Pandemic’s silver lining is more hunters afield

The COVID-19 pandemic that has disrupted our lives in so many ways has adversely affected the physical and mental health of some and closed schools, small businesses and so many of our social, musical and theatrical events.

But the silver lining is that we’ve had more time to spend with our families at home and, for those who have either lost their jobs or seen furloughs or reduced hours, more time for recreation outdoors.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has confirmed a 15% increase in the sale of archery deer licenses, which includes both bow and crossbow permits, compared to last season. DNR officials are certain that at least some of that increase is because of the pandemic.

“Certainly the cancellations of activities and people choosing to stay close to home is contributing to the increased interest in hunting this fall,” Bob Nack, big game section chief of the DNR’s Bureau of Wildlife Management, said in an e-mail. “Hunting provides great opportunities to socially distance from others, secure meat for the freezer and enjoy all the beauty of fall in Wisconsin.”

Nack noted the increase in archery deer licenses follows the trend started with a 12% increase in spring turkey licenses. These seasons started in April, a few weeks after the pandemic’s widespread shutdowns began in Wisconsin in mid-March.

As of late October, gun deer license sales were up 11% from last year, and the sale of patron licenses — which give hunters and anglers most of the various licenses and permits needed to pursue most fish and game species — were up 6%.

Families struggling to make ends meet because of reduced or lost jobs are picking up their bows and crossbows in greater numbers this fall in the hope of putting a deer or two in the freezer. The state’s archery deer season began Sept. 12 and continues through Jan. 3. A few counties have an extended archery deer season through Jan. 31, including Oconto and Outagamie counties.

Social media have been bustling with photos and information on trophy bucks and fat does being taken by the state’s archery hunters. One site, Facebook’s Wisconsin Rut Report, features impressive bucks harvested throughout the state. Another great source of information for both new and veteran hunters is lake-link.com, which features a variety of hunting forums on big game and general hunting discussions.

Many shooters and hunters have found the past year a challenge amid widespread shortages of ammunition, particularly for handguns. Sporting goods stores have virtually bare shelves for 9mm, .40, .45, .38 Special and other calibers, and few handguns remain. Some blame increases in rioting and looting, while others blame election fears or simple hoarding.

The shortage of ammunition has now spread to the more popular hunting rifle calibers and even shotgun slugs. Wisconsin legalized centerfire rifles statewide for deer hunting many years ago, generally reducing the popularity of shotgun slugs for hunting because of the rifle’s superior accuracy and longer range.

At a recent visit to Scheels in Fox River Mall, Appleton, an employee of the archery department said he was sold out of crossbow bolts. It’s almost hard to believe that such a large sporting goods retailer could sell out of such a basic deer hunting necessity for crossbow hunters, but such situations seem to be coming more commonplace.

Although many of Wisconsin’s deer hunters butcher and process their own venison, the increase in deer hunting interest is likely to be seen at area meat markets that are still willing to process deer. With the increase in Chronic Wasting Disease in northeast Wisconsin, some butcher shops will only take deboned meat for making sausage and other venison products.

The DNR has increased the number of CWD testing kiosks, where hunters are encouraged to drop off the heads of their harvested deer, then wait to get the results before eating the meat, although the official stance is that CWD-infected meat has not been proven to transmit any disease to humans.

More information on CWD testing is available at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/registersample.html

This map includes disposal sites where hunters may take their carcasses after field dressing and deboning. The Shawano City Landfill and Navarino State Wildlife Area are both accepting deer carcasses.

The Navarino Field Office and Marion Plaza Shell Station also offer self-service testing kiosks.

It’s certain 2020 will go down as a year to remember. But for hunters, it can be remembered as a year of more opportunities and more time spent afield.

Ross Bielema is a freelance writer from New London and owner of Wolf River Concealed Carry LLC. Contact him at Ross@wolfriverccw.com.