WI hires Dr.Deer as as Whitetail Deer Trustee

[Northeastwibowhunter]

I was watching the news today and seen a segment about WI hiring Dr.Deer James Kroll as Whitetail Deer Trustee to work with the DNR to help wi go in the right direction with deer management. About freaking time, I have seen this guys on several programs and he seems to know his stuff hopefully he can point us in the right direction and hopefully the DNR with listen!

http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/...ting-officials

[Drenalin13]

[RidgeRunner]

Send him to MN when you're done with him

[cowboy bowhunter]

Wow Now that is smart. You will have the best managed state if they let him do what we says needs to be done.

[Stump]

Send him to MN when you're done with him

We need to limit or eliminate the legislature element in figuring out our herd or it wouldn't matter if the Pope was the deer manager, they would still mess it up.

[RidgeRunner]

We need to limit or eliminate the legislature element in figuring out our herd or it wouldn't matter if the Pope was the deer manager, they would still mess it up.

Have to agree with you on that!

[cowboy bowhunter]

We need to limit or eliminate the legislature element in figuring out our herd or it wouldn't matter if the Pope was the deer manager, they would still mess it up.

But if they hired one of the best why wouldn't they do what he says.

[moparmaddnes]

Because they don't do what they should, just what benefits them.

[Stump]

$ and special interest groups. I'm fairly certain that every state employs at least one wildlife biologist specialized in whitetails and habitat, but are they effectively being used? Unlikely. They are merely suggestion makers and puppets to those in legislature. Dr. Kroll might be one of the best, he might not be. Time will tell I guess if his expertise will be effective in the Midwest.

But if they hired one of the best why wouldn't they do what he says.

[Northeastwibowhunter]

at this point for WI i dont think it will hurt. All i know is with what they are paying the man they better listen to him!

[Nitemare]

Good luck DR Kroll the hunters themselves are half the problem of this states deer management. Gonna have to change some culture THATS gonna be the tough part.

[Bukmastr]

I think hireing Kroll is a huge step in the right direction... And you can thank Governor Walker for that!
In the past our DNR was not run by qualified Bioligists and experts, it was a dumping ground for our ex-Governors to pay back political donations with Tax payer money, a free cushy job.
Doyle was the worst. A lot of people did not follow politics close enough to understand what was happening. The Gov.was making all the decisions. The deer numbers were lowered to pay back insurance company donations... It was so out of hand we absolutly needed political involvement to stop Doyle from completlty ruining the deer hunting in Wisconsin... I don't like the idea of any govenor being in charge of the DNR, I would rather see it be a seperate voted position, but I certainly like what Scott Walker is doing...

[howatzer]

Gov. Scott Walker (Wisconsin) is doing a great job at restoring the rights of hunters. He is in the process of reversing a 8 year trend where the hunters were working for the DNR instead of the other way around. He is a hunter himself and has vowed to get the politics out of the woods so soon WI deer hunters can once again enjoy the chance to harvest a few deer EVERY year.

Here is his plan for those of you interested:

http://www.scottwalker.org/deer

As sportsman we should work to inspire other midwestern states to follow in Walker's footsteps.

[Dor]

Stump has this spot on. Legislators are the biggest problem.

[WATD]

Two comments on howatzer's post. First of all is it really the job of the DNR to "work for the hunters"? They have been entrusted to manage the resource at levels acceptable to all of society and not to appease the unrealistic expectations of the 5% of hunters. Hunters are a tool for the DNR to control population, so in that respect, yes we hunters do work for the DNR. If the DNR's purpose was to make hunters happy, your entire state would be overrun with deer (and CWD). From what I hear , the WI DNR still says the state is 25% overpopulated. And the comment where Walker is taking politics out of the woods. If I'm not mistaken, he basically took all management authority away from the DNR and replaced it with politics based solely on hunter dissatisfaction, all while totally disregarding science (i.e. eliminating EAB). I agree hiring Kroll is a positive step, however I think you are kidding yourself if you think Dr. Kroll is not going to further restrict hunter opportunity at the hands of increasing quality of the deer. WI hunters are up in arms now with lower populations, he is not going to change that. So if (and that's a big if) Dr. Kroll can convince the majority of WI hunters to sacrifice the success they have had in the past (quantitiy) for quality, Walker's plan will be popular with hunters. If not, which is more than likely the case, you may likely see the hunter population divide even further in terms of the traditional old school quantity vs progressive (quality) management. An argument that never seems to be based in science/conservation but on social concern in the political theater.
Sorry for the lack of optimism.

[howatzer]

WATD - perhaps there is a remote possibility that the Car Insurance companies found the opportunity to funnel lots of big dollars to the politicians in Madison WI inspiring the DNR to become regulators "for the better of all of society"?

In this scenario, two things happen. 1. the DNR grows significantly in power and budget. 2. The insurance companies reduce the claims while still collecting the premiums.

I for one, do not understand how this benefits society or the deer herd. The fact is that WI sportsman contribute financial support to the states economy by way of enjoying their sport. Sportsmen spend big money for things like a truck, 4 wheeler, hunting land, gas, clothing, bows and guns, tree stands - it adds up to several thousand dollars per year. As a hunter safety instructor and I donate a good portion of my personal time teaching youth how to become safe and ethical hunters. I also donate nearly 10 hours per week all summer as a leader in our church's youth outdoor archery program. A true sportsman is not an idiot that needs government to write all kinds of laws governing the sport - we are intelligent enough to invest time and money in programs that strengthen the sport and the deer herd, not wipe it out. The key here is that we want the freedom of choice - not the voice of regulation for the benefit of ALL.

As for CWD - it amazes me that WI is one of the only states that has manipulated the topic of CWD into a power play. In the name of "protector", they have grown the DNR and enacted all kinds of rules around the deer harvest - and yet other than thousands of dollars being spent - nothing has changed. The other 15 states that have enacted CWD legislation have focused mainly on importation and management of domestic production - as opposed to governing the hunting population and growing government.

I look to people like Walker and his programs that support the voice of reason, not big government, to support and guide sportsman regarding deer management. I support the help from science and biologists - but they in my view do not make the decisions - rather offer suggestions.

[WATD]

Good discussion. It's both sad and unacceptable when deer management is dictated by forces other than by those who are trained and paid to manage the resource. I have a hard time believing that the insurance industry could directly influence the DNR (the DNR has no stake in whether or not the insurance industry is profitable). Now I can see the insurance company execs and politicians sitting at a bar trying to make deal after deal. I guess I don't really understand who is in bed with who. Help me out here.
The DNR lowered the population at who's prompting? Or was it a true science based management decision?
Why have the politicians been so critical of the DNR to the point of trying to fire everyone and stripping the them of authority when they basically pressurred the DNR to lower the population at the financial motivated pressure from insurance companies?
One last thought, Dr. Kroll is basically a biologist brought in to criticize the job that other biologists are doing. In that world, Dr's never throw their own under the bus. But in this case he has to because Walker hired him to do just that. He will not be able to stay on both sides of the fence. Side with DNR biologists and Walker will string him up, side with politicians and he will sell his soul. His only way out is to do what is right for the resource and If he does that, I think Walker will be able to feel good about his decision, but he won't be feeling good from the Governors desk.