EmR1010. Relating to: Deer management unit population goals  


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    nr010_EmR1010.pdf Natural Resources – Revises Ch. NR 10 – EmR1010

     

    Publication Date:        April 3, 2010

    Effective Dates:          April 3, 2010 through August 30, 2010

     

    ORDER OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD repealing, AMENDING and repealing and recreating RULES - WM-18-10 (E)

     

    The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board proposes an order to amend NR 10.104(4)(b) relating to deer management unit population goals. 

    Analysis Prepared by the Department of Natural Resources

    Statutory Authority and Explanation: Statutes that authorize the promulgation of this rule order include sections 29.014, 227.11 and 227.24, Stats.  These sections grant rule making authority to the department to establish seasons and bag limits for hunting that ensure the citizens of the state continued opportunities for good hunting and that all rules promulgated under this authority are subject to review under ch. 227, Stats.

     

    Statutes Interpreted and Explanation: In promulgating this rule s. 29.014 and 29.889(12) Stats. have been interpreted as allowing the department the authority to establish deer population goals to assure the health and vigor of the deer herd and to prevent overabundant populations of deer that can lead to agricultural, environmental and property damage.

     

    Related Statute or Rule: Deer unit boundaries and goals are reviewed every 3 years according to s. NR 10.104 (3), Wis. Adm. Code and Voigt case stipulations (Chippewa treaty rights).

     

    Plain Language Rule Analysis:  There are currently 131 deer management units with individual over winter population goals that would result in a statewide over winter population of approximately 737,000 deer.  The new goals would result in an over winter population of approximately 800,000 animals.  Over winter population goals and management units serve as the foundation for managing the deer herd and determining deer hunting season structures.  All goals referred to in this rule are the over winter deer population goal for individual management units.  The hunting season population will generally be substantially larger than the over winter population goal.

     

    The department is proposing raising deer population goals in 43 management units and lowering the goal in two.

     

    Deer Management Unit

    Current over-winter goal density

    Proposed new over-winter density

    2

    18

    20

    3

    16

    18

    6

    12

    18

    12

    17

    20

    13

    15

    17

    14

    14

    20

    15

    22

    25

    17

    15

    17

    18

    20

    22

    19

    20

    22

    20

    18

    20

    22

    20

    25

    22A

    20

    25

    23

    20

    25

    24

    20

    25

    25

    20

    23

     

     

    Deer Management Unit

    Current over-winter goal density

    Proposed new over-winter density

    26

    20

    23

    27

    20

    25

    29B

    12

    15

    30

    15

    19

    33

    20

    25

    34

    17

    20

    43

    15

    17

    49A

    25

    20

    57

    22

    25

    57A

    25

    30

    59A

    20

    25

    59B

    15

    25

    59D

    20

    25

    59M

    10

    15

    60A

    20

    25

    60B

    20

    25

    60M

    10

    15

    61

    20

    25

    62A

    25

    30

    62B

    25

    30

    63A

    25

    30

    64

    20

    25

    64M

    10

    15

    66

    25

    30

    68B

    30

    25

    74A

    20

    25

    77C

    15

    20

    77M

    10

    15

    80B

    20

    25

     

     

    These changes are recommended to provide hunters with more deer hunting opportunities in instances where goals are proposed for increases and to alleviate agricultural damage in the instances where the goals have been recommended for a decrease.  However, there is a concern that a higher goal with low hunter densities will increase the need for continuous herd control seasons.

     

    Federal Regulatory Analysis: Provided state rules and statutes do not relieve individuals from the restrictions, requirements and conditions of Federal statutes and regulations, regulation of hunting and trapping of native species has been delegated to state fish and wildlife agencies. Additionally, none of the proposed rules exceed the authorities granted the states in 50 CFR 10.

     

    State Regulatory Analysis: All of Wisconsin’s neighboring states have established management units for the purpose of managing deer populations. By using units with identifiable boundaries, deer populations can be monitored and kept at various population levels to more effectively control the deer herd and to address regional differences in habitat, population (human and deer) and to reduce conflict with other land uses such as residential, agricultural or forested.

     

    Summary of Factual Data and Analytical Methodologies: The Department has evaluated the need for deer population goal reviews based on the following criteria: 1) Intolerable level of agricultural damage when at goal; 2) Ability of hunters to harvest enough deer to keep the population at the goal level; 3) Hunter demand for antlerless permits; 4) Vehicle-deer accident rate; and 5) Hunter buck harvest success rate. In addition, an Environmental Assessment was prepared in 1995. Copies of Deer Population Goals and Harvest Management Environmental Assessment are available from the department upon request.

     

    Analysis and Supporting Documents Used to Determine Effect on Small Business or in Preparation of Economic Impact Report:  These rules, and the legislation which grants the department rule making authority, do not have a significant fiscal effect on the private sector or small businesses.

     

    Effects on Small Businesses: These rules are applicable to individual sportspersons and impose no compliance or reporting requirements for small businesses, nor are any design or operational standards contained in the rule.

