It doesn’t take a math major to figure out what the white-tailed deer means to the Wisconsin economy.
A study by the University of Wisconsin and similar studies across the United States found that among non-hunters, deer are the most popular of wildlife. In fact, when Wisconsin non-hunters were asked what wildlife they most enjoy, deer were chosen as their favorite over songbirds and bald eagles.
A National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation in 1996 estimated that hunters spent on average $1,300 each while hunting deer in Wisconsin. That resulted in $897 million flowing into the state economy. In terms of total sales, if all the state’s deer hunters spent their money in one place, that business would rank among Wisconsin’s top 15 most profitable companies. These expenditures in turn would support more than 16,000jobs.
Simply, deer hunting is a $1 billion-plus state business.
Hunters and anglers spent $85.5 million on hunting and fishing licenses in the last license year, according to the 2000-01 Wisconsin Fish and Wildlife annual report. The DNR sold more than 773,000 hunting licenses, including more than 670,000 for deer.
Unfortunately, the state deer herd and economy is in jeopardy after it was found that Wisconsin became the first state east of the Mississippi River to ever become infected with chronic wasting disease, a disease that is fatal to deer and elk. The disease attacks the central nervous system in the animals but is not known to transmit to humans, livestock or animals other than elk or deer. The disease causes animals to grow thin as it destroys their brains.
Three white-tailed bucks shot last November near Mt. Horeb were found to have CWD. The DNR quickly began sampling the herd in the Mt. Horeb area by killing 500 deer to test their brain tissue. Ten more deer have since tested positive for chronic wasting disease. Results from more samples should be released in the next few weeks. Whether it’s 10, 20 or more deer found to have the disease, it isn’t as important as knowing the disease is here and will remain here for a long time.
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There is no cure.
“There is no guarantee we can eradicate the disease,” said Tom Hauge, DNR chief wildlife manager, adding that the disease “will likely have a permanent impact on how we mange deer and elk.”