Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and County Deer Advisory Councils are seeking public input to prepare for the 2024 deer season.

Each county in Wisconsin has a County Deer Advisory Council that meets annually to provide input and recommendations to the DNR on deer management in its county.

The online public comment period will be open through April 14. Complete the public input questionnaire to help provide feedback for your County Deer Advisory Council.

County Deer Advisory Council recommendations are based on deer metrics, county deer population objectives and public feedback.

Information about each county’s harvest and population metrics can be found on the Wisconsin Deer Metrics System database.

The online public comment period is an opportunity for anyone interested in helping shape local deer herd management. Local County Deer Advisory Councils will consider public comments when creating recommendations for the DNR.

Interested members of the public are encouraged to participate in the discussion at their local County Deer Advisory Council meeting. At these meetings, councils review county data on fawn-to-doe ratios, harvest trends, herd health, deer impacts on agriculture, forest health, vehicle collisions and hunter experience. This information is reviewed annually to respond to deer harvest, winter severity and other factors that impact the upcoming deer season.

The 2024 County Deer Advisory Council meetings will occur between April 22 and May 2. You can search for and view the County Deer Advisory Council meeting info on the DNR’s Meetings & Hearings calendar.

Following the County Deer Advisory Council process, the DNR will bring recommendations for the 2024 season to the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board for consideration in June.

In Manitowoc County, the in-person County Deer Advisory Council meeting will be at Woodland Dunes, 3000 Hawthorne Ave., Two Rivers, at 6 p.m. April 25.

Read last week’s column:Spring hearing set in Manitowoc County and more in the latest outdoors report

Kettle Range Snowriders’ spring fish fry is April 19

Kettle Range Snowriders will hold its spring fish fry from 4:30 to 8 p.m. April 19. It will be at the Mishicot VFW, 314 W. Main St., Mishicot.

They will be serving walleye, perch, cod and chicken strips, and homemade desserts will be available.

Carry-outs can be ordered by calling 920-323-6950.

Reedsville club’s Luck of the Draw Trap Tournament is April 20

Reedsville Sportsman Club will hold its Luck of the Draw Trap Tournament April 20.

Signups start at noon with shooting starting at 1 p.m.

Contact Gerald Fischer at 920-901-3907 with any questions.

Reedsville Sportsmen’s Club is 2 miles north of Reedsville on Pleasantview Road.

Maribel club still has openings for hunter safety, bow hunter courses

Maribel Sportsman’s Club has its first hunter safety course filled up, but there are still openings in the second course, which will run 6-9 p.m. April 25 and May 2 and finish up 8 a.m.-4 p.m. May 4.

A bow hunter course will run 6-9 p.m. May 7, 14 and 16.

Pre-registration for these courses is required by calling me, Bob Schuh, at 920-682-3106.

Keep wildlife wild this spring with these tips

As warmer spring weather approaches, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding the public that wild animals and their young will be on the move across Wisconsin.

Knowing what to do before finding a baby wild animal can make all the difference to protect its health and keep wildlife wild.

Jenna Fastner, DNR captive wildlife health specialist, explained in a news release: “During the springtime, we receive many inquiries from concerned residents about baby wild animals. Never try to care for a wild animal yourself. If you find a wild animal that appears sick or injured, leave it alone. Do not provide food or water, as improper care and handling may put the health of both animals and people at risk.

“Additionally, people should remember that it is against the law in Wisconsin to possess a wild animal without the proper license,” she added.

With most species, it is perfectly natural for mothers to leave their young alone for long periods of time. While alone, young animals will often lie quietly and still to avoid attracting predators. Drawing attention to a baby animal’s location can tip-off predators or keep its mother away longer than she would like. You can help by keeping people and pets away from the area. If you have interested children, they can learn to keep wildlife wild by observing from a safe distance.

Young wild animals will often wander on their own as they grow. If you find a seemingly healthy young animal wandering away from its nest/den or mother, watch from a distance to see if it returns to the den or if its mother retrieves it. It is important to note that this process could take several hours. Always contact the DNR or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for advice before intervening.

Read more ‘Scoping the Great Outdoors’:Click here to read more outdoors columns by Bob Schuh

Visit the DNR’s Keep Wildlife Wild webpage for species-specific tips about how to decide if a young wild animal is truly orphaned or in need of help.

If you find a wild animal that appears sick or injured, leave it alone. Take pictures and make notes about what you’re observing. Then, call the DNR or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for guidance. Visit the DNR website for a directory of rehabilitators in your area. In Manitowoc County, that licensed wildlife rehabilitator is Wildlife of Wisconsin, which can be reached at 920-323-5609 or by email to [email protected].

That’s it for this week, so have fun in the great outdoors.