Since 2022, I have been collecting deer and elk antlers for Deb Delie, one of many puppy raisers for Leader Dogs for the Blind.

These antlers are used for chew toys for the puppies. In most cases, they must be cut down. Just a single point is enough for a puppy, so large antlers can be used to make lots of chew toys.

Deer and elk antlers are used because they don’t splinter when they are chewed on.

In an earlier column, I stated people are remembering I have been collecting and they bring me antlers all year long as they clean out houses and/or garages.

I collected 11 antlers totaling 25 points in 2022, 18 antlers totaling 57 points in 2023 and 47 antlers totaling 126 points in 2024.

Anyone cleaning out a house/garage who comes across old, unwanted antlers, please give me a call at 920-682-3106 to donate them.

Where to find CWD kiosks, deer carcass dumpsters in Manitowoc County

Steve Easterly, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist, provided the following information for deer hunters.

Kiosks for chronic wasting disease testing will be at the following locations:

• Collins DNR station at Collins Marsh, 107 N. County Road W, Reedsville;
• BRW Processing, 512 Washington St., Valders;
• Kiel Fish & Game, 22721 Fish and Game Road, Kiel;
• Country Visions Cooperative, 150 E. Main St., Mishicot; and
• Manitowoc Gun Club, 3112 Clover Road, Manitowoc.

Dumpsters for deer carcasses will be out just before the nine-day season and the end date will be variable based on the club, but most will be at least through or close to the end of muzzleloader season. They include the following:

• Manitowoc Gun Club, 3112 Clover Road, Manitowoc;
• Reedsville Sportsman’s Club, 7015 Pleasantview Road, Reedsville;
• Kiel Fish & Game, 22721 Fish and Game Road, Kiel;
• Larrabee Sportsmans Club, 16306 Harpt Lake Road, Mishicot;
• Westshore Sportsman’s Club, 11267 Lakeshore Road, Two Rivers; and
• Cleveland Fish & Game property on Lakeshore Drive, 1 mile south of the village of Cleveland.

Exchange deer hides for leather deer skin gloves

Alan Arkens from Sandy Bay Mink Ranch will take fresh or frozen deer hides with the tail on in exchange for leather deer skin gloves. He will have a drop-off point. Contact him at 920-323-9339.

Remaining hunting season dates

Here’s a reminder of the remaining deer hunting season dates in Wisconsin:

• Nov. 22-30: Gun
• Dec. 1-10: Muzzleloader
• Dec. 11-14: Statewide antlerless-only hunt
• Dec. 24-Jan. 1, 2026: Antlerless-only holiday hunt

Lakes Association meeting includes presentation on Carstens Lake project

Manitowoc County Lakes Association will hold its next meeting on Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Manitowoc County Office Complex, 4319 Expo Drive in Manitowoc. It will be in room 300 at 6:30 p.m.

Kyle Herrman, professor of Fisheries and Water Resources at UW-Stevens Point, and his graduate student, Grace Hiley, will give a brief presentation on the research regarding the phosphorous sorbing media that is planned to be used at the Carstens Lake project. They will also provide a plan on what will happen at the currently installed sedimentation basin next spring.

Rifle & Pistol Club’s deer hunters’ sight-in is Nov. 15-16

Manitowoc Rifle & Pistol Club will hold its annual deer hunters’ sight-in. This year, it will be offering the service from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 15 and 16.

Any questions, contact Randy Ammerman, treasurer, at 920-323-1819.

DNR announces bear season preliminary results

Wisconsin DNR recently revealed preliminary results for the 2025 bear season.

This fall, bear hunters harvested 3,724 bears during the 35-day season, placing this season on par with the five-year average of about 3,800 bears annually.

This year’s harvest was slightly below the overall harvest target of 4,075 bears, but within the expected range of harvest for this fall.

“Reports from the field seemed variable this year,” said Randy Johnson, DNR large carnivore specialist. “Some hunters reported this was one of the best years of bear hunting they’ve experienced, while others were challenged by abundant acorns and corn, reducing the effectiveness of their baits.

“Bear hunters across the state also faced below-average temperatures in the beginning part of the season, followed by above-average temperatures towards the end of the season, each of which can affect bear activity,” Johnson said.

“Overall, hunter success rates ended up slightly below average, translating to overall bear harvest right about where we anticipated,” he concluded.

The 2025 bear season ran from Sept. 3 to Oct. 7. A total of 13,110 bear hunting licenses were awarded to hunters through the license lottery system. Statewide, hunter success was about 28%, slightly below the five-year average hunter success rate of 32%. Hunter success rates in individual zones varied from as high as 69% in Zone A to less than 10% in Zones E and F.

Johnson explained: “Each year, we evaluate the outcome of the harvest season as well as several other important metrics, such as agricultural damages due to bears and residential bear complaints. We use this information to adjust license and harvest levels as needed in different regions of the state to affect the bear population and data trends. This adaptive management strategy is what allows us to strive towards sustainable bear population levels, compatible with the habitat and public preferences.”

That’s it for this week, so have fun in the great outdoors.