Download pdf - Public Input on CDAC Preliminary Recommendations Spring 2017dnr.wi.gov/topic/hunt/documents/cdacfeedback.pdf · Public Input on CDAC Preliminary Recommendations ‐ Spring 2017 9

PublicInputonCDACPreliminaryRecommendationsSpring2017

Adams,CentralFarmland

Thefollowingquestions(numbers3to6)wereonlyaskedofindividualswhoindicatedthattheyhuntinthisunit.

Section1:Informationaboutwhoprovidedtheinput.

3.InthisDMU,whattypeofdeerhuntingdoyoudo?

4.Howmanyyearshaveyouhunteddeerinthisunit?

5.Whichstatementbestdescribeswhereyoudeerhuntedinthisunitlastseason?

1.Doyouownmorethan5acresinthisDMU?

2.Whyhaveyouchosenthisunittoreferenceinthisform?

TheonlinepubliccommentformistheprimarymeansbywhichCDACsreceivefeedbackontheirpreliminaryrecommendations.Whilemanyoftheresponsescanbeaggregated,theresultsshouldnotbetreatedasrepresentativeofthegeneralpopulation.Inmostcases,resultsareskewedtowardsmoreavidhunters.Furthermore,smallsamplesizeswithineachcountyprecludestatisticalinference.Rather,thisinputshouldberegardedsimilarlytothatofinpersonorwrittentestimoniesgivenataCDACmeeting.

Yes:No:

Iliveinthisunit:

Ihuntinthisunit:Ivisitthisunitfornonhuntingpurposes:

Generalinterestinthisunit:

Gun:Bow:

Crossbow:Muzzleloader:

Average:Maximum:

ExclusivelyPrivateLand:MostlyPrivateLand:

PublicandPrivateLandAboutEqually:MostlyPublicLand:

ExclusivelyPublicLand:

formsweresubmittedforthisunit.

Ididnothuntinthisunitin2016:

6.Howcrowdedwithotherhuntersdidyoufeelwhilehuntingonpubliclandinthisdeermanagementunit?

Section2:Perceptionsaboutthenumberofdeerintheunit.

7.Basedonyourobservationsthroughoutthesummerandfallof2016,howdoesthedeerpopulationinthisDMUcomparetotheyearbefore(sincesummer/fall2015)?

8.Inyouropinion,howdidthefalldeerpopulationinthisDMUcomparetotwoyearsago(sincesummer/fall2014)?

29

1415

114265

24151111

Minimum: 11850

2102111

NotatallCrowded: 1Nottoocrowded: 0

Neithercrowdednoruncrowded: 1Somewhatcrowded: 1

Verycrowded: 1Notapplicable: 0

ManyFewer: 6Fewer: 9Same: 9More: 2

ManyMore: 1Unsure: 2



Friday,April14,2017 Adams,CentralFarmlandReportGenerated:


9.Inyouropinion,howwouldyouratetheantlerlessquotarecommendedbytheCDACforthe2017seasoninthisunit?

Section3:FeedbackontheCDAC's2017preliminaryrecommendations

AntlerlessQuota: 2 5 15 5 1 1

MuchTooLow Toolow AboutRight TooHigh MuchTooHigh Unsure

10.Inyouropinion,howwouldyouratethenumberof$12BonusAntlerlessTagsrecommendedforthisunitbytheCDACforthe2017season?


BonusTagsPrivateLand: 2 4 16 4 2 1BonusTagsPublicland: 3 2 17 3 1 3

11.Inyouropinion,howwouldyouratethenumberofFREEAntlerlessPermitsrecommendedbytheCDACtobeissuedwitheachlicensefor2017seasoninthisunit?

Toolow AboutRight TooHigh Unsure

Note:FarmlandZoneandMetroSubunitsonly.

12.Dependingontheirlocation,theirpopulationobjective,andtheirantlerlessquota,CDACsmayalsorecommendsomeadditionaloptions.

2

14.HowimportantwereeachofthefollowingconcernsinformingyouropinionabouttheCDAC'srecommendationsforthisunit?

Amountofdeermortalityduringanaverageyear... 2.25Amountofdamagetobackyardplants... 1.73Thenumberofdeervehiclecollisions... 2.36

Potentialriskstodeerhealth(e.g.,disease)... 2.72Enoughdeertoprovidehuntersareasonablechancetoharvestadeer... 3.54

Huntersatisfactionwiththenumberofdeer... 3.19Amountofagriculturalcropdamagefromdeer... 2.20

Deeroverbrowsingofforeststhatpreventregrowthofsomeforesttreespecies... 2.35Contributionofhuntingtourismtothelocaleconomy... 2.54

Influenceofpredatorsondeernumbersintheunit... 2.96

AverageRatingScale:1=Notatall;2=Slightly;3=Moderately;4=Very

Support Oppose Unsure

Influenceofdeernumbersonotherwildlife(abundance,distribution,health)... 2.42

AdoptanANTLERLESSONLYSEASONFRAMEWORKforALLDeerSeasons: 3 24

ShouldJUNIORANTLERLESSTAGSbeVALIDorNOTVALIDintheunit?

ImplementanANTLERLESSHOLIDAYHUNT: 10 17 2

RecommendedMETROAntlerlessTagsperLicense:

RecommendedFARMLANDZONEAntlerlessTagsperLicense: 6 19 2 2

BonusTagsMETROPrivateLand:BonusTagsMETROPublicLand:

VALID NOTVALID Unsure

DMUswithaMaintain/DecreaseObjective

DMUsinaFarmlandZone

IftheDMUweretorecommendaZeroQuota


NotapplicableinthisDMU





CommentsforNote:thecommentspresentedinthisreportaretheunfilteredopinionsofindividualswhorespondedtoanonlinepublicinputform.TheviewpointsexpresseddonotrepresenttheviewsofthestateofWisconsin,theDepartmentofNaturalResources,oritsemployees.

Adams,CentralFarmland

ThedeerseasonsinWIsconsinarestillamysterytome.ThebucktodoeratioIseeisabout20doesto1antleredbuck.Thisneedstochange.Alsotheworkonhabitatthatisopentothepublicissorelylacking.Cut,burnandclearmorearea.Predatorcontrolwouldhelpalso.IMHOtheDNRisrunbypoliticsandnotsoundwildlifemanagement.Moneytalksandthishowmostdecisionsaremaderegardinganythinginthisstate.Itdoesn'tmatterifDemocratsorRepublicansareinchargeofWisconsinit'sstillaFUBAR!

In35plusyearsofhuntinginthisareathenumbersIseeareslightlybetterthanintheworstyearsbutnowherenearwhattheyhavebeeninaverageyears.Thedoepopulationisdownandthebuckpopulationishigherthanthedoewhichisn'tsayingmuch.Iseemoreturkeyandcraneeachtimeoutthandeer.

Idon'tlikeonlineregistrationofdeer,Iunderstandit'sfaster,cheaperhoweverthereisachancetofalsifytheinformationsubmitted.Pleasedon'thaveaHolidayanterlesshuntinAdamsCounty.PleasepublishtrueinformationaboutCWDinallareasofthestate.ThankYouforlookingatmyinput.

IbelievethedeerpopulationiscurrentlyslightlytoohighbasedonmyobservationsofbothnumbersofdeerinAgfieldsoverthewinterandbrowsingeffectseenoverthisrelativelymildwinter.Thelackofacornsinfall2016wasabigfactorofthedeerneedingtobrowsesoheavilyoverwinter.

Ihuntandliveintownofdellprairieinsouthernadamscounty.Iobservedthedeerherdinthistownshipthewholeyear.Watchingmovementsandwhattheyeat.Thelast3yearsquotashavebeenaccuratetokeepthedeerherdaboutthesame.Keepquotasondeerlicensethesameforthisdeerunit

Tomuchafterhoursshooting.Tomuchafterhoursshootingbylandownershirestopreventcropdamage.Notright!Andthatshouldn'tbelegalorallowed!!!Landownersarealreadycompensateforcropdamage!

StoptryingtoreinventthewheelWIDNR,letthehunterhaveanenjoyablehunt.Stopallowingthepoliticiansandtheinsurancecompaniesmaketherulesandcontroltheherdpopulations.

Thereareafewtoomanydeeratthistime.Toomanydeervehicleaccidents,wastedcarcassesonthehighways.Iwouldnotwanttoseeanincreaseofthedeerpopulation.

Antlerlesstags,shouldbe2witheachlicense,thereareafewtoomanydeer.Amplesportingoportunities,butwouldnotwantthepopulationtobeanyhigher.

Don'tlikenewpapertags,againstselfregistration.



Adams,CentralForest









Yes:No:

Iliveinthisunit:



Gun:Bow:


Average:Maximum:










91

5041

20218119

73612428

Minimum: 121.5953

51965100








Friday,April14,2017 Adams,CentralForestReportGenerated:






















AdoptanANTLERLESSONLYSEASONFRAMEWORKforALLDeerSeasons:

ShouldJUNIORANTLERLESSTAGSbeVALIDorNOTVALIDintheunit? 39 37 15

ImplementanANTLERLESSHOLIDAYHUNT:


RecommendedFARMLANDZONEAntlerlessTagsperLicense:




DMUsinaFarmlandZone











Adams,CentralForest

Iown40AcresinthetownofRomeinAdamsCty.IhuntprivateandpublicpropertyinthisDMU.Since1973Ihavehunteddeer,BackinthosedaysWeneversawalotofdeerbutenoughtostayonstandandhavepatiencethatabuckwouldpassby!SincetheWolves,Bear,BobcatsAndcougars...Yescougarswerebroughtbackintothearea,thedeernumbershavedroppedsubstantially.Iwouldliketoseethedoeharvesteliminatedfor4Years.Publicpropertybringsallthedoehuntersthathaveprivatelandonpubliclands,Meincluded.letsgobacktotheeitherchoicetags,youwillbuildtheherdandahunterthathuntsformeatcanshootadoeorabucknotboth,ifhedrawsthetag.ThosewerethegoodolddaysasfarasIamconcerned!Wehave4hunterson40acres,WeriflehuntedopeningweekenddawntoDarkwesaw1Buckand5Doenothingafterthat.(20151buck2doe)totalharvestwas2Buck1Doein2yearsEveryyearitgetsworsewithpredatorsandtoomanydoetags.Whenwehadthefreedoetagsgivenwithourpurchasedtagstheshootersdecimatedthedeerherd.Letsnotlettheinsurancecompaniesbuythednr.out!thanksforlettingmevent!

