MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages members of the public with a passion for conservation to apply for a seat on a County Deer Advisory Council (CDAC).

Each County Deer Advisory Council includes representatives from the hunting community, as well as from a variety of stakeholder groups with interest in hunting and deer management. The application period for each county is open until Aug. 15, 2023.

Council members meet annually to review deer management data, gather public input and provide recommendations to the DNR and the Natural Resources Board regarding deer management decisions in their county.

Applicants must have experience or involvement with at least one of these seven stakeholder categories: agriculture, forestry, tourism, transportation, hunting, land management and local government.

“All council seats are open to new applicants,” said Jeff Pritzl, DNR Deer Program Specialist. “County Deer Advisory Councils are provided an in-depth look at deer management issues and meet with DNR staff as representatives of their community. Those selected will serve for three years and, during that time, will reach out to the stakeholders they represent as they develop recommendations for the fall season framework each year.”

County Deer Advisory Councils were established in 2014 and continue to provide an open venue to develop county-specific deer population objectives and herd management strategies through public involvement. In doing so, council members review and consider a variety of metrics on deer herd trends, impacts to habitat and various human-deer interactions.

For more information about the councils and to find the application, visit the DNR’s CDAC webpage.