Wisconsin’s archery and crossbowers are anxiously awaiting the Sept. 16 season opener, in spite of the recent drought, heat, and humidity, which has come and gone enough times to frustrate most.
Men and women with bows in hand may have learned during the last several years that supply and equipment shortages were real and advise to purchase early or go without. This is not a sales ploy.
Checking food plots, putting new string on bows, target shooting, and license buying have already kicked in, sports shop clerks are happy to report.
Selective special seasons are numerous, too with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources seeking landowners to host deer hunters with disabilities for an Oct. 7-15 hunt. Landowners with 60 acres or more can contact Ally Magnin at ally.magnin@
wisconsin.gov for an application to host a hunt.
Hunters wanting more information on deer butchering may attend one of four workshops being held this fall at Mackenzie Center, Peninsula State Park, Devil’s Lake State Park, and The Meat Shop in Tomah. Visit the Events Page on the WDNR website for dates, locations, and more information.
WDNR has a unique deer hunting opportunity at the Sandhill Wildlife Area in Babcock, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. Interested hunters can download the application by going to WDNR website at downloading an application.
The regular deer hunts, some of which are held in most or all units, include the youth deer hunt, Oct. 7-8.
The world famous nine day gun deer season continues to start earlier and early by the calendar with the 2023 season opening Saturday, Nov. 18, closing Nov. 26. Some units have slightly different antlerless permit numbers and antlerless seasons this year, but other than an increase in nonresident licenses, little has changed in a season that annually draws hunters from all states and several foreign countries.
The ten day muzzleloader season follows beginning Nov. 27, ending Dec. 6; and that is followed by a four day, statewide, antlerless-only season Dec. 7-10.
The antlerless-only Holiday hunt continues the seasons by opening Dec. 24, 2023 and closing Jan. 1, 2024. This season is open in select Farmland counties.
With all these seasons, check the 2023 Wisconsin Hunting Regulations pamphlet available in print and on line.
Regulations again remind hunters of the blaze orange clothing regulations, which include the hunter’s cap or other clothing articles covering the hunter’s head, if worn.
Gun casing, not displaying backtags, and registration rules remain the same for 2023.
— Jerry Davis is a freelance writer who lives in Barneveld. He can be reached at sivadjam@mhtc.net or at 608-924-1112.
