I think that the EAB program in WI served a purpose, but the numbers that the DNR is basing it upon is a bit out of wack right now.

The amount of deer I have been seeing has been decreasing every year for the last 3-4 years, it is now not uncommon to see 2-1 or even 3-1 bucks to does (and the bucks are not of the large nature for the most part)

I would be interested in finding out how the herd numbers are estimated, I did not hunt opening weekend in my usual area (hunted up north where we do not see many deer to begin with) but talking to neighbors, I can there were 5 guys that saw a total of 11 deer between them over the course of two days. Maybe in different areas this does not hold true, but around me, there are not nearly as many deer as in previous years. With a stated deer population of 25-30 deer per square mile, this is probably what we can look forward to in the future.

30 deer/sq mi = 1 deer every 21.3 acres

So that 40 acres that you bought for deer hunting will have 1 7/8 deer on it. Odds are the biggest reason you bought that land was to deer hunt, great deal at $3000-$5000/acre in my area.

When I go out into the woods, I want to see deer, sometimes I wonder if that is what the DNR in WI wants to happen. The way it stands right now, I do not agree with the EAB program, if you have an overabundance of deer in your area, shoot as many as you wish, but around here, it is not needed, and for some, not wanted.