Many northern Wisconsin counties could see zero-level quotas for antlerless deer for the second year in a row.
County deer advisory councils in Oneida, Vilas, Forest, Iron, and Langlade counties have made preliminary recommendations to give out zero permits for antlerless deer.
Vilas County Deer Advisory Council chair Ken Anderson says the council weighed the fact that even with restrictions…youth, disabled and active military hunters can still obtain an antlerless permit.
“They voted 3-2, that they would have zero quota permits for the general public, feeling that the 400 anterless that would supposedly be taken by that former group –would be sufficient, and would increase the deer herd with that recommendation.”
Anderson says about a dozen people turned out at last month’s meeting to weigh in on quota options.
The DNR is taking public comment online until April 15th, and the next round of council meetings is scheduled for later this month.
DNR Big Game Ecologist Kevin Wallenfang says the zero-quota suggestions are preliminary, and there’s still opportunity for citizens to influence the recommendations.
“Now that these are being developed by the county deer advisory councils, they’re looking to see what the public thinks about their recommendations, and help them make determinations as to what they’d like to see in the fall.”
Price, Bayfield and Ashland counties are also among those recommending buck-only hunts for the general public.
Lincoln County is recommending an antlerless quota of 380.
Meanwhile Marathon county is proposing an anterless quota of over 5000.
