New Wisconsin Coyote Hunting Season

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snowking

New member
Apparently our state's resident furbearer ecologist want to propose putting a season in place for coyotes that would run similar to the fox season. In the latest issue of Wisconsin Outdoor News, John Olson, from the DNR, is quoted as saying,

"In reality the proposed coyote season doesn't take anything away, but improves the image of us hunters in the eyes of the public. But it's possible some folks will not agree with the idea."

WHAT? How could anyone be in favor of this? If the "new coyote season" was to run similar to the fox season, our coyote hunting would be done for this season in two weeks! We just got snow around here, and usually, there's two more months of it to go. Now were talking about ending it in January?

And why for heavens sakes are we now coddling to the anti's and trying to make them like us all of a sudden? As long as the population can handle the pressure from hunting, why would we limit the opportunities for those of who do hunt them intentionally, and not as a incidental target during some other hunting season (deer)?

Call this gentleman at the DNR at voice your concerns. The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation chairman Ralph Fritsch has already stated, "I wouldn't be in favor of a closed season on coyotes - no way."

Call John Olson at the DNR, Your local rep or state senator, or the Gov's office if you have to. I will. This can't happen. I have too much time, money, and sweat invested in this sport to have my time spent in the woods cut in half, just to make someone else like me. Pass this on!

Phone Numbers

John Olson ,Furbearer Ecologist, 715-685-2934

Shawn Rossler Asst. Furbearer Ecologist 608-261-6452
 
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SnowKing,
I recently heard about this dismal news yesterday and was going to try to find the source of it. I am glad to see your post here. I am going to call and voice my concerns tomorrow and will also let other hunters know, as well as a State Senator who is my friend.

In my opinion, our season is and has been fine all along.
Who is he trying to impress and 'look good in the eyes of the public". What public?

Please, all Wisconsin hunters, call these numbers and voice our concerns.
Thanks for the post, SnowKing
 
Another thing that's upsetting to me about this whole deal is the fact that our opportunities for hunting coyotes has already been messed up because of the nine different deer seasons we have down here in the southern part of the state. There were a total of what, 3 weekends this fall where i didn't have to wear orange? So much for "expanding" the outdoor experience!

How would you like to be one of the groups that run dogs for yotes? There are several groups/clubs down here by me that technically would only be able to go out two weekends a year. Why would they waste there time and money?

This needs to be stopped before it has a chance to start.

Snowking
 
Snowking,

I will also call Mr. Olson and voice my concerns about this new proposed season. I have read the latest issue of WI Outdoor News ( Vol 19, # 01, 1/13/12) cover to cover and missed this quote. Was his quote in this issue, or in a recently past version?

I would like to read the full story just so I stay informed. It is very ironic this would be proposed now, as just a few weeks ago Andrew Wydeven ( our renowned wolf biologist
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) was quoted in a December issue saying " coyotes are at an all-time high throughout the state"! If that is true, why on earth would we limit the season now or anytime in the future?!!?

Anyway, thanks for the heads up. I am sure we can put a stop to this before it gets any further.
 
The article is in Wisconsin Outdoor News, Vol 18, No 26, Jan. 6,2012 - Jan 20, 2012. Page 6. It's the one with the white weasel on the front page.
 
Besides the proposed new "season" and it's affect on my hunting, what business is it of John Olson's to decide how I should be perceived?

John Olson is listed as an "ecologist", but somehow in his interpretation of his job description he's decided to become a "sociologist". While I'd be more than happy to hear his profesional opinions on furbearing animals, I'd rather not hear his opinion on how we should be percieved. Nor do I think we as tax-payers should pay for a biologist who's decided to cross the line and base his profesional descisions on popularity rather than science. If that's what Mr. Olson wants to do, I'd suggest he goes back to school and get a degree in political science rather than biology.

I don't need the Mr. Olson to speak for or represent me with regards to the non-hunting or anti hunting public. I just want him to do the job he is being paid to do as an ecologist. But to propose new seasons for game based on public perception over-steps the line. The more our hunting heritage gives away for the sake of image, the less we'll have and WE'LL NEVER GET IT BACK!

Apparently he doesn't hunt coyotes. When he says "the proposed coyote season doesn't take anything away", he must be refering to himself. Let's see here, losing two months of being able to hunt with snow on the ground sure seems like a huge loss to me!

Coyote numbers are at an all time high and he wants to close the season for "image"? Does this guy hear himself?

Make sure you pass this on to all your deer hunting buddies, I'm sure they'll be happy to learn that these fawn killers will be given a 9 month reprieve every year. Coyote numbers are up, deer numbers are down, but let's stop hunting coyotes because of public perception? Maybe he's a closet PETA member.

Call your friends and let them know what's going on. Have them call John Olson too.



 
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I cant believe I didnt hear of this!It caught my eye scrolling down the forums.I will be calling also,thanks for posting this!
 
Snowking, I could not express it any better. After reading the article in question and all of Mr. Olson's comments, who is he to decide that establishing a partial closed season on coyotes improves our public image?

