DNR Accepting Applications For Learn To Hunt Deer Program At Sandhill Wildlife Area

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting applications for the 2023 Learn to Hunt Deer program at Sandhill Wildlife Area.

Sandhill’s Learn to Hunt Deer program combines classroom instruction and hands-on field experience with a mentored hunt on thousands of acres of intensively managed wildlife habitat. This unique opportunity will provide eligible hunters with an educational experience while helping reach deer management goals within the 9,150-acre property.

“For over thirty years, this program has offered high-quality hunting experiences to participants while also serving as one of the primary deer population management methods used on the property,” said Darren Ladwig, DNR Wildlife Biologist at Sandhill. “Our staff look forward to this event each year as it embraces the hunting culture of Wisconsin while making the connection to the important role hunters play in managing wildlife populations.”

The youth program is open to young hunters aged 12-15, and the adult program is for hunters age 16 and older with no previous experience hunting deer with a firearm. A mentor must accompany all hunters. Applications for both programs are due July 1, 2023. The registration fee is $40.

Both programs will include workshops held on Aug. 23 and 25-26, and will end with a one-day hunt on Nov. 4, 2023 at Sandhill Wildlife Area near Babcock in Wood County. All participants and accompanying mentors must attend one of the in-person Learn to Hunt workshops and complete a Hunter Education course before the Nov. 4 hunt.

Both the youth and adult workshops will cover the following:

• Deer biology and management
• Hunting rules and regulations
• Ethical hunter behavior
• Basic firearm safety and practice sighting and firing a hunting rifle

Sandhill Wildlife Area lies within the bed of ancient Glacial Lake Wisconsin – an expansive region of flat, marshy land interspersed with forests covering parts of seven counties in central Wisconsin. The property features low, sandy uplands of oak, aspen and jack pine forests, large marshes and many flowages. A small herd of American bison, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, Canada geese, ducks, loons, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, shorebirds, songbirds, hawks, owls and furbearers make Sandhill home.

Apply for the 2023 Sandhill Learn to Hunt program on the application webpage. The application deadline is July 1, 2023.