Thursday, December 19, 2013

UW-La Crosse: One of the Safest Campuses in Wisconsin, by Shelby Phillips

The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse can add campus safety to its yearly achievements.  Campus police Chief Scott Rohde reports that constant patrols and visibility make up for the bulk of UW-L’s low crime rates. 

This phenomenon is in stark contrast to the amount of crime on the city streets.  According to Chief Rohde, UW-L’s campus police have a habit of always showing a presence around campus, to reduce the opportunity for individuals to commit crimes.  Students are not only benefitting from the campus police’s vigilance, and the immediate community receives better safety as a byproduct.  “Those who live near campus are glad to live in the area because of patrols, thus lower crime levels.”

Patrol methods used regularly by UW-L’s campus police include patrol by car, golf cart, bicycles and undercover foot patrols.  Police received $16,000 this year in grant funding from the state for these low-profile patrols. “We do un-uniformed officers in the early part of Fall semester; We’ve actually walked into marijuana sales and seen a cocaine transaction.”  The younger officers can usually pass for college students, thus they are used in a manner that is reminiscent of 21 Jump Street

Most of the problems on campus are alcohol related.  “Alcohol-related offenses, the bar graph is really high, for everything else it’s very low.  We think underage citations are about 10% of what’s happening.  Alcohol-related are noise, damage or drug sales. Violent crimes or threats are really low, 10-11 per calendar year.  Nationally, only 50% of crimes are ever reported.”  Low crime numbers are a good indication but by no means a total estimate of criminal activity.  On campus too there is typically low reporting .


Campus police headquarters has recently moved its location from the corner of East Avenue and Farwell Street to its updated location connected to the new parking ramp down the road.  

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Christmas "Gay" or "Fun?" by Melissa Koch


After apologizing last month for changing the word of a well-known Christmas song from “gay” to “fun” on an ornament, Hallmark continues to sell the product.

Hallmark received much criticism from shoppers, some of whom stated they would discontinue shopping at the company, after it came out with the new ornament. The ornament is in the shape of a sweater in printed with the lyrics to “Deck the Halls.”  Instead of the traditional “Don we now our gay apparel,” it reads “Don we now our fun apparel.”

There have been many complaints that the change is unnecessary and offensive. By eliminating the traditional word, people argue that Hallmark is making the statement that it is not ok to be gay.

Director of the Pride Center at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, Willem Van Roosenbeek, says it didn’t make sense for Hallmark to change the lyric. “I think it was a little foolish. Gay meant fun during the time period when that song was written. It can be heard in a number of Christmas Carols. It was appropriate for that time.” Van Roosenbeek is discouraged that the meaning has changed. “I don’t hear any people using it in that way today; which is unfortunate, because it had a very positive connotation.”

Asked if Hallmark should stop selling the ornament, Van Roosenbeek said he didn’t want to force them to stop selling it. Instead, he believes this story can be used to set an example. “Hopefully it will open up dialogue about the word use, have people discuss what to do about these traditional holiday songs now that the meaning has changed. We should use this as an opportunity to talk about the subject.”

Hallmark first tried defending the lyric change last month. “‘When the lyrics to 'Deck the Halls' were translated from Gaelic and published in English back in the 1800's, the word 'gay' meant festive or merry," according to a statement released in November. "Today it has multiple meanings, which we thought could leave our intent open to misinterpretation."

When some customers argued that this statement was not enough, Hallmark issued an apology over Twitter saying, “We never intend to offend or make political statements with our products, and in hindsight we realize we shouldn't have changed the lyrics on the ornament.”


The ornament can still be found on the Hallmark website selling for $12.95.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Students Targeted by "Voter ID" Laws, by Mikaela Kornowski


Voter fraud in Wisconsin is virtually non existent, yet the public doesn’t object to the establishment of laws to ensure against it. Professor Joe Heim, the legislative liaison at UW-L, says “It’s a solution waiting for a problem.”

People without proper identification often are the young, old, minority, and low income. For this reason, students are a target for this legislation. Heim explains that some lawmakers believe young people don’t have the capacity to make an informed decision when voting.

The majority of the public has no problem with the voter ID law. Heim explains that most people reason that ID’s are necessary for driving and cashing checks, so why not for voting as well?

Heim believes that voting, unlike cashing checks or driving a car, is a right, not a privilege.

In Wisconsin, 30% of people have no ID or an ID that is invalid. Drivers licenses that do not have a photo on them are considered invalid.

