Mornin' to the Appleton firefighter who just set the world record for fastest marathon carrying 100 pounds. 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:

• Why hunt? 🦌 

• Natural Resources Magazine 🌲 

• Wolf updates 🐺 

  

Wisconsin Conservation + Hunting Updates

Is it just us, or are folks getting a little squirrely these days?

Dressing in blaze orange. Stocking up on Kwik Trip donuts. Talking about “filling da freezer”…

It’s gotta be hunting season, folks!

And just in time for us to get out ‘der and partake in a Wisconsin tradition, the DNR made some updates to the hunting resources homepage for us to read (unless you’re Uncle Greg, but he can’t hit nothin’ anyway…).

But first, some conservation quick hits:

• ~90% of the the State Fish and Wildlife budget comes from licenses and federal excise taxes

• WI hunters hunt at 2.5x the rate of the national average

• Roughly 800,000 deer hunters will take to the woods this fall for our various whitetail deer seasons

Why hunt?

To get the full picture of why we have this tradition in the first place, you gotta understand a bit of history. Hang with us.

Though we now boast nearly 1.5 million whitetail deer in the state (a few of those in the grills of our cars, unfortunately), there was a time when our furry friends’ outlook was bleak.

Overhunting, invasive species, and urbanization of wild lands pushed big game populations to the brink of extinction in our state and nation.

Thankfully, some conservationists like John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt (to name a few) took a stand, and thus, our nation’s famous conservation system was born.

Hunting = conservation

Perhaps better than any equation we ever learned in high school math class is the conservation equation, which works like this:

Hunters buy licenses, the funding goes to conservationists and wildlife protection, which yields healthier game population, which ends up on your dinner plate.

Indeed, 90% of State Fish and Wildlife funding comes from hunters, anglers, shooters, and trappers.

The funds from license sales help the DNR on its mission to protect more than 680,000 acres of land, restock fish, pay wardens (to catch poachers), conduct research, and more.

They also cover the costs for protecting non-hunting species, like Karner Blue Butterflies, Trumpeter Swans, Ospreys, and Bald Eagles. What a beaut!

How to get out ‘der

Though Wisconsin has 2.5x more hunters than the national average, like the last venison brat at the tailgate, our numbers are starting to dwindle.

Between 1999 and 2017, the DNR reported total deer license sales dropped by 5.8% to 824,475.

Furthermore, revenue from license sales dropped 19% from 2006 to 2015.

Why? It’s likely due to a lack of education for youth hunting, increase in urbanization, decrease in public land access, and, let’s face it—Tik Tok.

But we’re not gonna let that stop us, right?

So this year, we challenge all of you to at least look at the DNR’s new updated hunting resource page.

On it you’ll find everything you need to get started, from the regulations, to hunting seasons, to where to find educational resources, and more.

Because more of you in the woods is good for our wildlife, our friendships, and our freezers!

Now get out ‘der!

Other great Wiscampsin reads…

Wisconsin's Lifetime Fishing License

Wisconsin's Deer Camp Tradition

Bowhunting Wisconsin

Shop Wiscampsin

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Wiscampsin Weekly Poll

Cripes! A cool 40% of you said you are waiting to buy the IATA Specialty License Plate at your next renewal! More funding for the IATA to improve the trails + more mammoths on the roads = a better Wisconsin!

If you are wondering what in da heck the Ice Age Trail Alliance Specialty License Plate is, check out this article to learn more.

Nuts and Seeds 🌰 

📚 Getcha eyeballs on this: The DNR’s Fall issue of Wisconsin Natural Resource magazine is now available in print and online. The theme? How to keep FIBs out of your beer fridge Autumn traditions, aptly named “Rooted in Wisconsin.” Check it out!

🐟 Fish are up a (dry) creek: A trout stream in central Wisconsin has dried up faster than a keg on Game Day after the state deals with drought. DNR officials are documenting the areas of low and no water, as well as the effect on the fish.

🐺 New wolf rules: The DNR has issued some changes to wolf hunting regulations, most notably the 24-hour reporting window being reduced to 8 hours to help officials estimate of the current season harvest faster (which helps them decide when to shut ‘er down).

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Meme of the Week 😂

A review from the trail… Hey no worries neighbor. Our hands shake a bit when we see cheese too