blake
Life Member
Wisconsin DNR Over-Issues Hundreds of Antlerless Permits
Several hundred hunters received an unexpected call from the Department of Natural Resources this week and were presented with an unprecedented request: Please return their recently purchased antlerless deer permits.
The DNR issued too many antlerless deer permits in two deer management units in northern Wisconsin, said Tom Hauge, DNR wildlife director.
The problem was the result of a data input error in the computerized licensing system, which allowed more than the approved number of permits to be sold.
In DMU 35, 1,063 permits were sold, 288 over the level approved in May by the Natural Resources Board. And in DMU 36, 892 permits were sold, 67 over the limit.
Incorrect computer values had also been entered for DMU's 37 and 38 but the problem was identified Monday before the limits were reached.
Bonus antlerless permits went on sale last Saturday.
Once the problem was discovered Monday, the agency used the computer system to identify hunters who purchased permits after the limit had been reached.
The hunters received a phone call and will receive a letter including a stamped envelope in which to return the permits. The hunters will be reimbursed the $12 purchase price of the permit.
Scott Fischer of Saukville was among the hunters affected by the snafu. Fischer, 45, said he purchased a permit on Monday for Deer Management Unit 36 in northern Wisconsin.
At the time of purchase, Fischer said the computer at the Saukville Walmart indicated 536 permits were available.
His brother went to the same store at 3:30 p.m. and the system said permits were sold out.
Fischer said he received a call Thursday from the DNR in Madison, notifying him of a "computer glitch" and asking him to return his permit.
Fischer said he planned to comply with the request. But he was very disappointed he won't have a bonus antlerless permit for the November gun deer season. And he didn't let the incident pass without comment.
"We used to joke about how the DNR's ability to count deer," Fischer said. "Now apparently they can't count permits."
Several hundred hunters received an unexpected call from the Department of Natural Resources this week and were presented with an unprecedented request: Please return their recently purchased antlerless deer permits.
The DNR issued too many antlerless deer permits in two deer management units in northern Wisconsin, said Tom Hauge, DNR wildlife director.
The problem was the result of a data input error in the computerized licensing system, which allowed more than the approved number of permits to be sold.
In DMU 35, 1,063 permits were sold, 288 over the level approved in May by the Natural Resources Board. And in DMU 36, 892 permits were sold, 67 over the limit.
Incorrect computer values had also been entered for DMU's 37 and 38 but the problem was identified Monday before the limits were reached.
Bonus antlerless permits went on sale last Saturday.
Once the problem was discovered Monday, the agency used the computer system to identify hunters who purchased permits after the limit had been reached.
The hunters received a phone call and will receive a letter including a stamped envelope in which to return the permits. The hunters will be reimbursed the $12 purchase price of the permit.
Scott Fischer of Saukville was among the hunters affected by the snafu. Fischer, 45, said he purchased a permit on Monday for Deer Management Unit 36 in northern Wisconsin.
At the time of purchase, Fischer said the computer at the Saukville Walmart indicated 536 permits were available.
His brother went to the same store at 3:30 p.m. and the system said permits were sold out.
Fischer said he received a call Thursday from the DNR in Madison, notifying him of a "computer glitch" and asking him to return his permit.
Fischer said he planned to comply with the request. But he was very disappointed he won't have a bonus antlerless permit for the November gun deer season. And he didn't let the incident pass without comment.
"We used to joke about how the DNR's ability to count deer," Fischer said. "Now apparently they can't count permits."
