RHINELANDER - Deer hunters across Wisconsin have some reading to do.

Governor Walker released Dr. James Kroll's deer management report yesterday.

It highlights where the state can improve.

It says state wildlife officials should quit establishing local population goals, let landowners hold site-specific hunts on their property and establish better connections with the public.

The deer population in the Northwoods faces many habitat challenges.

"There needs to be a lot of focus put on habitat improvement for deer," Kroll says. "We desperately need to have some younger forest there. Especially for deer and grouse but for a lot of species of wildlife. The other one is we've got to have, going back to our boots on the ground theme, we've got to have local area management applied and management plans developed and management goals developed."

Kroll says the Northwoods has more natural habitat versus the southern part of the state.

Another critical point is forest management -- he says there needs to be more cover because of predators in the area.

Beyond that, Kroll says this report is a reset button for the state's deer population.

"We're giving ownership to the DNR on this. We did not do this work for the DNR, we did this work for the Governor and the DOA. But it's time for the DNR to take ownership of it. I've had some meetings with them already and they're very anxious to do that."

If everyone - landowners, the DNR, hunters, and legislators - don't come together, Kroll says there will be consequences.

He says hunter numbers will drop, the DNR's relationship with the public will get worse, and the legislature will slowly take away deer management.

Related Weblinks:
Deer Czar Report

Story By: Matt Doyle