A look into the topics discussed by the Wisconsin Conservation Congress Deer & Elk Advisory Committee over the course of their past five meetings for only educational purposes.

By GrantThiel

  • August 8, 2015

    The committee met at 9:30 a.m. at the Marathon County Public Library in Wausau, WI. They voted to allow counties in the central/southern farmland zones to extend bow hunting season. A decision was made to withhold developing a more effective approach to limit the spread of CWD due to the disease’s slow manifestation. The committee also rejected the re-establishment of a "bonus buck" program in the Southern Farmland Zone to help limit CWD.

  • March 19, 2016

    The committee met at 9 a.m. at the Mead Wildlife Area Visitor Center. A study on fawn survival rate was concluded and it was determined that fat needed by does was a determining factor. Restriction of the spread of CWD was again discussed and the committee once again decided to refrain from action. Eight hunting incidents were reported by law enforcement with 3 fatalities.

  • August 13, 2016

    The committee met at 9:30 a.m. at the Grand Lodge Waterpark Resort in Rothschild, WI. They approved an earn-a-buck program to assist in reducing the Wisconsin buck herd. The committee approved a study to collar 300 deer over four years to study movement, predation, and the effects of CWD. The sale of antlerless permits was changed from only at 10 a.m. to twice a day, at 10 a.m. and in the evening.

  • November 10, 2016

    The committee met via conference call at 7 p.m. They approved an antlerless only hunt in central and southern farmland zones from the end of muzzleloader season until the close of archery season in January. A vote was made to give land-owners incentives for allowing deer hunting on their property. The committee voted to allow local County Deer Advisory Councils to make decisions on antlerless harvest.

  • March 18, 2017

    The committee met at 9:30 a.m. at Portage County Public Library in Steven’s Point, WI. The 2016 deer season was wrapped up and the committee noted a 29% growth in female hunters. The committee promoted a web page on the DNR website involving deer metrics. Law enforcement reported only 5 hunting-related incidents on the season.