11-26-13 deer hunt-schaller

The Chief warden for the state DNR says the early indication is a new statewide rule allowing rifles during the gun deer hunt is working well.   Todd Schaller says there were no rifle-related hunting incidents reported statewide during the opening weekend.  "We haven't heard much and I guess no word is a good sign,"   Schaller told AM 1170 WFDL's Between the Lines program.  "I think hunters are used to change and probably reached out to those local municipalities to understand what their regulations were going to be in the area they hunted.  None of our hunting incidents thus far were impacted by that change."    Schaller says there were no firearm-related fatalities during the opening weekend.  He says there were six hunting-related incidents statewide or injuries.  "Thankfully all of them were relatively minor, no serious injuries.  Four of the six were self-inflicted,"  Schaller said.   Schaller says the cold, windy weather may be a factor in the slow start to the deer hunt.