Wisconsin hunting season that's dear to many is on tap

You can tell it's coming without looking at the calendar.

The 10-pointer moving in broad daylight across the field – or through the forest or subdivision – says everything you need to know.

The rut, or deer mating period, peaks in early November, causing mature bucks to cast caution to the wind in their searches for a doe.

In Wisconsin, that means the nine-day gun deer hunting season is close at hand.

The state traditionally starts the gun season on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It's after the peak of the rut, but during a time when many people have more opportunity to hunt.

Even as hunting has changed in recent decades, including more crossbow and archery hunting, the gun deer season has retained its position as Wisconsin's biggest hunting season in terms of participation (abou