Deer management unit information meetings set

[Cooter]

MADISON – Anyone interested in deer in Wisconsin will have a chance to get the most up to date deer management unit information in a series of deer management unit public information meetings across the state in March. Topics will include: the importance of a healthy, sustainable deer herd; increasing hunter participation; and new deer research initiatives. Local wildlife biologists will be on hand at each meeting to provide information and answer questions.

“These meetings are intended to inform hunters and others about Wisconsin deer management, and how it is applied in the local management units where they hunt, live or recreate,” said Keith Warnke, big game ecologist for the Department of Natural Resources. “These meetings will have formal presentations by local DNR wildlife biologists, followed by a question and answer period. Some meetings may also have an open house format, allowing folks to stop in anytime over a two hour period before the presentation.”

All meetings will open with a 15-minute video hosted by Scott Craven of the University of Wisconsin who leads an informal round table discussion on emerging harvest patterns, unit-specific management, hunter surveys and a CWD update. Attendees will also learn about preliminary deer population estimates, possible deer hunting season structures for 2010, and unit level CWD status and historical perspectives of deer management. Some new DNR communications tools will be announced and attendees will learn more about how they can be involved in deer management projects.

Hunters and non-hunters interested in these meetings are encouraged to attend the meetings that cover the deer management units they are interested in (see list below), but are welcome to attend any of the meetings.

Additional information about white-tailed deer management in Wisconsin is available on the Department of Natural Resources Web site.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Warnke, Madison (608) 264-6023, Bob Manwell, or area wildlife biologists listed for the meeting locations in the meeting calendar