MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wants people to report any dead deer they see as the agency works to track the harsh winter’s toll on the state herd.
Last year’s significant snow and cold that persisted into May resulted in lower deer numbers going into the 2013 fall seasons. The agency set antlerless permit numbers at their lowest levels since the 1990s.
Frigid conditions over the last two months don’t bode well for the herd, especially in northern Wisconsin, where deer numbers have been declining. DNR officials anticipate no antlerless permits or extremely limited numbers of antlerless permits in many northern counties this fall to help the herd recover.
“After a tough winter that had an impact on deer numbers in 2013, this certainly isn’t what any of us had hoped for,” said Kevin Wallenfang, the DNR’s big game ecologist.
Agency officials reiterated that feeding deer is prohibited in chronic wasting disease areas. Feeding in other counties is limited to two gallons per site, must be placed within 50 yards of a dwelling or business building open to the public and can’t be placed within 100 yards of a road with a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour or more.
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