Deer Hunt 2010 will air Nov 11 on Public Television across the state
Category: press release
Oct 28th, 2010 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Oct 28th, 2010 at 12:00 AM
MADISON – Deer Hunt 2010, hosted by Wisconsin Public Television’s Dan Small and sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources, will air Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. on Milwaukee Public Television station MPTV 10.1 and the Wisconsin Channel of Wisconsin Public Television across the state. A directory of stations can be found on the Wisconsin Public Television website [www.wpt.org/wisconsinchannel] (exit DNR).
The goal of the hour-long broadcast is to review what every hunter needs to know and share some tips that might be new even for the most skilled veteran deer hunters. Viewers will also hear from several veteran hunters “sitting ‘round the campfire” sharing stories and thoughts about memorable hunts, memorable moments in their hunting careers and why they hunt.
DNR customer service specialists will be standing by phones to answer questions from viewers during the broadcast and every other day of the year. DNR operates its information line 1-888-WDNR-INFo (936-7463) 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 7-days a week, year round, including right through the hunting seasons when operators have taken calls from hunters sitting on their deer stands on opening morning.
Host Dan Small will be joined by DNR and UW-Madison wildlife biologists and DNR conservation wardens who will share updates and important information hunters should review before they head to the woods for the November deer hunt.
“Even the most seasoned hunter can forget pieces of important gear or find themselves scrambling at the last minute to get stuff in the truck and hit the road on Friday night,” says Small. “I hope our show will provide a reminder of what to think about and what to have ready to go as you head for deer camp — including being familiar with the hunting rules for your hunting location.”
Highlights of the show will include some interesting aerial footage shot last January from a helicopter as biologists surveyed deer populations in the chronic wasting disease management zone, review of tree stand safety, a statewide deer season forecast, new hunting rules, and an update on CWD. There is also a discussion on scouting for deer and placing food plots in effective spots.
Deer research has been getting a lot of interest lately and the DNR is investing $2 million over the next several years to answer some of the questions hunters have been asking about the role of predators on deer populations, different methods of population surveying, and causes of death among bucks and fawns. This is a joint effort involving the DNR, University of Wisconsin-Madison, many hunting and conservation groups and even AFL-CIO union shops. A UW- Madison wildlife researcher will give viewers a run down of what’s going on and how hunters can get involved. Volunteers are needed for the field work and more than 180 have already signed on.
The face of deer hunters is changing and in addition to research aimed at understanding changes among older hunters, viewers will also get a look at Wisconsin’s Mentored Hunting Law which allows hunters as young as 10 years of age to experience hunting without first passing a hunter education course. The mentored hunt was enormously successful in its first season (2009) with more than 10,000 10- and 11-year-olds participating in the mentored hunting program.
“I hope you’ll join Dan and the rest of the crew in this annual salute to one of our most hallowed traditions, the November deer hunt,” said Tom Hauge, director of the DNR Bureau of Wildlife Management. “It’s part of who we are in Wisconsin and I wish all hunters good luck and safe hunting.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Manwell (608) 264-8942