Deernumbersaretolow.Sincetheearly2000'swhentomanydoetagsweremadeavailablethedeernumbershavenotbeengivenachancetorebound.Whoevermakesthedecisionsmustnotbeabletounderstandtheeffectthishasontheyounghuntersoftoday.Huntingtodaydef.teacheskidspatience.Ifeelsorryforkidstodaywheniaskthemhowtheirhuntingseasonwasbecauseiallreadyknowtheanswer,"ididntgetoneandionlysaw2deerallseason".Howlongdoyouthinkthiscangoonbeforetheygiveuponhunting?Iwouldguessthenumberhoursspentinthewoodshuntingbytheyounghuntersoftodaydecreaseseveryyearuntiltheygiveupanddecideplayingvideogamesisalotmorefun.Justbecausetheirdadbuysthemalicensedoesn'tmeantheirputtingtimeinthewoods.Duringthe90'swehadagoodnumberofdeerandhuntingwasfunandididntnoticeaunhealthydeerandtheyounghunterswerehavingablastknowingiftheyputtheirtimeintheywouldgetashotatabucknowtheyhopejusttoseeadeer.Idontseethefuturebeingverybrightunlesstheyhaveaccesstomajoracresofprivatelandtohunt

beenhuntingthesamepiecesofpropertyfor34plusyearsandthelastfewyearsremindmeofthefirstfewyearssawveryfewdeer!OnoneofthepropertiesIsawthesamedoeandherfawnsduringthe8daysIwasoutbowhunting!Onmypropertywheretheneighborshootseverydeerthatwalksbyregardlessofsize,sawnodeer.KindafrustratingtothepointthatmysonandIwon'tshootdoeinanefforttobringsomedeerbackintothearea.Veryfewonthetrailcam.Foodplotsuntouched.Whererallthedoe'stowarrantthenumberofdoetagsandbonustags.Don'tseethenumberstowarrantthat.Stillenjoydeerhuntingbutit'sgettingharderandhardertogetexcitedaboutit.Mynephewwhohashuntedwithmefor15plushasallbutgivenup.Hopefullythenumbersofpermitswillbeadjusteddowntoallowtheheardtocomeback.Realizingit'sdifficulttocomeupwithnumbersfordoetagsIjustthinkwithnotseeingdoesrunningaimlesslythroughthewoods4000tagsiswaytoomany!

Ihavehuntedthesamelargeblockofpubliclandforover30years.Ihaveneverseenasmuchhabitat,food,coveretcasthepreviouscoupleofseasons.Itwouldbeadeerheaven,iftherewereanydeer.Thewolfscatandtrailsfaroutnumberthedeerscatandtrails.Thepopulationissodecimatedbypredatorsthattokillanydoeswillonlyfurtherdelaythereturnoftheherd.Iunderstandthatmanyofthepredatorsareprotectedsoweneedtosavethefewdeerleft.Privatelandisdifferent,IcanonlyreportonthelandIhuntwhichisstrictlypublic,andisbutashadowofwhatitwas.Iamsuregladmykidshuntedthissamepropertywhen20orsodeerwereseenopeningweekendratherthanlikealifelongpropertyhunterwhichsaw4deertotalisthelast2openingweekends(usedtobe20+perday)Nowonderdeerhuntersareleaving.



IbelievethatthereshouldbemorepermitsavailabletothePrivateLandowners!TheCDACistakingtherightsawayfromtheprivatelandownersintryingtocreateaproductiveforest.Intoomanyareasaroundourcounty(Richfield,Colburn,Monroe,Eason,DellPrairie,StrongsPrairie,Adams,Preston,Leola,Springville,Easton,JacksonandQuincyTownships)theforestryresourceissuffering.DeerareliterallyremovingOakoutofouryoungforests.Incomefromahealthyforestresourcebringswaymoretoourprivateforestownersthandeer...Pleasegivetherightsbacktotheprivatelandownersandreleasemoreharvesttagssotheforestryresourcedoesn'thavetosufferanymore.AdamsCountyhasagreatoakresourceanditisbeingdrasticallyreduced.Leaveituptotheprivateforestownerstodecidewhattheywanttoharvest.

Iseemanywolvespresentontrailcamerasandbypersonalobservation.Idonotbelieveincreasedantlerlesslicenseswilldiminishwolfpopulationinmyarea.Iamconcernedaboutherdhealthandillegalbaitinginmyarea.IheardtheymayallowbaitingwhichIfeelwillincreaseCWD.Iplantfoodplotsfordeerandmanyfarmsinmyareaareeithercornorpotatoesanddonotseemtobeaffectedbydeerpopulationtoagreatextent.Thenaturalbrowsespresentaresupplementedbymyfoodplots.InconclusionIfeelthevastincreaseinantlerlesstagswillharmsustainingavibrantherdwhichhasnaturalpredatorssuchaswolvesandcoyotes.AlthoughIdon'tlivethereIamnotfarfrommylandandgotherefrequently.

Thereareatonofdeeraroundthisarea(LeolaTownship,mostlyprivatelands)whichismakingitripeforherdhealthconcerns.Notenoughlandownersaremanagingthelocalantlerlessherds.Itmaybebeneficialiftherewasadvertisingforprogramsformeatdonationsforthehungryorhomeless,etc.,totargetsuchareas.Peopleliketohuntbutdon'talwaysneedthemeatofmorethanonedeer.Iftherewasaneasywayforpeopletodonateoriftheyknewtheoptionsthentheywouldfeelmoreinclinedknowingtheydidagoodthingfortheherdandcommunity.Anotherthingthatmayhelpissomesortofnewsprint/brochuretotargetedareasthateducatethepubliconhealthyherdsizesetc.

PleaseallowtheplacementofTreeStandsonPublicLandtobekeptupthewholeseasonforBowandGun.Itissaferbecauseyouareshootingdown,easiertoseetargetandanyonebeyond,betterchanceofgettingadeer.Thewoodsarenotthatcrowdedthereareplentyofspotstohavetreestands.IamlosinginterestbecauseofthelackofdeerandeventuallyIwillgiveup.Privatelandshavemostofthedeerandlittlehuntingpressureandtheycanhavepermanentstandsandwecan't?Thisisaridiculousruleandneedstobechangedtokeepusinterestedinhunting.

IheardtheDNRestimateda26%increaseinthedeerpopulationfortheAdamsCountyCentralForestzone.Iwouldliketoknowhowtheymadethatdetermination.Lastfall,wesawthefewestdeersince2010.Increasingthebonusantlerlesstagsfrom5150to13,825doesn'tmakeanysense.IheardthesuccessratetofillantlerlesstagsinthisDMUwasabout25%andisnormallyabout40%.Tome,thismeansthedeernumbersaredown.Iftherewasanincrease,thehuntersuccessrateshouldbemuchhigher.

MybrotherandIbowhuntedthefirstweekinnov.,typicallyagoodweek.fortherutandusuallymoredeeractivity.Ionlysaw3deerandmybrothersaw2deer.Wehaveseveralfoodplots,waterandbeddingareas.Thatwastheworstyeareverin50yearsforseeingdeer.Anumberofourneighborsreporteddeerbeingchasedandkilledbywolves.Ifthewolfpopulationdoesntgetundercontrol,deerpopulationswillreducelikethepheasantpopulations.Timetoreducewolfnumbersbeforeitstoolate.

WhywouldyouberecommendinganincreaseinAnterlesspermitsandbonustagswhenthethestatedgoalistoincreasethedeerpopulation?Someoneneedstolookatthisandleavethepermitnumbersthesameorlowerthantheyhavebeen...Ihavegundeerhuntedthelastthreeyearsandhaveseenatotalof7deeroverthethreeyears...Iamonprivatelandandwasinthewoodsoverthethreeyearsandaverageof7hoursperday7dayseachseason.Somethingneedstochange



I'dliketoseeanincreaseinthedeerheardinmyarea.SometimesdayswillgobywhereIdonotevenseeanydeerwhilehunting,andIpayoutofstatefeestohuntWisconsin.Irememberyearsagowhenyoucoulddrivedowntheroadandsee2030deergrazinginafield,nowyouareluckytosee2or3.Ifwedon'tincreasetheheard,hunterwillgetdiscouragedbynotseeingdeer,andmaystophuntingWisconsin.

Eachyearitseamstogetworsenotseeingmanydeerduringhuntingoraboutthesame.Icanseewhykidsdonotwanttohuntatallwhentheyseenodeeratall.Thefutureofhuntingisinallofourhands.Can'tbelieveyouwanttoincreasethedoepermitsbutthat'sjustmeIandmygrandkidstocomewanttoseemoredeerinthewoodsortheywillnothuntjustplayvideogamesandnotbothertohunt.My2cents.

Ifeelthehuntingethicshavegonedownduetothelackofdeer.I'veheardmanytimes"ifyouhaveatagshootit"andthatincludesyearlingdeerthatshouldbeleftalonetillthefollowingseason.Ihearitthemostfromnonresidenthuntersthatdon'tseemtocareaboutthepopulation!Ihavekidsandhavetaughtthemtochosetherightdeerfortherightpurposes,andhopetoseethemhuntforyearstocome.

Thereseemstobeanincreaseinpredators,toincludewolves.Thispastyearontrailcamera,wehadnumerouswolvesspotted.Definitelyafactorinthedeerpopulation.Also,withwhatappearstobealackofacornsintheareaoverthepasttwoyears,perhapstheDNRwouldconsidersellingatadiscountedratesomeforofnutritionalplant/croptolandownerscouldplanttoassistsurvivalinthewinter.

Iamverypleasedwiththeseparationofpublicandprivateland.Itismyopinionthatdeernumbersonprivatelandarecontrolledbythelandownerspertheirdesiresfordeerpopulation.Itispubliclandthatgetshithard.Also,manylandownersmovetopubliclandwhentheyarelookingforadoe.Ihopeyouwillcontinuetoprovideprotectionfordoesonpublicland.

