Contact(s): Kevin Wallenfang, DNR big game ecologist, 608-261-7589
MADISON- Beginning March 14, County Deer Advisory Councils will review deer population data and other key information in order to develop preliminary antlerless quota and permit level recommendations on public and private lands. These meetings will also determine which additional deer hunting seasons may be offered in 2016.
Each CDAC meeting is open to the public - a meeting schedule is available at dnr.wi.gov, keyword "CDAC" and in the Department of Natural Resources meeting calendar search words deer advisory councils. Antlerless quotas, permit levels and season structures are reviewed and set annually. Councils will review deer population statistics, 2015 harvest results, assess winter severity and other information to help form their 2016 recommendations.
In 2014, councils proposed a population objective (increase, decrease or maintain) for the county's deer herd. At March meetings, each council will continue to work toward population objectives through the 2017 deer seasons.
Councils will accept public comments prior to forming both preliminary and final recommendations. The public may attend and provide feedback at any CDAC meeting or send comments to CDAC members (a contact list is posted on the CDAC page of the DNR website).
For more information regarding CDACs and deer herd management in Wisconsin, search the Department of Natural Resources website for keyword "CDAC" or contact DNRCDACWebMail@Wisconsin.gov.
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Contact(s): Derek Johnson, DNR assistant big game ecologist, 608-264-6023; Bob Nack, DNR DMAP coordinator, 608-264-6137
MADISON-Landowners, hunters and land managers with properties larger than 160 acres are reminded to submit a Deer Management Assistance Program application before March 1 in order to be eligible for benefits in 2016.
DMAP engages landowners and hunters to balance wildlife and habitat needs of their property, and all program participants will receive access to information on habitat and deer management, communication with local Department of Natural Resources staff, annual DMAP reports and DNR publications, and invitations to DMAP workshops.
Neighboring landowners with properties within one-half mile of each other are encouraged to explore enrolling as a group cooperative. Group cooperatives with a combined acreage of at least 160 acres receive a site visit and management plan. Group cooperatives provide an opportunity to improve relations and hunting opportunities among neighbors, share costs and equipment on habitat projects and benefit deer and other wildlife over a greater area.
To apply or learn more about the program, search the Department of Natural Resources website, dnr.wi.gov, for keyword "DMAP."
To receive DMAP email updates and other information, visit dnr.wi.gov and click on the email icon near the bottom of the page for "subscribe for updates for DNR topics." Follow the prompts and select the "Deer Management Assistance Program" option, found under Wildlife Management.
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Contact(s): DNR Recreation Enforcement & Education Safety Section Chief April Dombrowski, Bureau of Law Enforcement, 608-852-9456, Dombrowski@Wisconsin.gov
MADISON - As winter starts its decline marked by thinning ice, state recreational safety specialists are encouraging anglers to remove their ice fishing shelters prior to deadline.
The first of a number of deadlines for ice anglers to remove ice fishing shelters from inland and boundary waters was February 20 - the date for the Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters, affecting the Mississippi River south of the Minnesota-Iowa border. This date corresponded with Iowa regulations.
Other fast-approaching deadlines to remove all fishing shelters from the ice are:
Inland Wisconsin waters deadlines and Fox River reminder
For inland Wisconsin waters, ice fishing shelters must be removed daily and when not occupied after the first Sunday following March 1 for waters south of Highway 64 and after the first Sunday following March 12 for waters north of Highway 64. For 2016, those dates are:
But this year, with poor ice conditions on many lakes, safety specialists say anglers may not want to wait until the deadlines. Open water has been appearing on an increasing number of southern lakes, and many shorelines have thin ice, making access for removing shelters treacherous.
DNR recommends anglers start assessing their shelter removal situation early and make arrangements as necessary with local vendors, friends or others to help them meet the removal deadlines.
Failure to remove a shanty or ice fishing shelter by these deadlines could result in a forfeiture of $263.10. Additional costs may be incurred if the DNR must arrange to have the shanty removed or if the shanty or ice fishing shelter breaks through the ice and must be recovered and disposed of. After these dates for removing ice fishing shelters from a frozen lake or river, an angler may continue to use a portable shelter but must remove it daily and when it is not occupied or actively being used.
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Read more: Previous Weekly News
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