Wisconsin Natural Resources Board approves rules to implement Deer Trustee Report for 2014 season

The Natural Resources Board approved today emergency rules to begin

implementing Deer Trustee Report recommendations on the ground, authorizing a new deer program and regulations that will be in place prior to the 2014 deer hunting season.

"This is a major milestone in the Deer Trustee Report implementation process and the future of deer management in Wisconsin," said Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp. "Throughout the process, DNR has been the ears while partner groups, tribes, and the public have been the voices. This has been no small feat, and many thanks go to all who have provided input - and to DNR staff who have continued to move implementation forward. We have embraced this opportunity to build on our strong deer management foundation, and look forward to implementing the rules in cooperation with deer hunters, landowners, and other partners."

The rules revise deer hunting season frameworks, management units, and revise antlerless deer hunting permits. The rule provides additional opportunities to evaluate herd size and impacts in counties in addition to using population models to estimate the size of the herd, simplifies state park deer hunting regulations, and establishes a Deer Management Assistance Program. Not all provisions will be in implemented in time for the 2014 season. Some are delayed until 2015. The permanent rule hearings and Board approval will occur in 2014, so that it can be implemented in time for the 2015 season.

For an executive summary of the Deer Trustee Report rule package, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords "deer trustee report."

"The Deer Trustee Report rule package is a culmination of the recommendations of Dr. James Kroll, a robust public outreach effort involving volunteer action team implementation proposals, surveys, online feedback, 35 public hearings, conservation roundtables, and stakeholder feedback," Stepp said. "This is Wisconsin's deer herd, not the DNR's, and these rules are reflective of Wisconsin's desires for enhancing deer management in the state."

The implementation of the approved rules will involve public outreach to inform hunters, landowners and others about changes and opportunities prior to deer season. From here, the department will proceed with development of draft permanent rules with anticipated public review and Natural Resources Board action in 2014.

For more information, please visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords "deer trustee report."

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Hauge, DNR wildlife management bureau director, 608-266-2193; Eric Lobner, Deer Trustee Report implementation coordinator, 608-235-0860

Related articles

• Hunters check 11,967 deer in alternative-methods hunt

Michigan DNR invites Upper Peninsula deer hunters to series of open houses

Information meetings will cover new hunting license structure, regional deer management and the U.P. Deer Advisory Team

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Upper Peninsula Deer Advisory Team (UPDAT) invite Upper Peninsula deer hunters to a series of open houses in January and February to learn more about regional deer management, UPDAT activities, and hunting license changes for 2014.

Open houses are being held in eight U.P. locations through Thursday, Feb. 6.

The open house format includes a short presentation on the above-mentioned topics followed by a question and answer session and the opportunity to visit with local UPDAT members and DNR biologists.

“The first two meetings in Sault Ste. Marie and Ironwood had a good turnout of local deer hunters,” said DNR deer program biologist and UPDAT co-chair Ashley Autenrieth. “Everyone seemed to enjoy the chance to talk to each other, and we even had several attendees submit applications to be future UPDAT members.”

Each open house takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. local time. The remaining open houses are:

Jan. 21 - Iron Mountain, Bay College West, Fornetti Hall, Room 104
Jan. 23 - Marquette, Ramada Inn
Jan. 28 - Munising, Sydney's Restaurant
Jan. 30 - Baraga, Ottawa Sportsmen's Club
Feb. 4 - Newberry, Comfort Inn
Feb. 6 - Escanaba, Bay de Noc Community College

"It is our hope that by the end of the evening, you will know how the UPDAT functions, the type of issues being discussed, the name and contact information for your local representative, and – most importantly – how you can participate in the process," said DNR Regional Wildlife Supervisor Terry Minzey.

The UPDAT is a group of citizens who work with the DNR Wildlife Division to provide input from local communities on regional deer management issues.

Each region of the state – the U.P., northern Lower Peninsula and southern Lower Peninsula – has its own Deer Advisory Team. Similar open houses will be held in the northern and southern Lower Peninsula in the future when the Deer Advisory Teams for those regions have proposals ready to share with the public.