Someoftherecommendednumbersseemedstrangelyhighconsideringthetwopreviousyearsnumberoftagsavailable.Iftheobjectiveistoincreasethedeerherd,thenwhywouldtheDNRofferalmostthreetimesmorebonusantlerlesstagsunlessitwasonlyinterestedintakinginmoremoney?Onthesurface,Idon'tunderstandhowthatwouldworktoincreasethedeerherd.

Therearetoomanypropertiesof20acresorlessthatthehuntersareblastingawayatanythingthatmovesandtheydon'tcarewhosepropertytheyareshootingon.Waywaytomanyprivatepropertyantlerlesstagsbeingproposed.Why?Theantlerlesskillwasdownbecauseoflackofdeerlastyear,whyofferthreetimesasmany?Iwouldlikean8pointminimumonbucks.

TherearewayfewerdeerinthisunitthenIhaveeverseen!Lesstagsforpublicandprivateland!Ifyouwanttoincreasethedeerheardwhywouldyouincreasethequotaonantlerlesstags?Maybegetridoftheantlerlessonlylateseasonhunt!Andifyoumakeazerodoequotayoushouldmakeyouthtagsinvalidbecausethereareadultsthatwillfillthetagthemselves!

PredatorsareataalltimeHIGHisthisAREA!!!!Howcantheybetrimmedback,thegroupsdoingthehuntinghasdroppedatagreatamountduetohidepricesandlackofinterest?Theyouthofourstatedoesn'tseemtobeinterestedinsuchactivities,sowhathasthisareahaveforfuturedeerpopulationsifthefewhunterscan'tkeepthepredatorsincheck?

Thewolfpopulationneedstobecontrolledandloweredimmediately.Betweenthecoyotes,wolfs,bear,bobcats,etc.,thewhitetaildeerisstrugglingtomaintaintheirpopulation.Ifweevergetaharshwinter,thiswoulddevastatepopulationnumbersjustlikeitdidtothenorthwoodsrecently.Wehavetodoourpartandlimitfemaledeerfrombeingshot.

IfyourgoalinthisDMUistoincreasetheantlerlesspopulation,thenhowcouldyoujustifytriplingthenumberofantlerlesspermits?Thatmakesnosense.Itshouldbetheopposite.BasedonmanyyearsofsteadilydecereasingdeersightingsANDVISUALPHYSICALEVIDENCE,IstronglyfeelthatthisDMUshouldgotoZEROantlerlesspermits.



Thereisnodeertheyneedacoupleofyearstorebound.Thereistomanypredatorsandyoukeeplettingthembeshot.Thereare1000'sofdeerthatareshotbutnotfound.Soyoushouldbeincludingdeerthatarehitbutnotrecovered.Andthatalsodoesn'tincludedeerhitbyacarthatarewoundedandrunintothewoodstodie.

IhavebeenhuntinginAdamscounty6years,andgrewupwithherdsofdeerrunningaround.IexperiencedthethinnedoutpopulationfollowingCWD,andhavewatchedthepopulationsteadilygrowasIdid.Ibelievethenumberofdeerinthepopulationisrising,butitisstillessentialtoprotecttheherd.

Ifthatmanyantlerlesstagsaregivenoutwewillbebacktofiveyearsagowhenyoudidn'tevenseeadeer.AlongwiththefactAdamscountycentralforesthaslostthousandsofacresofpubliclandtothegolfcourseandagfieldsitisgettingverycrowdedandunsafeduringthefirearmsseason.

Idonotlikethepapertagsystem.Ithinktheonlineregistrationsystemopensthedoortoviolatorsforinstancetheyshootabuckandregisteritasadoe.thereisnowaytonoforsuretonoifitisright.Ihavenotheardofanybodydoingthisbutashuntersthishasbeentalkedabout.

Ourhuntinggroupspendsconsiderabletimeinthezoneforrecreation.Wepracticequalitydeermanagementandtrytoprovideanenvironmentforhealthydeer.Ifeelanyincreaseinthequotaisahugemistake.Ourobservations(whichwekeeptrackof)thisyearweredowndramatically.

I'mveryconcernedaboutthewolfandcoyotepreditationinmyarea.onaregularbasisIhavephotoswolfandcoyoteandbobcat.Lastyearhadapictureofsevenwolvespupseatingadeer.IfeelthePredatorskeepourpopulationatBaybythemselves.

Eliminatethewildlifedamageprogram.Damagecanbecontrolledbylandownersiftheywouldallowadequatenumbersofhunterstohuntontheirlandinsteadofdenyingaccesstostayintheprogramandgeteverypenneyofcompensationtheycanget.

Thenumberofdeerinourareaisnowherenearwherewewereinearly2000'sorearlier.Gunseasonopenerisoneofthequietestdaysinthewoods!Idon'tthinkfawnmortalityfrompredatorslikewolforcoyotesarereallytakenintoaccount.

Asaprivatelandownerweareseeinglessandlessdeereveryyear.Manyoftheantlerlesspermitsareboughtbyoneindividualwhogoesouthopingtofilleveryoneonasmallparceloflandwhichresultsinfewerdeereveryyear.

Iwouldliketoseeabow/crossbowlicencegobacktoonedeerbuckordoe.Ifeelthetimespentinthewoodsyouonlygetoneortwogoodshotsanditshouldbethehunterschoicewhattousehistagon.

Deerarefreeroaminganimals,unlessyourpropertyisfencedinallaroundwithaheightthatdeerareunabletoleapover,whythedifferentantlerlesspermitnumbersforprivateversuspublicland?

SeemsthattheDNRareslantingtowardsanother"eliminatedeer"policywhichcausedsomuchhunterdissatisfactionintherecentpastandrelatestothedecreasinginterestinhuntingingeneral.

Quickquestion,ifthestatedobjectiveisto"increasedeerintheunit"thenwhywouldtheWIDNRproposeanincreaseinallotedtagsaswell??Isn'tthatcounterintuitive?

IreallybelievethewolfpopulationhasalottodowithwhatIamandamnotseeing.....lastyearwasverydifficulttoseedeer.Whenthewolvesmoveinthedeermoveout.

getridofthesedumbgunhuntsduringthebowseasondailyindecembernoneedforitifyoucan'tgetitdoneinthe9dayseasonwithagunthanitaintgoingtogetdone

iftryingtoincreasedeernumbers,whyhavethenumberofantlerlesstagsatthelevelgiven?whynotDECREASEthem??

Toomanydeerinthisarea.



Ashland,MadelineIsland









Yes:No:

Iliveinthisunit:



Gun:Bow:


Average:Maximum:










9

45

2472

7423

Minimum: 327.1449

211300








Friday,April14,2017 Ashland,MadelineIslandReportGenerated:






























DMUsinaFarmlandZone











Ashland,MadelineIsland

IhavebeenapropertyownerandhavedeerhuntedMadelineIslandsince2013.IpreviouslyworkedandlivedontheIsland,from20022006.Ihavewitnessedtheupsanddownsofthedeerherdthere.Itypicallymakeapproximately20tripstoMadelineIslandperyear,Ispendalotofmytimeinwoodsandswamps(scoutingandobservingdeerbehaviors).ThisismostlyPubliclandsthroughouttheyear,allseasons.FrommyobservationstheIslandhasagoodbalanceofhabitat,browse,andmastcrop(whenavailable).Idonoticeobviousbrowsing,butitdoesn'tappeartobeoverbrowsed.Thereappearstobefairtoadequatenaturalfoodsourcesthroughouttheseasons,dependingonwinterseverity,mastcrop,etc.Ialsorunapproximately510trailcamerasonmanydifferentlocationsoftheisland.Iseegoodfawnrecruitmentonmycamerawithsomeobviousloss.Ialsoseeagreatdistributionofbucksandavarietyofages.BasedonmyobservationsoverthelastfiveyearstheIslandherdisingoodshape,IfeeltheIslandcouldcarryahighernumberofdeer,butcurrentlyitisagoodbalance.MyconcernwithBonusAntlerlessTags:IfeelthelocalhuntersdoagoodjobofNOT"overharvesting"antlerlessdeer.Ifeelasifthenumberofbonusantlerlesstagsmadeavailableisabsurdlyhigh!Ifeellocalhunterspracticegoodrestraint,butIfthe"local"practicesweretochange,seriousoverharvestcouldhappeninoneseason.Secondly,thedeclineinthedeerherdandlackofAntlerlesstagsmadeavailableontheMAINLANDzonesneartheIslandcouldeventuallyaddhuntingpressuretotheIslandpopulation(primarilyantlerless).Thisisnotintendedtobeapointaboutexclusivity,butratherthatanabnormallyhighharvestcouldeasilytakeplaceandabnormallyhighnumberofnewhuntersdecidedtoutilizetheMadelineIslandzoneforhunting.Ifeelanabsurdlyhighnumberofantlerlesstagscouldencouragethis.ItwouldbemyrecommendationthatthePrivateLandantlerlesstagrecommendationbelimitedto100orless.Iknowthatmany"local"hunterspurchaseantlerlessandbonustagswithNOintenttousethem,notunderstandingthatisultimatelyskewsthedata.Therefore,antlerlesstagsarenotfilledduetoalackofopportunity,butduetohunterschoosingnotharvest.Iwouldneverchoosetodothis,butwiththecurrentnumberofantlerlesstagsmadeavailableIcouldeasilyharvest5ormoreantlerlessdeerinoneseasonveryeasily(iflegal,whichIunderstanditis).Alimittothenumberofantlerlesstagsmadeavailabletoeachhunterperweaponwouldalsobeaneffectivetool.Thankyouforprovidinganopportunitytovoicemyobservations,itisaprivilegethatIvaluegreatly!

IpersonallythinkthedeerherdonMadelineIslandisaveragetoslightlybelowaverage.Butthemostimportantfactorishuntingpressure,whichhassteadilydeclinedinthelast1012years.Wehearfarlessshootingontheislandduringgunseasonthanweusedto.Themajorityofthegunhunting,Ithink,isdoneatthelower(southwest)endoftheisland.

Ihavehuntedonprivatelandfor3yearsnow,andIhaveseenasmalldeclineinnumberslastyear.Forthemostpart,therearestrongnumbersofdoes,andIstronglybelievethattheamountofdoetagsaregood,andIthinkthatthejuniorantlerlesstagshouldbevalid.

