Apply now for unique deer hunts offered at Sandhill Wildlife Demonstration Area this fall

Apply now for unique deer hunts offered at Sandhill Wildlife Demonstration Area this fall

Contact(s): Darren Ladwig, DNR wildlife biologist, 715-884-6331

[EDITOR’S ADVISORY: This news release has been updated to correct the photo caption.  We regret the error.]

BABCOCK – Two unique deer hunting opportunities to be held this fall at Sandhill Wildlife Demonstration Area will provide opportunities for youth to learn to hunt and one for beginning adults. A one-day learn-to-hunt workshop is open to both youth ages 12-15 and adult beginners.

The youth program is open to young people with varying levels of hunting experience while the program for adult beginners (16 years or older) is intended for individuals who have no previous experience hunting deer with a firearm before. All participants must complete a Hunter Education course prior to the hunt portion of the program.

This unique program includes a workshop that will educate participants in the following topics:

• • Deer biology and management;
  • Hunting rules and regulations;
  • Sportsmanship and ethical hunter behavior; and
  • Basic firearm safety and marksmanship.

The workshop will culminate in a one-day hunt to be held Nov. 2, 2019. It is important to note that all participants and chaperones are required to attend the workshop.

The learn-to-hunt workshop culminates with a one-day hunt for deer of either sex on Nov. 2. The second opportunity, a two-day, antlerless-only hunt, will be held on Nov. 9-10.Photo credit: DNR

The second opportunity, a two-day antlerless-only hunt, is open to youth ages 12-15 and experienced adult hunters. This hunt will be held Nov. 9-10 and does not require a pre-hunt workshop, but participants will be required to review the hunting rules and regulations for Sandhill prior to the hunt.

This two-day, antlerless-only hunt is being held to achieve deer population goals within the 9,150-acre Sandhill Wildlife Demonstration Area near Babcock.

“We have now experienced five consecutive years of mild winters at Sandhill as described by the Winter Severity Index, and deer numbers will need to be reduced to maintain over-winter densities of 25 deer/square mile,” said Darren Ladwig, wildlife biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The deadline to apply for either the learn to hunt workshop or the two-day antlerless-only hunt is June 30, 2019. Applications are available on the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, by searching for Sandhill Outdoor Skills Center and at all Department of Natural Resources Service Centers. Sandhill Wildlife Area and online at the. information regarding the hunt and application instructions are attached to the permit application.

For more information, contact the Sandhill Wildlife Demonstration Area office, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 715-884-6331 or e-mail Darren Ladwig at [email protected].