MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - If state wildlife experts have their way, deer hunters would only be able to shoot bucks in about the northern third of Wisconsin.
The state Natural Resources Board will consider a proposal two weeks from Wednesday to suspend most antlerless deer hunts in the 17-county northern forest zone.
Officials say the doe herd needs to recover from two straight rough winters in the far north.
The Wisconsin State Journal says about 40 percent of juvenile deer that the DNR have been tracking with radio collars in the north have died since January 1st. That was when wind chills as low as 55-below were just starting to hit the region, along with four months of heavy snows.
About 33 percent of radio tracked juvenile deer died in 2013, and just six percent in 2012.
DNR big game ecologist Kevin Wallenfang said antlerless deer hunts would generally be banned in the north during the gun and archery seasons. Youth hunters, the disabled, tribal members, and military personnel on leave could still shoot does in the region.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)