Posted: 11/30/04
Deer registration numbers up from last year
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Better than last year.
Those four words sum up what workers at local deer registration stations are saying about this yearís harvest.
Here is a sampling from around the county.
ï Little Miami, Freeburg: ìThe doe season was really, really good for us,î said employee Beth Buege. She estimated 120-130 deer had been registered in the in two seasons as of November 26.
ï Wiebke Fur Company, Eitzen: The number of deer registered there was up a little bit from last year, for the doe season at least, manager Jason Wiebke said on November 26.
ï Bissenís Tavern, Brownsville: ìIt seems like itís running pretty good,î owner Tim Bissen said. He had registered over 270 animals, including those from the archery season, as of November 26.
ï Hokah Hardware, Hokah: Owner Carol Moore said numbers were up from last year.
ï Houston Amoco Food Shop, Houston: ìItís going very well,î manager Teesh Vix said. ìItís been very busy. I know that itís up from last year, it has to be.î
ï Tri State Bait and Tackle, La Crescent: The first season was better than last year, said owner Bob Veglahn. He registered 195 bucks. The second season seems slower than last year., he said on November 26, but that could change as the season ends and people bring in the deer that are hanging.
ï Bjerkeís True Value, Spring Grove: More deer have been registered this year than last year, said employee Kristy Folz.
ï Caledonia True Value, Caledonia: Owner Jim Jennings said that registration was about the same as last year.
ï Solie Services, Spring Grove: Owner Gary Solie said numbers are at or above last year. ìIt seems like the hunters Iím talking too are having pretty good success.î
Game warden agrees
DNR conservation officer Scott Fritz of La Crescent said the bucks-only season ended on a real good note. ìI think the harvest appeared to be on pace which what they had last year,î he said.
Many people who had antlerless permits through a lottery took advantage of them, he added
The doe harvest was generally good, although a little spotty in some areas, Fritz said. That may have stemmed from deer congregating where landowners do not allow hunting. ìIt seems deer figure out when there are not hunters on certain tracts of land,î Fritz said.
ìAnd the weather been great,î he added: not too warm, and cool enough so hunters can walk all day ìVery conducive to hunting deer.î
He noted on November 26 that deer were still moving during middle of the day, which indicated there was still a rut going on.
Fritz has seen a big shift in how people hunt. They used to have larger parties where they would drive land. ìWith the emphasis on bucks and maybe bigger bucks, people are doing a lot more stand hunting,î he feels.
There have been fewer infractions because of that, he added.
Plus land ownership has changed drastically in last 15 years. People are buying land just for hunting and are posting it, so people arenít driving it, Fritz said.
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