The arrow buries itself deep in the animal's chest. He leaps away. You remember to breathe. Scott Kravik sits camouflaged in his treestand. Deer hunting is tightly woven into the fabric of Wisconsin society.
Hunters plan vacations around the season.
In some areas of the state, schools and businesses close their doors to accommodate it. Sectors of the state economy depend on it. On top of that comes spending by people who just enjoy watching deer. In 1996, 2.3 million state residents watched, fed and photographed wildlife, and 423,000 people from outside the state traveled to Wisconsin to do the same, according to the survey. Although it's not clear from the survey how many wildlife watchers focus on deer, studies by UW-Madison and others indicate that deer are the most popular animal among nonhunters.