The public is invited to attend in person, or online, a Sat., June 8, public meeting at UW-Stevens Point to receive updates and ask questions regarding the ongoing process to implement the Deer Trustee Report. The Governor-commissioned report author, Dr. James Kroll, will be in attendance.
The meeting will take place from 10 a.m.-noon in the Dreyfus University Center, 1015 Reserve Street. Action teams will continue to meet in the afternoon until 3 p.m.
The morning portion of the meeting will be webcasted live online at http://dnrmedia.wi.gov/main/Play/238fcd3964734812a3ced46eb471ff4e1d. Online participants will have the option to submit questions via their computers for panel response throughout the presentations.
“The June 8 meeting marks the mid-way point of the process and is an important time to check in before proceeding to the finish line,” said Eric Lobner, DNR Deer Trustee Report implementation coordinator. “Four action teams were formed and have been hard at work building the framework for implementation, incorporating multiple viewpoints to pull together proposals on how the 62 recommendations in the Deer Trustee Report should be put into action on the ground.
“It’s all part of the effort to ensure this is a public-driven process with diverse input.”
At the meeting, each action team will give an update on progress made, addressing questions and collecting feedback on implementation proposals that are moving forward.
In advance of the meeting, the DNR is highlighting key outcomes of the Deer Trustee Report implementation process to date including:
•Development of implementation proposals: The four action teams have drafted proposals on how to move forward with 32 of the report’s 49 recommendations that relate directly to enhancing management practices. The proposals can be viewed by visiting dnr.wi.gov and using the search keywords “Deer Trustee Report.” Click on each Action Team’s link to see proposals.
•Survey: In March, a Deer Trustee Implementation survey was distributed to the public as an additional avenue to collect feedback from the public on multiple aspects of deer management in Wisconsin. The survey focused on broad long-term deer management topics in Wisconsin. Over 9,000 responses were completed. The action teams are considering the survey results in developing proposals.
•Website: DNR developed a Deer Trustee Report web page to be the central location for the public to find documents, presentation materials, report outs, proposal drafts, action team updates, opportunities for input and meeting schedules, liaison contact information and videos of each action team meeting. Additionally, a GovDelivery list serve was created, allowing anyone interested to sign up to receive email updates on report implementation. To sign up, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords “Deer Trustee Report.”
•Live chats: DNR has hosted monthly live online chats with DNR experts to answer questions and receive comments from the public. These chats will continue through July.
The action teams have met four times since March and will meet again June 29 and July 20. Rules will be drafted by DNR based on the action team proposals that will be subject to public hearings this fall. The Natural Resources Board will review comments and make decisions on rule adoption in December.
For more information, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords, “Deer Trustee Report.”