An increase in the number of deer harvested and a banner year for hunting safety are two of the biggest highlights from this year’s just-completed gun deer season. The nine-day season ran from Nov. 17-25 and preliminary numbers show 211,430 deer were registered during that period, compared to 197,733 during the 2017 season. This year’s total included 104,388 antlered deer. Gun deer license sales had reached 576,277 by season's end, a 2 percent drop from last year’s totals. Sales will continue through December as more hunting opportunities are available, including a statewide four-day anterless-only hunt, Dec. 6-9, and an anterless-only hunt in select Farmland Zone counties, Dec. 24-Jan.1 Those sessions offer more chances to check out the DNR’s new Hunt Wild Wisconsin app, already downloaded by more than 80,000 users. Also in 2018 deer season news, this year's hunt was one of the safest on record, with the DNR’s Bureau of Law Enforcement reporting only three relatively minor firearm-related incidents (Columbia, Dunn and Sauk counties) and no fatalities. Firearm safety is always a priority. For more on the 2018 hunt including county-by-county harvest totals, see dnr.wi.gov, keywords “deer harvest.”
 Look who's back!
The season’s first snowy owls have reached Wisconsin, beginning with a bird near Green Bay on Oct. 29 and trickling in since then. It’s too early to know if Wisconsin birdwatchers will enjoy the large influx of these birds experienced in the past two years. As of late November, a little more than two dozen snowy owls had been reported in 14 Wisconsin counties. See details of recent sightings, add your observations and find tips on where to look for these large, beautiful birds on DNR’s snowy owl webpage.
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 Shining a spotlight on environmental partnerships
The DNR’s Green Tier program is happy to share a video series to shine a light on the accomplishments of program participants. The “Power of Partnerships” series showcases the success stories of: Crave Brothers Farm in Waterloo, Empire Screen Printing in Onalaska and the Wisconsin Urban Wood charter. The video series also spotlights a Green Tier partnership in La Crosse among the city, county and solid waste department. Green Tier is a voluntary program that provides a framework for businesses and organizations to collaborate with the DNR to proactively improve their environmental performance. The videos are a companion to a recently released report that highlights the Green Tier program and how the DNR is working to support those who voluntarily participate. The Green Tier 2018 Biennial Report features program news, accomplishments and updates on participants. For more on the Green Tier report and video series, go to dnr.wi.gov, keywords “Green Tier.”
 Get your Friends calendar
The 2019 Friends of Wisconsin State Parks calendar, with winning photos from the annual FWSP contest, is included in the Winter issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine. Copies also are available as part of package deals, with state parks admission stickers and other goodies, on the Friends website, fwsp.org. And remember, it’s never too early to start snapping state parks photos for the 2020 calendar.
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