I do not agree with those that feel people should manage a healthy volume of deer herd, for a "sporting" hunt, which gives the most "reasonable" chance for a kill. Those who believe so can define sport and reasonable to satisfy themselves. My personal belief is that human influence should be limited to protecting wildlife from total distinction. Those that tend to agree with me can define for themselves to what extent that means. I would prefer that people hunt them to a minimum sustainable population, since I am selfish about my auto costs and safety. I realize this volume would always be debated, even if generally agreed on.
On a different perspective, I have an appreciation for a more challenging hunt than some. Fewer wildlife and gadgets (that may or may not actually do what the manufacturers claim) give me a greater sense of accomplishment in the hunt. Even though I eat my kill, I don't need it to survive. If I did depend on the kill, to avoid starvation, I would use any means to have an advantage over the animal. However, I do not have a personal need to prove the animal an incompetent idiot to technology. My definition of sport hunting includes a more level "playing" field, since death is not the only satisfaction I get. To bad, for my satisfaction, there are those that do not agree, and feel they are owed/ obligated a kill.

I have hunted in Wisconsin for many years and this is definately one of the worst years for deer hunting. It seems that the best way to control the herd which is low is to go back to what built the Wisconsin deer herd 40 years ago get rid of the CWD zone, allow only a certain number of does to be killed by bonus tags and make it mandatory to shoot a 4 point buck or bigger. This would control the deer population and grow larger bucks, thus bringing in more quality deer, more hunters, and more money. It also seems that the wolf population is increasing thus having a big impact on the herd. For any change to happen we need to contact local leaders!

DiGriz, it's not that bait hunting is bad, it's that we don't have a season on politicians. Think of the revenue possibilities! Out-of-State license fees, Zone permits for Dane County, Federal Migratory Senator Stamps for those hunting between Lakes Mendota and Monona.

I imagine with a season on both politicians and bureaucrats we could double the number of women who buy hunting licenses.

Tell me truthfully now, can't you picture yourself in a tree stand overlooking a fresh pile of non-consecutive unmarked $100 bills, freezing in place and holding your breath when you hear that faint rustle of approaching greedy footsteps in the brush...?

We should go back to the 60's and 70's and apply for party permits for doe's and fawn's.
I have 4 boy's all hunting age, it's kind of hard to keep the tradition going if they see no deer. we saw more wolves and coyotes than deer. Here's a couple of guy's to contact if your sick of the slaughtering of our deer population.
keith.warnke@wisconsin.gov
jason.fleener@wisconsin.gov
we need to all express our voices's

sorry again hitting wrong key

sorry should havve said tag

When hunter's say they alway's bag a Deer is it a fawn or a full grown Deer? I saw one fawn this year & did not bait or sit in a tree stand & put forth the effert to try & find Deer. there is nothing wrong with hunting from a tree stand. I have seen & bag'ed some nice Deer both from a stand & on the ground. I did not shoot @ the fawn. I would rather not fill my take but those who do not care about that so be it kill what ever you want to

On the side of the DNR sad to say they are need'ed for those that hunt & fish that think the rule's are only for the other guy

Nice article papermember!very well written. Do you allow hunting on your land ? sounds like a sanctuary.Whitetail deer are smart creatures with a survival skills beyond belief,one of their survival skills are to live where they are never pressured and have adequate food and water.This could be why you have alot of sightings,your lucky I have been hunting Lafayette County for 32 years and the past two years I have seen less than a dozen deer and this a large wooded farm in the CWD zone and I know for a fact the DNR has contributed to this devastating turn around in population. This is a huge problem and someone is responsible so who is it? it is not us the ethical hunters who enjoy venison and the pursuit,plus the tradition that is in jeopardy.

