In my opinion, the GOP legislature would have helped the cause a lot more by joining into move the wolf plan forward instead of shutting down anterless harvests. Sure the plan maybe too wolf friendly, maybe drafted by persons we don't like or feel have our best interests in mind, but getting politically on the same side on issues like this and to work with our administrative organizations may move the control back to WI sooner than later. We need a season and a season for an extended period of time to better assess the wolf population and the increases in range etc. Way more resources get thrown at species with licenses, permits etc. and that will be helpful in the long run. Just blaming each other for our standstills gets us nothing. Our big issue currently is working across aisles to solve problems (compromise) is seen as being weak instead of strong or realistic. I doubt the governer would veto a bill that had NRB, GOP and WDNR and other stakeholders agreeing to a managment plan with harvest involved. Also with conservation agencies along with political input and native organization input it is much less likely that federal judges would rule against moving forward with that plan.

Another aspect is we think we won't act until we have the ultimate plan and things won't every change. That mindset prevents taking risks to set things in motion. Just look at all the changers (some good, some bad, some ugly) that have taken place in many species just in the last 20-30 years. We need to understand that one needs to gain control to be able to manage wildlife and that managing wildlife is an extremely "fluid" business.

Bryce

I don't want legislators with no biology or wildlife management knowledge going over the heads of the DNR staff trained and hired to manage wildlife. Especially when there are already methods in place to reduce antlerless harvest if that's what the public and the data actually supports.

That might hold true with your governor in your state. But, our governor said he will veto any bill that comes across his desk allowing any wolf hunting or trapping.

How are the vehicle/deer kill numbers trending?

Source: Wisconsin Department of Transportation data collection
https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/deermetrics/DeerStats.aspx?R=Collision

8117 Steve R, I agree there are some really smart woodsmen in Wisconsin that probably have some great ideas on wildlife management for the property(s) they hunt. I don't think it's fair to discredit a biologist simply because they work for the DNR. Managing one property, even a big one, is a lot different than managing the herd in a whole county, let alone the whole state. Now we've got a couple legislators grubbing for votes and trying to undermine management in a knee-jerk reaction to a low harvest in a year following the 22-23 winter with record snowfall and burgeoning wolf population.

I feel like my opinion is getting repetitive. I've made it and I'll move on. We'll see what happens with this bill and go from there.

Speaking of Wisconsin deer hunting, new hunting and fishing licenses go on sale tomorrow, March 1st. And Evers signed Wisconsin Act 99 that increases NR bow/crossbow license prices to $200.