Visit www.michigan.gov/deer for more information on the DNR's Deer Advisory Teams and deer management in Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

Related articles

• Michigan DNR finds 2013 firearm deer hunters faced challenges, but persistence pays off
• Michigan Fishing Report

North Dakota Deer Management Meetings Announced

The State Game and Fish Department has scheduled eight public meetings in February

to discuss deer management in North Dakota.

Department officials will present an overview of the current deer population and prospects for the future, and look for input on possible options for changes in the way deer licenses are allocated.

“We’re all aware that the state’s whitetail and mule deer populations have declined considerably in recent years,” said Game and Fish Department wildlife chief Randy Kreil. “In 2013 we had approximately 40,000 hunters who applied for a deer gun license and didn’t get one. We’re looking at some ideas that might help get more hunters in the field if deer populations remain similar to what they are now.”

In the long term, Kreil said Game and Fish’s strategy is to build deer numbers to a point that would provide a reasonable chance for anyone who wants to hunt to be able to get some kind of license. “Right now we have a high public interest in deer hunting in North Dakota,” he said. “We’re hoping to come up with some solutions to help us maintain that.”

Each meeting will begin at 7 p.m. local time.

• Feb. 17 – Devils Lake, Lake Region Community College Auditorium
• Feb. 17 – Casselton, City Fire Hall
• Feb. 18 – Dickinson, Ramada Grand Dakota Lodge
• Feb. 18 – Anamoose, Community Center
• Feb. 24 – Tioga, Farm Festival Building
• Feb. 24 – Fordville, Community Center
• Feb. 25 – Bismarck, North Dakota Game and Fish Department
• Feb. 25 – Jamestown, The Bunker

Related articles

• North Dakota Nonresident Any-Deer Bow Licenses
• North Dakota Mule Deer from 3F2 Tests Positive for CWD
• Hunters check 11,967 deer in alternative-methods hunt

White-tailed Deer from 3F2 in North Dakota Tests Positive for CWD

A second deer taken from unit 3F2 during the 2013 deer gun season has tested positive for chronic wasting disease.

A hunter shot the adult whitetail buck in western Grant County and submitted the head for testing as part of the hunter-harvested surveillance program. Testing was performed at Michigan State University, and verification of initial tests results are pending from a national lab in Ames, Iowa. In addition, results from the remaining 3F2 samples, as well as all samples from the eastern third of the state, should be known in another month.

This is the fifth deer to test positive for CWD since 2009, and all were from the same general area within unit 3F2 in southwestern North Dakota.

The hunter-harvested surveillance program annually collects samples taken from hunter-harvested deer in specific regions of the state. In addition to unit 3F2, samples during the 2013 deer gun season were collected from units in the eastern third of the state.

CWD affects the nervous system of members of the deer family and is always fatal. Scientists have found no evidence that CWD can be transmitted naturally to humans or livestock.

Related articles

• North Dakota Mule Deer from 3F2 Tests Positive for CWD
• Iowa Dnr to Continue Surveillance for Chronic Wasting Disease
• Opinions on CWD and Missouri Game Farms

North Dakota Nonresident Any-Deer Bow Licenses

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will have 172 any-deer bow licenses

available to nonresidents in 2014.

The deadline for applying is March 1. A lottery will be held if more applications are received than licenses available. Any remaining licenses after March 1 will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants can apply together as a party. A separate check is required for each application.

The nonresident any-deer bow application is available at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. The application must be printed and sent in to the department.

The number of nonresident any-deer bow licenses available is 15 percent of the previous year’s mule deer gun license allocation. The Game and Fish Department issued 1,150 antlered mule deer licenses in the 2013 deer gun lottery.

Related articles

• North Dakota Mule Deer from 3F2 Tests Positive for CWD
• 2014 Licenses and Permits Go on Sale Dec. 16
• January 1 Commission Big Game Permit Application Deadline