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Have a safe and enjoyable deer hunt
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Westby, Wis.

Editor:

Fallen leaves, colder weather, and maybe even some snow, are signs that Wisconsin’s 9-day gun deer season, which runs from November 21 through November 29, is here.

For folks who grew up deer hunting with their families, this is part of our heritage.  Sure, we all hope we get that elusive big buck.  But most of all, we enjoy this time out in the woods together, passing this tradition on to the next generation.
New this year is the option to register your deer online or by phone.  Electronic registration has been successfully implemented for turkey and geese and I hope deer hunters find this to be a convenient and easy option. You can register online at www.gamereg.wi.gov or by calling 1-844-426-3734.  Just remember to register your deer by 5:00 p.m. on the day after harvest and to keep the carcass tag with the registration number written on it until you consume the venison.
If you can’t get online or if you just want to head to the registration station for bragging rights and to hear how everyone else in town did in this year’s hunt, in-person registration is still an option. 

One of the most important, but least enjoyable, parts of preparing for the hunt is making sense of the deer hunting regulations.  Nobody wants to meet a DNR warden because he or she didn’t take the time to read the rules.  Everything you need to know about deer hunting in Wisconsin is available on the DNR’s website at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/hunt/regulations.html, or by downloading the free “Wisconsin Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife” app.  The DNR’s toll-free customer service line, 1-888-936-7463, can also help answer your questions. 

Last year, Wisconsin recorded a total of four confirmed firearm incidents with no fatalities during the 9-day hunt.  This is an all-time low, thanks in large part to the efforts of volunteer hunter education instructors, safety conscious hunters, parents, and mentors.  Remember that the major cause for incidents is the failure to positively identify targets.  Even though incidents are on the decline, any incident is one too many, so please be mindful of your safety and the safety of others.

Good luck and have a safe, enjoyable hunt!

Lee Nerison

State Representative

96th Assembly District