     

    Agency Contact People: Keith Warnke, 101 S. Webster St., PO BOX 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921.  (608) 264-6023, keith.warnke@wisconsin.gov or Scott Loomans, 101 S. Webster St., PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921.  (608)267-2452, scott.loomans@wisconsin.gov

     

    Section 1. NR 10.104(4)(b) is amended to read:

     

                NR 10.104(4)(b)  Unit goals.   The deer population goals for each deer management unit described in s. NR 10.28 shall be expressed as the number of deer per square mile of deer range in January and are as follows:

     

    Management Unit       Deer Goal

    1…………….….….……20

    1M…………….….….….10

    2………….……….….… 18 20

    3………….….…………. 16 18

    4………….………..……15

    5………….….……….…20

    6………….….……….… 12 18

    7………….….…….……15

    8………….….……….…20

    9…………….……….….20

    10……….………………25

    11…………….…………20

    12………………….…… 17 20

    13…….………………… 15 17

    14………….…………… 14 20

    15……………….……… 22 25

    16…………………….…25

    17……….……………… 15 17

    18…………….………… 20 22

    19………………….…… 20 22

    20………………….…… 18 20

    21………….……………25

    22………….…………… 20 25

    22A………….……….… 20 25

    23………….…………… 20 25

    24………….…………… 20 25

    25………….…………… 20 23

    26………….…………… 20 23

    27………………….…… 20 25

    Management Unit       Deer Goal

    28……………….………15

    29A…………….…….…15

    29B…………….…….… 12 15

    30……………….……… 15 19

    31……………….………20

    32……………….………21

    33……………….……… 20 25

    34……………….……… 17 20

    35………………….……20

    36……………….………25

    37……………….………25

    38…………….…………20

    39…………….…………20

    40…………….…………20

    41………….……………25

    42………….……………20

    43………….…………… 15 17

    44………….……………17

    45………….……………20

    46………….……………25

    47………….……………25

    48…………….…………20

    49A………….……….… 25 20

    49B………….……….…25

    50…………….…………20

    51A………….……….…25

    51B………….……….…25

    52……………….………20

    53…………….…………25

    54A……………….….…25

    54B……………….….…25

    54C……………….….…25

    55………………….……25

    56………………….……30

    57………………….…… 22 25

    57A…………………..… 25 30

    57B…………………..…25

    57C…………………..…30

    58……………….………25

    59A………….…….…… 20 25

    59B………………..…… 15 25

    59C………………..……25

    59D………………..…… 20 25

    59M………………..…… 10 15

    60A………………..…… 20 25

    60B………………..…… 20 25

    60M…………….…….… 10 15

    61……………….……… 20 25

    62A…………….…….… 25 30

    62B……………….….… 25 30

    63A…………….…….… 25 30

    63B…………….…….…25

    Management Unit       Deer Goal

    64………….…………… 20 25

    64M……….…………… 10 15

    65A……….…………….30

    65B……….…………….30

    66………….…………… 25 30

    67A………….………….25

    67B………….………….25

    68A………….………….30

    68B…………….………. 30 25

    69……………….………25

    70……………….………25

    70A………………..……25

    70B……….……….……25

    70E………….…….……25

    70G……….……….……30

    71………….……………25

    72………….……………20

    73B……….……….……20

    73D……….……….……20

    73E……….……….……22

    74A………….…….…… 20 25

    74B………….…….……20

    75A………….…….……20

    75C…………….….……20

    75D………….…….……20

    76…………….…………20

    76A………….…….……25

    76M………….…….……10

    77A…………….….……20

    77B………….…….……15

    77C………….…….…… 15 20

    77M………………..…… 10 15

    78……………….………15

    80A……………….….…15

    80B…………….…….… 20 25

    81…………….…………15

     

    Section 2.  Statement of emergency . The emergency rule procedure, pursuant to s. 227.24, Stats., is necessary and justified in establishing rules to protect the public welfare.  The state legislature has delegated rule-making authority to the department to manage the white-tailed deer herd to conserve it and to ensure citizens of this state continued opportunities for good hunting.  Population goal revisions in this rule order, and identical proposed permanent rules, are necessary in order to allow consideration of current recommendations from biologists and recent public input when setting the 2010 deer hunting season framework.  Normal rule-making procedures will not allow establishment of revised population goals in time for use in setting the 2010 deer hunting season framework.  Failure to modify population goals will result in a deer season framework and antlerless quotas that are based on goals established in 2005.  Using the old goals would result in a deer season framework and permit levels considered unacceptable to the majority of the hunting public.

     

    Section 3.  Effective Date.   This rule shall take effect upon publication in the official state newspaper as provided in s. 227.24(1)(c), Stats.

     

    Section 4.  Board Adoption.   This rule was approved and adopted by the State of Wisconsin Natural Resources Board on March 16, 2010.

     

     

                Dated at Madison, Wisconsin ______________________________.

     

     

                                                                            STATE OF WISCONSIN    

                                                                            DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

     

     

     

                                                                            By ______________________________

                                                                                        Matthew J. Frank, Secretary

    (SEAL)