From small grains to strawberries, Christmas trees, cherry trees, bee hives and grass - all may be eligible for damage reimbursement through Wisconsin's Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program (WDACP). Crop damage may result from a variety of wild marauders, including deer, bears, turkeys and geese.
According to Department of Natural Resources archives, the first reported crop damage by deer in Wisconsin occurred in 1834 in Lafayette County. But it wasn't until 1931 that the state created its first wildlife damage program.
The legislature created the current version of WDACP in 1983 in response to concerns raised by members of the agricultural community who were experiencing crop losses due to increased numbers of deer. Farmers, hunters, landowners and wildlife damage specialists were involved in its design. The program was revised in 1997 to improve hunting access and increase damage payments.
Each county administers the WDACP, providing local control and minimizing costs. Currently, 70 of Wisconsin's 72 counties participate, Kenosha and Menominee being the exceptions.
Deer harvested using agriculture damage permits are included in the statewide deer harvest totals, according to DNR Wildlife Damage and Urban Wildlife Specialist Brad Koele. In recent years, he said, the number of deer harvested using Ag tags totals slightly more than one percent of the harvest. For the period 2006-2008, Ag tag users harvested between 5,274 and 5,841 deer, annually. The preliminary total for 2009 indicates a decline to 4,125 deer harvested.
During the same 2006-2008 period, between 710 and 720 deer shooting permits were issued annually. The preliminary figure for 2009 indicates the number of permits issued was also down (611).
There are two types of hunting opportunities available: Hunting access during the open season, and agricultural deer damage shooting permits. Farmers enrolled in either one of the two programs must provide hunting access to the public for the species for which they are enrolled during the regular hunting season for that species.
Open Season
During the open season, farmers have two options: Managed access and open access. Under managed access (most commonly used), the farmer may limit access to two hunters per 40 acres of land suitable for hunting. County damage specialists will make the determination on what constitutes huntable land (open land does not qualify). Under open access, any number of hunters may hunt on the farmer's land during the open season.
Shooting permits
Farmers who receive agricultural damage shooting permits may provide some of their tags to hunters who would be willing to help them shoot deer, bear, turkeys or geese that are damaging their crops. However, farmers are not obligated to allow hunters to use their damage tags. The permits are valid both inside and outside of the regular hunting season.
A recent change to state statutes also allows farmers involved with WDACP to keep their land closed to hunting by others if they agree not to submit claims for crop damage. In all instances, the first $1,000 of crop damage is not reimbursable. Corn growers are the most likely to receive damage abatement dollars.
WDACP is funded by a $2 surcharge on hunting licenses, and the sale of unit specific antlerless deer carcass tags valid in "regular" (as opposed to Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone) deer management units. In addition to crop damage reimbursement, WDACP also funds woven wire fences, temporary fences, repellents, bear trapping operations and scare devices. Ag tag permits are the most commonly used abatement measure, however.
Wildlife damage claims totaled 491 in 2008 with appraised losses of just less than $2.2 million. The payout to crop damage landowners was approximately $1.7 million for the same period. While the number of claims for 2008 decreased compared to 2007, the appraised losses increased, primarily due to higher prices being paid for commodities such as corn and soybeans.
In 2008, wildlife damage claims were filed in 63 of the 70 counties enrolled in the program, according to the DNR. Marinette, Sawyer, Richland, Grant and Marquette counties had the greatest appraised losses from wildlife damage and Marinette and Grant counties had the most acreage damaged.
Deer damage accounted for approximately 85 percent of appraised losses statewide, followed by bear damage (10 percent). Goose and turkey damage accounted for the rest.
Deer Donation Program
In addition to providing restitution for crop damage, WDACP funds are also used to pay for the processing of venison for donation to food pantries. Fifty-five counties were enrolled in the Deer Donation Program in 2008. In those counties, hunters donated 6,267 deer totaling 282,000 pounds of venison.
