The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced 53 new hunting and fishing opportunities on approximately 211,000 acres within the National Wildlife Refuge System. This expansion includes twelve national wildlife refuges in Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Notable additions include first-ever hunting on Green River National Wildlife Refuge and expanded fishing on Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. To view the complete list of new opportunities, click here.
Martha Williams, Service Director, highlighted the significance of these activities, citing their roots in American heritage, and the economic benefits to local communities. Nearly 80% of Service stations currently offer hunting and fishing access, boosting local economies and connecting people with nature. This initiative aligns with the broader goal of increasing public land and water access through locally led and voluntary conservation efforts.
Public land access is an essential component for the hunting community, especially as private lands continue to fragment, and access to those private lands is harder to come by due to a multitude of factors.
The National Wildlife Refuge System comprises 571 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts. It offers vital habitats for thousands of species and various recreational activities such as fishing, hunting, boating, and nature watching. With over 68 million annual visitors, these refuges significantly contribute to local economies. In 2022, outdoor activities like hunting and fishing generated over $394 billion in economic expenditures, with hunters and anglers contributing over $144 billion.
This expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities reflects a commitment to conservation and responsible wildlife management, ensuring these lands are preserved for future generations.
On August 1st, Wisconsin Waterfowl Association announced the formation of a bipartisan Legislative Council Study Committee on Sandhill Cranes. This committee, which includes state legislators and representatives from agricultural, birding, and hunting communities, is set to address the burgeoning sandhill crane population in Wisconsin and its associated issues, including as crop damage. The committee’s first meeting took place on August 1 at the Horicon Marsh Education Center.
Bruce Ross, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association (WWA), praised the establishment of this committee, emphasizing the need for a management plan for the state’s increasing sandhill crane population. He advocated for science-based solutions to manage the population and mitigate crop damage.
State Representative Paul Tittl (R – Manitowoc) chairs the committee, which includes public members like Todd Schaller, Vice President of WWA and former Chief Warden of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Schaller’s appointment underscores the committee’s commitment to using scientific data to inform wildlife management decisions.
The sandhill crane population in Wisconsin has seen significant growth since the early 1900s, when federal protection was established through the international treaty on migratory birds. The population has doubled in the past decade, surpassing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s upper population goals by nearly 100%. This rapid growth has resulted in increased agricultural damage, estimated at over $1.6 million in 2022, with more than 1200 cranes destroyed under federal kill permits.
Farmers have been using the chemical deterrent AVIPEL™ to mitigate crop damage, costing approximately $2 million in 2020 for application on 200,000 acres. The potential area affected could expand to 3,000,000 acres with the crane population’s continued growth. There is currently no financial relief for farmers dealing with crane-caused crop depredation or for the use of AVIPEL™.
In addition to agricultural impacts, the growing crane population poses other challenges. Negative human interactions, like those experienced with increasing Canada goose populations, are expected to rise as cranes become more prevalent across Wisconsin.
Currently, Sandhill cranes are hunted in 17 states and 3 provinces, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service based on annual population counts and scientific research.
The Wisconsin Waterfowl Association is a state-based non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the conservation of Wisconsin’s waterfowl and wetland resources. Since 1984, WWA has worked to restore critical habitat in Wisconsin, educate the next generation of waterfowl hunters, and advocate for policies that protect Wisconsin’s resources and the rights of citizens to hunt.
A sobering picture is emerging of deer hunting in Wisconsin. Between 2005 and 2022, Wisconsin lost about 65,000 hunters. That’s a lot of folks hanging up their camo, and it’s not just the baby boomers – it’s across the board. The Hunter Demographics Project’s Phase 1 report, led by Dan Storm, one of the Wisconsin DNRs Deer Research Scientists, analyzed license sales from 2005 – 2022. The study broke down hunter participation rates by age and gender over time. That data was combined with success rates (among other data) to reveal the findings, and forecast what the implications are for the future of deer hunting in Wisconsin.