Heim states, “We should encourage voting without asking about their [voters] motives, that’s my opinion.”


The voter ID legislation was passed by Republicans after Democrats unanimously voted against the bill. 

Friday, December 13, 2013

Restest for WI Drivers License? by Mitchell Spoerl

Alcohol and distractions, such as texting, are the cause of a majority of traffic accidents. However, there is another factor that contributes to the accident total, age.

The general consensus is that the older people get, the sooner they should have to renew their license. Even Scott Rohde, chief of police at UWL, weighed in on the topic. “There are five incidents that I can think of where we had elderly drivers try to go through campus. If we’re concerned about the mental or physical health of an older individual we can refer to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and they can force a driver to re-take their exam.”

 On the topic of automatic retesting after a certain age he commented, “I would support retesting after age seventy-five or above.”

There is a natural decline in a person’s vision, reaction time, flexibility, hearing, and memory retention. While the age varies from person to person, the age when driving becomes especially dangerous is past seventy years old.

Elderly people only account for roughly nine percent of the population. But according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, they cause fourteen percent of all traffic fatalities and seventeen percent of all pedestrian related fatalities.

Cars are a common form of transportation, also the leading cause of death for healthy individuals. And almost every fatality is the product of human error.

Each state has its own laws regarding elderly drivers, but there is very little consistency across states. Virginia, Florida, and California all require elderly people to renew their license after a specified age. The states require them to pass an eye exam and a written test. This is repeated every so many years. In Arizona, a license won’t be renewed until age sixty-five, and then it’s renewed every five years. Wisconsin has all of its drivers renew their license every eight years, but has no special revisions for elderly drivers. 


These accidents don’t occur because elderly people are reckless drivers, quite the opposite in fact. Elderly people tend to avoid driving at night or in bad weather, they don’t drink and drive, and they are less likely to speed. The problem is the physical decline of health that comes naturally to all drivers.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

See Rotary Lights, Empty Your Pantry Before Break, by Melissa Koch


Students looking to clear out their cabinets before winter break can do so by visiting the Rotary Lights display put on this month at Riverside Park. Non-perishable donations to be given to fourteen area food pantries will be collected at the display by the Rotary Club.

The Rotary Lights were first displayed in 1995. Since that time, the Club has acquired over 2 million food items. Last season 232,580 food items were collected.

UW-L senior Krystal Simos has made seeing the Rotary Lights a tradition. “My roommates and I go to see the Rotary Lights every year. It’s a great break from studying for finals!” Simos also sees the benefit others receive when she goes to see the lights. She says, bringing food donations “is a great way to help those in need during the holiday season.”

The lights are displayed annually beginning after Thanksgiving and continuing until New Year’s Eve. Admission is free. The lights turn on at 5 pm and can be seen until the park closes at 10. Visitors have the choice to walk or drive around the display.


Wednesday, December 11, 2013

End Semester, Take a Break, Recycle, by Shelby Jacobson

UW-L is not changing recycling laws for 2014.

UW-L, unlike the city, does not limit its recyclables to paper, cardboard, and comingled recyclables. Comingled recyclables include plastics #1-#7, glass, aluminum, and bi-metal cans.

Fines will be issued to those dropping off recyclables on campus but do not live on campus, according to the UW System Administrative Code 18.06.


·         Scrap metal
·         Tires
·         Wood pallets
·         Appliances (stoves, refrigerators, microwaves, etc.)
·         Electronics (monitors, computers, etc.)
·         Tree Stumps and landscaping brush
·         Compost

The above recyclables must be labeled with which building and or department they came from. Residence halls pay recycling fees for the different items recycled.

The different recyclables for people living on campus can be dropped off into white, blue, or green dumpsters. White dumpsters are for paper and cardboard. Blue dumpsters are for comingled recyclables. Green dumpsters are for waste to Excel Energy.

To view UW-L’s recycling statistics visit 

Recycling units in residence halls and academic buildings do have regulations. The “Do”s and “Don’t”s are available at http://www.uwlax.edu/fpm/recycling/whathowwhere.htm.  A more detailed list is available at http://www.uwlax.edu/fpm/recycling/other_recycling.htm#other.

UW-L’s recycling is a five step program. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Re-buy. Rethink.


Any suggestions to better the R-5 Programm, contact Kim Tiber.   

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

"Homeless Hounds" Have Christmas Wish, by Shelby Jacobson

The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and the La Crosse Tribune are teaming up to grant three wishes this holiday season.