TheAshlandCountyMadelineIslandDMAvariessignificantlyfromit'sSouthernborder,toit'sNorthernend.Ibelievethedeerherdwouldbebettermanaged,ifthisDMAweresplitintoatleasttwomanagementzones(Northern,andSouthern).

Iappreciatethatthisunitisbeingmanagedseparatefromthecountymainland.Thisisauniquemanagementsituationanddespitethemovetosimplifysomethingsdonotlendthemselvestothat.Welldone!



Ashland,NorthernForest









Yes:No:

Iliveinthisunit:



Gun:Bow:


Average:Maximum:










81

5625

22277223

69492032

Minimum: 126.7658

2311181091








Friday,April14,2017 Ashland,NorthernForestReportGenerated:






























DMUsinaFarmlandZone











Ashland,NorthernForest

Ihavebowhuntedandriflehuntedthisregionforreallyover30years.Itwasfuninthe1990swhenwehaddeerandjustgottoseeandwatchdeer.SincethemanyTzonehuntsdestroyedourdeermanagement,Iamluckytoseeadeerwhenhunting.Ihave4siblings,1parentand2nephewsthathuntedinthe1990swhenthedeernumberswerefun.Nowwhenthedeermanagementnumbersaresopoor,Icanonlytalkmywifeintohuntingwithme.Andwhenshegetstiredofseeingnoanimals,Iamtheonlyhunterremainingoutinthewoodsonourproperty.Ithinkthatweoweittotheanimals,toslowdowntheharvestofdoesandfawns.Allowthenortherndeerherdtogrow.Ithinkifwemanagethesenext23yearscorrectly,wecouldrebuildthatdeerpopulationupnorthandgetsomeinterestbackintothiswonderfulhobby/sport.Ihad12hunts/sitsinarowwithmybowthispastfall(2016)andneversawonedeer.MywifeaskswhydoIkeeptrying.BecauseIhaveapassionforthesport.PlusIwasspoiledinthe90swhenhuntingwassoawesome.Inthe90sIwouldsee1218differentbucksinthefirst23weeksofthebowseason.Thisyear,Ipassedona21/2yearold6pointbuckhopingthathecouldmeetupwithsomedoesduringtherut.Thatishowpoorlymanagedourareahasgotten.Weown40acresandknowthelandownerswithina2mileradiusofourhouse.Wethoughttherewere6youngbucksinthis2mileradiusandbytheendofthehuntingseasons,weknowof5thatwerekilled(legally).Thatisnotverypromisingforourfuture.Ithinkbyhavingzeroanterlesstags,wemayhaveachanceforsomebuckfawnsandthenhopethattheycansurvive24yearsandbringbacksomegenetics.Ikeepahuntingjournaleveryhuntingseasonsoastoalwaysbeabletoreferencemyhunts.WehavebeenintoughtimessincethoseTzonehuntseasonsandweareintoughtimesasIspeak.Inthisregionifweallowyouthtogetananterlesstag,Iknowofmanysituationswherethattagisbeingfilledbyanadult.Sotheideaofdrawinginteresttoouryouthisnotwhatendsupastheresultinanumberofcases.Thankyoufortakingthetimetoreadmyfindings.Greatlyappreciated.Iconsidermyselfmoreofadeerenthusiastandwanttohelptheherdcomparedtowantingtoharvestadeer.Onceourdeermanagementgetsbacktoa"safe"managementnumber,Ithinkhuntingwillbecomefunagainandbringbackmorehuntingenthusiasmforallages.



IhavemycabininthetownofagendaontheRoddislineIroncountyontheeastpropertyline,Northpropertyline,Ashlandcountyonthewest.Ihavetwotothreetrailcamerasupallthetime.Lotsofwolves.InthespringIseeoneadultwolfwithtwoyoungwolvesforthelastthreeyears.WolfskatfrequentlywhenIwalktheloggingtrails.Atnightwehearthemalso.Lotsofdogdepradationslessthanonemile,northeastofmycabin.Wesawnodeerthislastseason.Threeofus.sometrackbutnosighting6huntersinacabinsouthofuslessthanahalfmilefrommycabin,sawnothingforthedayswewerethere.Fourdaysforus,theymayhavestayedlonger.Don'tknow.WillbebackupforMemorialdayweektogofishingontheTurtleFlambeauflowage.Thisisatruewildernessareaandveryfewdeer.WehavehadonebuckandtwodoeduringEarlyJunelastyear,butnottherestofthesummer,justtheWolves,raccoons,porkupines,rabbits(1),Thesnowshoepopulationalsohasdisappeared,lovedtomakesomeHarestewduringthehunt,beentenormoreyearssincethathasoccurred,.Oneturkeylastsummeronthetrailcamera.Thanksforlettingmesaysomething.Iblamethewolves.Lotsofskeletonsinthewoods,thatsayssomethingalso.Fullskeltons.Headtotail,mostlydoe,nobucksthatIcanrecall.Ourcabinwasbuiltintheearlythirtysbyaperson,hauledthewoodoutfrombutternut,Parkfallsbyhoarseandslay,beforetheputtheRoddislineallthewaythroughfromHighwayF.Cabinisjustaboutreadytodie,maybuildanewonebutapprehensivebecauseofbreakins.Cabinnorthofusonehalfmileburntdowntotheground.Expensiveimprovement.Idon'tknowwhyitburntdownthough.Wehavehadunwantedvisitors.Notmuchtodoaboutthat.Thanksforlistening.WeloveAshlandCounty.Dosomethingaboutthewolves,please.Awolfhuntwouldonceagaindowell.Oneofmyfriendsgotonetwoyearsagochasingtwodoe,ontherun.FRomChicago,duringthedeerhunt,gotfinedforregisteringitwrongsomehow.Beautifulmount

if3/4tatesunitsareundernobaiting,whythentodeerfarmshaveafeedingsystemfor,ortogrowtrophystyledeerwithmajorsupplements.thedeermingleastheydointheirnaturalstate.Ihaveseen50ormoredeerinaloggingoperationeatingthebrowseondownedtrees610atatimeononetree.Pointbeingifbaitingorfeedingisdiscontinued,forpublicpersonnel,thenitshouldbebannedforTribalmembersaswell,andthedeerfarmsshouldberegulatedbetter,fencesshouldbemaintained,sothesedeercannotescape.Therehasbeenreportsthatinfecteddeerhaveescapedintothewildnow.itshouldbeinvestigatedwherethedeerescapedandifthefencewasnotmaintainedinaccordancetotheregulations,thefarmshouldbefinedinaccordancetofeedingdeer.Thiswouldmaybesetaprecedence,tomaintainfencesothedeercannotescape.ifthedeerwerepurposelyletgosotherestofheorshe'sherddoesnotgetinfectedtheastifferpenaltyshouldbeenforced,withfinesandpossiblejailtime.CWDhasbeenwithusforyearsbeforeitwasdiscoveredandamajorconcern.Icommendallofyoufortryingtofindacure,buthowwouldyouadministeranycuretothenumbersintheherd.IhavebeenhuntingsinceIwas9,morethan45yrs.Seenthedeerherdwheredyoucoulddriveandseehundredsofdeerinaday,nowIdrivetomyproperty,therearedaysonendIdonotseeanything.SincerelyaNorthernHunter

gladthere'sasurveyandIhopetheWIDNRislistening.Continuethezeroquotaofdoetagsand0quotaoftheyouthhunt.SorryyouthsbutthisNorthernForrestUnitcannotaffordtoloseanydoetoadadfillingthefamilyfreezer.Iwasn'tallowedtoshootdoeswhenIwasakidsoyou'lllive.ZEROQUOTAORANYANDALLDOEFORNTHENEXT510YEARS.ThewolvesarestillkillingthemoffandthecoyotesaregettingthefawnsinMay/June.Pleasestarttoconsiderapointlimitonthesebucks.Toomanyspikesandforksarebeingharvestedinthisunitandnowweneedtostartlookingintothisproblemaswell.Ihaveseentoomanyoftheseyoungimmaturebucksbeingharvested.Pointlimitshouldbe3ononesidesowecanreloadonsomegeneticsuphere.It'sstillprettybad.Thanks!ContinuethezeroquotaforallhuntersandyouthsIcannotstressthisenough!



Betweenthefederalprotectionofthewolves,alowerharvestrateandquotasforblackbearsandthedifficultsurvivalratesforfawnsthatimpactsrecruitment,thereisnoneedtobeissuingantlerlesspermitsinAshlandCountyforafewyears.Thankfully,thewinterseveritywasmildthepastcoupleyearsandthatwillhelpregenerationofahuntablepopulation.Theothermajorissuethatneedstobeaddressedishabitatimprovementintheformofadditionaltimberharvestonfederalandstatelands.Iseethatbeginningtochange,especiallythewiththefederalstatepartnershipsforthetimberharvest.Astheforestmatures,itisdifficulttosustainlargenumbersofdeerandotherwildlifethatdependonthebrowseandplantsgrowingnearthegroundinreachofthedeer.Ithinkthisiseverybitasimportantasmanagingagrowingpredatorpopulation.

BasedonpersonalobservationsandthepopulationnumbersIhaveseenIfeelthatAshlandCountyisbeinggrosslynegligentinthemanagementofthedeerherdinthecounty.IhuntednearButternutlastyearandsawentirelytoomanydoes.IenjoyseeingdeerwhenIhuntbutIwouldalsoliketoseeawellmanagedpopulationandahealthybucktodoeratio.Iwasseeing1015doesadayandneversawabuck.Iamnotonlyadeerhunterbutalsoameathunter.IfIamseeingthatmanyanimalswithouthornsIfeelIshouldbeabletotakeonetofeedmyfamily.IfeelthattheCDACcouncilinAshlandCountyisallowingtheirpersonalopinionsonhowpeopleshouldhuntmaketheirdecisionsinsteadofthehealthoftheherdandthepossibilitythatsomepeoplemightactuallywanttoshootadeerforfoodanddon'tcareifithashornsonitsheadornot.

