Wisconsin Ag Connection - Public Invited to Participate in Deer Management Surveys

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Public Invited to Participate in Deer Management Surveys
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 03/20/2013

State wildlife officials want to hear from hunters, farmers and other landowners about their thoughts on deer herd management. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has launched two new surveys to collect feedback from what is hoped to be a diverse set of interests representing hunters and non-hunters.

One survey, called the Deer Management Unit Survey will provide the local perspective the DNR and the natural resources board will consider for the 2013 hunting seasons. Survey participants will be asked to choose their preferred deer management unit for which they will provide input. It can be the unit the participant hunts in, lives in or is the most familiar with.

The second survey, called the Deer Trustee Implementation Survey, focuses on broader long-term deer management in Wisconsin and ways that it can be enhanced. This survey asks for county of residence, landowner status, interest in white-tailed deer management, and whether or not the respondent hunts.

A series of 34 public meetings to gather public input on what people would like to see for a 2013 deer season structure began around the state this week and run through the end of the month. Local wildlife biologists will be on hand to answer questions and talk about the current status of the local deer herd. They will listen to ideas and observations, and discuss possible strategies to manage the herd.

Meanwhile, the public also has an opportunity to play an active role in shaping the long-term future of deer management in Wisconsin by participating in a series of Wisconsin's Deer Trustee Report implementation meetings. The report contains 62 recommendations assembled by James Kroll, along with Gary Alt and David Guynn, who were commissioned by the Gov. Scott Walker as the state's deer trustees to perform an objective evaluation of deer management practices.

Both surveys will be available at the local DMU meetings, the Spring Conservation Congress Spring Hearings and the deer trustee meetings as well as online.

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