Natural Resources Board moves forward with habitat-based deer management units

The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) unanimously voted to change the white-tail deer management units in the northern and central portions of the state during its Feb. 26 meeting.

This affects the Northern Forest Zone deer management units which would go back to being habitat-based rather than county-based. The rule also changes the language from County Deer Advisory Councils to Citizen Deer Advisory Councils (CDAC) and removes a requirement that these bodies are organized on a county basis.

According to a DNR memorandum regarding the proposed changes, this provides the department the flexibility to modify the geographical area CDACs may represent. These changes would not require the department to adjust the structure of the deer advisory councils, but rather leaves the option open to do so in the future.

The memorandum also says, “The department intends to work closely with the Wisconsin Conservation Congress to consider the geographic extent and corresponding recommendation process for each CDAC based on the proposed unit boundaries. The emergency rule does not propose this change, so the 2025 deer advisory councils will remain organized by county.”

Process questioned

CDAC chairs, as well as members of the public, have expressed concerns about the deer hunting numbers in the northern portion of the state for years. While there was strong public support for the changes voiced, some in opposition wanted the NRB to bring the rule changes through the proper channels as opposed to an emergency rule change.

Jeff Pritzl, Deer Program specialist for the DNR, began gathering public and tribal input last August. He, along with other DNR staff members, developed a map based on historical habitat-based units which had been used prior to 2014 when the state shifted to county-based units.

Pritzl noted that they received strong support for the boundary changes shifting from county-based to habitat-based in an online survey in October, and went on to hold four open houses in November, including one in Woodruff, to gather public input.

According to Pritzl, support received specifically regarding the Northern Forest Zone was nearly 80% in favor of the changes.

Republican State Rep. Chanz Green, who represents most of the Northern Forest Zone, attended the meeting to express his support for the new maps and changes, based on what he has heard from his constituents.

“The map change is something necessary for northern Wisconsin deer hunting,” Green said. “It’s been on a decline for the last half-dozen years or so. People here are looking for a change.”

Green noted he did not specifically request any expedited process for the rule-making procedure.

“I would like to see this vetted and properly gone through the channels, and everyone gets the chance to see it and learn about it better,” he said.
Rob Bohmann, chair of the CDAC Oversight Committee, asked “What’s the emergency?”

“Our CDAC Oversight Committee supported the rule; however, we have concerns about the emergency rule. We have a process here; let’s utilize the process,” Bohmann said. “Our citizens haven’t had an opportunity to weigh in on these changes that are made.”

He advocated for the DNR to roll out their proposed rule during the upcoming Wisconsin Conservation Congress which takes place in about seven weeks.
“We’re working off information that was brought in by roughly 200 people. Last time I checked, there are over half a million people that deer hunt in the state of Wisconsin. If we’re gonna make changes, let’s do it right the first time,” Bohmann said.

Others who spoke at the meeting brought up reducing the number of antlerless tags on public lands as an important way to manage the deer herd.

“If you want more deer, you have to stop killing the mamas,” said Greg Kazmierski, former chair of the NRB, who spoke in opposition to the rule.

Gov. Tony Evers and the Legislature will still have final say on the regulations.