RHINELANDER, Wisconsin (WXOW) - Wisconsin's Deer Czar stopped in Rhinelander Tuesday (4/17) night to meet with hunters upset over the state's deer population. Hunters say the deer population is small.
Governor Scott Walker appointed James Kroll to figure out what can be done to increase Wisconsin's deer herd. Kroll says hunters and landowners need to take more responsibility for the herd.
Tuesday's meeting in Rhinelander was the second of six across the state. After hearing from hunters, Kroll plans to include the information into a study that can be used to create new management guidelines and hunting laws in Wisconsin. His preliminary report was highly critical of the DNR.
Kroll says, "This is everyone's chance to offer their suggestions and to speak out and we truly are listening. We don't have preconceived ideas. This is not the kind of meeting that they're used to, where they go and they don't feel like they're being listened to. They're being listened to, and we're very sincere about that."
Dick Swanson, a hunter from Hilbert, WI, says, "The population is way down. I hunt up in the Hayward area, in Sawyer County, and there's more wolves up there than deer.
Another town hall meeting will be on Thursday night at the Black River Falls Middle School. The meeting will run from 7-10pm in the Lunda Theater. The schools' address is 1202 Pierce Street in Black River Falls.
Kroll's final two meetings are Friday in Mt. Horeb, and Saturday in Milwaukee. His final report is due at the end of June.