The FSPA asked the La Crosse tribune to find worthy organizations, people, and programs that deserve a little extra help. 

There are twelve candidates featured in the La Crosse Tribune.  These stories will appear under “Three Wishes” the first twelve days of December on the La Crosse Tribune website.

From this list, one candidate voters will be able to choose Homeless Hounds run by Jennifer Lengel, owner of Puppy Palace. Puppy Palace is a doggie daycare and boarding house. Homeless Hounds program was made so homeless families would not have to surrender their animals. Lengel says, “When you lose your home, you lose your kids; your animals are like your kids.”

Lengel’s new program has become nationwide. Just last week, Lengel’s program was featured in USA Today.  

Homeless Hounds is 100 percent dependent on public assistance. Donations help support vaccinations, spay and neutering, feeding, and making the dogs as comfortable as possible during their stay.

Families housing their dogs at Homeless Hounds are required to report to Lengel weekly on their situation looking for a job and home.

Homeless Hounds is currently seeking donations to fund a new facility. According to Lengel, Puppy Palace is able to take in thirty dogs at a time.

There are fewer spots available for daycare or boarding dogs because of the growing number of homeless dogs coming to Puppy Palace. Homeless Hounds houses eight to ten homeless dogs at any given time. This limits the amount of money Puppy Palace takes in.

Homeless Hounds program is in dire need of dog beds, collars, leashes, towels, and blankets. A variety of dog food is also essential. Due to a large quantity of senior dogs, quality senior food is greatly appreciated.

Volunteer opportunities are also greatly appreciated. To view volunteer options and donations needs visit, Puppy Palace La Crosse on Facebook or stop in at Puppy Palace at 3821 Mormon Coulee Road La Crosse, WI.

Votes will be taken on the La Crosse Tribune website December 13 through December 16, 2013.

Heroin Use not Significant Problem on Campus, by Carly Vail

            There typically is not a problem with heroin use on the university.  According to Chief Scott Rohde of the UW-L police department, this could be because there is always a high police presence on campus.
Rohde states that this drug is more readily available in bigger cities. Heroin use typically depends on a person’s personal behaviors and life experiences, including hometown (big city vs. small town).  Heroin is not common to the typical demographic of the UW-L student, Rohde says.
Heroin use is on the rise in many areas of the United States, commonly bigger cities such as Minneapolis/St. Paul, Madison, and Milwaukee. Even though La Crosse is not a big city, it is still prone to high amounts of heroin use.
            Heroin is an opioid drug synthesized from morphine, a substance extracted from the Asian opium poppy seed.
            Between the years 1995-2005 the amount of Americans age 12-17 trying heroin increased 300%. This number continually increases. It could be due to the cost of heroin now decreasing compared to years past.
Rohde mentioned if heroin was cheaper for college students to attain, it may be more desired by the college population. This does not decrease the amount of watch police officers have towards the drug however. As of recently UW-L seems to be an “island,” says Rohde. This means that even though there are frequent amounts of heroin use going on around the university, there haven’t been cases of the drug on campus.
A man from Madison allegedly sold La Crosse County resident Tom Treiman heroin on September 6, 2013. Treiman then overdosed from this drug and the dealer will be tried in La Crosse County with first-degree reckless homicide under the state’s Len Bias law.
            In St. Francis, MN, a smaller, northern suburb of the Twin Cities, three teens have died because of heroin since May 2012. There were an additional three more hospitalized. One student at the high school stated there were at least 20 students using heroin in the last year. Parents of the teens who overdosed fear there will be many others who unfortunately follow.

            

Monday, December 9, 2013

Bill to Ban "Revenge Porn," by Crystal Oravis


The Wisconsin legislature has a bill to outlaw posting “revenge porn” (nude photos or videos of an ex-lover), due to many recent harassment cases.
Under current state law, anyone possessing, reproducing or distributing an image of a nude person taken without consent faces a felony charge with a maximum sentence of $10,000 in fines and three-and-a-half years in prison.
The bill is designed to discourage people from posting naked pictures of their ex-lovers in hopes of embarrassing and harassing them. Free speech advocates worry that this bill will interfere with the first amendment. These revenge porn laws need to make it clear that in order to be found guilty, an offender must distribute these photos or videos with the intent to hurt the subject, and that the offender was well aware that it was expected to be kept confidential. These specifics need to be covered in order to avoid an abundance of charges relating to teenagers ‘sexting’ with friends.
A common myth people believe is that there is a law that already covers the topic of revenge porn as harassment. Even when revenge porn amounts to criminal harassment, police may refuse to get involved, telling the victims that the behavior is not serious enough for a criminal investigation.
Under current law a picture is the photographer’s copyright and the photographer’s call to have it taken down. If the subjects took the photo themselves, the suing rights are practically nonexistent. Revenge porn sites usually ignore requests for removal because most victims don’t take the time, or spend the money on a lawyer.

