Wisconsin: Deer hunter forums to be held around state and on the Internet

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MADISON – The deer hunting seasons might still be months away, but the Department of Natural Resources is already gearing up with a series of deer hunter forums in March. Anyone interested in the opportunity to discuss local deer management issues, hunting seasons, and any other deer topic is encouraged to attend.

Wisconsin has long been known as one of the most publicly-driven deer management programs in the country. And in recent years, thousands of volunteers have gotten involved in deer research projects providing data to estimate the size of the herd and sharing personal observations about hunting success, season structure, and the herd itself.

The March deer hunter forums will put the public in direct contact with the local biologist responsible for managing the local deer herd, and are intended to both share information about deer management and gather information from hunters about deer where they live, hunt or farm.

The format of meetings will vary, but in many cases the local wildlife biologist will provide a brief presentation followed by a question and answer period. Some meetings may also have an open house format, allowing attendees to stop in anytime during the scheduled time.

Everyone interested is encouraged to attend the meetings that cover deer management in areas where they hunt or live, but are also welcome to attend any of the meetings.

If unable to attend a live forum, for the first time this year the public will be able to get unit-specific information and contribute feedback through the DNR website. Check the DNR home page for updates.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Wallenfang, Big Game Ecologist (608) 261-7589, Bob Manwell (608) 264-9248 or area wildlife biologists listed for the meeting locations in the meeting calendar.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: These meetings are not to be confused with those being offered by James Kroll, also known as Dr. Deer, as part of the Deer Trustee’s Deer Management Review that is currently underway. Those meetings will take place in April at six locations yet to be announced.]

2012 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Deer Hunter Forum Locations

