Wis. gears up for deer hunting season

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s blaze orange army is back.

The state’s gun deer season starts Saturday. Thousands of hunters are planning their vacation days, stocking up on supplies and re-connecting with old friends. And they’re happier than they’ve been in a long time.

For the third straight year, the Department of Natural Resources’ earn-a-buck requirement will apply only to chronic wasting disease zones. What’s more, the state Legislature passed a measure this year outlawing the program outside the CWD zones starting next year.

Hunters generally despise earn-a-buck, a herd control strategy that requires hunters to kill an antlerless deer before taking a buck.

Whitetails Unlimited President Jeff Schinkten says anger over earn-a-buck has subsided and hunters are looking forward to getting out.