Public can check in by phone
The first round of County Deer Advisory Council meetings will still be held, but the public won’t attend.
The state Department of Natural Resources will use a call-in format for the meetings, which are held each spring in each county to set deer season antlerless permit recommendations.
Anyone interested in listening to their county’s meeting can join by telephone.
Meeting schedule
• Waupaca County: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, March 30. Call-in number: 855-947-8255; passcode information: 7301-129.
• Outagamie County: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, March 30. Call-in number: 855-947-8255; passcode information: 9336-097.
• Waushara County: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 1. Call-in number: 855-947-8255; passcode information: 7407-385.
• Portage County: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, March 30. Call-in number: 855-947-8255; passcode information: 9656-506.
• Winnebago County: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 1. Call-in number: 855-947-8255; passcode information: 6907-448.
• Shawano County: 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 7. Call-in number: 855-947-8255; passcode information: 8257-105.
The agenda will include the development of antlerless harvest goals and season framework recommendations for the 2020 deer season to achieve each county’s deer population objective. Options under discussion include the antlerless deer harvest quota and various season framework options such as offering the holiday hunt or extended archery and/or crossbow seasons.
Councils provide input and recommendations to the DNR on deer management within their county. They work with local DNR staff to schedule meetings; provide community outreach and an opportunity for public input; review population data and deer impacts on forests and agriculture; develop three-year recommendations on county population objectives; and create annual antlerless harvest quotas.
DNR wildlife biologists normally given in-person presentations at the initial meetings. That information will be available on the DNR website – dnr.wi.gov – by Thursday, March 26. Meeting summaries with preliminary recommendations will also be posted online.
All council meetings are open to the public, but public comments will not be taken on the call. Instead, anyone wishing to provide feedback will be asked to use an online public input form available on the DNR website from April 16-29.
A second round of meetings are scheduled to be held on May. Council members will review public comments and make final recommendations for the 2020 deer season.
No meetings will be held in person for as long as Wisconsin’s public health emergency lasts. A decision to host May’s meetings in-person or by phone will be made at a later date.
May meetings
• Waupaca County: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, May 4, Manawa City Hall, 500 Bridge St., Manawa.
• Outagamie County: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednedsay, May 6, Ellington Town Hall, N3802 State Highway 76, Hortonville.
• Waushara County: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, County Board Room, Waushara County Courthouse, 209 S. St. Marie St., Wautoma.
• Portage County: 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, Portage County Annex Building, 1462 Strongs Ave., Stevens Point.
• Winnebago County: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, conference rooms A and B, James Coughlin Center, 625 E. County Trunk Y, Oshkosh.
• Shawano County: 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, LGI Room, Shawano Middle School, 1050 S. Union St., Shawano.
The DNR will review final CDAC recommendations following the May meetings and provide recommendations to the state Natural Resources Board for approval in June.