Under the new bill, anyone who disperses a nude picture without the subject's consent or regardless of whether the subject granted consent to capture the image could be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by up to $10,000 in fines and nine months in jail.

Volunteer for Big Brothers/Sisters, by Ellen Barrett

Students on campus are always looking for new ways to get involved in the community or volunteer hours to add to a professional resume. A growing organization in the 7 Rivers Region is Big Brothers Big Sisters.  Lyndsey Langer, Big Brothers Big Sisters Program Delivery Specialist, says “Big Brothers Big Sisters is a non-profit organization where an individual can change a child’s life and help enhance the organization in a variety of ways.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters is always looking for caring and committed volunteers. Bigs are given the opportunity to mentor a child in the community, one on one, who could deeply benefit from a mentor. Bigs and Littles are matched based on common interests and personality type.
There are two programs Bigs can choose to participate in. The Site Based Program currently partners with 7 schools in the area through an after school or lunch program. The Big meets with the Little at the Little’s school once a week for about an hour while school is in session. The Community Based Program involves a commitment of 2-3 hours per week where the Big is partnered with one specific Little.
This Big must be able to provide transportation for the Little if participating in the Community Based Program. These matches are able to go anywhere in the community and participate in any activities they see fit. Examples of activities include anything from playing basketball to going to a Loggers game. Many area businesses provide discounts or free tickets to Bigs and Littles in support of their service. Both of the programs require a one year minimum projected commitment. It is not uncommon to have matches last 10+ years.
College students are specifically encouraged to get involved by becoming a volunteer Big Brother or Big Sister in either one the BBBS onsite or offsite programs. There are also multiple internship and service learning opportunities throughout the organization. Both the internships and the service learning opportunities are unpaid positions.  To qualify, you must submit a completed application and pass the interview process and reference checks. Students who desire to participate must be at least 18 years old for the Community Based Program and in at least 10th grade to participate in the Site Based Program. Couples are encouraged as well. These service hours can be applied as volunteer hours to fulfill a student’s graduation requirements. Volunteer hours are ultimately flexible. A  Big may complete as many hours as desired and set a unique schedule based around a student’s school or work availability.
Big Brothers Big Sisters also accepts donations online and at their offices.
To donate, or find the closest location, visit http://www.7riversbbbs.org/donate/.

For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters, visit http://www.7riversbbbs.org/

Friday, December 6, 2013

WI Politics: Less Money for Higher Ed, & Fewer Votes for Students, by Shelby Jacobson


The biggest issue among legislation affecting UWL is state budget.

Legislative liaison Joe Heim says nothing comes close to the issue of the state budget.

Loss of graduates out of state is a main concern in the limit of financial assistance one is given for school. In other words, the more students leave after graduation, the less the state wants to support students financially. When a state gives financial aid to a student, the state hopes the student remains for employment.

Budget-cutting and voter suppression is ”payback” for being a net-loss state for graduates moving, Heim said.

A majority of graduates in the La Crosse area stay in Wisconsin after graduation. Madison typically loses approximately 1/3 of graduates to other states, says Heim.

On average, more campuses vote for Democrats. This is because Democrats typically support lower interest rates for student loans. Republicans are typically in favor of higher interest rates, limiting the amount of students enrolling for fear of debt after graduation.

Stricter laws on voter ID’s is placed on college students to limit the amount of student voters.  According to Heim, higher education and income affect voter turnout.  Universities do not have PACs or fund candidates. The power for universities is voting. Voting is a right, a voice, he says.


UW-L is one of the higher turn-out campuses for voting. 

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Storm Emergency Information, Mitchell Spoerl


It is important to know what to do if a tornado were to touch down in La Crosse. University designated Emergency Response Number is (608)-789-9999. This number is a direct line to a live representative at the University Police station.

According to the National Climatic Data Center, there are approximately twenty-four recorded tornadoes annually in Wisconsin. The last time La Crosse had a tornado touchdown was in May 2011. No one was killed, but there was extensive property damage.

