Hunters looking for their trophy buck will no longer have to kill a doe to get it.

Governor Scott Walker signed a bill Friday killing the Earn-a-Buck program. He also signed a law that relaxes regulations about how hunting weapons are handled around a car.

The Department of Natural Resources says the Earn-a-Buck program helped control the deer population but hunters we talked to say they're happy the program is gone and they’re ready to get into the woods.

"I never liked it, I am glad it's gone. Generally that's when you would see a buck you couldn't shoot," says hunter Larry Huttel

"I don't think I've talked to a hunter that was in favor of Earn-a-Buck, it was a tough law," says Will Moulton who runs Mouldy’s Archery.

Governor Walker signed the law repealing a requirement where hunters had to kill an antlerless deer before they could bag a buck. Many hunters say they didn't like the rule because they don't always see a doe before the perfect buck showed up.

"Some times it can happen in the first 15 minutes, some times it takes four days and if out of state hunters have to pass up 4-5 bucks they get a sour taste quick and they might not come back and hunt Wisconsin. So I think it put us at a disadvantage with a law like that," says Moulton.

"We've got our attorney's and warden administrators very hard at work and we will be issuing more detailed guidance to hunters prior to the opening of the season," says Ed Culhane with the DNR.

The DNR says Earn-a-Buck was just one more tool for it to help manage the deer population but it says it recognizes that hunters didn't like the program.

"The Natural Resources Board and the DNR said there would be no Earn-a-Buck this year outside of the CWD Management Zones and we're trying something different inside the zones so we start it after you get your first kill. Earn-a-Buck happens after you kill your first deer," says Culhane.

Walker also signed a bill designed for hunters making it legal for you to have a loaded gun in a car as long as it's not moving. You can also now have your gun uncased in your car as you drive as long as it's unloaded.

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Original Story:

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Gov. Scott Walker has signed into law a measure repealing a requirement that hunters in certain areas kill an antlerless deer before they bag a buck.

The bill signed Friday also generally prohibits any gun seasons ahead of the traditional November hunt, with some exceptions.

Hunters have long complained about early gun-hunting seasons and earn-a-buck, which they say forces them to pass up trophy kills. Frustration boiled over in 2009 after two years of anemic November hunts.

The new rule will be in effect when the state's deer-hunting season begins later this month.

The bill passed the Legislature despite objections from some Democrats, foresters and conservation groups who said earn-a-buck is needed to help to control the herd and protect trees and other wildlife.

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A Wisconsin law requiring hunters in certain areas to kill an antlerless deer before they bag a buck would be repealed under a bill Gov. Scott Walker is expected to sign.

The bill scheduled for signing on Friday also generally prohibits any gun seasons ahead of the traditional November hunt, with some exceptions.

Hunters have long complained about early gun hunting seasons and earn a buck, which they said forces them to pass up trophy kills. Frustration boiled over in 2009 after two years of anemic November hunts.

The bill passed the Legislature despite objections from some Democrats, foresters and conservation groups that said earn a buck is needed to help to control the herd and protect trees and other wildlife.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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