Pleasebanbaiting:Iscoutedforweekslastsummerandfallpriortobowopener,andeverytimeIfoundadecentplacetohunt(goodsign,trails,actualdeersightings,etc.)Ialsoendedupcomingacrosssomemessy,uglypilesofbaitoftenassociatedwithillegalcrosscountrytrailconstructionviaATVsandusuallyastand(eitherillegalplacedorpermanent)inthevicinity.Itmakesitverydifficulttotrytohuntanewareawhenpeoplearebeingterritorialonpubliclyaccessiblelandsandputtingupmessypermanentstands/blindsandbaitpilesinareas(MFLopenlands)wheretheyarenotsupposedtodoso.Thebaitpilesalsoseemedtomakethedeermorenocturnal...I'dseeplentydrivingatnightafterscouting,butfewduringlegalhuntinghours.

PleaseconsiderstronglyputtingarestrictiononsizeofBUCKSthatareharvested.Iunderstandthatwedonot"eatthehorns"andthatharvestingantlerlessdeerwillbeinevitable.Although,manyhuntersandNONhuntersenjoyseeingantleredBUCKS.PleaseputarestrictionforharvestingyoungBUCKS.UnfortunatelythisseasonIwitnessedmanyyoungbucksbeingharvestedbecauseitwasencouraged.IwishtheWIDNRcoulddolikemanyotherstateshavedoneandrecommendorlegallylimittheharvestingofsmallBUCKS.Myrecommendationisatleast4pointsononeside.ItdoesnotmattertomeifitIs3pointsor4pointsbutlimititsospikesandforksaregiventhesamecurtesyasantlerlessdeer.Thanksforaskingmyopinion.

I'dliketoseetheherdincreaseforacouplemoreyearsaslongaswehavegoodwintersmaybelongerifwehaveaseverwinterIwouldalsoliketoseeonebucktagfortheyearthehuntermayusewhateverweapontheywant(notspecifyingattimeofpurchase).IstillthinkthatnothavinglocalregistrationisabigmistakeI'dliketoseetheplastictagsandregistrationstationscomebackIfwehavedoetagsinthefuturewhycan'twehaveaclosureonthedoetagswhenthequotaismetsimilartothewolfhunt.IunderstandwhycertainindividualsthinkweshouldhavedoetagsthereareareawheretherearehighdoepopulationsonprivatelandandIwouldliketoseethoseareasmanageddifferently.

Iwasagainpleasedandgladtoseeazerodoequotathisseason.Weneedtomakethata510yearplaninAshlandCo.Howeverweneedtoeliminatetheyouthhunt!!!Thisisjustdadsfillingfreezers.Furthermore,these"youths"needtolearnthesportthewayothergenerationshaveinthatnoteveryonealwaysgetsadeerortheopportunitytoshootadeer.Ibelievethiswillhelpbetterteachconservationofanaturalresource.WehavetakentheWhitetailforgrantedinthenorthernForrestunit.Weneedtocontinueazeroquotainallseasonandpossiblyimplementapointlimitontheseimmaturebucks.



Ispendmostofmytimeinthewoodsworkingandenjoyingtheoutdoors.Inmyopinionthedeerherdisthelowestit'sbeensincethe1960s.I'vebeenhuntingfor48years.Iwouldliketoseenoantlerlesspermitsforatleastanotherfiveyears.Iwouldalsoliketoseestepsmadetoreducethenumberofpredatorsmainlybearandwolves.Ialsobelievewehavelostthelargeantleredbuckgeneticsinthenorthernpartofthestate.IalsobelievethatthedeerestimatesfortheNorthernForestAreaarewayoutofline.Ibelievethepopulationinourareais56deerpersquaremile.

DNRadmissiontoyourfailureofthe5yearsofantlerlesshuntsintheunit6,13and14thatabsolutelyanialatedtheherd.Approximately1600antlerlesswereslaughtered,closetohalfbeingnobbinBucks.NowtheDNRhasaplan.Itiscalledstartingoverbecauseyouinstitutedaplanthathaddestroyedtheherd.Ihavespent79daysinthewoodsfor50years.Thelast5remindmeofthe1960'swhereyouneverheardashotonopeningday.VeryverysadandDNRpreviouspoliciesare100%toblame.Thisiswithouttalkingabouttheridiculouswolfissue!DanSedlock

IntheareaofsouthernAshlandCountyIbelievethedeernumberswereverysimilartotheyearbefore.Theremayhavebeenafewmoreyearlingbucks,howeverahugepercentageofthesewereharvestedduringseason.Thereareveryfewolderageclassbucks.Theagestructureiswayoutoforder!Noantlerlessharvestismuchneededinthisarea!Fawnmortalityisstillveryhighduetopredation!Possiblya(1)bucklimitwouldbegoodtoallowsomebuckstoreachthenextyear!SacrificeisrequiredbyALLhunterstoimproveourdeerherd!!

IsupportCDAC'smanagementplanforthe2017season.Maintainingthequotaofzeroantlerlesstagsandjuniorantlerlesstagsisagreatwaytobringthepopulationback.Waytogo,andIappreciateyoutakingthehunter'sopinionintoconsideration.Thatbeingsaid,untilthewolfpopulationisundercontrol,thedeerherdpopulationinAshlandcountyandthesurroundingareaswillneverreturntothenumbersrecordedinthepast.IsawhalfasmanywolvesasIsawdeerthisyearduringthegunseason.

IthinkAshlandCountyCDACisontherighttracknottorecomendissuanceofanyanterlesstagsfor2016/2017andtheforeseeablefuture.IalsothinkweneedaWolfseasonwhere50%oftheestimatedwolvesareharvestedeveryyearuntiltheproblemoftheWolvesresolvesitself.WhichtomewouldmeanaremainingpopulationofWolvesafterseveralhuntsofnotmorethan20%ofcurrentestimates,or20%ofwhatUSFWSwantedwhentheywerefirstintroducedtoWisconsinorhowevertheygottoWisconsin.

Thedeerpopulationhasincreasedsteadilyoverthelastfewyears,whichshouldbeexpectedafterthreeyearsofnodoeharvestandtwomildwinters.Thelandcansustainsomemoredeer,howevernotasmanyasmosthuntersmightwanttosee.Thepopulationshouldstarttobecontrolledwithsomeantlerlessharvest,otherwisenextyearitcouldbebeyondcontrol.Privatelandsshouldhavehavemoretagsavailablethanpubliclandsthough,asthereareconsiderablymoredeeronprivate.

Iamconfusedonwhythereisnodoequotawhentheherdhasgrownover50%inthelasttwoyearswithaprojecteddoubledigitgrowthratethisyear.Thosearebignumbers,toobigtoignore.WhenIhuntedonprivatelandsouthofAshlandlastseasonIsawlotsofdoesandIneversawabuck.Iaminterestedinharvestingmeatforthefreezeranditisfrustratingtoseelotsofdoeswithouttheopportunitytoharvestone.

TherearewaymorewolvesinthisareathantheWDNRiswillingtoadmitpublically.Somethingneedstobedoneaboutthewolves.ThedeernumbersinrecentyearsaregenerallydownandIfirmlybelievethatalargepartofthatisthatthewolvesarekillingalargenumberofdeer.IaskfortheWDNR'sconsiderationofthisandencourageawolfhuntingseasonbeimplementedforthisyear.

Asseenonmytrailcameras,therearestilltoomanywolvesinthisarea.Forsomereason,thedeerseemtovanishduringgunseason.Ihavenothuntedwithgunin2015or2016becauseofsofewdeer.IdocrossbowhuntasmoredeerarepresentduringOctober.IhaveseenarecoveryindeernumbersinPriceCounty,butstillhavenotseenalargejumpinAshlandCounty.



wouldliketoseedoetagsat0foracoupleofyearsyet,alsopublicinsaywercnty.populationisjuststartingtocomebackfromalmostdecimationacoupleofyearsago.youthdoetagsaregreat,butmostdadstaketheresonsorgrandsonsoffthereprivatelandandgoshootdoeonpublic.havebeenhuntingthatareaforover20yrs,it'safact.thankyou

Iamdisappointedthatbiologicalinformationandprojectionswerenotapartofthissurvey.WeweretoldwhattheCDACrecommendationis,butnottherecommendationfromthebiologist.TheinputfromthebiologistshouldbeincludedinthesurveysothatthepublicknowswhethertheCDACrecommendationissimilartothescientificrecommendation.

Ithinkanincreaseinpredatorpopulationshavehadabigeffectondeerherdnumbers.Wolf,coyote,bearprobablyinthatorderhavereducedthenumberseverely.IwouldalsocommentthatthedeernumberremainlowinAshlandcountyduetooffreservationhuntingandabilitytohuntatnighthavealsohadanimpactonthedeernumbers.

Weneedtoprovideabetterenvironmentfordeertothrive.Bynotmanagingpublicforestsornaturalpredatorstodeerwearewatchingavaluablecommoditytothestateandmoreimportantlyregionsuffer.Thisinherentlyleadstoeconomicdownturnintheregionsnegativelyeffected.

The2biggestreasonsthatdeernumbersaredownintheNationalForest(whereIhunt)inAshlandCountyispredators(WolvesarethemostcommonthatIhaveencountered)andnologging.Untilthese2thingschangenotmuchelsewillmatter.ThatiswhyIsupport0antlerlesstags.

therecommendationsifeelimportantisallowonlythreepointsormoreononesidetobeharvested.whatiseeinthelastthreeyearsnodoeharvestbucksonly,thisresultedinharvestingbucksthatwereyearandahalfold.thisdon'tleavemanyforbreadersforfollowingyear.

YouthhuntersshouldbeallowedtoharvestantlerlessdeerinAshlandcounty,especiallyonprivatelyownedland.Wolfpopulationistoohighandiscreatingtoomuchdamageifwecan'tallowourkidsarewardingexperience.Landownersshouldgetsomepreference.

WDNRadmitsbearskillfawnsmorethananyotherpredator.Yes,reducewolves.Absolutelydepopulatebears.Iwantone2017tagthatincludesonlyonebuck,onebear,onewolf.Noupcharging,straightforwardsensetoendthisBEARproblem.

I'mseeingalotmoredeerinmyareasIhunt,butthatdoesn'tmeanthatiseverywhere.Lotsofdoescomparedtothelastthreeyears.Wecouldprobablyhaveafewdoetagsoratleastforthekidsintheyouthhunt?

Wolvesandbearareabigproblem.Nodoe,spikeorforkhornbucksshouldbeharvest.Iwouldtrademydeerhuntingopportunitiesforabearharvestpermitopportunities.Thereismorebearthandeerinmyarea.

