Retired Army Guy
Senior Member
Well, best I can tell/interpret reading the draft WRD/DNR deer plan they are undecided as how to exactly implement a Sate Wide Deer Season. Although not great news for us small game hunters it may buy us a little time before the official decision is made. It appears our voices have been heard about small game hunters being pushed out by lengthening the Deer season in the Northern Zone. How the Legislators, WRD and DNR will handle this (or if they will handle it & just ignore us) is the big question.
The December break is gaining a little ground I was glad to see. I think we are going to loose at least one week if not two as I don't see the Southern Zone "shortening" their deer season. As an avid Deer hunter AND Rabbit hunter I think the December Break is the best compromise & believe it helps both sets of hunters. The deer settle down & go back to normal patterns making hunting more predictable when season resumes. Small Game Hunters wont loose two weeks when the deer season is more than likely extended to match the Southern Zone. But hey that's just me and my opinion.
The purpose of this post is to thank all the Small Game Hunters who went to bat for us and made our voices heard. Please keep up the pressure calling & emailing our legislators and WRD-DNR folks. Also educate our fellow deer only hunters. Many never think or realize that when you extend deer season you push small game hunters out of the woods. All they see & think is " small game season is open what are they complaining about?" Just ask them how they would feel if you ran a pack of hounds past their deer stand or treed a squirrel next to their stand and the light bulb goes on!
One last request please don't turn this into a big gripe session where everyone is trying to rip the other apart because they don't agree with the others views. As hunters that only makes us all look stupid. Hunters quarreling against hunters. Were all going to have battles ahead with society becoming less and less hunter oriented. We have to get along and stand united or all of hunting as we know it will fade away.
The December break is gaining a little ground I was glad to see. I think we are going to loose at least one week if not two as I don't see the Southern Zone "shortening" their deer season. As an avid Deer hunter AND Rabbit hunter I think the December Break is the best compromise & believe it helps both sets of hunters. The deer settle down & go back to normal patterns making hunting more predictable when season resumes. Small Game Hunters wont loose two weeks when the deer season is more than likely extended to match the Southern Zone. But hey that's just me and my opinion.
The purpose of this post is to thank all the Small Game Hunters who went to bat for us and made our voices heard. Please keep up the pressure calling & emailing our legislators and WRD-DNR folks. Also educate our fellow deer only hunters. Many never think or realize that when you extend deer season you push small game hunters out of the woods. All they see & think is " small game season is open what are they complaining about?" Just ask them how they would feel if you ran a pack of hounds past their deer stand or treed a squirrel next to their stand and the light bulb goes on!
One last request please don't turn this into a big gripe session where everyone is trying to rip the other apart because they don't agree with the others views. As hunters that only makes us all look stupid. Hunters quarreling against hunters. Were all going to have battles ahead with society becoming less and less hunter oriented. We have to get along and stand united or all of hunting as we know it will fade away.
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