STURGEON BAY, Wis. -- The Natural Resources Board wants to hear what hunters think about extending the traditional November gun deer hunt.

The board has authorized the Department of Natural Resources to hold public hearings around the state on whether to add seven days to the traditional nine-day hunt next year. The hunt would begin two Saturdays before Thanksgiving.

The DNR proposed the longer hunt to help control the state's burgeoning deer herd after the board scrapped contentious earn-a-buck regulations this past spring. That program required hunters kill an antlerless deer before taking a buck.

"Overall, deer populations in some areas of the state continue to be over the population goals and some areas they're below. We have taken steps to build up populations in those low areas, but we still need some effective tools to reduce populations in areas of overpopulation," said Bob Manwell, of the Wisconsin DNR.

DNR officials said that earn-a-buck regulations are still in effect inside chronic wasting disease zones.

The DNR is proposing that the extended season be tried for two years to see how it works.

The board decided to hold 11 public hearings around the state starting in October and that it wants to hear from hunters.

"Like most proposals that impact deer hunting, there's a range of opinions, and depending on who you talk to they might have very strong likes or dislikes about these proposals, and that's what we want to hear. We want to hear everybody's comments," Manwell said.

The public hearings will begin at 6:30 p.m. with an informational presentation and overview of the proposed rule. Public comments and statements will be accepted beginning at 7 p.m.

The DNR said the following hearing locations and dates are scheduled:

October 14, Crivitz - Crivitz Village Hall, 800 Henriette Ave.

October 15, Onalaska - Onalaska High School Field house, 700 Hilltopper Place.

October 21, Madison - Lussier Family Heritage Center - Main Level, 3101 Lake Farm Road.

October 21, Rhinelander - James Williams Middle School, 915 Acacia Lane.

October 21, Ashland - Ashland AmericInn Conference Center, 3009 Lakeshore Drive E.

October 26, Appleton - Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton Campus, Room C190, 1825 North Bluemound Drive.

October 26, Eau Claire - Chippewa Valley Technical College auditorium, Room M103, 620 W. Clairemont Ave.

October 28, Pewaukee - Waukesha County Technical College, Room C051/C057, 800 Main St.

October 28, Spooner - Spooner High School Auditorium, 801 County A.

November 3, Stevens Point - Portage County Courthouse Annex, Conference Room 1, 1462 Strongs Ave.