MADISON – Wisconsin’s largest farm organization supports bringing back an October antlerless deer hunt to maintain the state’s deer herd.
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation testified at a state Natural Resources Board hearing today in favor of a deer hunting season schedule that renews the October hunt.
“The results are clear,” said Paul Zimmerman, WFBF’s executive director of public affairs. “In order to reduce the deer herd, there needs to be an October antlerless hunt.”
Wisconsin‘s estimated 1.2 million deer herd is 70 percent above the Department of Natural Resources’ desired population.
When deer management units have populations above their over-winter goal, WFBF member policy supports instituting an earn-a-buck season or other programs with incentives to reduce the deer herd to at least DNR goals.
Farm Bureau’s testimony noted that when there was both an October and December antlerless deer hunt in 2004 and 2005 over 85,000 deer were killed each year. However in 2006 and 2007 when the October antlerless hunt was not held, less than 35,000 deer were killed during the December hunt.
“Deer hunting and the size of the herd are consistently discussed at county Farm Bureau meetings and at the WFBF annual meeting,” Zimmerman said. “Hunting is the only tool we have to reduce and manage the deer herd. WFBF supports additional deer hunting opportunities and earn-a-buck requirements to better manage our deer herd.”
