WDNR seeks surveys from deer hunters

Wisconsin gun-deer hunters still have time to fill out Deer Hunter Wildlife Surveys, which help play an important role in wildlife management.

“The surveys provide a great opportunity for hunters to let Department of Natural Resources staff know which types of animals they see in the wild.

“Thanks to the continued efforts of hunters, department staff can better track population changes and improve management decisions, especially for animals that are very hard to monitor. Hunters are encouraged to record all hunting activity, even if no wildlife sightings occur during a hunt,” said Jes Rees-Lohr, DNR research scientist.

In the first two months of the survey, deer hunters recorded 477 trips, observing 210 bucks, 374 does, 306 fawns and 73 unknowns. Turkeys and ruffed grouse were the next most commonly seen animals while hunting.

At the end of each year, survey participants receive a personalized summary of all recorded wildlife. To access the survey webpage, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords “deer hunter wildlife.”

Tally sheets can be filled out either electronically or printed directly from the site. The current survey period ends January 2017.

Results from the 2015 survey compare the various animal species observed over 1,000 hunter hours, broken down into four areas across the state.

In the Northern Forest Zone, .39 deer were seen per hour, the lowest average among the four state areas.

The survey shows sightings of wolves were numerous in the north.

Hunters saw 12.32 wolves per 1,000 hunter hours, compared to 9.85 coyotes and 9.30 bears.

Turkeys were most frequently seen in the north, at 131.43 per 1,000 hours, followed by ruffed grouse at 92.37.

—Ralph Ansami