Scott Walker to Name ‘Whitetail Deer Trustee’ to Monitor Health and Population of Deer Herd


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jill Bader (414) 453-2010

Walker: “It’s Time We Took the Politics Out of the Woods and Put the Deer Back In”

READ WALKER’S PLAN HERE [PDF]

Wauwatosa – Scott Walker, Milwaukee County executive and candidate for governor, today announced his plans to name a ‘Whitetail Deer Trustee’ to “take the politics out of the forest and put the deer back in.”  Walker announced his pledge to put more deer in the forest by bringing in an independent third party auditor (Whitetail Deer Trustee) to monitor the health and population of the deer herd.  Walker also unveiled his DNR policy before purchasing his hunting license at West Town Archery.

“Like most sportsmen, I’m tired of sitting in a deer stand all day and not seeing any deer,” said Walker.  “As governor, I will name a ‘Whitetail Deer Trustee’ to monitor the health and population of the deer herd.  That way, we take the politics out of the forest and put the deer back in.”

Walker continued, “I believe that Department of Natural Resources has lost the trust of Wisconsin sportsmen.  To restore confidence, I will also require more transparency and accountability while ensuring decisions are based on objective science and the best interests of the taxpayer and license payers.  The DNR should work for us, not the other way around.  As governor, I will ensure the DNR becomes an ‘opportunity’ agency, giving job creators the opportunity to grow, sportsmen and women the opportunity to be heard and not ignored, and all Wisconsinites the opportunity to enjoy our state’s abundant natural resources.”

Walker’s DNR proposals:

My Core Values to Preserve Our Sporting Heritage

Our state needs a commitment to accessibility of land and waterways for sportsmen and women of all ages to hunt, fish and trap. Our policy leaders must use simplicity in the drafting of hunting and fishing regulations so law- abiding citizens can hunt, fish and trap without fear of breaking the law. As Governor, I will be a steward of the trust between sportsmen and the Department of Natural Resources that manages our fish and game.

Changing the Culture at the DNR – Restoring Trust and Accountability

Under the Doyle Administration, the DNR has become adversarial to the citizens of our state. As Governor, I will make sure the DNR treats Wisconsinites as customers, not criminals. The DNR works for us, not the other way around. To this end, I will require the DNR to:

• Effectively manage game and fish habitat based on proven science to provide a sustainable abundance of these renewable resources for all of Wisconsin’s citizens.
• Allow increased access to state lands for forest management and all of Wisconsin’s citizens.
• Implement simplified and understandable regulations.
• Implement a fair and common sense permitting process, requiring all permits to be processed in a reasonable and predictable period of time.
• Discount the permitting fee for permits not processed in a reasonable amount of time.
• Require annual audits of our fish and wildlife accounts to ensure that we are prioritizing expenditures and getting maximum value for the taxpayers’ money.
• Use a balanced and science-based approach to protect our lakes, rivers and streams from invasive species.

Whitetail Deer Trustee for Better Deer Herd Management
We must establish a healthy deer herd for us to hunt now and more importantly for future generations of hunters. First, I will appoint a Whitetail Deer Trustee, an outside independent expert to revise our deer counting system. Second, policymakers in Madison must recognize that our Chronic Wasting Disease efforts aren’t working and shift to a strategy that makes sense for our hunters. Third, our state should return to traditional hunts – enough with T-Zones and Earn-a-Buck – making Wisconsin the best place in the nation to hunt white tailed deer again. Finally, Wisconsin must be allowed to manage its own wolf population free of outside interference.

Balanced Representation
Wisconsin needs a responsive Natural Resources Board that represents the diverse interests of the people of our state, not narrow special interests. As governor, I will appoint active and qualified board members who will balance the concerns of, sportsmen and women, shooters, conservationists, job creators, and farmers. I will look for Board Members who will eliminate frivolous barriers to job growth and take a cooperative rather than heavy-handed approach to the people of Wisconsin.

Making Your Voice Heard
To ensure the DNR governs in the people’s best interests, I will require them to listen to you. Specifically, I will create Governor Advisory Groups consisting of everyday sportsmen, conservationists, business owners and rank-and-file DNR employees to advise me on new and existing regulations and practices. By making all voices heard, we can focus the DNR on the common sense solutions that will protect our natural resources while restoring our position as a top state for sportsmen and women and job growth.

Accountability and Transparency
The DNR is a billion dollar agency. Facing a $2.5 billion budget deficit, I will direct the DNR secretary to examine it from the ground up to find savings.

I will also require increased transparency and accountability by requiring annual audits of our fish and wildlife accounts to ensure that we are prioritizing expenditures an getting maximum value for our sportsmen and women. I will require the same stringent review of all DNR expenses to ensure we are making the best use of our taxpayers’ and license buyers’ money.