WDNR, Counting Deer Poop Must Of Not Worked

WDNR is changing the way it counts deer. Counting deer droppings must not of been a reliable way to count deer.

"Operation Deer Watch’ kicks off August 1
Online reporting system will help track state’s deer population

MADISON – Beginning August 1, Wisconsin citizens will have a new opportunity to be part of managing white-tailed deer in Wisconsin. Dubbed Operation Deer Watch, people are being asked to record and report all deer they see between Aug 1 and Sept 30. Go to the Department of Natural Resources website [dnr.wi.gov] and click on the Operation Deer Watch button to get started.

“All deer seen including bucks, does and fawns should be reported during this two month period,” said Jason Fleener, assistant DNR deer specialist. “The observations will be entered into a database and will be used to determine doe to fawn ratios, which are a part of the population estimation equation.”

Summer deer observations have always been part of the population estimation process, according to DNR biologists. The number of deer seen and the number of fawns seen with each doe are indicators of annual production in deer herds. In addition to deer seen, observers are asked to note date and location. Only deer seen between sunrise and sunset are to be counted.

In previous years, the observation period lasted three months and only state and federal biologists, foresters, law enforcement and other government staff participated."
Weekly News - July 20, 2010 - WDNR

So big brother couldn't count and now they ask average people of the state to count, observe and report.

I think if people would give information, it might give the DNR a better estimate on the deer herd. This might be a good thing to get better estimates. If only people would report to the web site.

Time will tell.