DSORe eNews Vol.9 Issue S905

VOL: 9 ISSUE: 905 - 01 FEBRUARY 2014

•This week only: Save $10 on premium pass to North American Sport Show with promo code dsoutdoors • Getting city kids into hunting and fishing TO ENTER CONTEST Call: (414) 297-7554 Leave: NAME + NUMBER Mention: 'Pheasant Fest Giveaway and/or NEBULUS Giveaway' • Legendary dog writer Dave Duffey dies • Jeff gears up for NAIFC tournament in Michigan

Should drones be legalized for any scouting or hunting purposes? Comments [4]

INSTANT SURVEY VOTE ON - POLL s905 Should supplemental feeding of deer be banned in Wisconsin? The Question: "Should supplemental feeding of deer be banned in Wisconsin?" WHAT do YOU think of this. VOTE YOUR OPINION photos c. Minnesota DNR ©2014 Supplemental Deer Feeding Kills More Deer than it Helps With a colder and snowier than usual winter upon us, supplemental winter feeding of deer has been argued by some. However, its effectiveness is not supported by science nor encouraged by professional wildlife biologists. Wisconsin bans baiting and feeding of deer in 33 counties, but allows feeding in the remaining counties, subject to strict regulations. Michigan allows feeding deer in all or parts of seven Upper Peninsula counties from Jan. 15 to May 15, when deep snows hinder deer movement. On January 27, 2014 Bill Cook, Michigan State University Extension, posted this article on the dangers of supplemental feeding of deer. Supplemental winter feeding of white-tailed deer offers no benefit to the size or health of deer herds on the landscape scale. Research has shown this to be true across the northern tier of states from Maine to Montana. Repeatedly. For decades. It is costly. It is ineffective. There are risks of unintended damage to the herd, non-target species and the habitat. It does not increase quality hunting. Deer feeding is controversial, as is most everything surrounding this wildly popular game species. However, the science is not. State wildlife management agencies discourage supplemental feeding. Public funds are not typically used because it has been made clear that it is a poor use of money and is counter-productive. The Wildlife Society, the professional group for wildlife biologists, has a position statement that discourages supplemental feeding. So why does the cry to feed deer during harsher winters occur as regularly as taxes? Maybe it is as simple as well-intentioned people wanting to “do something”. Or, some people just like seeing deer in their backyard. And, on the local level, a well-designed program might pull a few more deer through the winter. Severe winters will kill deer and there is nothing that can be done about it. This is true for many species of wildlife. That is the way of nature and nature is not particularly pretty. READ MORE:

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DAVID GRAY Director of the North American Sport Show describes the world’s first virtual sports show and announces a $10 discount for Outdoors Radio listeners who use promo code > dsoutdoors < JOHN ANNONI Founder of Camp Compass Academy in Allentown, PA talks about the success of his program, 2MILLION BULLETS, that rewards the good schoolwork of inner-city students with hunting and fishing trips MIKE HOWE Director of the Ice Duels tournament series tells how this new competition got started and announces events for the next two weekends MADISON OUTDOORS REPORT - Heard exclusively on FM 100.5 ESPN, ESPNWISCONSIN.COM AND PODCASTS: SPONSORED by SCI Badgerland and Bennetts Meadowood Country Club JIM JOYCE Bait and tackle retailer reports good panfish action on Lake Mason and announces a benefit ice fishing tournament on the lake Feb. 8

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Growing popularity, new bike technology - are bike riders foregoing saftey concerns? Officials are wondering. photo c. BikeAcrossThe Bay.org ©2014 New generation of winter bikes lead to access questions, safety concerns Cyclists encouraged to check for access before heading out and be visible MADISON - The growing popularity winter bicycling and new varieties of bicycle-like vehicles capable of being ridden on snow is generating questions about where they may legally be ridden and raising some concerns about their safe operation with state recreational trail officials. "We receive daily inquiries this time of year about fat bikes and other vehicles that are showing up on trails," said Brigit Brown, state trails coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Fat bikes are bicycles with wide, low-pressure tires that are designed to traverse over snow and sand. The bikes have gained wide popularity in the last few years with some major bicycle manufacturers now producing and selling them. In addition, Brown said she has recently received reports of ski bikes -- a bicycle with a ski in the front and a wheel in the back -- operating on DNR trails that are part of the state's snowmobile route system. "This has led to concern over potential collisions between snowmobilers -- who are traveling at a much higher rate of speed -- and these much slower moving vehicles," Brown said, adding that she is not aware of any such collisions having taken place. Winter bicycling is allowed on DNR state trails that allow bicycling at other times of the year unless that trail is also currently open to and groomed for cross-country skiing. Walking or biking on a groomed cross-country ski trail is prohibited by DNR rules. Cyclists must still pay the state trail pass fee. However, most of the state's vast snowmobile trail system (exit DNR) is located on county, federal, or private lands that may prohibit bicycle use. "Much of the state's extensive snowmobile trail system exists on private lands through agreements with landowners obtained by local volunteers exclusively for snowmobile use," Brown said. Fat bikes are prohibited from use on many snowmobile routes or trails, such as on Bayfield County Forest snowmobile trails. As with any trail, winter cyclists should do their homework before venturing out on a new trail to make sure that theirs is a legal use on that trail. Even when fat or ski bikes are operating legally on multi-use trails also open to snowmobiling, Brown said, there are safety concerns, especially at night. The speed limit for snowmobiles at night is 55 mph. Although snowmobilers must slow down to 10 miles per hour when near others not on another motorized vehicle, if a non-motorized user is not readily able to be seen, snowmobilers may not know to slow down until very close to the other user. While there is some question whether ski bikes meet the legal definition of bicycles, Brown said recreational safety specialists say anyone using these multi-use trails at night should have lighting. "We encourage fat bikers and operators of any other non-motorized vehicles to make themselves visible by using at least front lighting and a rear reflector, and all non-motorized users should wear reflective clothing when on trails open to snowmobiles at night," Brown said. Read more here: FOR MORE INFORMATION: Brigit Brown - (608) 266-2183 or Paul Holtan - (608) 267-7517