The Findings
Between 2005 and 2022, Wisconsin lost 65,000 hunters. On average, that is approximately 3,600 hunters lost per year. However, from 2014 – 2022, Wisconsin lost approximately 51,000 hunters, or about 6,300 hunters per year. Looking at the acceleration of the decline is scary. During this time period, Wisconsin put policies in place to increase hunter numbers – from allowing crossbows to legalizing blaze pink – and it has not had any effect on hunter decline.
When breaking down the numbers further, the study highlights the decrease in participation across all age ranges. For example, hunter participation for boys fell from approximately 27% in 2005 to about 15% in 2022. 40 year old males had a 30% participation rate in 2005 that fell to 20% in 2022. 50 year old males had a 28% participation rate in 2005, and that number fell to 21% in 2022. While baby boomers are aging out of hunting, the numbers illustrate that hunter decline is taking place across all generations.
The Reasons
What is causing the decline in Wisconsin deer hunters? That’s the first question that came to my mind as I saw the numbers in the study. I first thought of baby boomers before seeing details of the study. Unfortunately, there likely isn’t one specific item as the causes are multifaceted. Hypothetically, some of the issues can be attributed to access limitations, additional entertainment options, and a shift in hunting culture. Some of the limitations include a greater difficulty getting access to private land and increased public land competition. Both of these items put more strain on hunters trying to find quality hunting opportunities and to fill their tag.
Additionally, society has changed since 2005. There are more competing priorities, and more entertainment options than there were 20 – 30 years ago. Travel sports have exploded in popularity. The global youth sports market was valued at $37.5B in 2022 and is forecasted to grow to $69.4B by 2030. Smart phones have enabled an “instant feedback” society. Sitting in the woods waiting for deer to show up is the opposite of instant feedback. When we look at the decline in hunter participation for boys and middle aged males, for example, there’s a likely a correlation between the two as middle aged fathers aren’t hunting as much. As a result, boys are not being taken hunting at the same rate they were 20 years ago. That results in less young hunters being introduced to the sport and a greater decline in hunter participation numbers.
How much has social media and the shift in hunting culture influenced the decline? We’ve shifted from a society that celebrated harvesting deer to celebrating harvesting big deer. Over the last 20 years in Wisconsin, deer habitat has changed population centers and deer densities across the state. Has that limited the availability of quality hunting opportunities for certain hunters? If there are fewer quality hunting opportunities to harvest big deer, theoretically, hunters could be more likely to hang up their camo.
As we look toward the future, Storm and his team – Christine Anhalt-Depies, Adam Mohr, Meghan Henry, and Beth Wojcik – are looking to take the study further to look at the findings on a finer geographic scale. Their goal is to see if the decline is more pronounced in certain geographic areas, and to examine the per capita harvest. They are looking to better understand the mechanisms of hunter decline and per capita harvest. The more we can understand the finer points of hunter decline, the better chance we, as a hunting community, can work to combat them.
What does this mean?
While we celebrate the tradition of hunting, individual hunter goals vary; yet, the goal of any state hunting program is to manage a population. In this case, the Wisconsin DNRs job is to manage the deer population via hunter harvest. While deer densities differ across the state, including areas in Northern Wisconsin that have low deer densities, there are a number of areas where there’s an overabundance of deer. According to Storm, our ability to manage the deer herd is already on shake ground with current hunter numbers.
The historical harvest levels of deer in Wisconsin is approximately 350,000. In 2022, the antlerless deer harvested per hunter was .31. If hunter numbers continue their current pace of decline, there would need to be a substantial increase in the number of anterless deer harvested to keep pace with historical harvest levels, and to manage the population accordingly. If hunters can’t manage the deer population across the state, who steps in?
