Section 1.15. Big game mammals.

  Big game mammals in Wisconsin are white-tailed deer, black bear and elk. The needs and actions specified in this section are essential to an effective big game management program.

(1)   Habitat management. The natural growth and changing composition of forest stands, particularly in the north, is causing a long-term decline in habitat quality for big game and other forest wildlife.

(a) Forest diversity. A planned program of maintaining forest diversity including shade-intolerant cover types, particularly aspen, oak and forest openings, is required to slow or halt this decline in habitat quality and to maintain deer populations at established population objectives.

(b) Summer range. Habitat conditions are deteriorating most rapidly on summer deer range. Forest maturation, conversion from sun-loving tree species to shade tolerant species and loss of grassy openings are reducing the quality of summer deer range and with it, the deer carrying capacity in northern Wisconsin. The habitat management objective is to provide an adequate mixture of aspen, oak, upland brush, jack pine and sodded openings in connection with regular forest management practices.

(c) Winter range. Winter habitat may be increasing as a result of expanding coniferous cover and implementation of deer yard plans on public lands. However, winter deer survival is largely dependent on fat acquired on the summer range. Deer have evolved physiologically and behaviorally to survive in northern forest habitats under average winter conditions. Occasional severe winters will result in deer mortality. These periodic losses are considered normal for northern deer and will occur irrespective of winter habitat quality. Severe deer losses can be mitigated most effectively by maintaining quality summer habitat. Direct feeding of hay, corn or other agricultural crops is seldom effective and even detrimental if not introduced gradually over time. While browse cutting does provide natural feed, it is largely ineffective. Specially formulated feed in pelletized form has been demonstrated to benefit malnourished deer. However, the cost and logistics of feeding enough deer to produce a measurable result in subsequent years precludes feeding as normal public policy. The department recognizes public concern for malnourished deer, public desire to feed stressed deer regardless of cost or measurable results and the benefits to individual animals which are properly fed. Therefore, the following policy is adopted for wintering deer in the northern forest.

1. The department will seek appropriate deer harvest quotas to move deer populations in the direction specified by deer population objectives.

2. Habitat management will emphasize maintaining summer range quality which will produce well nourished deer in the fall and enhance their overwinter survival.

3. The department will monitor wintering deer herds by surveying yarding areas and measuring winter severity.

4. The department will implement existing deer yard plans to maximize browse and perpetuate priority cover.

5. The department will provide technical advice and guidance to individuals and groups on where, when, what and how to feed privately acquired food to deer during severe winters.

(2)   Harvest. Big game hunting regulations shall be designed to meet the following objectives:

(a) Deer population objectives. The department shall seek to maintain a deer herd in balance with its range and with deer population and sustainable harvest objectives that are reasonably compatible with social, economic and ecosystem management objectives for each deer management unit. Deer population objectives are to be based on:

1. Carrying capacity as determined by unit population responses to habitat quality and historical records of winter severity.

2. Hunter success in harvesting and seeing deer and public deer viewing opportunities.

3. Ecological and economic impacts of deer browsing.

4. Disease transmission.

5. Concern for deer-vehicle collisions.

6. Chippewa treaty harvest.

7. Hunter access to land in a deer management unit.

8. Ability to manage the deer herd in a management unit towards an established population objective.

9. Tolerable levels of deer damage as described in par. (am) .

(am) Tolerable levels of deer damage to crops. Deer damage to crops in a deer management unit exceeds tolerable levels when the crop damage is greater than 2.5 times the median in 2 of the following 4 indicators:

1. Appraised deer damage losses determined through the wildlife damage program under s. 29.889 , Stats., per 100 overwinter deer.

2. Appraised deer damage losses determined through the wildlife damage program under s. 29.889 , Stats., per square mile of land in the deer management unit.

3. Appraised deer damage losses determined through the wildlife damage program under s. 29.889 , Stats., per square mile of agricultural land in the deer management unit.

4. Number of claims for deer damage submitted through the wildlife damage program under s. 29.889 , Stats., per 100 square miles of total land.

(at) If crop damage in a deer management unit with an objective to maintain or increase the population is above the tolerable limit in 2 years out of a 3 year period prior to a unit review under s. NR 10.104 (3) , the department shall consider establishing an objective to reduce or maintain the deer population.

(b) Hunting objectives. Achieving and maintaining opportunities for a range of deer hunting experience while still allowing to the extent possible, freedom of choice by hunters. Regulations should provide incentives or disincentives to encourage better distribution of hunting pressure. If hunter numbers continue to increase, control of hunting pressure may become necessary.

(c) Black bear. Maintaining the black bear as a trophy big game animal and offering the best opportunity for a quality hunting experience. In addition, the maintenance of a quality hunt will be emphasized by continuing controls over the use of bait and dogs.

(d) Animal damage. Deer, bear and elk damage complaints will be handled according to the provisions of s. 29.889 , Stats., and rules as published in the Wisconsin administrative code. Damage can be most economically controlled by maintaining populations with a hunting season harvest as specified in par. (a) .

(e) Elk . Maintaining elk as a big game animal and offering the best opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime, quality hunting experience. In addition, the maintenance of elk as a valued component of the natural community will be emphasized by continued management.

(3)   Research and surveys. Surveys, investigations and research shall be conducted to provide technical information necessary to evaluate population objectives and establish population trends, harvest recommendations, population objectives and habitat management needs and guidelines.

History: Cr. Register, April, 1975, No. 232 , eff. 5-1-75; r. and recr. Register, July, 1977, No. 259 , eff. 8-1-77; am. (2) (d), Register, January, 1984, No. 337 , eff. 2-1-84; am. (1) (a), (2) (a) and (b), r. and recr. (1) (b) and (c), Register, July, 1987, No. 379 , eff. 8-1-87; r. and recr. (2) (a), Register, July, 1996, No. 487 , eff. 8-1-96; correction in (2) (d) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, September, 1999, No. 525 ; CR 00-154 : am. (2) (a) and cr. (2) (am) and (at), Register January 2002 No. 553 , eff. 2-1-02; CR 08-021 : am. (intro.) and (2) (d), cr. (2) (e) Register November 2008 No. 635 , eff. 12-1-08; Emr1405: emerg. am. (2) (at), (3), eff. 2-25-14; CR 13-071 : am. (1) (a), (b), (c) 1., (2) (a) (title), (intro.), r. and recr. (2) (a) 8., am. (2) (at), (3) Register July 2015 No. 715 , eff. 8-1-15.

Note

The crop damage data used for these evaluations are adjusted to omit damage losses to high valued crops such as cranberry, orchard, Christmas tree, truck farm crops, etc. where low deer numbers can still cause high losses, and where effective abatement is available in the form of 8 foot high deer barrier, high tensile woven wire fences. The focus of the "tolerable levels" criteria is on chronic damage losses caused by high deer populations. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1