NR 10.104(5)(a)(a) Metrics. The department shall monitor progress towards each management unit’s objective of increasing, maintaining, or decreasing the deer population. The department shall consider all of the following: NR 10.104(5)(a)6.6. Deer population trends and public perception of population trends. NR 10.104(5)(a)6.a.a. In 2014 and continuing until the department determines that evaluation of the metrics are providing information that is comparable, the department shall utilize the sex-age-kill method for calculating deer densities. The sex-age-kill method uses the following quantitative data for each deer management unit: proportion of yearling bucks in the harvest, proportion of yearling does in the harvest, proportion of males and females at birth, the number of fawns seen per doe during the summer, the proportion of total buck mortality due to hunting harvest, and the harvest by sex as registered during the hunting seasons. NR 10.104(5)(a)6.b.b. The department may make a determination that alternative methods of population evaluation are comparable, which shall become effective in lieu of or in addition to the sex-age-kill method after approval by the Natural Resources Board, and upon issuance of an order and publication in the official state newspaper. NR 10.104 NoteNote: A determination under this paragraph does not prevent continued utilization of the sex-age-kill method as the department determines is valuable or necessary.
NR 10.104(5)(b)(b) County deer management advisory councils. The department shall establish county deer management advisory councils for the purpose of seeking comment from members of the public on the status of the deer herd at the county level. The council shall be chaired by the chairperson for the county delegation of the Conservation Congress established under s. 15.348, Stats., or a designee who shall be approved by the department. At least 3 members shall be individuals who held an annual license authorizing deer hunting in this state or another state in at least 7 of the 10 years previous to the year in which the individual is nominated, except if the individual served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or national guard during the 10 years previous to the year in which the individual is nominated. If the individual served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or National Guard, the number of years in which he or she is required to have held a deer hunting license equals 7 minus the number of years of active duty served during those 10 years. The advisory council may also be comprised of a representative of any of the following entities: NR 10.104(5)(b)1.1. For deer management units in the ceded territory as defined by s. NR 13.02 (1), the department shall provide the Wisconsin Chippewa bands those opportunities for tribal input into the department’s deer management decisions described in and required by the parties’ stipulations in the case of Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Indians, et al., v. State of Wisconsin, et al., Case No. 74-C-313-C in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. NR 10.104(5)(b)8.8. A person who is enrolled as a participant in the Deer Management Assistance Program as established under subch. II. NR 10.104(5)(c)(c) Deer management functions. County deer management advisory councils will: NR 10.104(5)(c)1.1. Gather public input on deer population objectives, antlerless deer harvest quotas, and hunting season framework options. NR 10.104(5)(c)2.2. Review and consider metrics on deer herd trends, impacts, and human interactions. NR 10.104(5)(c)3.3. Make recommendations to the department for deer population objectives every three years and will annually recommend antlerless deer permit quotas and hunting season framework options necessary to maintain the deer herd in balance with its range, population objective and sustainable harvest objectives. The recommendations of county deer management councils shall be presented to the board by the chair of the Conservation Congress. NR 10.104(5)(d)1.1. The department shall establish guidance for the operation of county deer management advisory councils. Guidance may include, but is not limited to, any conditions which are necessary for the operation of meetings, selecting members, and establishing terms of service for members. NR 10.104(5)(d)2.2. Whenever application is made to the department by a person interested in becoming a member of a council, the bureau of law enforcement may conduct a criminal history, character, and background check on the applicant. Upon becoming aware of information indicating prior illegal activity, the department shall make appropriate inquiry into criminal history and character of applicants for council membership and determine their suitability for the proposed activity. NR 10.104(5)(e)(e) Effective term of season framework modifications recommended by deer management advisory councils. Modifications to the deer hunting season framework in a unit shall be effective for one year of annual deer hunting seasons. NR 10.104(6)(6) Antlerless deer harvest authorizations. The department may issue deer harvest authorizations that are valid for the harvest of antlerless deer that are in addition to those established in sub. (7). If the department issues antlerless deer harvest authorizations, the department shall issue antlerless deer harvest authorizations in sufficient numbers to achieve the population objective established in sub. (4), after evaluating the results of population monitoring required under sub. (5).