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Natural Resources Board adopts emergency changes to deer management units after hours of public testimony
Summary
The Natural Resources Board approved emergency and permanent rules changing county-based deer management units to habitat-based boundaries in parts of northern and central Wisconsin, after extensive public testimony and comments from Conservation Congress delegates, tribes and hunters.
The Natural Resources Board voted to adopt emergency board order WM-11-24E and board order WM-12-24 (proposed changes to NR 10) that revise deer management unit (DMU) boundaries and enable additional administrative flexibility for county advisory councils. Board members and department staff emphasized the decision followed years of local discussion and multiple public engagement steps including listening sessions, open houses, online surveys and a formal rule comment period.
Why it matters: The changes shift some counties from county-based DMU boundaries toward habitat-based units in the northern and parts of the central forest zones. Department staff and several county delegates said the new boundaries should allow managers to set harvest allocations (private/public and antlerless quotas) that better reflect local habitat and deer densities. Supporters argued the changes could improve hunting opportunity on public lands that many residents say have been underperforming.
What the board approved: The board approved an emergency rule so the new DMU maps and related measures can be in effect for the 2025 quota-setting and CDAC (county deer advisory council) processes, while a parallel permanent rule moves through the normal legislative review. The emergency rule will be followed by an additional public hearing after implementation, as required by state administrative practice.
Public response: Dozens of speakers — including local CDAC chairs, Conservation Congress representatives, tribal representatives and state legislators — spoke at the meeting. Testimony was mixed: many northern CDAC members and county residents urged fast implementation to try new management approaches this year, while Conservation Congress leaders and several members asked for more time so local CDACs could align administrative boundaries with the new DMUs before quota-setting.
Department follow-up and next steps: Department staff said they will provide technical support and training to CDACs during the March–May cycle to help local advisory councils work with the new unit maps and will summarize public input received during the post-emergency public hearing. The permanent rule will continue through the legislative review process.
