Outgoing Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources deer biologist Jeff Pritzl finally got to speak his mind bluntly after nearly 35 years with the agency, and his seasoned words were revealing and sensible.
Although he officially retired Feb. 2 because of his accumulation of paid time off, he turned over his state computer access and duties in December.
The 59-year-old Marshfield native who grew up hunting deer with his grandfather and uncle — including muzzleloader hunts near Gillett — recalled the past decades of state deer management and shared some future ideas that could trim an ever-swelling deer herd while feeding the hungry.
Pritzl took the public position of deer program specialist on March 1, 2021, a demotion in rank from his position as a district supervisor (he retained his supervisor pay) for what is arguably the most visible, challenging and unwinnable state job short of the governor.
“It’s a policy-focused position that comes with fans and critics,” he said. “There’s an assumption of the stereotypical deer hunter. There’s no such thing as a typical deer hunter. It makes it interesting, but difficult to get a majority to pull in the same direction and the enthusiasm that goes with it.”
Tension and angst between deer hunters from various factions “reflects the passion and strong interests,” such as gun vs. bow vs. crossbow hunters, he noted.
“I’ve kind of changed my mind on that. A lot of that tension and passion is wasted,” he said.
The assumption that everyone wants the same thing is wrong.
“There’s room for everyone to pursue their hunting interest without consequence to their fellow hunters,” he added.
One of Pritzl’s surprising revelations is the number of does or antlerless deer (including fawn bucks) that need to be harvested annually to see the statewide deer herd remain at a stable number. While reluctant to give a number (habitat varies from zone to zone), he said about two antlerless deer need to be killed annually for every buck harvested to see no growth in the deer herd. Based on the 2025 season, with 165,614 bucks and 173,071 antlerless deer killed (338,685 total), hunters would need to harvest an additional 158,000 does and button bucks.
Although selling wild game has been prohibited for more than a century, Pritzl revealed an idea that would pay hunters to donate antlerless deer to food pantries. He noted the commercial value of fish in the commercial fishing industry, as well as the monetary value of antlers. Many antlerless permits go unsold every year and something needs to be done to trim the herd.
During a Jan. 14 public hearing on Assembly Bill 693, Sen. Andre Jacque noted that hunters have donated about 100,000 deer and 4 million pounds of ground venison to food pantries via local meat processors who are reimbursed $100 to $110 for each processed deer. Pritzl noted that fewer and fewer processors are accepting whole deer, in part due to CWD.
If approved, AB 693 would allow businesses to give gift cards to those hunters who donate deer to food pantries. The DNR would not run the program, according to the bill.
Pritzl was also blunt about the never-ending wrangling over baiting and feeding of deer. Currently, 60 counties have a ban on baiting and feeding, primarily an effort to slow the spread of CWD, which is spread when deer come in close contact at bait piles.
“What’s your goal for putting food out there for the critters? ‘I think I’m helping wildlife.’ You are doing it for you and trying to justify it,” he said. “You are making animals dependent on an artificial food source and altering the natural behavior of the animal.”
Those hunting in “subpar habitat” may say they “need an assist” with bait, he added. His solution? “Go find another place to hunt.”
Baiting and feeding allow deer to stay nocturnal as many studies have shown, which further reduces hunter opportunities. A straight corn diet can also kill deer in winter, he added.
From a biologist’s viewpoint, the answer is simple: Baiting should be banned, even without the threat of CWD, he said. There is a social desire to feed or “help” wildlife (as with bird feeding), but in the deer’s case, the downfalls of baiting and feeding them far outweigh any benefits.
Most other game species in the state do have 10-year management plans, but that doesn’t work well with deer and their population fluctuations from hunter success or failure, severe winters and available habitat. Up to 50% of fawns don’t survive until deer season in the north but fawn mortality is 25% in the farmland zones.
The goal of reducing hunting pressure on public lands by creating both public and private antlerless permits never worked, Pritzl noted, and this confusing and restrictive system is likely to go away soon.
Pritzl said the best lesson for every hunter and landowner is, “You cannot stockpile deer on the landscape.”
Ross Bielema is a freelance writer from New London and owner of Wolf River Concealed Carry LLC. Contact him at Ross@wolfriverccw.com.
