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Wisconsin Keeps Deer Herds in Check

By Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation

Now that the state’s deer herd is in check, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation (WFBF) wants to keep it that way.

“The Wisconsin Farm Bureau applauds the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for getting the deer herd under control across the state, but certainly there are local areas where further reductions are needed,” said Jeff Lyon, WFBF’s director of governmental relations.

Lyon provided comments to the members of the Assembly Fish and Wildlife Committee and the Senate Natural Resources Committee at an April 15 hearing devoted to the 2008 deer season and future herd management techniques.

With the lower-than-expected deer harvest numbers in 2008, Lyon said WFBF is “concerned that there will be an overreaction and scientific-based deer management will be overshadowed by a desire to placate the deer hunting community over the next few years resulting in a quickly expanding deer herd.”

“We recognize that deer hunters are needed to keep the deer herd in check, but a balance is needed between having a successful hunt and having farmers being overrun by deer in certain areas of the state,” Lyon said.

Lyon said one way to measure the DNR’s recent success in controlling deer numbers is participation in the Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program (WDACP). He told legislators that in 2004 there were 642 claims totaling $2.4 million, but in 2007 participation had fallen to 328 claims at a cost of $1 million.

“A reduction in claims is an indicator that deer numbers in most areas are in good balance,” he said.

Lyon also told legislators that WFBF is concerned with the governor’s budget proposal that would increase the WDACP’s claim deductible from $250 to $500, and reduce the maximum claim payment from $15,000 to $10,000.

“The WFBF has had long-standing policy supporting increased bag limits and increasing the number of permits being issued to reduce deer and other wildlife populations,” Lyon said. “When deer management units are above their overwinter goal, we support Earn-a-Buck or any other program with incentives to reduce the deer herd.”

WFBF does support the DNR’s recent recommendation of a one-year moratorium on the Earn-A-Buck program outside Chronic Wasting Disease zones, but is also pleased that an additional 200,000 bonus deer tags will be available for the 2009 season. The sale of these tags will help fund WDACP.

Lyon also reiterated WFBF’s support for banning deer baiting and feeding as a means to protect Wisconsin’s livestock industry from diseases such as bovine tuberculosis, which is prevalent in Michigan and Minnesota. Livestock accounts for nearly two-thirds of agriculture’s $51 billion economic impact to Wisconsin.

“While our main issue is to prevent the spread of disease, we know that feeding and baiting disrupt normal movement and feeding patterns of deer,” Lyon said..