Protectourdoesandfawnslikeyouare.Considerapointrestrictiontorebuildandprotectourbuckquality(sizeandgenetics).Thequalityofourherdisnotwhatitwastenyearsago.

Isawdeerforthefirsttimein5years,yetnotsomanyIwanttoharvestdoes.Ifeelweneedanotheryearofbucksonly(exceptforJrhunters)tobringtheherdbacktofullstrength.

PleaseeliminateallWolves.UntilyousolvetheWolfproblemthedeerandelkherdwillsuffer.ThereisnoneedforwolvesinWisconsin.Putabountyonthemandeliminatethem100%.

Thedeernumbersarefinallystartingtorecoveralittle,don'tdestroytheherdagainbyputtingoutdoetags!Onebadwinterandwe'llberightbacktowherewestarted.

Predatornumbers,specificallywolves,arewaytoohighinthisarea.IhadmoresightingsofwolvesthispastseasonthanIhavehadintheprevious10seasonscombined.



Isawmoredeeronprivatelandlastyear.Stillnothingonpublicland.Whenthetimecomestoallowantlerlessharvest,pleaserestrictittoprivateland.

Ireallyliketoseeaminimumof3pointsononesideenforcementwhenthedeernumbersincrease.Toreducetheriskofshootingsmallbuckslettingthemgrow

IampleasedtoknowtherecommendationforantlerlessinAshlandCountynorthernforestis0.Ibelieveitshouldremainat0forafewmoreyears.

Iamextremelyfrustratedwithaproposalforzeroantlerlesstagsin2017.Theherdhasrecovered.It'stimetostarttakingsomedoes!

someantlerlessdeershouldbeharvestedtotakepressureofftheyoungbucks(spikesandforkhorns),someofusupherewantthemeat.

Ifeelthatweshouldhaveyouthhuntersfollowthesameguidelinesaseveryoneelse.Buckonlyshouldmeanbuckonlyforeveryone!

Continueazeroantlerlessquotaforanotherfiveyears,atminimum.Expeltheyouthhunt.Allowhuntingofwolves.

Twothingsneedtobedonetoimprovehuntingstatewide.Controlwolfpopulationandgetridofbaitingalltogether.

Agreetonoharvestofdoes.Predatorsarekillingofftheherd.Maybenoharvestofanydeer.

deerherdhasbeendecimatedandimpactedtheeconomyoftheNorthernforest.

Ithinkbaitingdeershouldbebanned.

Pleasebanallbaitingandfeeding.

Dosomethingaboutthewolves

Onrighttrackthanks!



Barron,CentralFarmland









Yes:No:

Iliveinthisunit:



Gun:Bow:


Average:Maximum:










96

5541

5297920

71511829

Minimum: 128.1660

39209560








Friday,April14,2017 Barron,CentralFarmlandReportGenerated:













5










AdoptanANTLERLESSONLYSEASONFRAMEWORKforALLDeerSeasons: 11 79

ShouldJUNIORANTLERLESSTAGSbeVALIDorNOTVALIDintheunit?

ImplementanANTLERLESSHOLIDAYHUNT: 25 60 5


RecommendedFARMLANDZONEAntlerlessTagsperLicense: 1 29 64 2




DMUsinaFarmlandZone









Barron,CentralFarmland

Toall,Firstofall,Iamverydisappointedwiththerecommendationsthathavebeenputoutforthenextseason.Twofreepermits,additionalbonustags,andaHolidayhuntwilldevistatethedoeherdontheeasternhalfofthecounty.Thenumbersfromlastyearshouldshowthattheherdisfirstmakingacomeback.Triplingtheamountofdoesshotwillonlyknockdowninterestinhunting.UntillastyearIhadpurchasedabowlicensefor40years.Afterprehuntingpriortothedeerseason,Ididnotseealargeincreaseinthedeerpopulation.Ididnotgobowhunting,didnotwanttowastemytime.Ididgogunhuntingandwasdisappointedintheamountofdeerseen.Whenwillyouseethatwithdecliningdeerherdalsoloseshunterinterest.Peopleliketoseethemwhilehunting.Justremember,whenyoulosethehunters,itisextremelyhardtogetthemback.Whyhavepublicmeetings?Everythingiscutanddriedpriortothemeeting.Whenafewpeopledospeak,theyareinterruptedfortheirinput.Ithoughtittobeveryunproffessionalindidualssnickeringwhenpeoplehavetheirthoughtsoninput.Ithoughtthatswhatthesemeetingswerefor.AsforOakregeneration,IsBarroncountytheonlyonehavingthisissue,Ibetnot.Landownerswillcontinuecontinuetogetthedeerherdwhereitisreasonableforpeopletowanttohuntandseeenoughdeertosatisfythem.Iwillcontinuetopromotealowerdoekillinmyarea,sohunterswillwanttohuntwithoutyourhelp.AHolidayhuntdoesnothelp.Thereisalreadyabowhunt,youthhunt,regularhunt,Muzzlehunt,DecemberDoehuntafterMuzzle.Why???????????ASKthepeoplenotthe68membersontheboard.

Ifeltthateliminatingthefreetagslastseasonwasgoodmovebythecommittee.Huntersthatwantedtoharvestadoewereabletopurchaseatag.Whenfreetagsarethrownatthehuntersinhandfuls,theyareoftenabusedandmisused.Hunterskillbecausetheycannotbecauseofaneed!Itsabsurdthatthecommitteewouldsuggesttotripletheamountoftagsgiveninoneseason.Yes,thewinterwasfairlymild,butitwasalsomildforthepredatorsthatfeastonwhitetails.Untilsomethingisdoneaboutouroutofcontrolpredatornumbers(especiallybear),IfeelthatthecommitteewouldbedoingahugedisservicetothehuntersinBarronCo.byallowingorherdtobewipedoutagain.Inaddition,thecommitteeneedstotakeaseriouslookatsplittingthecountyinto2halves(west/east).AHwy25orHwy53splitwouldworkgreat.Ithasbeenwidelyreportedatmeetingsinthepastthatthereisagreatdiscrepancyinthenumbersbetweenthewestsideandtheeastsignofthecounty.

IamalandownerandIaminfullsupportofthesunsettingthebaitingbaninifnodeerhasbeenfoundwithCWDinthecountyin24months.Ialsohuntinacountywherebaitingislegal,anddonotseeanissueoffollowingtherulesona2gallimitofbaiting.Iworkinthehuntingindustryandhavehuntedmanystates,itsallaboutgettingmorehuntersmorechancesoutinthetimber.HuntersareleavingthestatetohuntelsewhereforbetteropportunitiesandWIislosingthereputationofbeingthebestDeerstateinthecountry.Regulatinglandownersonwhattheycandoornotisnotthewayweshouldbelookingatit.Istillsupportlimitingitto2galandincreasingthepenaltyforexcessivebaiting.Thanksagainfortheworkyouaredoing,butoverregulatingtofitintocertainindividualspersonalagendaisnotsomethingIaminsupportof.IdosupportBillAB61.

IhavehuntedthesameareaofnortheasternquarterofBarroncountyfor43years.Inthose43yearsIhaveneverseenourherdgetthissmallasithasthepast5years.Wehavegottostopshootingantlerlessdeer.Ifyougiveoutthismanytagsthisyear,therewon'tbenodeerleftforanyonetoshootcomethenextyear.Iamhuntingprivatelandwithprivatelandownerstothenexttome,neitheroneofushaveharvestedananswerthisdeerever.Yetthenumbersofdeerinourareakeepgettingsmaller.WearelosingIheardtopredatorsthereardmorepredatorsouttherenowthantherehasmy43years.Pleasereconsiderthenumberofantherlesstagsthatyouareproposing.Pleasereducethatnumberofantherlesstags.



IhunttheNEportionofBarronC0andthroughtheyearsIhavewatchedourdeernumbersFallto1Doeandherlastyears2fawns.Lastfalltherewereacouplebucksalongwithafewdoesandfawns.nowallwinterandsofarthisyearIamonlyseeing1doeand2yearlings.Iamveryconcernedaboutthefutureformygrandchildrentohavethesameopportunity'sIhad.IfellweshouldhavebeenbucksonlyNOantlerlessatallforatleastthelast3yearsinmyareathepopulationhastoimproveIagreethatthemoresouthwestyougointhisareatherecouldbeanabundanceofdeer.Somaybethiszoneshouldbereevaluatedratherthanjustputinabox.

IfeelthatputtinginsmallfoodplotsisnodifferentfrombaitingandthatthecwdcanbetransmittedthatwayalsoandIthinkbanningbaitingfromasurroundedcountythathasneverhadadeertestpositiveshouldbechangedtoonlyrestrictbaitinginthatcounty.Itrulybelievethatwehavegottenawayfromtherealreasonwehuntandthatistoprovidefoodforourfamily'sandthatmoreandmoreareonlyinterestedinthebigracksifwetrulywanttohangontoourharetigeofwhywehuntinthefirstplacewenotonlyneedtolookatitasasportbutalsoawaywefeedourfamily.

IunderstandthecurrentCDACsystem.ItdoesnotallowformanagementofunevendeerdistributioninBarronCounty.Thecurrentherdlevelwasstableuntilthe2016season,lastyearsanterlessquotadisruptedthings,increasingherdsizetonearly40%overgoal.Forestregeneration,i.e..oak,isunacceptablylowandinsomeareasnonexistent.Bothofthesefactsleavethecommitteelittlechoiceintryingtomeetthequotagoalofmaintainherdsize.IseenootherchoiceundertheDeerCzar'ssystem...

Twoareasofconcern.1.Thenumberofproposedtagstobeissued.Lessdoesweretakenin2016than2015,butthisyearthenumberoftagstobegivenouthastripled.Wouldn'tthisbeanindicationofwheretheheardisat.Witha2025%successratein2016,wouldn'tthisbeanindicationofrealisticallytheherdisat.Thestateherdhasbeendecliningfor5yearsnow.Yetmoretagsareissued.Iknowwhy,lesshunters.2)Holidayhuntcutsintootherrecreationalactivities.

