RHINELANDER - The Department of Natural Resources unveils a new tool to help hunters keep track of deer populations throughout the state.

The Deer Management Unit Map is an online graphic of Wisconsin broken down to show the estimated deer-population in each unit.

The units are all color-coded to help show which areas have high and low deer populations.

For example, Unit 38, the Rhinelander Area, is blue to show an estimated deer population 20-percent below the goal.

Ron Eckstein is a Wildlife Biologist for the DNR Service Center in Rhinelander.

He says it's important to show the estimated populations unit by unit, "Many times there are statewide news releases saying deer are very abundant, but that's not true in every part of the state."

According to Eckstein it's important for hunters in each unit to be aware of local deer populations.

He says this way hunters will know of any tag regulations.

Eckstein adds this year there will be very few antlerless tags given throughout much of the Northwoods.

He says this is an effort to try to bring the deer population back to a satisfactory level, somewhere around 20 deer per square mile during winter.

If you're interested in checking out the map, you can click on the link to the DNR's website below:

Related Weblinks: DNR Map