MADISON, Wis. - State lawmakers have approved a special gun deer hunt for Wisconsin soldiers who missed the regular hunt because they were overseas.
The program announced Friday will link returning soldiers with landowners whose crops are being damaged by nuisance deer.
Representative Chris Danou of Trempealeau was the bill's chief sponsor. He says a special hunt is a great way to thank the more than 3,000 returning soldiers for their service.
The Wisconsin State Journal says the original legislation would have allowed the additional season to run only from Feb. 4 to Feb. 7.
But lawmakers expanded the season substantially. Now veterans will be able to hunt any day between now and September that's convenient for them and the landowner.