Stepping back further, less hunters means less revenue to manage natural resources. It also means less political power and a potential loss of control of deer management. As hunters, this potential issue could have massive long term ripple effects on our hunting rights. Unfortunately, the decline in hunter numbers is not localized to Wisconsin either. As noted in the study, Pennsylvania and Virginia have also seen declines in hunter participation.
What can we do as a hunting community?
Right now, we do not have a scalable solution to combat the current pace of hunter decline, and as a community, we are constantly under attack from anti-hunters. What we do to combat the anti-hunting message and influence the general public is important. One idea to influence the general public is to demonstrate the value of hunting to society. We talk about conservation, and we know the amount of conservation dollars funded by hunters via the Pittman-Robertson Act; yet, we need to show and demonstrate that hunting is conservation by achieving management goals, protecting rare plant species, and demonstrating the effects of better land management.
Another great idea is venison diplomacy. One of the many traditions I was taught as a young hunter was sharing in the harvest. While we often share venison with our fellow hunters, what if we shared it with our non-hunting neighbors and friends? There’s an old saying that goes “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” I have met very few people who dislike a quality venison stick or venison brat. It’s a small gesture, but one that can go a long ways.
Are those the only answers to improving the perception of hunting? Absolutely not. There are others and we’ll continue to address this issue as a hunting community. Do we have scalable answers to the decline hunter participation? Nope. The only thing we can control is our actions, our decisions to participate, the way we treat other hunters, and the way we treat non-hunters. As the stoic Zeno said, “Well-being is realized by small steps.” If we all take small steps together as a community, we can make a difference.
The hunting industry operates within a complex legal and regulatory framework.
What do Energy Regulation and Cybersecurity Laws Have to Do with Hunting?
The hunting industry, steeped in tradition and driven by a community of passionate enthusiasts, operates within a complex legal and regulatory framework. This framework is influenced by direct legislation and many laws in areas like environmental policy, energy regulation, cybersecurity, and public infrastructure. While the National Law Review’s trending section might not spotlight hunting-related laws, it’s a treasure trove of insights on legal domains that indirectly yet profoundly impact the hunting sector.
Environmental and Energy Laws: A Conservation Catalyst
Environmental and energy legislation, at first blush, appears distantly related to the hunting ethos. Yet, these legal domains are instrumental in preserving the ecosystems vital to the industry’s sustainability. “Laws like the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act play an unexpected, yet pivotal role in maintaining the health of habitats crucial for game populations,” notes a policy analyst in a discussion on conservation laws’ impact on hunting (Smith, Environmental Conservation Journal, 2023).
The intersection of energy policy and hunting is equally significant. While the push for renewable energy sources is beneficial on a global scale, it necessitates careful consideration of wildlife habitats. “Renewable energy projects must strike a balance between sustainable development and conservation needs, ensuring that hunting practices can adapt to changing landscapes,” states an energy policy expert during a webinar on renewable energy’s environmental implications (Doe, Renewable Energy and Conservation, 2023).
Cybersecurity: Protecting the Digital Frontier of Hunting
If you’re an AT&T customer, you might remember a national outage a few weeks ago that left thousands of customers unable to call or text without being connected to wifi. Moreover, Meta reported a global outage for all its Facebook and Instagram users the other day. These large-scale outages are becoming more commonplace in our modern age of technology. The relevance of cybersecurity in hunting might soon become apparent, yet the industry’s growing digitization from wildlife tracking to permit applications brings it to the forefront. “The integrity of digital tools in wildlife management is paramount, making cybersecurity a key concern for the hunting industry,” emphasizes a technology specialist in a report on digital innovation in conservation (Johnson, Cybersecurity in Wildlife Conservation, 2023).
Public Services Infrastructure: The Unsung Hero of Access and Conservation
It is important to consider the role of public services infrastructure in hunting access and conservation. Infrastructure laws that enable access to remote hunting grounds while promoting sustainable land use are crucial. However, this requires a careful balancing act with conservation priorities. According to an infrastructure planner in a study on recreational land use (Williams, Public Infrastructure and Recreational Land Use, 2023), improved infrastructure can benefit hunters. Nevertheless, sustainable development is key. As a conservationist argues in a debate on sustainable development (Anderson, Sustainable Development Forum, 2023), infrastructure projects in hunting areas must prioritize environmental sustainability to preserve these lands for future generations.
