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Hunters growing frustrated with CWD rules

Mike Palenske, owner of Dam Road Gun Shop in Delavan Township, adjusts the sights on a gun in his shop earlier this week. Thousands of deer hunters are expected to take to Wisconsin woods and fields during the traditional nine-day hunt, which begins Saturday (Nov. 21). Terry Mayer/staff.

WALWORTH COUNTY -- The continuation of the controversial earn-a-buck requirement in chronic wasting disease-management zones -- including Walworth County -- has left many hunters less than enthusiastic about the traditional nine-day whitetail deer-hunting season that begins Saturday (Nov. 21).

Hunters in the two counties must first shoot an antlerless deer in order to "earn" a sticker allowing them to harvest an antlered deer.

Hunters also qualify for the buck-harvest sticker if they shot an antlerless deer from an earn-a-buck or CWD unit last year, or if they registered an antlerless deer in this year's archery season or four-day October antlerless deer hunt. Many others still wonder, however, whether they'll get a chance this year to shoot at a buck.

The unpopular earn-a-buck restriction was lifted in other parts of the state.

"A lot of people talk to me thinking I can do something about it and ask me, 'How come we've got to earn a buck here, and all through the state they called it off," said Dennis Fryar, a hunter's education instructor in Elkhorn. "I've had people already say they're not going to hunt. It's just a handful here and there, but it adds up."

Read the full story in the Nov. 15, 2009 e-edition of Walworth County Sunday, HERE.