However, and this is what always fetches me some blowback, the fact is that there was no notice on the Steinke Basin trailhead when obviously hunting was going on this week. In my experience, most parks and public lands do a great job letting folks know that there is hunting within their parks and post signage on outlying trailheads to catch the folks who don’t see it on TV or websites, etc. Letting Park Users Know Letting people know at Trempealeau I have asked if this will also be allowed in the park, but have not received a reply. In Sauk County, there is also an “Anterless Holiday Hunt” from Dec. Trapping is not permitted in closed areas as noted on this map or within 100 yards of any designated use area, including trails.

15., except that hunting with legal archery methods is allowed through the Sunday nearest Jan. Gun and archery hunting and trapping are allowed in the open areas of Here is what we can glean from the Hunting Map There is also a December 4-day antlerless hunt which again is allowed. This year in our area Deer Gun Hunting goes from Nov. (Notice the gray along the trail in Roznos, but not Steinke Basin loop.) Deer Gun Hunting Season In Steinke Basin, the map, suggests there is no “100-yard” protection for much of the Steinke Basin Loop and parts of the Uplands trail. Hunting is also allowed on Roznos Meadow and on Steinke Basin. While that might not be an issue for some, for others it’s a deal-breaker. It’s not obvious to all hikers that hunters can hunt right up to 100 yards from the West Bluff Trail or East Bluff Woods Trails. There is a map that hikers can use to figure it out. Hunting is allowedĪt Devil’s Lake State Park hunting is allowed in the majority of the park. They don’t know when the seasons are (Which is hard enough if you do hunt!) and many don’t realize that people can hunt within Wisconsin State Parks including Devil’s Lake State Park. In fact, the majority of park users don’t hunt. Wisconsin has a deeply ingrained hunting culture, but the truth is, more and more people simply don’t hunt. (People have learned that on Steinke Basin, no one will call you out for off-leash dogs) Hunting? Really? I wanted to let him know that letting his dog run off-leash this time of year was risky, but he and his dog were gone in no time. This guy didn’t have his dog on a leash and the pooch had run far ahead of him so he was hurrying to catch up. (Although deer gun season doesn’t start until Saturday.) I continued on and didn’t see the hunter on the trail.Īt the end of my hike, I returned to the parking lot just as another hiker was heading out toward the east on the trail. (On leash! Thanks, guys!!) They were coming back to the parking lot because there was a dude with a gun on the trail. Walking up the gravel road, I met a couple who were hiking with their dog. Earlier this week I went for a hike out on Devil’s Lake State Park’s Steinke Basin Trail.

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