It is a start, no deer shouldn't be shooting does. We as hunters control this as well if we would choose not to hunt them. Predator management is a key part as we all know as well. But the cdacs up there have been being controlled by the foresters from what my friends up north say. Sadly, we need politicians to determine harvest levels.

LOL you guys crack me up. Up until 6 years ago you couldn't shoot does in my part of the state. Last day of late muzzle loader was only time to shoot does. EXCEPT youth 2 day weekend. Then they went to 15 days you can kill 1.
Now they are saying deer herd is down. Hunters have been saying the herd has fallen but the Insurance lobbyist and educated idiots that are getting all the biologist jobs know better. 90 % of them never get out of the office into the field. They want to sit at a computer and scan surveys from hunters...


BUT if you don't have the deer you have to let the does walk. Yes predators kill some but don't blame it all on the wolf. Sounds like a myriad of things. Did the wolf hurt the herd. Of course. But The DNR should take it a year at a time . NOt a blanket statement 4 years. Not sure how your state does it but ky has zones for each county. Deer bag limits are different for each zone.
You be ok.

I believe we lost some breeder bucks in that 4-1/2 year old class with last years winter- you now think of a buck doe ratio out of the new bill proposal. A breeder that lost over 25%-30% of his body weight trying to breed up to 20 does during the rut enters a tough winter after gun season. In my opinion it can alter the age class structure within high severity index years.

How far north is the wolf problem? Only thing I know of in Wisconsin is the famous Buffalo County

Disregard the numbers but the distribution is generally close to reality

Lot of FÀCTS you posted. Sure it wasn't 89/ 91 %.
Much experience with wolves?
This is about Wisconsin, not Kentucky.

Certainly a WEALTH of knowledge. Lol.lol.lol.

Oh, and another Edit

a total ban on doe harvests for all of northern Wisconsin is too broad. for example in the Chippewa county forest, there are plenty of deer. of coarse there were a ton of non-resident hunters. one group of Minnesotans in particular that drove out my spot and shot a dozen does and fawns. then they processed them at the parking area and left the carcasses along with a bunch of trash in a pile blocking the gate of a logging road. me being the guy that doesn't like to (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) off loggers, dragged the carcasses off the road and snatched some of the hides to tan. The way I figure, banning non-resident deer harvest would be much more reasonable.

They’re to expensive to ban. (NRs)

What’s different from 20 years ago? We had cats, coyotes and bears. What a few wolves?

What's different from 40 years ago? Back then a harvest like we had this year was nearly a record.

How many hunters back then?

Party tag. Ond doe for 4 humters.

where I hunted in north east price county,...25 years ago there was probably 20 + deer to every one that might be there today. .very sad situation

I hate a Buck only season. Too many bucks get killed and the older mature buck population isn’t there. Every year that 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 year old class gets slaughtered.

Trying to rebuild a deer population while banning Wolf hunting/trapping is puzzling.

What’s the estimate wolf population? What’s the estimated number of deer the wolves kill? Unfortunately for you guys not shooting does is first step in building the herd up. Your scenario of non residents is another contributor to the problem. FWD don’t care if you harvest a deer. They got your tag money.

Don’t claim to have knowledge about a wolf. But I do know and have lived thru low deer numbers. Ky is like 2 different worlds as far a deer numbers go. Half the state you can kill unlimited does if you buy extra tags. State license comes with 6 doe tags. But eastern part of state you can kill 1 doe with a bow. None with a rifle. 1 buck only state wide.

That is not the sentiment in my area. Lots of wolf tracks and little deer tracks. Now with the very mild winter and easy food to get to the loggers not seeing deer is not that surprising. I agree that we have to deal with the predator issue. One thing that I see most with some that complain of not seeing deer is that they aren't out there getting after them. They go to the ole "tried and true" stand that they haven't since the year prior or they are part of what I call the quarter mile club. Meaning they get no further than that in the woods. Deer numbers are down there is no doubt but the big woods can't sustain the deer populations that we had in the late 90's and into the 2000's. Prior to that the numbers are very similar to what they are now.Alot of people are willing to put in the time to scout. Finding the fringe areas in between packs is your friend. Our small group saw 72 deer this past gun season and all filled a tag. 3 bucks on public land and our management doe from my property.

I am not against eliminating the harvest of does for a year or two but I don't see that as the answer. One we saw more mature bucks this year than any year other than 2005 since we started recording number in 1986. Second with that buck to doe ratio being closer together ( 1 to 4 this year compared to 1 to 8 3 years ago) we need to be careful and try to keep that as close as possible as this promotes a more equal fawn production. Wolves are out of control. We all know that and all though the predator population needs a correction this is not the sole solution.

We voted for just that in Michigan. Propasal G voted for by public in the 90's I think.
Sound Science was to used for all wildlife regulations.
The antler fanatics pushed a new science, called "Social Science" to get around Prop G
Chad Stewart, Michigan DNR's deer bioligist/manager is firmly in the pocket of trophy only hunters. Creating rules that have now created overpopulation in some areas and severe underpopulation in others.
I feel for you hunters on the west side of Lake Michigan, we have big problems on the east shore of Lake Michigan also...

FYI your posts crack most of us up, no matter the topic.

This was a "study" completed in 2019- I'll try to post the link but here is the key takeaway. I'm not sure how scientific this study or any other would be but the consumption average seems to be 1.5 deer per wolf pack per week- seems plausible to me.


https://www.deeranddeerhunting.com/...killed-by-wolves-than-by-hunters-in-2019

Need to reduce the wolf and bear numbers. I’m in Marquette County MI. My Dad has 40 acres, which was excellent deer hunting in the 90’s and early 2000’s. We now get excited if we see a deer track! More bear and wolf tracks than anything. Even our coyote numbers are extremely low! The answer is to manage the predators correctly whether that’s in MN, WI, MI, AK, etc etc.