Wisconsin board approves deer changes

[DonBo]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin wildlife officials agreed Wednesday to eliminate in-person deer check stations by next year, doing away with a cornerstone of hunting tradition to save money and process data faster.

The provision was part of a sweeping rules package implementing Texas researcher James Kroll's recommendations on how to improve hunting in Wisconsin. Gov. Scott Walker's administration hired Kroll in 2011 to review the Department of Natural Resources' deer policies; agency officials have been working to meld his suggestions into their regulations for months.

The DNR's board approved the package on a unanimous voice vote after nearly four hours of discussion. Board members said the new rules will give hunters a stronger voice in local herd management.

"Yes!" DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp said seconds after the vote. "It's such an exciting time in deer management in this state. We will not waste this opportunity."

The rules call for a host of changes, including reducing the number of deer management units from 134 to 72 based on county boundaries, simplifying population goals into broad statements such as "increase or decrease the herd," creating cheaper antlerless tags for landowners who agree to share data from kills with the DNR, and creating county committees that will recommend local population goals to the agency by next year. Perhaps the biggest on-the-ground shift is eliminating in-person registration.

Deer hunters have been hauling carcasses to hundreds of bars and convenience stores across the state to be counted for decades, showing off the carcasses to other hunters, buying snacks and beer and swapping stories. The DNR has relied on in-person registration as a means of gathering detailed information on kill totals, deer sex, age and health, and collecting tissue samples for chronic wasting disease tests.

Kroll argued remote registration would expedite kill tallies. The rules eliminate all check stations in favor of a mix of phone and online registration by 2015. DNR officials say such a move could save the agency as much as $182,000 a year.

Opponents have warned remote registration will lead to underreporting, the loss of face-to-face interaction and less data for the DNR as well as hurt bars, taverns and convenience stores' bottom lines.

"Our establishments serve as community gathering places, where sportsmen come together to share the successes and failures of the day's hunt," Wisconsin Tavern League Executive Director Pete Madland said in a statement to the board Wednesday. "Eliminating this revenue stream from these small businesses would be another financial hardship for them to bear."

Supporters, though, say remote registration will be far more convenient for hunters, especially when they're dozens of miles from the nearest check-in station.

"If you make it easier for people to register more people will register there deer without wasting gas, time (greener) for everyone," hunter Kyle Olinski wrote in a Dec. 24 email to the board. "'taking the fun out of deer hunting because they can't show off there deer at the registration station' What-? How about a picture on your cell phone and send it out to your friends and the world. Please pass this it makes sense."

Eric Lobner, a DNR wildlife supervisor coordinating the rules package, told the board Wisconsin was one of only three Midwestern and Eastern states that still register deer on paper, and that Wisconsin turkey and geese hunters already register their kills by phone. DNR officials have said, too, that they're pondering other ways of collecting deer data, including requiring random in-person registrations, requiring hunters to send in deer jaws or taking tissue samples from deer that hunters deliver to meat processors.

Stepp called the paper system "extraordinarily burdensome." She said she understands the tradition of in-person registration and the economic impact, but suggested taverns and stores could still pull in hunters with biggest buck contests and other promotions.

George Meyer, a former DNR secretary who now serves as executive director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, questioned why the agency is considering any of Kroll's recommendations. He said hunters generally have been satisfied since the Legislature eliminated earn-a-buck, a DNR herd control plan that required hunters to kill an antlerless deer before taking a buck.

Board members disagreed with his claim, pointing out hunters in northern Wisconsin killed 15 percent fewer deer this year than last. Stepp said current DNR policy "ain't working."

[Barbelboy]

What a shame. I've always loved that tradition.

Just look how remote registration has revolutionized deer management in MN............sigh.

[HNTNBUX]

I don't hunt in Wisconsin but I do like MN's registration online. It is very nice to be able to drive past the closed bait store, register online and then process the deer that night when it is still warm out. Registering has always been a hassle and this is a great improvement.

[DonBo]

I don't hunt in Wisconsin but I do like MN's registration online. It is very nice to be able to drive past the closed bait store, register online and then process the deer that night when it is still warm out. Registering has always been a hassle and this is a great improvement.

Agreed. I've registered several deer before even getting out of the treestand. Always a hastle to run them into town over in WS.

[Barbelboy]

Oh, i'm not bashing the ease of phone registration. God only knows how many times i've used it in MN. It's just the reason for elimination of on site registration is better deer management and saving $$$$.

I was mostly lamenting the end of a one of my group's time honored traditions and I've always loved the metal tags they give you.

[slimngrizzly]

At most gas stations etc here in Mn there is still a bunch of the "big bucks" taken locally brought in. Im sure many will still bring their trophys down to the bar for the comradare. I bet we will see a lot more contests, and it wont just be for biggest buck anymore. Bars and stores will come up with all sorts of ideas.

[mnguy152]

yeah just sad to c how that hurts the local business in the area. when we go bunch in the truck all buy gas pop or snack or more beer. Now if we dont have to go now how much money thoose places will get then from the extra business. yeah sure not a whole lot but couple bucks here and there does make a diffence to them people . even the local bars said it was a slow year for them again not many people where up since the herd was so low. I think that the deer huntting weekend is a make or break for alot of them that last push until snowmobile season or fishing opener.just sad to see that all when the big shots make the call to that will put the deathblow on your business.

[LABS4ME]

It's about time. Registration will most likely go up. The ease of doing it prompts people to register their deer. I know several of the stations in Northern WI did not go out and verify your kill. You just walked in and registered your deer and were handed the tag. Kinda hard to justify the cost of on site registration, when they are not even doing what they are supposed to be doing.

Guys who would under report their deer will do so with or without the online version... Outlaws are outlaws.

Welcome to the 21st century Wisconsin.

Good Luck!

Ken

[Powerstroke]

Labs said it perfectly. This makes registration easier, not harder, so data collection will go up. Not registering your deer is against the law and nobody I hunt with plans on breaking the law now, just cause no one is looking.

The argum,ent about bars and gas stations, if you want to support your local pump and munch or watering hole, do it. If you stop going simply because the DNR doesn't force you to stop by, than that makes you the reason the business lost money, not the DNR. If you support your local gas station, then stop there. Don't blame the DNR.

Finally, I don't think WI has anything to complain about in the deer management department. Other than the failed "earn-a-buck" era, WI continues to lead the midwest in deer populations and harvests. The own some of the highest harvest in the country as well as some of the largest deer in the country. I don't see any of these changes making an impact in the reputation WI has. In nothing else, it will save the DNR money and streamline their processes and that alone is reason for me to support it. Deer hunting is alive and well in WI without needless paperwork and financial burden being passes to the taxpayers.