• March 7
  • FLORENCE & FOREST COUNTIES - DMUs 39, 40, 44, 50, Florence Natural Resource Center, (Lower Level Large Conference Room), Hwy 101, Florence,,6:30 p.m. Chuck McCullough, 715-623-4190 X-3131
• March 12
  • RUSK COUNTY - DMUs 18, 19, 23, 24, Ladysmith High School Cafeteria, 1700 E. Edgewood Ave., Ladysmith, 6 p.m. Mark E. Schmidt, 715-532-4369
• March 13
  • ASHLAND AND BAYFIELD COUNTIES - DMUs 3, 6, 7, 28, 78, Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, County Hwy G, Ashland, 6:30 p.m. Todd Naas, 715-685-2914
  • CLARK COUNTY - DMUs 27, 55, 57B, 58, Neillsville High School Auditorium, 614 East Fifth St., Neillsville, 5-7 p.m. Tim Babros, 715-284-1423
  • PORTAGE & MARATHON COUNTIES - DMUs 33, 46, 57, 57A, 57C, 62A, Best Western Hotel & Conference Center, 5253 Harding Ave., Plover, 5-8 p.m. Cortney Schaefer, 715-359-6405; Jon Robaidek, 608-339-4819 or Wayne Hall, 715-884 2437
  • PRICE COUNTY - DMUs 14, 20, 25, 29A, 30, Price Co. Courthouse, Co. Board Rm., 126 Cherry St., Phillips, 6 p.m. Pat Beringer, 715-762-1340
  • TAYLOR COUNTY - DMUs 25, 26, 27, 32, Medford Area Senior High School Cafeteria, 1015 W. Broadway Ave., Medford, 6 p.m. Mark E. Schmidt, 715-532-4369
  • SHAWANO, WAUPACA, OUTAGAMIE & OCONTO COUNTIES - DMUs 47, 51B, 62B, 63A&B, 65B, Clintonville High School Auditorium & Commons, 64 W. Green Tree Road, Clintonville, 6:30-9 p.m. Kay Brockman-Mederas, 715-526-4226
• March 14
  • WINNEBAGO & FOND DU LAC COUNTIES - DMUs 66, 68A, Winnebago County - UW-Extension Meeting Rooms A & B, James P. Coughlin Center, 625 E. County. Road 'Y', Oshkosh, 6:30-9 p.m. Bryan Woodbury, 920-424-7886
• March 15
  • ADAMS, JUNEAU & WOOD COUNTIES - DMUs 53, 54A, 54B, 54C, 56, 57C, Sandhill Wildlife Area, 1715 County Hwy X, Babcock, 5-8 p.m. Cortney Schaefer, 715-359-6405
  • CRAWFORD, LA CROSSE, MONROE & VERNON COUNTIES - DMUs 59D, 59M, 72, 74A, 74B, Bekkum Memorial Library (Community Room), 206 North Main, Westby, 4-8 p.m. Dave Matheys, 608-637-3938 or Ron Lichtie, 608-785-9992
  • IRON COUNTY - DMUs 28, 29A, 34, Iron County Courthouse, 300 Taconite St., Hurley, 6:30 p.m. Todd Naas, 715-685-2914
  • LINCOLN AND LANGLADE COUNTIES - DMUs 32, 42, 43, 52, Langlade Co. Fairgrounds, Clover Rm., Multi-purpose Building, Highway 45, Antigo, 6 p.m. Rick Weide, 715-536-4763
• March 19
  • BARRON AND POLK COUNTIES - DMUs 15, 16, 21, 22, Turtle Lake High School Library (IMC), 205 Oak St., Turtle Lake, 7 p.m., Kevin Morgan, 715-637-6867 or Michelle Carlisle, 715-554-1728
• March 20
  • BURNETT COUNTY - DMUs 10, 16, Crex Meadows Wildlife Education and Visitors Center, 102 East Crex Ave., Grantsburg, 7 p.m. Steve Hoffman, 715-463-2896
  • DOOR, MANITOWOC, BROWN, CALUMET & KEWAUNEE COUNTIES - DMUs 64, 64M, 69, 80B, 80A, 81, Door County Government Center - Peninsula Room 1st floor, 421 Nebraska St., Sturgeon Bay, 6-8 p.m. Aaron Buchholz, 920-755-4983 or Dick Nikolai, 920-832-1804
  • GRANT & LAFAYETTE COUNTIES - DMUs 73A, 73B, 73D, 73B-CWD, 75D-CWD, Grant County Youth and Ag Building, 916 East Elm St., Lancaster, 6-8 p.m. Dan Goltz, 608-375-4231 or Bruce Folley, 608-575-9288
  • JACKSON & TREMPEALEAU COUNTIES - DMU, 59C, Blair Taylor High School, N31024 Elland Road, Blair,,7 p.m. Kris Johansen, 608-685-6222
  • MARINETTE & OCONTO COUNTIES - DMUs 41, 44, 45, 49A, 49B, 50, 51A, 51B, 63B, Crivitz Village Hall, 800 Henriette St,Crivitz, 6:30- 8:30 p.m. Dave Halfmann, 715-856-9160 or John Huff, 715-582-5047
