It’s not just the weapons used in hunting that are becoming more high-tech.
Just in time for the gun deer season, which starts Saturday, the state Department of Natural Resources has released a free deer hunting app for iPhone and Android users.
The app was available to be loaded onto iPhones on Thursday from the DNR website and was scheduled to be available for androids today.
“By bridging the traditions of the nine-day gun season with new technology, we aim to make it even easier for hunters to connect with each other, with DNR, and help deliver information hunters are looking for to have a safe and successful deer hunt,” DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp said in a news release Thursday.
The app includes a GPS mapping feature and a safety alert tool that will allow hunters to share messages and their GPS locations with other members of their hunting party or designated contacts.
It also can be used for other purposes, such as finding locations open to public hunting, reviewing hunting regulations and receiving hunting and fishing-related information from the DNR.
The app allows hunters to post stories and photos of their hunts, including pictures of their deer via the Trophy Case feature.
Eau Claire hunter Jim Dobson said he plans to give the app a try.
“This is about having more information out in the woods with you,” he said.
The app extends beyond deer hunting. It includes a feature detailing opportunities to view wildlife around the state, based on the time of year.
The DNR plans to include fishing information on the app before the May fishing opener, Stepp said.
Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, WI)
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