Lakeland Mirror

Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: News

Media Credit: http://www.brownrealtyco.com

Media Credit: http://lh6.ggpht.com

The leaves have fallen off most of the trees, some mornings have been spent scraping frost off windows, and - for most people - shorts have been relegated to the back of the drawers. It is fall in Wisconsin, which means one thing to nearly 650,000 people in the Badger state - deer season is almost here.

Deer hunting is a strong tradition in our state, one that most hunters take seriously. After last year's hunt many left the woods disappointed. Numerous hunters were concerned that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) had miscalculated the deer population going into the hunt. The harvest was down from the previous year's. However, it was still the tenth highest on record.

The forecast for deer season in Sheboygan County is looking promising. According to a report from Tami Ryan, DNR regional wildlife supervisor, the deer population in the southeast region of Wisconsin (which includes Sheboygan County) is still above healthy population goals. This year's gun deer season runs from Nov. 21 to Nov. 29.

Regulations regarding all hunting seasons are available on the DNR website (www.dnr.wi.gov). According to the regulations, all full-time non-resident students at Lakeland are eligible to purchase hunting licenses at resident rates:

"Full-time non-resident students in residence at any public or private Wisconsin college, technical college, or university offering a degree or foreign citizens residing in the state and attending a Wisconsin high school or a university agricultural short course, may purchase hunting and fishing licenses at resident prices."

According to Wildlife Biologist, Dan Weidert, Plymouth, there is ample public hunting opportunities in the Sheboygan area. "Maps for three of the four Wildlife Areas - Kiel Marsh, Sheboygan Marsh, and Nichols Creek - that I manage are available from the DNR website (dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/wildlife_areas/map.htm)."

"In addition, DNR has a handy web-mapping tool at dnrmaps.wisconsin.gov where anyone can access aerial photos, topographic maps and other data to make their own maps for use in the field on any DNR managed lands in the state."

Director of Campus Safety and Security Annette Gamache would like to remind students that weapons are not allowed in any student housing. "The policy set forth on campus is that there is to be no weapons, including firearms, bow and arrow, swords, and ammunition on campus."

Lakeland understands that a portion of students do hunt and have set up a means for students to store weapons with the security office. "A form is available at the security office for students to fill out when they check in weapons when they arrive on campus. They should park outside the security office to drop off, or pick-up, their weapons," said Gamache.

"If a student is going hunting at 5 a.m. I ask that they let us know the day before and someone will be available to meet them at 5 a.m."

Gamache also wanted to remind students that there is no hunting allowed on Lakeland property, including Grether Woods. She also added that "deer season is not a good time to go playing in the woods." She reiterated that the adjacent properties are private and those landowners may be out hunting.

The nearest deer registration stations to Lakeland are Fleet Farm and the DNR Service Center in Plymouth, as well as Howards Grove Meat Market. Resident gun deer licenses are $24 and may be purchased at Fleet Farm or the DNR Service Center in Plymouth, or at Gander Mountain in Sheboygan.

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