What do you want the deer season to look like

County Deer Advisory Councils are seeking public feedback on Wisconsin’s deer management, including harvest quotas, management zones and more, ahead of the 2025 deer season.

Each county in Wisconsin, has an advisory council that meets annually, to provide input and recommendations to the DNR, on local deer management, based on deer herd metrics, county management goals and the public feedback they receive. These recommendations are reviewed and set annually, to allow for adjustments in response to the previous year’s deer harvest, winter severity and other factors.

This year, councils in the northern and central forest deer management zones will make recommendations on numbered deer management units. Boundaries in the northern forest zone were changed from county lines, to create habitat-based deer management units. Some councils will make multiple recommendations, based on the number of units within a county’s borders.

Modifications have also occurred to metro subunits in the southeastern portion of the state.

Following the council process, the DNR will bring its recommendations for the 2025 season, to the Natural Resources Board, for review in June.

The DNR encourages input from anyone interested in helping shape local deer herd management preferences. This feedback will be considered by the local county Deer Advisory Councils, as they develop their recommendations for the DNR.

A survey link, at dnr.wisconsin.gov, remains open through April 13.

The public is also encouraged to attend their local county Deer Advisory Council meeting, to join the discussion about local deer management and provide input on deer season details. Meetings include a review and discussion of current county data on harvest trends, herd health, the deer hunter experience and deer/human conflict issues, like crop and property damage.

Those meetings take place across the state, from April 21 through May 1.

Any questions about the county Deer Advisory Council process, can be submitted to DNRCDACWebMail@wisconsin. gov.