HUNTING IN DECEMBER WE COULDNT FIND A TRACK.FOR THE LAND WE HUNT THIS IS VERY ABNORMAL.THERE WERE ALOT OF BEAR ON THE LAND WHERE WE HUNT .I KNOW THIS BECAUSE MY UNCLE IS A FARMER AND HE SEES THEM ALOT.I THINK EARN -A-BUCK HAS TO GO.THE REASON IS I NORMALLY BOW HUNT A EARN-A-BUCK AREA AND I NORMALLY DONT SHOOT DOE AND IVE PASSED UP A FEW NICE BUCKS.I ONLY HARVEST DOE FOR MEAT AND IF I HAVE MEAT FROM LAST YEAR WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO TAKE A DOE.I DONT LIKE TO WASTE,AND I DONT REALLY BELIEVE THE POPULATION IS AS BIG AS THE DNR SAYS.ALSO I WANT TO KEEP ARE SPORT ALIVE.MY FAMILY SURVIVED ON DEER. HOPE EVERYONE HAS A SAFE AND MEMORABLE  HUNT THIS YEAR.

Rick Black United States |

9/14/2009 1:21:04 PM #

Jared Kinjerski

I agree with most of these guys that the numbers are way down, and i personally would have killed alot more deer in the last 3 years if earn a buck would not be going on because i have had to pass up many bucks that i would have shot otherwise.

Jared Kinjerski United States |

9/26/2009 4:53:29 PM #

tower defense

It's true as other have said that the numbers have gone way too down unexpectedly.But whatever it is,hunters won't be stopping themselves from killing the million dollar bucks cos they know how much valuable and profitable for them it is.

tower defense United Kingdom |

10/16/2009 10:23:29 PM #

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