Deer herd fight arrives at Capitol

MADISON - They came from all over and what they are upset about is deer numbers and the controversial earn a buck program.

The number of deer harvested last year was down 27 percent from 2007, and the DNR has admitted it over estimated the number of deer in the woods.

That recognition of the faulty estimates doesn't sit well with hunters, who want more than an acknowledgement of a problem and want some real change.

Herds of deer hunters targeted the capitol today and what they say is really the last straw.

"It's really getting to the boiling point, yeah." said one hunter.

In front of legislators they say they're here to make their point to the DNR to make the agency finally pay attention to them.

Andy Pantzlaff of Maribel said "They had heard the people's outrage, but they aren't listening that they're aren't enough deer."

"Whatever frustrations we had about the past are in the past, but we are looking to improve the process for the future." responded DNR Secretary Matt Frank

Hunters claim the earn a buck program designed to control populations has actually decimated the deer herd. And they believe the temporary one year moratorium isn't enough.

"We don't think that's adequate. We want a permanent change."

Representative Scott Suder of Abbotsford said that "If the DNR isn't going to listen to sportsman then its up to the legislature to force them to listen."

Secretary says that the DNR is listening.

The DNR says it wants to improve communication, but hunters just want to see deer. And some are willing to travel outside Wisconsin to do so until change are made.

"I'm going to spend the money to go out of state to deer hunt. I'm going to Nebraska."

"A lot of people have left the state of Wisconsin, how sad is that."

The DNR does not set policy based on the legislature, however. That's up the the natural resources board, a seven member committee appointed by the governor.

They meet next week in West Bend to take citizen comments and vote on the one year moratorium.