Deer hunters need to completely fill in registration stubs

MADISON – Under a new Earn-a-Buck (EAB) prequalification program in Wisconsin, hunters who registered an antlerless deer last year that was shot in a deer management unit that is in EAB this year are prequalified for a buck harvest sticker. With a sticker and their gun buck deer carcass tag or archery either sex deer carcass tag, they can take a buck right away if that is their preference and the opportunity presents itself.

Wildlife officials stress that the prequalification system is based on accurate registration records and a hunter not finding his or her name on the list of prequalified hunters may be due to incomplete or unreadable registration stubs. So officials are again stressing that hunters need to clearly, carefully, and completely fill out their deer registration stubs to ensure that information about the deer they register is accurately recorded with the Department of Natural Resources.

“We’ve received more than 1,000 e-mail contacts from hunters wondering where their buck sticker is since our mass mailing of over 70,000 buck stickers on Sept. 12,” said Keith Warnke, deer and bear ecologist for the Department of Natural Resources.

Hunters can check the DNR Web site to verify that they are on the prequalification list. Hunters will need to have their DNR customer ID number to check the database. License vendors do not have access to the prequalification list.

Those hunters listed on the Web site as prequalified should have received their buck harvest stickers by now. Hunters who believe they should be prequalified but aren’t listed, or hunters who are listed as prequalified but have not received a sticker can use an e-mail link on the Web site to send in information about the antlerless deer they registered last year or to notify the agency that they have not received a sticker.

Hunters who do not have Internet access should contact a DNR Service Center for assistance.

Up to one third of license sales are purchased in the last week prior to the gun deer season opener according to sales records. While buying a license in the last week before the opener seems to be somewhat of a tradition for many hunters and hunting parties, waiting until then to inquire about a buck sticker could mean not receiving that sticker until after the opener due to processing time and time in the mail.

“If you have a hunting buddy or know of someone that hasn’t checked to see if they are prequalified, give them a friendly reminder to do it now,” suggests Warnke. “In addition to scouting and patterning game prior to the opener, part of being a successful hunter is to verify your landowner permissions, check your equipment and be sure you have all necessary licenses and permits ready before the season comes around.

“Another thing to keep in mind,” adds Warnke, is that if the unit you hunt in is in EAB this season, there is at least a good chance it could be in EAB again next year. Harvesting additional antlerless deer this year will give you a buck sticker(s) to use right off the bat next year. The sticker you receive at a registration station will have both 2006 and 2007 printed on it. It is good either year, if you don’t use it this year, make sure you keep the sticker in a safe place and don’t lose it.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Warnke - (608) 264-6023 or Brad Koele - (608) 2617589