Groups Believe Wisconsin Should Look Closer at Deer Management in Northern Wisconsin

Tuesday, April 30th, 2024 -- 11:00 AM

(Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio) Some county officials, conservation groups and lawmakers say the state should take a closer look at deer management after Gov. Tony Evers vetoed a Republican bill that would have temporarily banned hunting does up north.

According to Danielle Kaeding with Wisconsin Public Radio, Republican lawmakers introduced the bill in an effort to boost the deer population after a dramatic drop in the gun deer harvest across northern Wisconsin last year.

County deer advisory councils, or CDACs, are holding meetings through May 2 as they develop recommendations on managing local deer populations for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Rep. Chanz Green, R-Grand View, said he was planning to attend many of those meetings to urge steps to protect the northern herd. While the deer population has been steadily growing to a high of roughly 1.6 million statewide, their numbers have been falling in northern counties.

“We need to do something regarding the deer population in northern Wisconsin, because northern Wisconsin is so different from the southern two-thirds of the state,” Green said. “We have harsher winters. We have more predators.”

Jeff Wilson, who is chair of the Iron County CDAC, said he thinks it’s wise Evers vetoed the bill. He shared the governor’s stance that it would’ve bypassed CDACs that were formed following a 2012 report from deer trustee and researcher James Kroll, who was sought out by former Republican Gov. Scott Walker to review deer management.

Wilson said the DNR should take a closer look at management of the northern herd, but he said it’s premature to blame predators for fewer deer. “We do have a pretty good predatory load and that could have an impact. I wouldn’t doubt it does, but whether it’s actually a limiting factor on the deer herd, we’re not sure,” Wilson said. “But it would be interesting to look at it.”

Joe Weiss, chair of the Washburn County CDAC, said he thinks predators are a factor in the deer herd up north whether it’s wolves, bears or coyotes. “The management of those predators is lacking in my opinion,” Weiss said. “Obviously, the wolf hunt is controversial, but I think we do need some way to manage the number of wolves that are in the state.”

Killing wolves is currently illegal since the animal is listed as an endangered species. A 2012 law requires a wolf hunt when the species isn’t under federal protection. Animal rights groups and Ojibwe tribes have opposed recreational hunting of the animal.

Wilson said the state’s roughly 26,000 bears would likely have a greater effect on deer than the state’s 1,000 wolves. A DNR spokesperson did not return a request for an interview or comment on deer management in northern Wisconsin.

The agency states winter weather and hunting have more significant effects on the deer herd than predators in the long run.

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