Pleasekeepthebonustagsallotmentssimilarto2016.ItdoesnotmakemuchsensetodecidetoholdaHolidayHuntandnothaveenoughantlerlesstagsinthepocketsofhunters.TherearemanyhunterswhotraveltoBarronCountytohunt,buthuntothercountiesaswell,andchoosetomaketheirfreeFarmlandZonetagsgoodforthoseareas.PleasegiveusachancetoharvestantlerlessdeerinBarronCountybyincreasingtheamountofbonustags.

Ifeeleasternsideofcountyhaslessdeerthereismorehunterspersquaremile.ifeelcountymustbesplit.Theresouresandtechnologyaretheretodothisanyway.Yestherearetomanydeernearurbanareascan'thunttheiranyway.byraisingtagswillnothelponebit.it.Willhurtdeerno.onlandinandaroundlandopentopublicland.thersnotmuchopennowInowlandownersaroundmylandwillpulloutofMfl.openthat'safact.

Weusedtohaveadecentherd.Toomanybonustagshavedepletedtheherdtoalmostnothinginsomeareas.Havinghintedthesameridgesfor30yearsyougettoknowthepatternswell.Whenyougoanentiregunseasonandonlyseetwodeeryouknowthereareproblemsandoverhunting.Everyoneshouldgetonebuckandonedoestag.Nobonustags.Thiswouldhelptonotonlymaintaintheherdbutpreventareasfrombeingoverhunted.

Ihaveneverseensomanypeoplegunhuntingandsolittleshotsfired.Ididnotseeadeerallgunseasonaswellasmanyothers.Thiswillbethe7thyearihavenotgotabuck.Iaswellasmyhuntinggroupwillnotbehuntingnextyearbecauseofthis.Thereiswaytomanyhuntersinthewoodsforwhatlittledeerpopulationwehaveexpeciallyonthepublic.Thereshouldbezerobonustagsgivinandmoextraotctagsalso

IwouldonlysupporttheholidayhuntifthearcheryseasonisextendedtoJanuary31.IftheCDACdoesnotrecommendtheextendedarcheryseason,IopposetheHolidayhunt.AsaworkingcitizenthatlovestoArcheryhunt.AddingtheHolidayHunttakesawayfromthetimeofbuckhuntingaftertheGunseasonwhichcanbeavaryeffectivetimetofillyourtag.Thanksagainfortheworkyouhavedone.



IgenerallybelievethattherearenotasmanydeerastherewereseveralyearsagobutIdoknowthattheDNRthoughtthoseyearswereoveryearsofoverpopulation.IdidnotthinksobutIamnotatrainedbiologist.Itdoesseemtomethatwecouldsupportmoredeerandthehuntingwouldbebetter.Iamguessingthefarmerswouldnotagree.

PrivateLandmaintainsthemostdeerpopulationduetohavingthemostdeerhabitat.Thepublicforestsneedtobeharvestedtocreatemorebrowsefortheseareastobecomebetterdeerhabitat.Theprivatelandnearthesepublicforestareasarestillstrugglingtoseedeer.Thisismostlyonthenorthandnortheasternpartofthecounty.

DeernumbersinnorthernBarronCo.Havereallyplummetedafteralltheextradoetagsissueinpastyears.Ibelievehuntersarefinallytakingthisintotheirownhandsbecauseofwhattheyhaveexperiencedinthepastandwillonlyshootwhattheyfeelappropriate.Tellmeagainwhybaitinghasnotbeenprohibited????

WehuntinthenorthernpartofBarronCountyandIknowthenumbersarevastlydifferentthaninthesouthernhalfofBarronCounty.Inmyopinionallowingtheantlerlessharvestthatyouhaveproposedandaholidayhuntwouldbeverydetrimentaltothedeerpopulationinthenorthernhalfofthecounty.

Deerpopulationsvarythroughoutthecounty.Wouldn'titmakesensetotryandmanagelowpopulationsareasdifferentlyfromhighpopulationareas?Itdoesn'tseemthatthereisaneasywayfordiscouragedhunterstohuntinhighpopulationareas.

Iamconcernedatthesignificantdecreaseindeerpopulation(especiallydoe/fawn)observedonmyownandneighboringpropertieswhileatthesametimeseeingasignificantincreaseinpredatornumbersincludingblackbears,wolvesandcoyotes.

Iwillusuallyalwayssupportoneantlerlesstagperlicensepurchased.Twotagsisoverkillanddiminishesthevalueofthedeerresource.Hunterswillgladlyandeasilypay$12fortheprivilegeofharvestinganadditionaldeerifneeded.

Getridoftheprivatelandandpubliclandtagsystem.Thisisaunfairpractice.Publiclandhunterspaythesamepriceforlicenseputdonotgetthesamerightsasprivatelandowners.Privatelandownersownthelandnotthedeer.

Ithinkgivingouttwoantlerlessdeertagswitheachlicenseisagrossdevaluationofperhapsourmostvaluablenaturalresource.Thehighnumberofantlerlesstagsoverall,Ibelieve,isanoverreactiontothemildwinterwehad.

Ithinkthatanobaitingbanshouldcontinue.Asunsetoftheserestrictionsisahugemistake.OnceCWDisinanarea,itistheretillallthedeeraregone.Itistooimportanttooureconomytolosedeerhuntingtodisease.

Blackbearandtimberwolvesarehavinganimpactonourdeerpopulation...thereshouldbemorebearharvestpermitsavailabletocontrolbearpopulationsandpredationonthedeerherd...particularlythespringfawncrop.

Iwouldliketoseeaherdsizeofthe90'sthatwasmuchmoreplentifulthannow.Ihavetwoboysandadaughterthatwouldlovenotonlytoseeadeerinthestand,butIwouldlovetogivethemachanceatonealso.

Iwouldliketoseemoredeerthanwhatihavebeenseeingthelast3or4years.Iwouldliketoseemorepredatorcontrolandabuckonlyseasontoboostthedeerherdupinnumbers.

NEBarronCountyhasbeensufferingsincegoingtotheCountyUnitvspreviousunitalignmentthatincludedthebluehills.Populationisfartoolowinthispartofthecounty.

IfChippewacountyis0tagswhatarewethinkinginBarroncounty!!Pleasejustreducethenumberoftags.Wehavethesmallestdeerherdwehavehadinaverylongtime.

Iwouldliketoseetheantlerlessquotareducedtozeroforprivateandpubliclandsinanyzoneswheremaintainablepopulationsareattained.



Unitwideantlerrestrictionminimumof3pointspersidenotincludingbrowtine.Orbucksonlyforafewyearstohelpdoepopulation.

Youwillneedtofocusonducksseasonnext.TheproposalforourFriendlynativesnighthuntingnettingandsnaringisabsurd.

Ihaveseenmanymoredeerintheareathisspring.Iwouldhighlyrecommendthe2extratagsforantlerlessdeerin2017.

Ithink1antlerlesstagincludedperdeerhuntinglicensewouldbeenoughplusbonustagsforsale.

wecantallowtohavefreetagsonpubliclandstherearenodeeronpubliclands

Don'tchargeforantlerlesstags.Givefreewithpurchasedgunandbowlicense

Tomanydeerinthearea,shouldhaveadoeonlyseasonfor2017

Ithinkonefreetagperlicensewouldbeappropriate.

Getridoftheyouthhunt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Toomanybears!

Plentyofdeer.



Bayfield,NorthernForest









Yes:No:

Iliveinthisunit:



Gun:Bow:


Average:Maximum:










275

147128

806423166

2231286277

Minimum: 126.2765

35334847599








Friday,April14,2017 Bayfield,NorthernForestReportGenerated:






























