Mornin' to everyone wondering if they can wear shorts today. This is the Wiscampsin Weekly - the email that gets you in the know on the Wisconsin outdoors in 5 minutes or less. New reader? Subscribe here.

This week’s weekly:

• Doe ban in the northwoods 🦌 

• Fish and wildlife $16 million deficit 💰

• Bald Eagle Watching Days 🦅 

Bill Bans Antlerless Deer Harvest Up Nort’

Criminy cripes! Sorry Doug, that Doe backstrap in your freezer could potentially be your last for a while.

Why? A coalition of Wisconsin lawmakers has proposed a bill that would ban Doe harvests up north.

The bill breakdown

• Would ban antlerless whitetail deer harvest for 4 years in the Northern Forest region

• Proposed as a solution to declining deer harvests up north

• Northern Forest region harvest was down 30% from previous season

Unfilled tags

Ask anyone who hunted whitetail deer up north this year, and they’ll tell ya: the hunt was not good.

Of the 173,942 whitetail deer harvested last fall, a mere 28,020 were shot in the Northern Forest region.

That’s 30% less than 2022, and 19% down from the 5-year average.

Pretty crummy when you consider that most of our state’s public land is up north, and yet it only accounted for 16% of the harvest.

And it’s not that hunters were just poor shots this year (we all know someone, be nice) - there were just no deer to be seen.

For the veteran hunters who remember the glory days of the early 2000s, when pickup trucks on Highway 51 would be loaded down with Does and Bucks after opening weekend, last year’s hunt was enough to press the panic button.

The problem

Although the number of hunters in the woods is on the decline every year, that # is just a small percent compared to the larger deficit of deer harvests last fall.

So why are there so few deer up north?

• Winter Severity Index is increasing in the Northwoods

• Predator populations have been rising since the 80s

  • It’s not just wolves—bear and bobcats actually take more fawns, according to Pat Durkin of OutdoorLife.

• Decreasing habitats

  • Deer need both young growth and mature forests for food and cover from predators

The bill

The bill LRB-5343-1 was proposed by Representatives Chanz Green (R- Grand View), Calvin Callahan (R-Tomahawk), Angie Sapik (R-Lake Nebagamon) and Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander) and Sen. Romaine Quinn (R-Cameron).

“We want to pump the brakes and stop killing does until we get a proper plan put together," said Rep. Green.

The bill would ban the DNR from issuing antlerless tags (essentially, does) in the northern forest deer management zone (roughly 20 counties).

This bill would be a temporary solution until a more robust plan is developed, as it could lead to a few drawbacks, mainly:

• It prevents landowners from protecting their crops from deer

• Meat hunters may shoot more young bucks

The state does have a system for more meticulous management. Since 2014, Wisconsin has relied on a county-based system for recommending deer harvest quotas and limits.

Clearly, however, this current system is not performing as intended, hence the more drastic, macro approach.

Looking forward

The bill is en route to the legislative committees and a fate unknown.

But the question remains: Will it work? Will it save our historic and undeniable past time, one that brings generations together each fall to enjoy the outdoors?

We’ll leave you with the opinions of Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life writer:

“If we’re going to prohibit doe harvests in order to save deer hunting in the North, so be it. But then we must also do the even more important work of improving and conserving our forests and managing predators. Otherwise this proposal will result only in fewer opportunities for Wisconsin deer hunters.”

Now get out ‘der!

Other great Wiscampsin reads…

Moose Spotting!

Spring Black Bears

Cougar Sightings On The Rise

Shop Wiscampsin

Wisconsin State Bird Art Print: “Very nicely made, great colors and design. It looks amazing in my home. Keep it up Wiscampsin ❤️” - Peggy

Wiscampsin Badgers Tee: “It’s the perfect t-shirt to show off my love for camping and Wisconsin at the same time :)” - Emily

Wiscampsin Recycled License Plate Frame: “Love it! Get out der! Makes my Mazda look even better” - Alex

Wiscampsin Mug: “Awesome mug, very lightweight, the mug doesn't get piping hot if you need to microwave your coffee either.” - Matthew

Wiscampsin Weekly Poll

Well, 55% of you took the term dinosaur literally and were correct: the oldest Lake Sturgeon on record was the 152-year-old, 215-pound, 81-incher, hauled up from the bottom of Lake of the Woods in Ontario, Canada in 1953.

Nuts and Seeds 🌰 

🏕️ State parks by the numbers: The MJS published the most and least visited state parks in 2023, and ~shocker~, Devil’s Lake State Park took the W with 2,373,384 total visitors last year. Pretty crazy considering the least visited state park was Straight Lake State Park with just 7,406 visitors. Click here for more numbers and data visitation by month.

🦅 Bald Eagle Watching Days: Here’s something to squawk about—Sauk Prairie is hosting the rescheduled 38th Bald Eagle Watching Days on Saturday, February 10th. Participants can climb the overlook where volunteers will help them spot Bald Eagles and answer your questions. Learn more about the FREE event!

🎣 Fish and wildlife faces deficit: The DNR reports that by 2026, the fish and wildlife account will approach a $16 million deficit. This funds nearly 20% (or 500ish positions) for the agency. The main source of funding is license fees for hunting, fishing and trapping. Although cost-saving methods may be introduced, likely there will be a raise in license fees.

 Sponsored by our Wiscampsin Shop!

Looking to rep some new gear? Consider supporting your local Wiscampsin writers!

We’ve got a great stock of recycled coffee bean coffee mugs, license plate frames, our new shirts… Everything we make, we source as sustainably as possible to keep our green spaces all the greener.

*And as always, 1% of profits will go to the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks.

Thanks for supporting the Wiscampsin Weekly!

Check out the Wiscampsin shop!

Want to sponsor the Wiscampsin Weekly?

Reply “Sponsor” and we will get back to you with the details!

Meme of the Week 😂

A review from the trail… Ope, sorry! Had a few too many Old Fashioneds