  • ONEIDA AND VILAS COUNTIES - DMUs 29B, 31, 35, 36, 37, 38, James Williams Middle School Auditorium, 915 Acacia Lane,Rhinelander, 6 p.m. Jeremy Holtz, 715-365-8999 or Michele Woodford, 715-356-5211 x207
  • WAUSHARA & WAUPACA COUNTIES - DMUs 65A, 65B, 67A, 67B, Wautoma High School, 514 S Cambridge St. Wautoma (West side of Wautoma on Highways 21 & 22), 5-8 p.m. Paul Samerdyke, (920)787-7428
• March 21
  • BUFFALO COUNTY - DMU 61, Alma School Gym, State Highway 35 N, Alma, 7 p.m. Kris Johansen, 608-685-6222
  • DANE & GREEN COUNTIES - DMUs 75A-CWD, 76 -CWD, 76M-CWD, DNR Office, 3911 Fish Hatchery Road, Fitchburg, 6- 8 p.m. Mike Foy, 608-273-6275 or Nancy Frost, 608-275-3250
  • DOUGLAS AND BAYFIELD COUNTIES - DMUs 1, 1M, 2, 4, 8, 9, Maple Town Hall, 11037E U.S. Highway 2, Maple, 6:30 p.m. Greg Kessler, 715-372-8539 X-115
  • DUNN, PEPIN, EAU CLAIRE & CHIPPEWA COUNTIES - DMUs 22A, 59A, 59B, Dunn County Fish and Game Clubhouse, 1600 Pine Ave., Menomonie, 3-6 p.m. Jess Carstens, 715-232-1519
  • WAUKESHA, WALWORTH & MILWAUKEE COUNTIES - DMUs 77B-CWD, 77C-CWD, 77C, 77M, Wern Valley Sportsman’s Club, S36 W29657 Wern Way, Waukesha, 6 - 8 p.m. Brian Glenzinski, 262- 574-2116 or Marty Johnson, 262- 884-2391
• March 22
  • DODGE COUNTY - DMU, 68B, Horicon Marsh Education Center, Classrooms, N7725 STH 28, Horicon, 6-8 p.m. Chris Cole, 920-387-7883
  • SAWYER COUNTY - DMU 13, Hayward High School Auditorium, 10320 Greenwood Lane, Hayward, 6 p.m. Laine Stowell, 715-634-9659 Ext. 3527
• March 24
  • ST. CROIX & PIERCE COUNTIES - DMUs 60A, 60B, 60M, Peace Lutheran Church; Hwys. 63 and County N (1/2 mi south of I-94),Baldwin, 9 a.m.-noon. Mike Soergel, 715-684-2914 ext. 111
• March 26
  • WASHBURN AND EASTERN BURNETT COUNTIES - DMUs 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 17, Spooner High School Choir Room (From main doors, go right, past auditorium), 801 County Road A, Spooner, 6:30 p.m. Nancy Christel, 715-635-4091
• March 27
  • IOWA AND RICHLAND COUNITES - DMUs 70A-CWD, 70C-CWD, 70D-CWD, 71-CWD, 75C-CWD, Arthur’s Supper Club, E4885 State Roads 14 & 23, Spring Green, 6-8 p.m. Dan Goltz, 608-375-4231 or Becky Roth, 608-588-3432
  • SHEBOYGAN, FOND DU LAC, WASHINGTON & OZAUKEE COUNTIES - DMUs 68B, 69, 69C, 77C, 77D, 77E, 77M, Henry S. Reuss Ice Age Visitor Center, N2875 Highway 67, Dundee, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Dan Weidert, 920-892-8756 X- 3040 or Tom Isaac, 262- 670-3409
• March 28
  • JEFFERSON & ROCK COUNTIES - DMUs 76A, 77A, Fort Atkinson High School Library, 925 Lexington Blvd. Fort Atkinson, 6-8 p.m. Charlie Kilian, 920-648-3054 or Mike Foy, 608-273-6275
• March 29
  • SAUK AND COLUMBIA COUNTIES - DMUs 70B-CWD, 70G-CWD, 54B-CWD, 70E-CWD, 70-CWD, UW-Baraboo Campus Cafeteria, 1006 Connie Road, Baraboo, 6-8 p.m. Sara Kehrli, 608-635-8123 or Becky Roth, 608-588-3432
• An additional meeting for Walworth, Racine and Kenosha county DMUs 77B-CWD, 77C-CWD, 77C, 77M will be scheduled at the Richard Bong State Recreation Area, 26313 Burlington Road, Kansasville at a date and time yet to be set. Check the DNR Public Hearing and Meeting Calendar for updates. Contact Brian Glenzinski at 262-574-2116 or Marty Johnson at 262-884-2391 for information.

Related articles

• 2011 Wisconsin gun deer season opens Nov. 19 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Preliminary Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey Results (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• A chronology of Wisconsin deer hunting from closed seasons to antlerless permits (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)