DMUsinaFarmlandZone











Bayfield,NorthernForest



I'mreallygladyouareofferingthiswebpagetohearthevoicesinthehuntingcommunity.IhavebeenhuntingAshlandandBayfieldCountiesforover30yearsandwe'vealwayshadgooddeernumbersupuntilaround2007.Istartedtoseeaseriousdeclineeveryyearsincethattime.ThenumbershavenotcomebackandIdonotbelievethislastyearshigherregistrationnumbers.Ibelievethatthosenumberswerefalselyreportedforunknownreasons.IknowthatIdidnothearmuchshootingtheentireseason.Iknowseveralbighuntinggangsinmyarea,friendsofmyfamily,andgeneralwordofmouthhavealwaysbeenagoodmeasureofthedeerherd.Thesehuntinggangsetc.,reportedveryslimsuccess.Thesearegangslikeminewhoinyearspastwouldhaveanywherefrom815buckshangingfromthebuckpole.Allofthesegangsreported1,2,3buckshangingoutof1520deerhunters.WhatI'mtryingtosayisthesegangsareserioushuntinggroupswhoworkhardandusuallyhavesuccess.Thesearen'tthelazybeerdrinkinggangsofhunters.Inmyopiniontherearethreereasonsforthedeclineinthedeerpopulation.Theyareoverissuanceofantlerlesspermits;oversellingofbonustags;andoverpopulationofthepredators.Somethinghastochange,anditdidacoupleofyearsagowhentheDNRstoppedissuingantlerlesstags.Thatwasgood,buttheherdisstillontherebound,andnowtheyareproposing3800antlerlesstagsagain!Thatisridiculousinmyopinion.Lettheherdtrytocomeback.Thewolvesandbearsarekillingthem365daysayear.Weneedtobringthosepopulationsincheck.Therearetoomanybears/wolves/coyotes/bobcats.Toomanypredators!Ithinkthatweshouldkeeptheantlerlessquotaatzerountilwegetthepredatorpopulationincheck.Thedeerherdcannotreboundwiththatmanypredators.ThedeerherdisstillwaydowninBayfieldandAshlandcounties.TheBearpopulationiswaytoohighasarethewolvesandcoyotes.Iwouldsuggestgettingthebearsundercontrolbyallowingthreetofiveyearsofoverthecounterbearkilltags.Thiswouldgoalongwaystowardsgettingthosenumbersincheck.ThentheDNRcouldgobacktothelotterysystem.Iwouldevensupportchargingmoremoneyforanoverthecounterkilltagtomakeupforthelostyearsoflottery.Bearskillalotoffawnsinthespringtime.Ispendalotoftimeinthewoods,andIseebearseverywhereIgouptherenomatterinBayfieldorAshlandCounty.Wehadgooddeernumbersbackwhenbeartagswereboughtoverthecounter.Thelotterysystemturnedalotofguysawayfrombearhunting.Itmakesithardtoplanthefuturesofarinadvanceforabearhunt.Whenwecouldgetatagoverthecounterthereweremanyhunterswhowouldsay,I'mgoingtotakeacoupledaysoffnextweekandtrytokillabear.Youcan'tdothatanymorewiththislotterysystem.Thatisjustamoneymakingsceam..notgoodforhunters.Selltagsoverthecounterlikeitusedtobe.You'dgetmorepeoplehuntingbears.ThepopulationofbearsisoutrageousinAshlandandBayfieldCounties.Thewolfpopulationiswaytoohighaswell.DuringdeerseasonIseemorewolftracksthandeertracks.OnedayafterafreshsnowfallIdroveafirelaneinBayfieldcountyandfollowed4wolftracksformilestrottingdownthefirelane.Onedeertrackcrossedtheroadandthewolvesleftthefirelaneonthattrack.Thatdeerprobablydidn'tlivemuchlonger.Therearecompletesectionsthatmyhuntingpartyusedtohunt,andwedon'twasteourtimeinthereanymorebecausethewolveshavemovedinandthedeeraregone!Thewolfpopulationhascausedthehuntingpressuretochange.Thehuntersarecongregatedinsmallertracksoflandbecausethedeerareinpockets.Sowherethereisapocketofdeertherearemorehunters.ItusedtobemorespreadoutthroughoutBayfieldCounty,butinrecentyears,therearelesshuntersoverallbuthuntersthataretherearehuntingthesameareas.Soitseemslikethereismorehuntingpressure.It'sdeceivingbecauseyoucandrivefor30milesandnotseeatruckparkedonthefirelane.Thenallofsuddenwithinacoupleofmilestretchyouwillsee10trucksparked.Itneverusedtobelikethat.Oneothertopicofdiscussion.Pleasedonotchangethelaws/regulationsregardingknockedarrowsinthebowafterdark.Iheardthatsomeonehasproposedachangethatwouldallowforhunterstolegallysitintheirstandsafterdarkwithanarrownocked.Thereisnoreasonforthatanditwoulddefinitelyendangerthewardenslives.Iftheyweretowalkuponahunterintheirstandafterdarktheyalreadyriskbeingshot.Ifeelthatiftheycatchsomeoneintheirstandsafterdarkitshouldbeanautomaticticket.Arrownockedornot!Thereisnoreasonforthatotherthanpoaching.Wehaveaterriblepoachingproblemstatewide.Ican'tevenbelievethattheDNRwouldconsidersucharegulation.Thatissimplystupid.It'salreadyhardenoughforthewardenstocatchsomeonepoachingafterhours.Nowyouwantthemtocatchthemintheact.Iftheyhaveanarrownockedafterhoursthatispoaching!Thankyouforlistening.Ifwereallycareaboutourdeerherdwewillletthemcomebackbeforekillingoffthedoes



andfawns.Weneeddoesandfawnstomakebigbucks!Bigbucksbringhunters,andhuntersbringthemoney.Letusgetthepredatorspopulationincheckbeforeweworryabouttheantlerlessquota.Mothernaturewilltakecareofherselfwithoutanyhelpfromus.Thepredatorsareeating365daysayear.That'salotofdeaddeer,andelkforthatmatter.Ithinkthat'scomical..let'splantelk..letshavewolves..ohwaittheelkherdcan'tgettoapopulationforhunting.hmmm..wonderwhy.TheyhaveharderwintersoutwestinthemountainsthanwehavearoundhereinWisconsinsothatisnotthecause.Thanksagainsorryforramblingattheendthere..

IspokeattheMarchhearingandvoicedmyopinionagainstanyantlerlessquota.IamamemberofoneofatleastsixhuntingcampswhohavecabinsinthenorthernpartoftheVillageofDrummond.Eachoftheseusedtohave68hunters,nowtheyhave34.I'vehuntedoutofourcampfornearly50yearsandhaveseendeernumbersriseandfall,butstillwewouldseedeer,evenafterabadwinter.Aftertheslaughterviawaytoomanybonustagsofthelastdecade,deernumbersaremaybejustbarelybeginningtocomebackintheNationalForestareawherewehunt.Still,inthelasttwoyearsoversevenfulldaysofhuntingI'veseenatotaloftwodeer,andhavenotfiredmygunatadeersince2009.Thequalityofhuntinghasdiminishedandit'sfranklyveryfrustrating.Itisdifficulttoinviteafriendorayoungpersontojoinourcamp,astheywilllikelybecomesimilarlydisappointed.Myopinionisthatitisshortsightedtoofferantlerlesstags,whichwillfurtherreducedeer(buck)numbers.AnotherfrustrationImustvoiceisthatitwasveryapparentthattheMarchmeetingwasorchestrated.Mr.Nassusedthestatisticsofthelatterpartofthepreviousdecadetoconvincethecommitteetoacceptalowerbuckkill,whereasthefirsthalfofthedecadeproducedahigherbuckkill.Whypurposelyofferfewerbucksforhunters?Theforester(didn'tcatchhisname)broughtpropsofdeerbrowsedsaplings,carryingtheimplicationthateverytreeintheforestissubjecttointensivebrowsingandifabunchofantlerlessdeerweren'tkillednotreewouldgrowpastthatstage.Thiscertainlyisn'tthecaseintheforestsouthofDrummondastheforestundergrowthisbecomingthickerandbecauseofno/poormanagementmatureoaksaredyingonthestump.Ibelievethecommitteewasgiveninaccurateandspuriousinformationandnotonlymadethewrongdecisiontohaveanantlerlessseason,butsetaquotathatisinappropriatelyhighfortheNationalForest.IwouldrespectivelyrequestthattheBayfieldCountyCDADreconsidertheirrecommendationaneliminateorsignificantlyreducetheantlerlessquotaonpublicland.

Ihavebeenhuntinginthisareafor41years.IhaveneverseenasfewdeerasIhadseeninthelast510years.Infactfromthe2009to2015seasonsIsaw11totaldeerin7years.Mywifesaw14deerinthatsametimeperiod.Shedidsee7deerlastyear.buthad2doesandafawnthatcamethroughtwice.Soreallyonly4deer.Andofmyfourdeer3werethosesametwodoesandafawn.From2009to2015itwasextrmelyraretoseeanyfawnsevenontrailcameras.Infactthefallof2016wasthefirstyearinprobably78yearsthatwehadseenanytwinfawns.Lastyearwehadonesetoftwinfawns.Wealsohadatleastonesinglefawn.Priortothatwetypicallyseenwhatseemedtobeonesinglefawneachyearontrailcameras.Ifitweren'tfortrailcamerasIprobablywouldhavegivenuphuntinginthearea.Atleastusingthemthroughouttheyearatourcabinletusknowthatthatwehadafewdeerinthearea.Butwithoutthemwesawveryveryfewdeer.Eveninpastyearswhenwehadn'tseenmanydeerwhilehuntingwehadatleastseenthemintheoffseason.IjustgotbackfromawekendatthecabinandevenwithnofoliageonthetreesandalotofdrivingthroughtheChequamegonForestareanearourcabinweonlysawonedeer.Withtheamountofdeerweareseeingandtheamountofpredatorsinthearea,bear,coyoteandwolf,nowisnotthetimetobegivingoutanterlesstags.Givethepopulationachancetocomebackupbeforewestartgivingouttags.TheonlyanterlesstagsIwouldsupportandeventhengrudginglywouldbeforyouthandhandicappedhunters.Andforperspectivepriortotheyeartheareahadanearnabuckseasonourfamilyof45huntersalmostalwaystookadoeeachyear.Howeverthatyearwasthelastyearwedidso.Sincethenwejusthavenotseenenoughdeertofeelrightabouttakingananterlessdeer.Butunfortunatelymanyhuntersdon'tcareaboutsustainingaqualityheardifitmeanstheycan'tshootadeer.Soeventhoughwesawafewmoredeerlastyearitwasnotenoughtojustifyanterlesstags!!!Iamnotagainstshootinganterlessdeerbutnotwiththenumberswestillhave.



Thepastcoupleyearshavebeengreat.Thedeernumbersarefinallystartingtoclimb,unfortunatelythenumberofpredatorsisgettingoutofhand.Idoseeapositivetrendinbearpermitsbeinghandedout,34yearsseemsmorereasonablethan67consideringthenumbersiamseeingandgettingoncams.Theelephantintheroomisthenumberofwolves.Theyarealarminglygettingoutofcontrol,ihavebeenrunningcamshardthispastwinter(Dec16nowof17).Ihave2packsofwolvesonthesamecamera(one7andtheother8members),andnot6milesfromthisspotiamgetting46singlewolvesoncam.Typicallyinthepastihaveonlyseen34inapack,butapackof7andapackof8inthesameareaisgettingoutofhand.Iseeanexponentialgrowthincomingyearsifthenumbersarenotkeptincheck.ThedeepcountylandofthefarNorthernWIareajustdoesnotholddeerlikeitusedto,theremightbeafewhereandthere,butthereissolittlechanceforthemtosurvivewiththenumberofwolves(Ican'timagineifwehaveanother1314winter).IhavewalkedtheWestforkofaparticularriveracoupletimesthisspring,Iamshockedatthenumberofwolfdeerkillsalongthatareanotmanypeopletravel.Thereseemstobedeerhairandbonesaboutevery.25.5mile.Nowidonotclaimtobeapredatorexpertorabiologistofanysort,butwhatiamisanAVIDdeerhunterandoutdoorsmanwholivestospendasmuchtimeinthewoodsaspossibleeitherhunting/scoutingorrunningcams.Whaticantellyouismyfindingsbetweeneitherseeingdeaddeer,tracks,orhavingwolvesoncameraareveryreal,andhavebeengettingworseandworseoverthepastcoupleyears.Thankyou

MyfamilyhashuntedinBayfieldCountyforover60yearsandithasbeenfamilytraditiontogototheBuckShackforDeerSeason,eventhoughwecomefromthecentralfarmlandzonewhereIcanseeupto20deerjustonmy5miledrivehomefromwork.Forallofthose60yearswehavebeenabuckonlycampuntilwewereforcedtoharvestdoesduringtheearnabuckseason,whichIbe