If in a campus building, go to the lowest interior hallway and do not use the elevators. Make sure to be near a TV or a radio in order to receive updates as the storm progresses. If in a house, get away from the windows and go to the basement or cellar if available.

Tornadoes typically appear around late spring/early summer in the Midwest. However, it is important to remember that tornadoes can appear at any point in the year.


Over eighty tornadoes were sighted on a weekend in November, spanning across Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Six people were killed and over 50 were injured in Illinois. Thousands of people in the state were without power. Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois reported that seven counties were disaster areas.

New Way to Shop for Apartment On-Line, by Mikaela Kornowski

  
A free search engine can locate rental housing in Wisconsin, WIHousingSearch.org.

The site was recently created to provide affordable, accessible, and, when necessary, emergency housing. This web-based service provides information to the general public as well as to housing professionals seeking clients.

Properties can be searched by county and provide a quick index for wheelchair accessible, pet friendly, smoking friendly, and washer/dryer accessible. The site also provides pricing information and income based options. Photos of the property and maps are also accessible.

Listings can also be sorted by cost, date availability, proximity to medical facilities, public transit, and schools, number of bedrooms or bathrooms, and by realty company.

Users can add prospects to their “basket,” where the renter’s favorite locations can be compared until a final decision can be reached.

WIHousingSearch.org also offers tools such as an affordability calculator, rental checklist, and information about renters’ rights and responsibilities.

Landlords can upload their rentals at no cost. Landlords will be provided 24-hour access to update their listings and availability. They can also call in the property information.

The site is just several weeks old, and its administrators have updated the search tool since its opening. Users can now narrow their search by their preferences or budget.  The amount of rental listings is also increasing.


The site is promoted by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and the Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Housing.The site is supported by a toll-free, multilingual call center, 1-877-428-8844.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

No "Vampire Electricity" Bleeding Your Apartment, by Crystal Oravis




             Given that the vampire electricity idea is in fact, a myth, students can save money in other places, mostly time-proven, common sense advice.

Vampire electricity is the belief that cords left plugged into outlets, even when not connected to a device or being used at all, are still sucking electricity and raising electric bills. Students don’t need to purchase expensive power strips advertised to protect against the sucking of electricity.

Myth-busters, a television show dedicated to solving life’s myths, looked into this. Using Kill-A-Watts (a device placed between an outlet and a plug to measure the wattage being used), the Myth busters measured the wattage on a wireless phone charger, and a MacBook Pro power adapter. With the devices not plugged into the chargers, the vampire electricity myth proved to be false.

            With heating apartments and houses, there are proven ways to keep electricity bills as low as possible. Covering all bare floors with carpeting or rugs adds to heat retention, especially if little to no floor insulation.  
    
Lowering temperature on heating devices when leaving the house is another way to lower the use of electricity.

            Always leave an open space for heating to work and move throughout the house; do not cover air vents with drapes or shades so that the air is able to not work as hard to heat the entire space. Opening blinds during the day can help to heat spaces using sun’s natural heat.
           


Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Wisconsin Insurance-Buyers Less Affected by ACA, by Melissa Koch


Majority of health insurance plans in Wisconsin will not be cancelled because of the health care reform.

A report from Families USA co-released in Wisconsin by Citizen Action of Wisconsin stated that few people in the state who buy health insurance on their own keep their policies for more than a year.  Most people qualify for more affordable plans with the new changes than what they have now.

“It is clear that most who buy insurance on their own will have more stable and affordable insurance options because of the Affordable Care Act, and that a small fraction risk the cancellations of policies that would have cost them less,” stated Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin.

Further results of the study show
     6.5% of Wisconsinites under the age of 65 buy health insurance on the individual market.
     73% of Wisconsinites who purchase health insurance on the individual market are eligible for tax subsidies to make them more affordable under the Affordable Care Act.
     0.6% of Wisconsinites under 65 are at risk of paying more next year, because their current policy is being cancelled under the new policy.


Other states are dealing with well-publicized cancellations to health insurance policies under the Affordable Care Act. The website for Affordable Care Act has been dealing with problems since its launch. There was a deadline to fix the website by November 30, and administration spokesman stated yesterday that it is now operating up to target.

Wisconsin Sees Early Start to 2013 Flu Season, by William Ricioppo

Colder than average temperatures have brought an early start to flu season.

