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Tim Eisele

Commentary: Wisconsin fish-heads, wildlifers holding on for dear life

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Hunting, National Fishing, National Hunting, Opinion, Wisconsin /

Our venerable system of natural resources management – the North American Model of Wildlife Management – involves a unique approach of county, state, and federal organizations working together, and often with local conservation groups.
Some of that work has been interrupted by a swiftly changing landscape at the federal level brought about by seemingly daily changes made by President Donald Trump and his team. Court reversals of those changes further blur the scene, but put some people back to work – at least for the time being.

Commentary: Wisconsin fish-heads, wildlifers holding on for dear life Read More »

Wisconsin’s new numbered deer units on emergency rule route

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, National News, News, Wisconsin /

Northern Forest Zone and Central Forest Zone deer hunters in Wisconsin are poised to see new deer units this fall after the Natural Resources Board (NRB) passed a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) emergency rule recommendation to void the county units and – sort of – go back to numbered units.
One controversial part of the change is the emergency order that would put the new units in play this fall, followed by a permanent rule change to go into effect in 2026.

Wisconsin’s new numbered deer units on emergency rule route Read More »

Wisconsin DNR asks duck hunters to choose one of four hunting zone options

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, National News, News, Wisconsin /

The DNR’s waterfowl team is asking Wisconsin duck hunters to comment on their preferred “zone structure” out of four options being considered for use from 2026-31 – and whether the north/south zone boundary should be moved from Hwy. 10 to Hwy. 64.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) would allow split seasons (mid-season closures) to be used if hunters opt for two or three zones; however, the USFWS will not allow a split season in any zone if Wisconsin opts to go with four zones.

Wisconsin DNR asks duck hunters to choose one of four hunting zone options Read More »

Bill Smith re-elected as chairman of Wisconsin’s Natural Resources Board

Featured, News, Wisconsin /

Bill Smith was re-elected to serve as chair of the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB).
Smith, of Shell Lake, has served as chair the past two years. His NRB term expires May 1, but he can be re-appointed to a second term by Gov. Tony Evers. Smith graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a degree in civil engineering. He worked 34 years for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as an environmental engineer, and then as the DNR Northern Region director.

Bill Smith re-elected as chairman of Wisconsin’s Natural Resources Board Read More »

Overall deer kill up 7% in Wisconsin from 2023 as crossbow, archery hunters lead the uptick

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, National News, News, Wisconsin /

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported on the 2024 deer hunting season – showing that the overall harvest was up 7% over 2023 – to the Natural Resources Board  (NRB) Feb. 26.
Jeff Pritzl, DNR deer program specialist, said that season highlights include: the increased harvest; the safest hunt in the last 40 years; license sales increased slightly; and there was a decreased turn-around time to report results of CWD sampling to hunters.

Overall deer kill up 7% in Wisconsin from 2023 as crossbow, archery hunters lead the uptick Read More »

Wisconsin DNR budget has hunting, trapping, and fishing fee hikes

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Hunting, National Fishing, National Hunting, National News, News, Wisconsin /

Gov. Tony Evers released his 2025-27 biennial budget Feb. 18 that would renew the Knowles/Nelson Stewardship Program and encourage hunting, trapping, and fishing license fee increases to help cover deficits in the Wisconsin DNR’s Fish and Wildlife Account.
The proposed 762-page budget now goes to the legislature where Republican leaders have said Evers included too much spending and they will come up with their own budget. Eventually a new state budget will be put together by the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee. Evers will be able to veto some portions, but have to sign a final budget for it to go into effect on July 1 or after.

Wisconsin DNR budget has hunting, trapping, and fishing fee hikes Read More »

Wisconsin DNR ups bear quota, number of kill tags

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, National News, News, Wisconsin /

The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) approved a 6% increase in the black bear harvest quota and a 14% increase in licenses from 2024 for the 2025 fall season.
The target harvest of black bears is now set at 4,075 (3,850 last year). The number of licenses available this year will be 13,110 (from 11,501 last year). Randy Johnson, the DNR’s large carnivore specialist, told the board at its Jan. 22 meeting that the bear population is stable or growing in all of the bear zones except Zone D in the northwest.

Wisconsin DNR ups bear quota, number of kill tags Read More »

Wisconsin study shows CWD greatly reduces annual survival rates in deer, suppresses population growth

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, National News, News, Wisconsin /

Results from the Wisconsin DNR’s largest deer and chronic wasting disease (CWD) study ever undertaken show that the disease substantially reduces deer survival rates, and suppresses deer population growth.
Dr. Dan Storm, DNR ungulate research scientist, reported the results of the seven-year study in southwest Wisconsin to the Natural Resources Board Jan. 22.
“People should expect to see fewer deer in areas of high CWD prevalence,” Storm said. “Deer are not going to go extinct, but there will be fewer of them.”

Wisconsin study shows CWD greatly reduces annual survival rates in deer, suppresses population growth Read More »

Tracking dog helps Wisconsin hunter find two fatally shot deer

Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, Wisconsin /

Shooting and wounding a deer may well stand as the worst nightmare for any deer hunter.
Once is bad enough, but that happened twice to Mark Martin, of Rio, Wis., this past fall, when excitement turned to disappointment, but then returned to excitement thanks to some outside help.

Tracking dog helps Wisconsin hunter find two fatally shot deer Read More »

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