Hunting season underway
By John Buss, DNR Conservation Warden
If you're a hunter, leaves turning color and the sound of migrating geese signal a special time of year.
They signal a time when hunters set aside everyday concerns and contemplate the pleasure of going afield.
Hunting brings pleasure that's hard to explain: A combination of getting back to nature and testing your skills and knowledge of the game you seek. But even if you come home without game, you know the time will be well-spent — whether you hunt alone or with companions.
If you do hunt with someone who is new to the sport — be it a son or daughter, spouse or friend — you have an opportunity to pass on a tradition of responsible and safe enjoyment of the outdoors.
And today's hunting culture carries more responsibilities than ever before.
Hunters need to understand that rules have been established to protect game species from those who might otherwise take unfair advantage.
And they must understand that not following these rules can jeopardize wildlife populations and the future of Wisconsin's hunting tradition.
They must also understand the gravity of their actions. Firearms need to be treated with respect, and there are three basic principles: Treat every firearm as if it's loaded, be sure of your target and beyond and never point a firearm in an unsafe direction.
It's also important for hunters to realize that one of the most important relationships they'll foster while hunting is with the private landowners whose land they hunt on. It's a relationship that thrives best in an atmosphere of friendship, but also of respect for property and gratitude for access to it.
Today's young hunters are required to attend and pass a hunter safety training program, where they're instructed in practical applications of loading and unloading firearms, safely crossing fences and other obstructions and handling and storing firearms in the field and at home.
Young people today can be proud of their knowledge and their role in continuing Wisconsin's hunting tradition, but they'll also be watching the more experienced hunters with whom they go afield closely. It's important that experienced hunters set a good example in the field through ethical hunting and safe firearm handling.
So as the leaves have turned and geese are honking, hunters must remember it's more than just a special time of year — it's a time to plan ahead, brush up on regulations, test firearms, foster relationships with landowners and refamiliarize themselves with the lands they hope to hunt.