Citing the desire of hunters to return to a more traditional season, Governor Scott Walker says he will not approve the use of a brief hunting period that was only allowed in south central Wisconsin’s Chronic Wasting Disease zone. The move is based on a report that argues the early doe harvest has a negative impact on deer behavior, reducing totals during the primary gun deer hunt in November.
A bill signed last year eliminated a four-day October hunt outside of the CWD zone. The law allows the hunt to continue within the targeted area if the governor orders one, which Walker says he will not do.
Governor Walker says the move is a simple and effective way to show hunters that state officials are listening to them.