Hunting WI this Fall

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Just purchased plane tickets to Head home to hunt this Fall.  I am quite excited. I will hunt the family Farm in Richland Center the second week of November.

I look forward to hunting with my Dad and brothers and maybe a buddy on his land in Central WI.

[ChuckC]

It is gonna be great.  Lots of changes for you.  No more back tags.  You don't have to tag your animal (unless you and it part ways for any time at all). No more check stations.

Also, and a bit more disconcerting, are the various tags etc and the split.  Per county, per area type, private / public.  A sort of nightmare, but it may turn out plenty OK.

Have fun, shoot straight.  Are you coming home to stay yet ?
ChuckC

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Chuck,

I will not be staying after this trip. but I plan on doing some work to make our future rental house there livable.  Also, need to put in a  pasture for our horses.

My Parents bought a 76.6 acre farm in Rib Mountain.  My wife and I will rent the house until they are ready to build their house out there.  

I wonder how those tags would affect hunting on this new farm.  It borders 4500 acres of public land (9 mile county Forest).  Tough hunting in there but I was able to routinely get on deer when I was a kid.

My wife and I accepted an offer on our house 2 weeks ago.  Closing on November 18th.  We will find a  place here to rent monthly until I can find work out in Wisconsin..

Once I am employed there, I will be making the move to stay. Right now the plan is to Bring the horses in the spring, but that may change depending on what happens with the farm where they are now.

While there in November, I will be hunting this new farm a little and going to the family Farm in the southern part of the state.  Also, my younger brother just bought 40 acres north of Wausau and he has been itching for a  hunt together there as well.

I just may end up with more places to hunt than time to do it. Terrible problem, I know    

[Greg Szalewski]

Glad to hear that you are closer to making it back to WI. I wish you well on the job search. As far all the hunting opportunities that should eliminate the excuse of over hunting any stands. ;^)

[BowHuntingFool]

Good stuff Charlie! Looking forward to finally meeting up at a shoot this year! Cheers!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Thanks Guys.  I will definitely be looking for shooting buddies and seriously missing some good friends i have made shooting/hunting here in NY.

[ChuckC]

Charlie, there are public land tags and private land tags (for does).  I believe bucks are still statewide, so no problem there.  In addition, each of the new areas has their own breakdown so, for example, I hunt Columbia and Marquette counties mostly.  Public land always ( so far).  I need a tag for Columbia county public and a tag for Marquette county public ( again, for does).  If I owned my own property or hunted someone elses private property in those counties I would need additional tags for each of those scenarios.  Yikes !  Be sure / be careful.
ChuckC

[Cyclic-Rivers]

That certainly makes things interesting.  This season I will be hunting 3 different private lands.  I will Have to see what is available for me and if I can only shoot a buck then.... so be it. Although I am coming for the hunting, it's not really for the hunting only.

[mlsthmpsn]

In addition to those changes already mentioned, the DNR switched over to their "GoWild" card and online system, where you can purchase everything online, and print off your tags right then.

Make sure you bring some zip-lock bags and zip ties to aid in keeping these wonderful paper tags legible to any CO's you may see.

Here is the updated list for    antlerless tag availability.


Best of luck this year.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I will be there come morning.

[knobby]

Good luck on your hunt, Charlie.

[mlsthmpsn]

Well, any details? How was your trip?

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Sorry for the delay. As far as details.... I had some incredible rutting activity.  Had several monster bucks at less than 7 yards. They wouldn't slow down and were on full tilt run.  I got one to stop he stopped behind the only tree  and caught me. When he moved forward a step I focused and released. As my brain said go, so did his.  Broke my concentration resulting in a marginal hit.  

Initially I thought I missed but I saw him stop at 80 yards then limp off away from where the hot doe went.  I got down and inspected my arrow just before dark and couldn't see blood.  I went back to the cabin with better light and could see a couple faint specs of blood.

Went back in the morning and sat in the stand. Had a 130 inch 8 point standing broadside at 20 yards but passed knowing I had some tracking to do.  

Long story short, my brother came over to help. We spent 8 hours... Followed a blood trail that looked like someone walked with a glass pouring out blood for 600 yards.  It stopped, we picked it back up again after 150 yards. Followed it another 150 yards before losing it for good. Did a very thorough grid search but came up empty. Watched for crows and buzzards. Listened for coyotes for several days as he lead us into the revive below our cabin.  The only way out was up steep banks.  A trail camera photo has him chasing a doe a few weeks later.

I had other chances at does and small bucks bit passed.  I had a great time with my dad and brother which was the primary goal.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Sorry about long sentences and poor grammar. Typing on a phone is tough for my fat fingers.

[ChuckC]

Glad you saw some nice deer.  You still coming back to WI eventually ?  Did you see we have a couple bunny hunts planned.
ChuckC

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Yes chuck, the plan is to permanently relocate back to the greater Wausau area.  Currently I'm looking for employment and as soon as that's secured I will be there.  I did notice the rabbit hunts and one day hope to be part of them.  Dons property isn't terribly far from the family farm.  

I will miss you guys in point this year at the banquet.  Hopefully at this time next year I will be a Wisconsin resident again.

[ChuckC]

Looking forward to a hunt together in the future.  Get er done and get back to WI.

[Greg Szalewski]

Sounds like you had some action on your hunt. You should have some good hunts there again. Best of luck with the job search. We look forward to seeing you and Chuck at shoots.