Wisconsin’s deer management program was once considered by most deer biologists in the United States to be the best in the country.
Deer were managed in units of similar habitat quality and, unlike other states, we had fairly true population estimates for each unit. This allowed for annual quotas to be set for antlerless deer in each unit to try to manage the deer population according to established goals (per square mile of deer habitat). All of that changed when the legislature and governor took away the tools that DNR biologists used to scientifically manage our deer herd.
Commentary: The Long Road Back to Wisconsin Deer Management