I hope common sense will prevail on this, but it seems our voices get heard less and less as time goes on. To base this decision on the supposed social aspect only, with no regard to the wildlife/hunter impact is fundamentally wrong.

If you enjoy the current coyote hunting opportunities this state provides, contact Mr. Olson and give him your opinion. I keep getting his voicemail, his email is johnf.olson@wisconsin.gov for another form of contact.
 
I got a voicemail message from Mr. Olson this morning, and there are some clarifications to be made in the understanding of his proposal. The WI Outdoor News article does not give an accurate account of the terms of this proposal.

According to Mr. Olson, the proposed closure of coyote hunting statewide would be April 1st to August when they are raising young in the dens.

In addition, the fox season would be extended from the current Feb 15th closing to match the proposed coyote closure on April 1st, giving us an additional 1.5 months to fox hunt.
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This proposal would probably not be introduced till the spring hearings of 2013, and would not affect landowners, occupants, or nuisance control coyotes which would still be year-round.

I personally like the fox season extension, but am still not in favor of giving up the current year-round coyote season. Even though I currently don't hunt coyotes that time of year, I don't like the idea of giving an inch when it comes to anti-hunter perceptions of us.

Don't want to step on your toes on this Snowking, just wanted to pass this info on so we all stay informed.
 
I just called John Olson and spoke with him. He said I was about the 5th caller this morning the 17th of January. He defended his position on the coyotes, I defended my position of not changing the open coyote season all year long. I told him coyote hunting is not like other types of hunting, you have to want to hunt them, as you may have to be out most of the night or during the day, it's not like gong out and picking up a gun to go grouse hunting. He is aware of this but will attempt to go forward anyway with his proposal. He will get this to the governor's office for review.
He wanted to know why we want the hunting times not changed so be prepared for that and don't buckle under one tiny bit.
 
Hi Guys, New here and this thread got me to sign up. Anyway this is why Act21 is a bad thing for WI. Sportsmen and women.
Rather than making a resolution and having people vote on it in the Conservation Congress. Anyone with a contact or money can now bypass the CC and have a Legislator create legislation such as this and not giving people a say in the matter.
Currently WI. has a hunter friendly Governor. What happens when we don't.

Contact your Legislators and make them aware of this and let them know where you stand and ask them to do the same.
 
Might possibly want to contact WI bear hunters association even though I'm sure they already know. They really push issues like this I've heard.
 
Don't worry about stepping on my toes WI Predator Hunter, I want the facts as much as anyone, just can't seem to get any real answers. I called and left a message, but received no response.

While glad to hear about the extended fox season, why would we close an open season on an animal that's not protected, whose numbers are through the roof, and which probably accounts for more fawn predation than all other predators combined? Didn't we just sign on a "Deer Czar" here for our state to help give suggestions on the deer herd and it's lackluster hunting seasons the past few years?
Now we're going to protect coyotes? Does one side of the DNR talk to the other?

I don't hunt during the summer months anyway but that's not the point. The point is that our opportunities to hunt in this state are being threatened for no other reason than outside social pressure being placed (whether real or imagined) on the head of a gentleman whose real job is to help manage the resource, NOT to arbitrarily propose laws based on his or anyone else's perception of what we should be.

Snowking
 
I emailed Mr. Olson this morning and below is his response. I have been lurking here for a year now and haven't posted until now. This was something I was very interested in getting to know more about. I simply asked in the email for him to explain the proposed changes. Here is his response.

"It's a rule proposal to open coyote hunting during the deer gun season in northern WI and to establish a coyote hunting season to be the same as a new proposed fox season - beginning when it currently does in mid-October and extending until March 31. Currently the fox season ends mid-February, with this proposal extending this season 6 additional weeks.



There is no coyote hunting season right now, yet this proposal would not change the landowner right to shoot nuisance or damage coyotes year round. In addition, any landowner can give written permission to anyone with valid licenses to shoot coyotes on their property year round as well. This new proposal would affect public land by closing the recreational coyote hunting season during the spring and summer months, a time when there is no documented recreational hunting of coyotes on public land. Part of the reason for this proposal is to clean up our image as hunters, by not giving the antis' the argument that we're killing coyotes when pups are in the dens; and the other part, when you establish a season, folks take notice and you end up with greater interest and increased harvest. Look at black bear - in the early 1960's there was no season and anyone could shoot them out of dens during the deer gun season. The WCD actually hired hounds men to chase bear and encourage citizens with interest to shoot them. It took hold and look where we're at now - it's a coveted big game species for which you have to wait years just to get a permit. With coyotes a season closure would encourage folks to get out there and participate prior. Without a season most of us never "get-around-to-it".



If this proposal has merit, it will take at least until 2013 or 2014 before it would even makes it on the spring hearing, so quite a bit of time for input and discussion. This was initiated as a request by legislators to simplify regulations and is part of a larger furbearer rule that would simplify zones and seasons. Any other questions just holler. Take care."
 
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