The deer herd and winter; this year will see an impact. Help the WDNR keep tabs and report observations. photo c. Randy Crawford ©2014 Wisconsin wildlife officials monitoring winter's impact on deer herd MADISON -- With deep snows and cold temperatures persisting since November, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wildlife officials are paying close attention to winter's impacts on the state's deer herd. They are also asking the public to report any observations of winter deer mortalities. Wildlife managers across the state, and especially in the far north, have received several calls from concerned citizens, according to Kevin Wallenfang, state big game ecologist. "After a tough winter that had an impact on deer numbers in 2013, this certainly isn't what any of us had hoped for," he said. According to Wallenfang, the 2012-13 winter started out fairly mild, but late, significant snows and cold temperatures occurred well into May resulting in direct losses of deer and lower than average fawn production. These factors and others combined to keep deer numbers lower than desired during the hunting season in many areas across the north. "For the 2013 hunting season, antlerless permit numbers were set as low as we've seen them since the 1990s," Wallenfang said. "With deer numbers already low in some areas, this winter is going to slow the recovery of the northern herd." Mike Zeckmeister, district wildlife supervisor in Spooner, says that the first question people usually ask is whether they should start feeding deer. "It's always well-intended, but feeding can do more harm than good if done improperly," Zeckmeister said. "It's understandable that people want to try to help deer through a bad winter. So if you choose to feed, please talk to the local DNR wildlife biologist first for advice." Zeckmeister especially emphasized that straight corn and hay are not recommended as they can be harmful. Instead, a commercialized pellet or mixes containing small quantities of corn, plus alfalfa, oats, and soybeans, as well as various vitamins and minerals is preferable from a deer health concern. It should be spread out to reduce fighting, away from roads or snowmobile trails to avoid collisions, and near sheltered areas out of the wind. Wallenfang also offered a reminder that deer feeding is strictly regulated, and is prohibited in any county affected by CWD. In all other counties, feeding is currently limited to a maximum of 2 gallons per site, must be placed within 50 yards of a dwelling or business building open to the public, and may not be placed within 100 yards of a roadway with a posted speed limit of 45 mph or more. Again, Zeckmeister urged potential feeders to contact the local wildlife manager to discuss various types of food and techniques that will not harm deer, and for a full explanation of additional regulations. DNR biologists annually monitor the effects of winter weather on the deer herd using a Winter Severity Index, which uses a combination of cold temperatures and deep snows to gauge winter stress levels. In addition, they are also spending time in the woods monitoring both deer and winter habitat, as well as talking to loggers, foresters, trappers, and others who spend time in the winter woods. The WSI measurements are recorded annually from December 1 through April 30 at 43 stations spread primarily across the northern third of the state as well as several east-central counties. "Each day that the temperatures fall below zero degrees Fahrenheit and/or the snow depth is more than 18 inches, the conditions are noted for each station," Wallenfang explained. "For example, a day with 20 inches of snow and a temperature of five-below-zero would receive two points for the day." Winter conditions are considered mild if the station accumulates less than 50 points, moderate if between 51 and 80 points, severe if between 81 and100, and very severe if over 100. "The index is not a perfect measurement of winter severity, but it gives us a pretty good gauge of what to expect," says Wallenfang. Wallenfang says that several stations in the far northwestern counties have already surpassed the severe category. Farther south and east, many stations will likely hit the severe classifications later this winter. As a result, Wallenfang anticipates either zero or extremely limited numbers of antlerless deer permits in many northern counties for the 2014 hunting season. "Even if winter suddenly turned mild, we would still anticipate some buck only areas in 2014," Wallenfang added. "Deer numbers have declined in general across much of the north, and in some areas significantly in recent years. Low or zero quotas are an obvious step to help herds recover." "We'll be monitoring the situation across not just the north, but the entire state through spring green-up because we did lose deer in the south last year, as well. We are asking the public to assist with monitoring and would appreciate their help in reporting any winter deer mortality they see to their local wildlife biologist," Wallenfang says. For more information search the DNR website for baiting and feeding regulations. Read more here: FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Wallenfang, Deer and Elk Ecologist - (608) 261-7589 Mike Zeckmeister, Northern District Wildlife Supervisor - (715) 635-4090

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