I am a farmer and a hunter. I grew up on the farm I still own. I have killed and eaten deer, as well as geese, pheasant, squirrels, rabbits. I've also shot and killed some coons, wood chucks, and several gophers to attempt to control damage. Sometimes it seems it accomplishes spite best. I have fished all types of waters and ice, always eating my rewards. I enjoy the hunt but would NEVER consider killing just for the sport. For the avid tree huggers, I also burn wood for heat. If I run out of dead trees I'll stop burning, but In 40+ years I haven't gained on them. My woods are as healthy as ever, and the wildlife is as populated as it ever has been as well. I have always been aware of the wildlife count on our farm since I was younger than 9 years old. I do admit the fox population is down slightly, but there are coyotes and turkeys that never existed. I appreciate the job my many cats do, controlling the mice and gophers. A dog might help the coon influence, but I'm too selfish to have my daily routine controlled by a dog’s life and needs.
The deer population we still have, creates an environment of automobile deaths, insurance rate burden and realized auto repairs. I have had two deer accidents myself. One when I was a teen and another 25 years later. This, after avoiding more than I can count, well over 50 close encounters. I hope my wife and children never experience these issues, but statistics will likely dictate the inevitable, unless they isolate themselves within a downtown metropolis, away from such dense wildlife. Yes, I called it dense. Regardless of any argument to the contrary, it is dense enough to kill TOO MANY humans.
I enjoy watching the deer, which I see every week (daily on occasion), without hate and spite. I am realistic and "matter of fact" in my opinion on the value I place on this animal. I am not a supporter of current DNR policies. I believe they ABUSE the incredible authority the legislators have given them. I have had conflict with the staff and agents. Never by direct penalty, but often with indirect penalty, by abuse and unnecessary costs and use of my taxed dollars, and my ability to use my land (within a better definition of reason, which is a different conversation) also taxed for the privilege of owning. However, I do believe on the general philosophy justifying the department’s existence.
Now, for those that made it this far, I would support better control of the deer population. Riding the edge of controversy and DISTINCTION would suit me fine. However, I am NOT convinced that the DNR has had any significant effect on the population. Any valid evidence otherwise would only bring me satisfaction.

I'm all for firing people at the state level that have screwed us. Let's start with state senators of both parties that have more than one term in office. I don’t think anybody trusts them anymore.

Wisconsin Wolves....smoke a pack a day

Finally someone from our G'ment is a hunter and realizes the problem,I hope that his comment will bring more attention to the problem.
Paul Ryan is an outdoorsman I will be calling him today and venting on the issue lets all get the ball rolling! It is the perfect time,Doyle probably wont be our next Governer that will help as well,but everyone that is complaining should contact out state offices it's the only way anything will be done

It will take year's for the Deer to be what they once were. We need to not issue any Doe premit's

I apologize to the earlier posters. I shouldn't have said "any" of the posters so far were probably not hunters.

I was responding to the later posts and let the earlier comments slip my mind.

I'm actually afraid to post at the moment, yet I will.

I don't think that any of the posters so far are hunters, nor farmers. It seems like with this issue really being in the spot light at the moment, more people may be curious and have legitimate questions and are truly new to this conversation.

I think that is GREAT! We need attention to this issue immediately, pro and con.

In my opinion...

If you look to our neighboring states, there are MANY more deer v car accidents in the last few years in our neighboring states than in WI. What does that tell us in WI and possible out of state hunters? It tells us that there are fewer deer in WI. It tells out of state hunters that traditionally came to our deer abundant state that they should save their hard earned money and stay home to hunt in 2010. This is a tremendous blow to us already in 2009. It will be horrific, I fear, to WI in 2010. Our economy is struggling enough, it didn't need this from our own DNR to boot.

The DNR, with their over-stimulated deer count and "earn a buck" rules have pretty much put a fork to our states billion dollar tourism of out of state hunters. This is a direct result of what I stated above. Thoughtlessness or possible corruption from the WI DNR.

One Wisconsin Deer Hunters' opinion, anyway...

It is easy for a politician to say fire someone. It shows that he does not care about anybody and should not be re-elected. The senator needs to keep in mind that the people he wants fired probably voted for him. He also needs to realize also that this years delayed corn harvest had a major role in the decline. Is this the blame of the farmers? No. The weather is blamed for this and you cannot control Mother Nature.

Could the low kill numbers possibly be because of the 52% of corn still in the fields as of opening day??? I understand some frustration of not getting a kill (me included) but to fire people over it is ridiculous.

So what does Decker want? Not the firings, but what does he want for deer herd management? Is he upset because there have been too many deer killed in past years so now there are fewer deer available this year? If so, what is his solution for there to be enough deer next year? Issue fewer licenses? Won't that upset the hunters that don't get a license? What is his solution? Or is he just blowing off to pander to the hunters because he is up for re-election next year?

CWD was the biggest farce since the Global Warming conspiracy. Check it out...most of the CWD areas were also the highest car vs deer areas. Paid for by your local insurance company. Duh.

“They’ve earned what they got coming. They’ve screwed us over too many years in a row now,” I don’t think anybody trusts them anymore.”

Until he mentioned "deer herd" I thought he was referring to all of the politicians in Madison.

Its too late for that. Because of Doyle's decision to veto a bill, the Governor will continue to have the power to name the DNR Secretary thus keeping the bureaucrats in the DNR.

iam all for that there is no deer