Loading up for no-EAB gun deer season

With his shotgun tuned up, Ryan Rupp has his sights set in for Saturday's hunting opener.

"I feel like a better chance at getting a buck," said Rupp of Denmark.

For the first time in several years hunters will not have to shoot a doe before going after that trophy buck, with the DNR putting the controversial Earn-a-Buck program on hold this season.

"If it would have stayed Earn-a-Buck I don't think I would have went," said Arlyn Bradley who owns Bradley Gun Sales in Denmark. "A lot of hunters around here still aren't going to go."

Bradley says a lot of his customers are not convinced Earn-a-Buck will not be back next year and say there are not as many deer out there as the DNR estimates.

"We're looking at alternatives to Earn-a-Buck as ways of maintaining herd stability in some of these very productive deer management units," said Jeff Pritzl, wildlife biologist with the DNR.

One of those alternatives is extending the gun deer season to from nine to 16 days.

The DNR says it is now evaluating more than 6,000 letters, emails and online comments on the proposed change as well as input from the more than 1,600 people who attended 11 public hearings across the state.

"A lot of people aren't in favor of it," said Bradley. "Myself, I don't think it makes a whole lot of difference. It's not like you have to go them extra days."

The DNR says most of the feedback is against starting the gun-deer season early, so not to interfere with bow hunting season. But DNR officials say there is more support for a longer season if the extra week was added on the end.

The Natural Resources Board is scheduled to vote next month on the extended hunting period proposal.