Looking Ahead: The Interconnectedness of Law and Hunting
The regulatory landscape for hunting is dynamic, reflecting the interplay between various legal domains and the industry. Staying up-to-date on developments in environmental law, energy regulation, cybersecurity, and public infrastructure is essential for the hunting community. “Understanding the broader legal environment allows us to advocate for policies that support sustainable practices and conservation efforts,” concludes a hunting industry spokesperson in a panel discussion on the future of hunting (Taylor, Future of Hunting Symposium, 2023).
The absence of hunting-specific legislation in the National Law Review’s trending section doesn’t imply irrelevance but points to the complex legal ecosystem influencing the industry. The indirect effects of environmental and energy laws, cybersecurity, and public services infrastructure on hunting underscore the need for a comprehensive approach to navigating the legal challenges within the industry. This holistic perspective ensures the industry’s resilience and adaptability amidst evolving legal and environmental landscapes.
Hunters Getting Involved in the Legal Process
As we’ve traversed the complex legal landscape impacting the hunting industry, it becomes evident that the voices of hunters, conservationists, and industry stakeholders are crucial in shaping the future of hunting sustainably and responsibly. Getting involved in these legal processes is about advocacy and preserving a tradition deeply embedded throughout the US.
Hunters can engage by staying informed about legislative changes, participating in public comment periods for new regulations, and joining hunting and conservation organizations that lobby for hunter-friendly policies, like the National Deer Alliance, Sportsmens Alliance, NWTF, and plenty of others. Even attending local government meetings where relevant policies are discussed. “Engagement in the legal process allows hunters to protect their interests and contribute to the conservation efforts that ensure the longevity of their passion,” emphasizes a legal expert in environmental advocacy (Miller, Hunters and Conservation Law, 2023). By taking these proactive steps, hunters can ensure that their legacy—and the ecosystems they cherish—can be enjoyed by future generations.
Appendix: Suggested Resources for Further Reading
To find information and resources similar to the fictional citations provided, consider exploring the following types of sources:
Environmental and Conservation Laws
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): For information on the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and other environmental regulations. EPA’s website
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE): Provides comprehensive resources on renewable energy projects and their environmental assessments. DOE’s website
Renewable Energy and Wildlife Conservation: A section within conservation-focused organizations’ websites, such as the Wildlife Conservation Society, discussing the balance between renewable energy development and wildlife protection. Wildlife Conservation Society’s website
Cybersecurity in Wildlife Conservation
Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): For insights into cybersecurity best practices that could apply to wildlife management systems. CISA’s website
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Reports on technology’s role in conservation, including cybersecurity concerns. IUCN’s website
Public Infrastructure and Access to Hunting Lands
U.S. Forest Service: Information on how public infrastructure projects are planned and executed within national forests, affecting access to hunting areas. U.S. Forest Service’s website
Trust for Public Land: Discusses projects and policies aimed at improving access to public lands for recreational purposes, including hunting. Trust for Public Land’s website
This is just a snapshot summary of the insights provided by NDA. If you’d like to learn more, we recommend reading the full report, linked at the end of this article. The National Deer Association’s 2024 Deer Report presents an in-depth analysis of the current state of deer populations, harvest trends, and the challenges and successes of deer management across North America. This comprehensive report draws on extensive data to offer a nuanced understanding of the factors influencing deer populations, the impact of diseases such as Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and Hemorrhagic Disease (HD), including Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (EHDV) and Bluetongue Virus (BTV), and the evolving role of technology in wildlife management.
