DNR leaders host open house for deer herd discussion

Wausau - DNR leaders hosted their annual open houses focusing on the white-tailed deer herd.

Wildlife biologists say 8 percent fewer bucks were killed last year compared to 2008.

For the past few years the DNR has been trying to intentionally reduce the herd.

That's because too many deer can negatively impact farmers, homeowners and the environment.

Wildlife biologist Courtney Schaefer says, "Deer are one of the few species that influence every other species based on their numbers. And I just think that everybody here is interested in them, everybody has an opinion. "

DNR leaders realize some hunters may be unhappy because they're seeing less deer but they say they're just trying to find a happy medium.

They actually received funds for research projects to help figure that out.