A quarter-million or so bow and crossbow deer hunters have the opportunity to enjoy some of the best whitetail movement of the fall as the annual mating season, or rut, is underway.

Activity typically peaks the first two to three weeks of November, tailing off by the gun deer opener (this year Nov. 21).

If you’ve got an open bow or crossbow buck tag, now’s a good time to be afield. Department of Natural Resources harvest data from previous seasons shows that the most bucks each bow/crossbow season are taken between late October and mid-November.

Even though archers and crossbow hunters will take some real dandies in the coming weeks, gun hunters typically double what bow and crossbow hunters harvest in a much shorter window. Part of it is that there are 550,000 or so members of the blaze orange gang, but of course the extended range of firearms has a lot to do with it, too.

Many area sportsman’s clubs and public rifle ranges are holding special sight-in days on weekends, with some even offering shooting during the week. It’s a perfect opportunity to make sure you’re dialed in to make a quick, ethical shot before heading out this season. You owe that to the magnificent white-tailed deer, which provides millions of meals of venison for Wisconsin hunters every year.

Sight-in targets

Whitetails Unlimited (WTU) has developed a Sight-In Target Initiative to help ensure hunters and shooting enthusiasts are confident in shooting their firearm safely and accurately.

The initiative consists of a shooting range sight-in kit that includes three 100-yard targets that measure 14 x 16 inches with 1-inch grids and a 6-inch center highlight ring, and a 10 Commandments of Firearm Safety poster.

When sighting-in a firearm, follow all safety rules and handle all firearms as if they are loaded. Make sure the target has an adequate backstop and remember to wear eye and ear protection.

To order a complimentary sight-in kit, call WTU Headquarters at 920.743.6777 or send an email to nh@whitetailsunlimited.com.

Turkey harvest

Zone 2, which includes southern Oconto, Brown, Door, Kewaunee and many other counties in the eastern part of the state, was leading the state’s fall wild turkey harvest through the first five weeks of the season with 395 birds reported.

Zone 3, in the central part of the state, was second (307); Zone 4, in west central Wisconsin, third (293); and Zone 1, in the southwest, fourth (200). Other zone totals include 135 in Zone 6 (northwest), 95 in Zone 5 (northeast), and 88 in Zone 7 (north central).

Find a link to the map of Wisconsin’s wild turkey hunting zones and more info at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/turkey.

Safety first

Teaching and practicing safe firearm handling is critical. Whether on the range sighting in for the gun deer hunt or heading afield for pheasants or other game, think of “TAB-K” to help you remember the four cardinal rules of firearm safety:

• T - Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
• A - Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.
• B - Be certain of your target, and what’s before and beyond it.
• K - Keep your safety on and your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.

Last chance

The deadline to purchase a Lake Winnebago sturgeon spearing license is Saturday, Oct. 31. The February season runs a maximum of 16 days, or until any of the predetermined harvest caps are met.

Those who applied for and had enough points for an upriver system lakes tag have already been notified.

That annual draw is limited to 500 spearers for lakes Poygan, Butte des Morts and Winneconne, collectively.

There’s no limit on licenses sold for Winnebago.

Learn more at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/sturgeon/WinnSysSturgeonSpear.

Commercial fishing

Todd Stuth, chairman of the Lake Michigan Commercial Fishing Board, gave an update to the state Natural Resources Board (NRB) at this week’s NRB meeting in Madison.

You can learn more about the board, see the agenda, and watch archived meetings online at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/NRB/agenda.html.

77th anniversary

Aldo Leopold’s book, A Sand County Almanac, had its 77th anniversary this week. It was first published Oct. 27, 1949.

The Almanac has become a classic text of the conservation movement. Read all about it at https://www.aldoleopold.org/products/a-sand-county-almanac.