Wisconsin Deer Harvest Lowest in 30years?

I read that last year. The funny thing is the dude in the picture is the one who got me into bowhunting.

 

I own 130 acres in Clark county and hunted pretty hard and only saw 1 doe, the wolves are to blame for the low deer numbers and until we are aloud to hunt them it is only going to get worse.

 

That was us the past 3-4 years. From what locals have said, the pack must have moved. But our party, group of 4, got 3 deer this year and the gut piles were gone in 2 days. Usually they are still around when we leave.

 

If things hold as early numbers indicate from Justin's article, Shawano (5,685) and Polk (5,374) are set to surpass Trempealeau (6,079) and Dunn (5,510) for 3rd and 4th from the 2014 harvest totals. Marathon and Waupaca flip for 1/2 and Vernon stays 5th in both.

 

If the news reports are correct, those of you in the southern parts of the state better look out, because that means the DNR is decimating the southern herd as well. With the North being buck only, if the state still exceeds previous that means all of those does not taken from the north are being taken from the south.

 

DNR stated today that deer total numbers are down just over 7,000 total deer.

 

I hunt Shawano, Waupaca, Marathon, and Portage counties so I guess I better count my blessings the way it sounds. Hope the hunting turns around in the rest of the state for you guys.

 

Down 7,000 from what? Last year or the yearly average?

 

Sota makes a point. My first time going to Wisconson bowhunting there. thought you'd be seeing lots of deer. it ends up falling into a disappointment. all I saw was a basket8pt crossing to the swamp from the private farm.

 

Has anybody ever thought that deer numbers are going down because the towns and citys growing?? the more the city destroys forrest trees and farms and turns it into houses or strip malls etc. deer habitat gets smaller by the year.

 

Would not account for a 15% drop in 2 years.

 

I remember driving to mazepa in MN. a couple of years ago before the suburban grew there. I see lots of deer and trophy bucks by town out in the cut cornfield. Now you don't see that anymore.

 

I felt like the population was up in my area. However, I heard very few shots opening day

 

Whitetails are one of the most adaptable animals out there, they are one of the least effected animals by development.

 

I live in Marinette county I've been hunting public land here and Oconto county I seen 6 deer and 14 wolves. Scary when your up a tree and 4 wolves cruise with in 30 yards. Going to look far a lease in southwest of the state.

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They may be the most adaptable animal in the Midwest. But when cities tore down their habitat. there's no more deer reproduction on that area. Tighter their habitat gets to the point where there's no place for them to hide, the more the deer numbers go down. you also have to include car collisions with deer and everybody that hunts them.

 

1) Mismanagement of public land.

2) To many doe tags issued.

3) excessive predator populations.

4) Weather

This is what I feel are the reasons for the deer population crash in the Northwoods of WI. Encroachment would be way down on the list as others have said.

 

I wonder why they have to put together the very unpopular urban hunts to lower deer numbers? Property development in not in the top 20 as far as factors of deer numbers or hunter success in Wisconsin.

 

Haha hit the nail on the head! The DNR would obviously rather have the deer on the lower side in terms of number but people dont realize that. People are in control of herd numbers. Tags dont kill!

 

There was your chance to help the deer population out. The DNR sure isnt doing anything up north to help.