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Wisconsin DNR ramps up social media for nine-day deer season

MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is ramping up social media to connect with the public during the state’s nine-day gun deer season. Seasoned hunters, new hunters, and those interested in learning more about hunting in Wisconsin can take part in online chats, a new wildlife-focused blog, Facebook, and a “tweet-along” with DNR conservation wardens. The agency said its aim is to help the public prepare for the hunt, share traditions, ask experts questions and share stories of Deer Season 2012.

The first forums kick off Nov. 11 and run through the end of the nine-day gun deer season. Here’s the list:

“Ask the Experts” series of live online chats

DNR will host a series of daily online deer hunt chats starting Nov. 13 and throughout the week leading to the deer gun opener. Experts will answer questions and provide tips on topic areas ranging from regulations and safety, to how women can get involved in the hunt.

To participate, visit the DNR home page, and look for the advertisement or search the phrase “ask the experts.” The schedule for the series of chats:

Nov 13, 11:30 a.m. , Women In Hunting: Join Dr. Christine Thomas, Dean of the College of Natural Resources at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and founder of "Becoming an Outdoors-Woman," and Keith Warnke, DNR hunting and shooting sports coordinator, to discuss the role of women in hunting and how women can get involved.

Nov 14, 11:30 a.m., Get ready for the hunt: Join Kevin Wallenfang, DNR Big Game Ecologist; Scott Loomans, DNR Wildlife Regulations Specialist; and Tom Van Haren, DNR conservation warden, to discuss pre-season preparation questions such as regulation changes, deer season forecast, and safety.

Nov 15, 11:30 a.m., Need a place to hunt?: Join representatives from the DNR’s Managed Forest Law, Voluntary Public Access and Public Lands programs to learn about the thousands of private and public acres of prime habitat open for public hunting.

Nov 16, 11:30 a.m., Safe and legal, the keys to a successful hunt: Join DNR conservation wardens Tom Van Haren and Todd Schaller, along with DNR wildlife regulations specialist, Scott Loomans, to ask last-minute safety and deer regulations questions before heading to the field.

New WNDR wildlife blog – “Hunting for the Health of it”

DNR will be launching the first ever wildlife blog during the 2012 deer hunt with a “Hunting for the Health of it” theme. Readers can follow the blog starting Monday, Nov. 12, as each day Jeff Pritzl, DNR Northeast Region Wildlife Supervisor, explores seven health-related aspects of hunting. Topics include social, physical, emotional, career, intellectual, environmental and spiritual, aspects of the hunt that lead to increased health for the participant, communities and our natural resources. Follow the DNR wildlife blog at wdnr.blogs.govdelivery.com.

Facebook - Share the stories and join the contest

Starting Sunday, Nov. 11, DNR will daily post photos, videos and stories relating to the deer hunt. This year we will also be launching a new Facebook photo contest. Beginning Nov. 17 and running through Nov. 28, hunters, families, and non-hunters can submit photos that represent their traditions of deer hunting; these can be historical photos, photos of the hunt, or even landscape shots from a morning in a tree stand. The public will vote for their favorite picture. Visit www.facebook.com/WIDNR.

Twitter - Tweet-a-long with DNR conservation wardens

Get the latest news and information by following DNR on Twitter. Be sure to follow us Nov. 17, 18, 22, 23, and 25 as we live-feed tweets and images from a ride-along with a DNR conservation warden out working deer season. Warden ride-alongs often reveal interesting events and insights into the deer hunt that many of us never see. The tweet-along will focus on the social, safety, and community-building aspects of the nine-day deer season. Follow us at twitter.com/WDNR.