Deer trustee meets with hunters

ASHWAUBENON - Last year, James Kroll was hired as the state’s Whitetail Deer Trustee.

He – along with a team of two other researchers – are overseeing how the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources handles the hunt.

Kroll, who lives and works in Texas, says he understands the heritage of deer hunting in Wisconsin and says the fun needs to be put back into the sport.

The outside assistance is costing the state $120,000.

So with one hunt in the books, Kroll heard about the status of the deer herd from about 30 hunters Tuesday.

And there was a lot on hunter’s minds.

Complaints ranged from general deer management, to over hunting and chronic wasting disease

But all the issues boiled down to a common theme: hunter's concerns have gone unheard for too long.

"We have to develop a 21st century deer management model,” said Kroll.

“But although there are diverse interests in presentations, you heard a common thread and that was involvement of people in the process," he added.

And hunters have a lot to say.

"I think there's definitely a disconnect between hunters and the DNR," said Tom Kleinman, representing Carlton Hunting and Fishing Club in Kewaunee County.

For Andy Pantzlaff, representing United Sportsmen of Wisconsin, the disconnect is also with hunters and the true purpose of hunting: for the thrill of the hunt, not the harvest.

"The (DNR) has issued so many (deer) tags that they've raised a whole generation of (hunters)...(to think) the satisfaction is only in the harvest," said Pantzlaff.

Hunters like Pantzlaff and Kleinman say the problem isn't just with the DNR, but hunters too.

Now, both are looking to Kroll for help.

"We really need to concentrate on bringing fun back into hunting," said Pantzlaff.

Kroll says when hunters look at population estimates, it focuses attention on one specific part of deer hunting – and arriving at a population number that all hunters are happy with is not possible.

He says what hunter should do is focus on feasible solutions to the problems that they see when out hunting.

"I want to hear their solutions to the problems that we identify, how we can make it better," said Kroll.

According to the most recent Wisconsin Department of Natural

And the DNR is on board to help.

"We're cooperating in every way we can to give (Kroll and his team) the data that (they) need, that we have and for our employees to give the expertise to (them), that's needed,” said Scott Gunderson, Executive Assistant with the Wisconsin DNR.

Kroll expects to have a preliminary report on the state’s deer hunting industry by spring, but is asking hunters for help in identifying possible problems with the industry.

For the 2010-2011 deer hunting season, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources netted a total revenue of $24,266,251 off just gun and archery licenses.

You can contact Kroll, also known as Dr. Deer, here.