Holiday travel, family gatherings, and students traveling home from around the country brings large groups of people together, increasing chances for the spread of a virus.

“The good news is that if people who haven’t been vaccinated yet get a flu shot right now, they will be protected” (for the next holiday), says Dr. Henry Anderson of the State Health Office.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that anyone over six months get a flu shot.

College students traveling home for Thanksgiving may return to school with a bug or bring one back home for Christmas, so now would be a good time for this group to get inoculated.

“No one wants to be sick for finals or the holidays, and they don’t want to be responsible for spreading illness, either,” adds Anderson.

This year’s flu vaccine covers all currently circulating strains of the illness.

So far this season there have been fewer than 10 hospitalizations in Wisconsin, a number that is expected to increase. Cases of Influenza A and B have already been reported across the state.

In addition to getting a flu shot, frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and keeping commonly touched surfaces clean can help prevent the spread of the flu.


Both injected and nasal mist applications of the 2013 flu vaccine are available at most health care providers, public health departments, and some drug stores. College students can contact their school’s health services for campus immunization schedules. For more information on where to find a nearby vaccination clinic or participating pharmacy, visit www.flu.gov.

Monday, December 2, 2013

USPS Raises the Cost of Postage, by Shelby Phillips


The U.S. Postal Service has plans to increase its prices for postage, but not until after Christmas.

These changes will be put in place to increase revenue for the U.S. Postal service by $2 million.  Effective in January of 2014 the prices are as follows:
·         1 oz. Letters: rises 3 cents to 49 cents
·         Letters greater than 1 oz.: increases 1 cent to 21 cents
·         Letters with international destinations: $1.15
·         Postcards: increases 1 cent to 34 cents

Typically the Post Office keeps up its prices with the Consumer Price Index’s rate of inflation.  This year inflation has risen to 4.2%.  According to Governors of the Postal Service, these new prices are higher than the inflation rate.  Even though U.S.P.S. mostly caps prices with the CP index, this elevation was deemed necessary to keep the Postal Service still operating. 

Every year the Postal Service faces serious financial challenges because revenue does not keep up with operation costs.  Last fiscal year alone a total $15.9 billion debt was accrued.  This year it is expected that an additional $6 billion will be added to the debt, surpassing the $20 billion checkpoint.  The Post Office no longer receives any government subsidies. 


These price proposals will be reviewed further at the legislative level, but should they become effective, those increases will start on January 26, 2014.

2013 Wisconsin Deer Season Opens— Old Traditions, New Information, by William Ricioppo


The 2013 nine-day deer hunting season brings new technology and specific information.

DNR officials recently announced the first free DNR mobile hunting app for both iPhone and Android. The app allows hunters to find hunting locations, register, and access rules and regulations. It also has a GPS safety mapping tool that lets users notify designated contacts of their whereabouts.

“By bridging the tradition of hunting with new technology, we aim to make it even easier for hunters to connect with each other, with DNR, and help deliver information hunters are looking for to have a safe and successful season,” says DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp.

The new DNR app will also have other benefits for fishing and general outdoor recreational activities. “This app will have something for everyone who has an interest in the outdoors of our state,” notes Stepp.
A “Trophy Case” feature on the app allows hunters to share stories and photos from their hunt.

Numbers of deer in farmland regions were presumed to be high this year. However, hunters participating in the recent bow hunt reported fewer sightings in northern parts of the state.

This year Minnesota reported numbers of deer down by about 6% from the 2012 season.

One way hunters  increase their chances of finding good animals is to spend more time in the field. “Nearly ten percent of Wisconsin residents will take to the field for the annual hunt,” says DNR ecologist Kevin Wallenfang, “putting potentially hundreds of thousands of outdoorsmen in the woods.”

Also this year DNR is encouraging hunters to participate in wildlife surveys. Hunters are asked to track and record their wildlife observations while on the hunt, and submit the information to DNR. State officials are hoping to gather information to help biologists track population changes and improve management decisions.
Information on the survey can be found at dnr.wi.gov and information may be submitted online or through the mail.

“This is a great opportunity for hunters to inform wildlife biologists what they are seeing,” stated DNR survey manager Brian Dhuey.

Hunters can record and submit information until January 2014.

Wet conditions could impact hunter accessibility and deer activity according to Wallenfang. Not only is it tougher for hunters to get around in boggy conditions, but the late start this year could also mean reduced rutting activity.


The  deer season ended Sunday, December 1, at sundown.