These dogs are allowed to run loose across the countryside, far away from their owners, and out of their control. This month a law has been proposed to exempt hunting hounds from having dog licenses and proof of rabies vaccinations carried by their owners while hunting. The results have been predictable: Several dogs were shot by coyote hunters in 2016, and over 90 dogs were caught in traps.īut the beat goes on. As of 2015, over 97% of DNR property is now open to hunting and trapping, along with 5 million acres of federal and county properties which previously did not allow hunting. The WI Department of Natural Resources authorized year-round 24/7 coyote hunting in areas utilized by hikers, skiers and bird watchers. The “Hunting Heritage Bill” of 2012 opened up our state parks to hunting and trapping. The current legislature is obsessed (there is no other word) with hunter’s rights and their access to every possible piece of public property, including land where hunting was historically not allowed. She and I now live in a state where safe access to public land, including in county parks and associated areas, has been so compromised that many of us have lost the ability to enjoy the beautiful land in which we live. This is why this case is not just about a locally beloved veterinarian and the unbearable death of her dogs. Allow rifle hunting (and trapping) in areas that, prior to a new law passed in 2015, were previously 100% safe for those of us who love the out doors, who cherished being able to share them with all of our loved ones, whether two or four-legged. Allow rifle hunting in areas that also encourage hikers, dog walkers, star gazers and bird watchers. Allow night hunting of coyotes, canids who are often mistaken for domestic dogs or wolves.

You couldn’t set up a recipe for heartbreak better if you tried: Allow rifle hunting at night, when it’s dark and difficult for a hunter to identify his target. That’s not all that is allowed at Badfish: You can hunt coyotes there too, day or night. The sign at the entrance to the area says that hiking and skiing are allowed and that dogs are allowed most of the year, except during the spring/summer nesting season of some ground-nesting birds. In court, she described her dogs as “her life.” She was running them that night, with reflective vests on, in preparation for a 200-mile skijoring race in one of the few places where dogs are allowed to be off leash in Dane County. Clark loved Frannie and Gary like I love my dogs, and like many of you love yours. Heartbreaking doesn’t begin to describe this case. She thought Gary might have a chance to survive. Deanna Clark, described the heartbreak of leaving Frannie on the trail as she died in order to try to save her other dog. At his trial this week in Madison, WI, proceedings were paused because the court reporter began crying as the dog’s owner, Veterinarian Dr. The hunter, who thought the dogs were coyotes, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of mistreatment of animals and one count of reckless handling of a firearm. His pelvis was shattered, and he died a few days later after extensive efforts to save him. Gary, described as a 75 pound, slap-happy, yellow-furred, Mastiff cross, was shot from behind. Her lungs collapsed, and she died on the trail at Badfish Creek Wildlife Area in Dane County, WI. Frannie, a joyful, luminous Husky, was shot in the chest. On January 22 nd, 2016, Frannie and Gary were shot and killed by a coyote hunter. I wish more than I can say that I didn’t feel a need to tell you this story.) I write it only because it is about an important issue, and something I’ve been involved in for almost two years. Semi-annual reports are distributed in April and August.(Warning: This is not a happy holiday tale. These reports were made possible by Pittman-Robertson funding. Harvest is influenced by game population levels, hunter effort, hunting regulations, weather conditions and pelt prices. Thus, caution should be used in interpreting trends in harvest estimates as indices of population trends. Historical harvest estimates are indices of harvest trends. Interpretations of data in these reports are subject to change as a result of data verification and more extensive data analysis. Wildlife reports are divided into surveys addressing five species groups: small game, big game, waterfowl, furbearers and nongame. Results from these reports will be used by wildlife program managers to inform them on harvest, participation and hunter efforts and opinions to help them make decisions on species management.

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