Wisconsin wolves & deer
 

Any other fellow Cheeseheads have encounters with wolves this past deer season? We seem to see more every year. This year we pushed one out a couple hundred yards behind my cabin.

RE: Wisconsin wolves & deer
 

I saw a bunch of tracks, and thats it. The DNR knows that wolves are causing deer population drops, but they just won't admit it.

RE: Wisconsin wolves & deer
 

We have a similar problem in south florida with Panthers.
This ismy reply to another thread of a similar subject...

The successful introduction of predators into a hunting area will mean the end of hunting as youknow it.
With in a couple of years we lost the hog population completely. This is an area that over 700,000 acres with an additional 500,000 or better adjacent. We went from seeing plenty of hogs ot none in a very short period of time and the same happened to all ground dwelling critters raccoons , armadillos , otters etc.

With the demise of feral hogs in the everglades well all knew that it was only a matter of time before the deer herd started showing signs of decreasing numbers and this season we are seeing this first hand.

The decision was made to have panthers in Florida.
"What purpose does having the Panther serve in the Ecosystem as a whole?" Panthers no longer serve as an important part of the ecosystem as hunting thins out the white-tailed deer herd butsomebiologists like the idea of having panthers in the ecosystem.
The fact is that there arevery few true Florida Panthers and in 10 years there would be none as the Texas cougar gene would overtake the Florida Panther gene. At which point the scientific name for the panther now in Florida as Felix concolor stanleyana, which is the scientific name for the Texas Cougar~ The scientific name for the Florida Panther is Felix concalor coryi.

Questions have been asked as to whether they are dangerous to humans.
Generally not to adults, particularly if they are in groups. Panthers attack according to prey size. They would attack children and small adults, especially a small adult bent over. Studies have been done regarding panther behavior towards childrenwith panthers in captivity. When children entered the area where panthers are caged, the panthers would crouch down and go into stalking mode until the children leave the area.

Studies have shown that there is a much higher number of panthers than previously thought. Panthers are being sighted everywhere. Studies have show that 97% of the hogs are now gone,95% of the racoons are gone· These two animals are primary prey species of panthers. Utilizing deer counts frominformation gathered trom hunters, the deer herd has apparently dropped by 35% over the past two years. There are much fewer deer tracks,raccoon tracks,fewer road kills of raccoons.
Based on this information, the following was calculated: .

Adult panthers require about 100 lbs. of meat per week, as stated in National Geographic's television series Explorer Episode titled. "Killer Cats". Female panthers with kittens require 200 lbs. per week while caring for the kittens.
Panthers eat wild hogs, raccoons, and deer.One deer equals approximately 100 Ibs. of meat. It takes two small hogs or 15 raccoons to equal one deer or 100 lbs. ofmeat from raccoons, or any combination of the above.
These numbers would increase for a female panther with kittens.

Using the State's figure of 80 panthers in the Preserve ( the number is closer to 220), this means 3,280 deer or 6,360 hogs or 47,800 raccoons. This is just for 'adult panthers, does not include female panthers with kittens .....
There are approximately 4,000 deer, plus or minus 10%, in the Preserve.
Have panthers reachedcarrying capacity or exceeded it?
Many believe they have reached carrying capacity and many are reporting sightings , were 10 years ago a sighting was extremely rare.
A major concern we've had for the last couple of yearsis that the deer herd is taking a hit due to panther predation and the dwindelling numbers support that suspicion.

Beware of any agency or wildlife group trying to push any predator introduction in your state because you may not like the long term results.
Your hunting license fees will be nothing more than a permit to legally carry a firearm in the woods during hunting season.

Happy Hunting..

RE: Wisconsin wolves & deer
 

From my understaning, the state DNR can do very little--if anything--due to the wolf being on the Federal Endangered Species list.

RE: Wisconsin wolves & deer
 

I hunt in northwestern WI and every year I jump one or too wolves while doing deer drives.

RE: Wisconsin wolves & deer
 

[quote]ORIGINAL: Mossy_71

From my understaning, the state DNR can do very little--if anything--due to the wolf being on the Federal Endangered Species list.

Mossy_71 is right, there is nothing the DNR can do.Wolves were taken off the list in WI breifly but put back on in an appeal. The thing to do now is go to the DNR meetings or write your state reps.

RE: Wisconsin wolves & deer
 

Mostresearch has shown that bears have a bigger impact in deer than wolves. They prey on the fawns, which has a biiger impact on the population. We've also had a big increase in bears in the state. How come I never hear whining about how the bears are eating all the deer and the DNR is importing beas to thin the herd. Little Red Riding Hood is alive and well.

RE: Wisconsin wolves & deer
 

Brainwashed by the DNR.

RE: Wisconsin wolves & deer
 

Lots of tracks none seen though

RE: Wisconsin wolves & deer
 

Has anyone considered the fact the man kills many many more deer than wolves? Maybe, just maybe, years and years of herd control hunts may be having an affect on the herd size. There are places where deer and wolves have been together for 1000's of years and there are still deer there. Do wolves kill deer? yes. do we kill more. yes. If you want more deer stop shooting does. Go to the DNR meetings and tell them enough is enough. If that don't work, quit hunting until the DNR listens. Everyone bitches but there are very few who are willing to do what it takes to fix the problem.

RE: Wisconsin wolves & deer
 

Years and years of herd control is definitely taking its toll on the deer herd, but so does a pack of wolves reintroduced by the DNR. It's a proven fact that a pack of wolves will move into an area and eat all the deer they can catch (which includes fawns now only in the spring when they're vulnerable, but throughout the year) and when they've exhausted an area, they move on. We've seen tracks andhad a couple sighting over the past couple of years, along with a maturing forest and lots of bear sightings all impact the low numbers of deer in our area. There is no 1 reason deer numbers are down, and the DNR isn't totally to blame either, but it's really easy to point a finger.

RE: Wisconsin wolves & deer
 

Bears do have a much great effect on deer than wolves do expescially considering the number of bears to wolves. As much as wolf haters can't beleive it its true........... They are increasing bear tags to be issued for 2009 by like 150% cuz the bear pop is way higher than what they thought. WCL

RE: Wisconsin wolves & deer
 

They might not admit itbut thats just what they want. They want deer numbers to be lower. Why do you think they issue so many tags, and herd control units. and dont say its cuz the money because at $2 a bonus tag they arent making much. However to get more license sold saying herds are higher in number, maybe. WCL

RE: Wisconsin wolves & deer
 

Right now the wolf pop. in WI they figure is right around 1000-1100 individuals. By this spring there will be about 1300 or so. Its too bad the frickin animal lovers got them put back on the list though. WI DNR only wanted 500 wolves in WI which the program was set out to reach. Now that they are over that there is nothign the DNR can do but get help from us to get them off the list. Not only because they need to be thinned in areas but because they could provide some extra revenue to the state with applications for tags. It would be a great way to fund the program make hunters/trappers more happy. Its gonna piss off alot of people too who are against it but it is well needed by the state on a social level more than anything and to help educate those who are against the killing of any wolf cuz they are a species just like any other that must be controled and maintained at a resonable level. WCL

RE: Wisconsin wolves & deer
 

Where do you get your information? Wolves do not move in like grasshoppers, kill everythign and then move on. Wolves are extremely territorial and have home ranges. They do not move around except for the adelecents who get kicked out. A pack can only consume on average 1-2 deer per week and much less in the summer time due to eating less and many other critters like rabbits and such to eat. They also target older weeker animals and yes young ones too (but not all of them), but this leaves the most productive reproducing age classes in most cases.WCL