- Lee Fahrney is the Monroe Times outdoors writer. He can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or at fiveoaks@mhtc.net.
According to Department of Natural Resources archives, the first reported crop damage by deer in Wisconsin occurred in 1834 in Lafayette County. But it wasn't until 1931 that the state created its first wildlife damage program.
The legislature created the current version of WDACP in 1983 in response to concerns raised by members of the agricultural community who were experiencing crop losses due to increased numbers of deer. Farmers, hunters, landowners and wildlife damage specialists were involved in its design. The program was revised in 1997 to improve hunting access and increase damage payments.
Each county administers the WDACP, providing local control and minimizing costs. Currently, 70 of Wisconsin's 72 counties participate, Kenosha and Menominee being the exceptions.
Deer harvested using agriculture damage permits are included in the statewide deer harvest totals, according to DNR Wildlife Damage and Urban Wildlife Specialist Brad Koele. In recent years, he said, the number of deer harvested using Ag tags totals slightly more than one percent of the harvest. For the period 2006-2008, Ag tag users harvested between 5,274 and 5,841 deer, annually. The preliminary total for 2009 indicates a decline to 4,125 deer harvested.
During the same 2006-2008 period, between 710 and 720 deer shooting permits were issued annually. The preliminary figure for 2009 indicates the number of permits issued was also down (611).
There are two types of hunting opportunities available: Hunting access during the open season, and agricultural deer damage shooting permits. Farmers enrolled in either one of the two programs must provide hunting access to the public for the species for which they are enrolled during the regular hunting season for that species.
Open Season
During the open season, farmers have two options: Managed access and open access. Under managed access (most commonly used), the farmer may limit access to two hunters per 40 acres of land suitable for hunting. County damage specialists will make the determination on what constitutes huntable land (open land does not qualify). Under open access, any number of hunters may hunt on the farmer's land during the open season.
Shooting permits
Farmers who receive agricultural damage shooting permits may provide some of their tags to hunters who would be willing to help them shoot deer, bear, turkeys or geese that are damaging their crops. However, farmers are not obligated to allow hunters to use their damage tags. The permits are valid both inside and outside of the regular hunting season.
A recent change to state statutes also allows farmers involved with WDACP to keep their land closed to hunting by others if they agree not to submit claims for crop damage. In all instances, the first $1,000 of crop damage is not reimbursable. Corn growers are the most likely to receive damage abatement dollars.
WDACP is funded by a $2 surcharge on hunting licenses, and the sale of unit specific antlerless deer carcass tags valid in "regular" (as opposed to Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone) deer management units. In addition to crop damage reimbursement, WDACP also funds woven wire fences, temporary fences, repellents, bear trapping operations and scare devices. Ag tag permits are the most commonly used abatement measure, however.
Wildlife damage claims totaled 491 in 2008 with appraised losses of just less than $2.2 million. The payout to crop damage landowners was approximately $1.7 million for the same period. While the number of claims for 2008 decreased compared to 2007, the appraised losses increased, primarily due to higher prices being paid for commodities such as corn and soybeans.
In 2008, wildlife damage claims were filed in 63 of the 70 counties enrolled in the program, according to the DNR. Marinette, Sawyer, Richland, Grant and Marquette counties had the greatest appraised losses from wildlife damage and Marinette and Grant counties had the most acreage damaged.
Deer damage accounted for approximately 85 percent of appraised losses statewide, followed by bear damage (10 percent). Goose and turkey damage accounted for the rest.
Deer Donation Program
In addition to providing restitution for crop damage, WDACP funds are also used to pay for the processing of venison for donation to food pantries. Fifty-five counties were enrolled in the Deer Donation Program in 2008. In those counties, hunters donated 6,267 deer totaling 282,000 pounds of venison.
- Lee Fahrney is the Monroe Times outdoors writer. He can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or at fiveoaks@mhtc.net.
