ALBANY - Insightful rather than inciting comments were made by the public at the County Deer Advisory Committee meetings in Lafayette and Green counties Tuesday, according to committee members.

The main topic of this year's meetings was whether or not to vote to increase, decrease or keep the deer herd the same in the respective counties over the next three years.

Green County member Todd Jensen said their committee voted to keep the deer herd the same in the county at its annual meeting, which took place at the Albany Lions Club. Lafayette CDAC chair Jason Thomas said their committee voted to increase the deer herd after many residents of the westside of the county said there was insufficient hunting opportunities due to the lack of deer. The CDAC takes into account deer that die from disease and vehicle accidents before making a decision on changing or maintaining the herd.

According to Department of Natural Resource numbers from 2013, Lafayette County had 2,848 deer harvested during the gun and archery season, including deer taken on both private and public land. In Green County, 2,322 deer were harvested during the 2013 gun and archery season, also including private and public land.

DNR estimates suggest that in the fall of 2013, there were about 12,300 in Lafayette County and 11,900 deer in Green County.

The committees heard opinions from the public on deer management and plan to express those comments directly to the Natural Resources Board. Thomas said about 15 members of the public attended the Lafayette County meeting at Darlington Middle School and that the overarching theme of comments was the lack of deer available to residents in the westside of the county. Thomas offered up some advice that perhaps hunters could have more success in getting deer if they approach private land owners in nicer clothing and remain polite.

"I think if you're polite, you can find a place to hunt," Thomas said.

Thomas said he was initially worried that discussion could veer towards nastiness, but all those present were civil.

"I was a little nervous about that, but it went really well, the discussion was very good and open, and it was a very good opportunity for public information," Thomas said.

Jensen said the Green County CDAC meeting had a similar tone from the public. He said of the 12 people who attended the meeting in Albany, none railed against the DNR or its management of the deer herd.

"It was very mellow," Jensen said.

Jensen said the committee voted to keep the deer herd the same after hearing from the public. He said there was discussion about splitting the county into zones to address deer populations differently in each zone.

"In the northwest, we have the driftless areas that are more wooded as compared to the southeast, which is a lot flatter with little timber," he said. "The northwest corner can, and does, hold a lot more deer than the southeast corner."

Green County CDAC chair Bryan Richards said the committee acts in mostly an advisory nature, but the prospect of dividing the county up will likely be expressed in its Dec. 9 meeting at the Argyle Gun Club, where they will come to a formal decision on what to send to the NRB.

The Lafayette County CDAC will meet again Dec. 16 at the Darlington Middle School.

Richards said the public will have the option to view the CDAC's advisory statements to the NRB prior to the Dec. 9 meeting online at dnr.wi.gov and he encourages anyone interested in deer herd management to express their opinions over the website.

"In order for this process to be meaningful, we need public engagement," Richards said.