The overall theme of the Shawano County Deer Advisory Council meeting was more opportunities for deer hunters in an effort to get an ever-swelling deer herd under control.
With a countywide herd of more than 53,000 animals and fewer does being shot, the council admitted efforts to rein in the growing herd are largely symbolic.
During the April 29 meeting at Shawano Community Middle School, the six-member board approved an antlerless holiday hunt and extended the archery season through Jan. 31.
Both decisions came on a 3-2 vote, with Steve Breaker, Paul Armitage and Mark Heidemann voting in favor, and John Hoeffs and Mark Conradt voting no.
The council also agreed to increase the total antlerless deer quota from 9,000 in 2024 to 10,000 this year, although the number is largely symbolic because the actual antlerless harvest was just 4,590 animals. Conradt initially suggested leaving the quota at 9,000, with Hoeffs seconding, but the other three voted no.
“We haven’t moved the needle at all in how many years,” Breaker said, noting that although the county’s hunters shot about half the quota, the council should at least increase the quota to voice their concern at the swelling herd problem. Breaker then suggested a 10,000-animal quota, which was seconded by Armitage and unanimously approved.
Jacquelyn Christopher, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist, said the council should expand hunter opportunities when possible. She noted that the county’s herd of 53,400 animals (plus or minus 7,000) represents 84 deer per square mile of habitat.
Last year, the population was 72 per square mile.
The upward-trending deer density in Shawano County and surrounding Central Farmland Zone counties contributes to more car-deer accidents, overbrowsing, lack of forest regeneration and the need for nuisance deer permits from crop damage, she noted.
Another option for some landowners living near locations where deer have tested positive for chronic wasting disease is the CWD surveillance permit. A process for awarding these permits is still being worked out, but most of these harvests typically take place at the end of hunting season, she noted.
To learn more about herd management, go to https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/deermetrics.html.
For details on past harvests, buck densities and fawn-to-doe ratios, go to https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/deermetrics/HarvestStats.aspx. ONLINE ONLY
The council also decided to award Shawano County hunters two antlerless deer permits per gun and archery buck permit, the same as last year. The council set the bonus antlerless permits at 4,900 for private land and 1,600 for public land.
Council members also considered the 113 online survey results for Shawano County in their decisions.
For full public input results from online surveys, go to https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/cdacfind/. ONLINE ONLY
The county’s hunters shot a total of 9,402 deer last season, including 4,812 bucks and 4,590 antlerless deer. It was the first time in many years that the buck harvest exceeded the doe harvest, which adds to the problem of herd health, Christopher noted.
A total of 94% of the harvest was shot on private land.
Wolves and other predators continue to draw attention from deer hunters. Christopher said there are about 220 packs of four to five wolves each in the state. An adult wolf will eat up to 15 deer a year, but typically will kill a younger, older or weak deer. Bears tend to prey on only fawns.
All CDAC actions are reviewed by the DNR Deer Advisory Committee and staff, then forwarded to the state’s Natural Resources Board for final approval in June.
Ross Bielema is a freelance writer from New London and owner of Wolf River Concealed Carry LLC. Contact him at Ross@wolfriverccw.com.
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