Key Findings and Trends
The report highlights a balanced age structure in the harvested deer population, with a significant portion of the harvest comprising older bucks. This trend suggests positive outcomes from wildlife management practices and a shift towards more sustainable hunting. Over 2.9 million antlered bucks and 3 million antlerless deer were harvested, indicating robust deer populations and successful management strategies across various regions.
Harvest Trends: The report indicates a significant shift towards a more mature age structure among harvested deer. For instance, in 2022, the percentage of antlered bucks aged 3½ years and older in the harvest was the highest ever reported at 42%. This reflects a successful outcome of wildlife management strategies aimed at promoting a healthier deer population and a more ethical hunting practice. It’s interesting to see this specific data point as it relates to the general climate of the hunting community when you consider the old adage of “Brown Down” mantra. It would seem even though a number of hunters chose to punch their tag on a spike buck or basket rack, the overall herd is considerably healthy. Moreover, hunters should feel comfortable punching their tag how they see fit, given how deer heard numbers are managed through various states’ licensing processes.
Antlerless Deer Harvest: The report also delves into the antlerless deer harvest, noting that over 3 million antlerless deer were harvested in 2022. This marks only the second time since 2013 that the antlerless harvest has topped three million, highlighting the effectiveness of current deer management strategies in maintaining balanced deer populations. It’s good to see hunters tagging does, especially in a day and age when harvesting mature bucks is at the forefront of most hunting conversations across the internet.
Harvest by Weapon Type: Analysis of the harvest by weapon type reveals a diversification in hunting practices. Muzzleloader hunters accounted for 9% of the total deer harvest, bow/crossbow hunters for 25%, and firearm (rifle/shotgun) hunters for 66% in 2022. This diversification not only reflects the evolving preferences and skills of hunters but also the regulatory changes that have expanded hunting opportunities. It’d be great to peel the numbers back a bit more to compare crossbow numbers exclusive to bow numbers rather than grouping them.
Regional Differences: The report identifies significant regional differences in deer harvests, both in terms of numbers and methodologies used. For example, in the Northeast, bow hunters accounted for the highest percentage of the harvest (33%), while in the Southeast, firearms were used for over three-quarters of deer taken.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and Hemorrhagic Disease (HD) Insights:
CWD has been identified in 32 U.S. states and several other countries, with no vaccine or cure available. It’s particularly fatal and spreads through direct contact and environmental contamination. CWD affects deer species including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, moose, and reindeer. Research indicates adult bucks have higher infection rates compared to does and younger deer.
HD, including EHDV and BTV, is transmitted by biting midges or flies and has been confirmed in deer across at least 16 states. While 2023 saw a surprisingly low HD year, the diseases pose significant threats to deer populations, especially in areas experiencing drought conditions, albeit with limited distribution and prevalence compared to the previous year.
Harvest Success Across States
Texas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Missouri reported the highest buck harvest numbers, reflecting the effectiveness of their deer management and conservation efforts. The report underscores the importance of adaptive management strategies to maintain healthy deer populations and ensure the future of deer hunting.
The Impact of Technology
Trail cameras, including cellular cameras, have revolutionized deer management by providing real-time monitoring capabilities. These tools offer valuable insights into deer behavior, population dynamics, and the effectiveness of management interventions. Additionally, the use of drones for habitat assessment and wildlife management underscores the potential of technology to enhance conservation efforts, though it also calls for careful regulation to minimize disturbances to wildlife. There are strong opinions about cell cam and drone usage, and it’s important to note that things are evolving quickly as more legislation is introduced at the state level for some of these emerging technologies to be applied to the hunting realm.
Conclusion
The 2024 Deer Report offers critical insights into the challenges and successes of deer management in North America. It underscores the importance of sound management practices, the impact of diseases on deer populations, and the transformative role of technology in conservation efforts. As we move forward, continued research, innovation, and collaboration among wildlife professionals, hunters, and conservationists will be essential to ensure the health and sustainability of deer populations for future generations.
