2014 Archived Articles
Important Natural Resources Board Meeting Coming Up January 22!
January 10, 2014
Speak up for the white deer! The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board will meet on Wednesday, January 22 to consider several changes to Wisconsin hunting laws, including a Deer Trustee Report proposal to reinstate protection of white deer in CWD zones. Public comments will be accepted before the Board decides whether to put proposals on their February agenda for consideration and a vote.
Show the NRB that people want the white deer protected! It is very important to get as many people as possible at this meeting to testify on behalf of protecting the white deer. If people don’t show support for legislative change, the proposal could be dropped. We’ve had very good support from the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, but their votes are only advisory to the Board, which makes the actual changes in Wisconsin law.
Register to speak. There is a January 17, 11:00 am deadline to register to speak at the January 22 meeting. Call or email Laurie Ross (info below) to sign up to speak. If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can submit written comments to Laurie instead. Request that the Board reinstate statewide protection of white deer and explain why you think this is important. For public participation guidelines, click here.
Laurie J. Ross, Board Liaison
Office of the Secretary
Laurie.Ross@wisconsin.gov
608-267-7420
Laurie gives this important information to people who want to speak:
Register early so Laurie can confirm your request and get back to you. She is not in her office on Thursdays, so cannot be reached that day by phone, but can be contacted other days and at any time by email. Enter this information if you are sending an email:
- Your name (and organization, if you represent a group)
- The topic you will be speaking on (the white deer issue is agenda item no. 3B8)
- State whether you support or oppose or have concerns with the issue
- Provide your city of residence
- List your phone number
The meeting will be Wednesday, January 22 at 8:30 at the DNR’s GEF 2 building in Madison. Enter the building at the 101 S. Webster St. entrance and go down the right corridor to the reception desk.
101 S. Webster St.
Madison WI 53703
Come early! Public comments will be taken between 9:30 and 9:45, but a large turnout is expected because of the Deer Trustee Report proposals. It would probably be a good ides to get to GEF 2 before 8:30…or, as Laurie offered, you might not have a place to sit.
Board Passes Proposal to Protect White Deer!
January 23, 2014
The Natural Resources Board on Wednesday, January 22 unanimously approved an emergency rules package which included a rule to: “Prohibit the harvest of white deer in the CWD management zone.” Four people from Leland and Black Hawk attended the meeting, and two spoke to the Board in support of the proposal, in addition to a statement by Rep. Fred Clark.
The white deer proposal was not a “done deal” previous to the vote, since the rule could have been pulled from the package or amended, and a couple of other speakers were not receptive to the idea of protecting the deer. We were later told that our testimony made the difference in changing one Board member’s mind and the subsequent approval of the rule. This is a win at the highest level for our white deer efforts.
New White Deer Threat
February 26, 2014
Barely has the governor’s ink dried on the new DNR Emergency Rules Package, which includes white deer protection in CWD zones, than a new threat has arisen for white and albino deer–and this time it is a statewide threat! A proposal has been added to the 2014 Wisconsin Conservation Congress spring ballot (No. 35) which asks conservation voters: Would you favor legalizing the harvest of white and albino deer statewide? The question is preceded by a long paragraph of outdated and unscientific “reasons” why white and albino deer are supposedly defective and need to be removed from the herd.
This last minute proposal was added to the spring ballot by DNR Board member Greg Kazmierski, who was present when the Board voted to approve the Emergency Rules Package. As a Board member, he and others were able to add questions to the spring ballot without going through the normal voting process that the rest of us had to go through. His proposal also puts inaccurate information on the ballot that could sway voters who are not informed.
Our original proposal (worded as a question) to protect white and albino deer in CWD zones is still on the Conservation Congress ballot at No. 40–even though the emergency law was passed. This new proposal would not only reverse that decision, it would make it legal to kill white and albino deer STATEWIDE! The wording of question #35 is particularly disturbing because it reinforces an outdated view of white deer that is still held by many hunters and game managers. Without public attention, this new proposal could “slip by” and become law–only a few hunters promoting this position is all it would take. Just one hunter in Michigan was able to overturn their laws protecting white deer, with a similar story in Minnesota. This new proposal should definitely be taken seriously.
Click here to read all the 2014 WCC spring ballot questions. Question 35 is on page 19.
Click here for more information about the April 14, 2014 WCC spring hearings.
Plan to attend and vote to protect ALL white and albino deer.
Collateral Damage
March 7, 2014
A list of field wardens’ reports from the Bureau of Law Enforcement’s annual report on the November gun deer season included the following entry (from Wisconsin Outdoor News, “Cuffs and Collars” column, http://www.outdoornews.com/March-2014/Wisconsin-Cuffs-Collars-March-7th-2014/):
“Warden Wayne Flak, of Menomonie, got a call about an albino deer that died after falling off a cliff. Flak contacted the party and was told they had been careful not to shoot the white deer, but as they finished a deer drive, it ran off a cliff and died of a broken neck. The buck did not meet the definition of an albino. Flak issued a permit for the party to keep the deer. They named it “Cliff.” The group was going to have a body mount done to be displayed at a local business.”
Splitting Hairs
March 14, 2014
This article from Wisconsin rural newspaper, The Country Today, highlights the need for a better legal description of what a “white” deer really is. White deer are now protected in all of Wisconsin, but not “piebald” or partially white deer.
The term “piebald” usually means having splotches of color, as in pinto horses, but is now a technical disclaimer for otherwise totally white deer. Wisconsin hunting regulations read: “a deer that has some brown hair, even if only a small patch.” In this case, we are literally talking hairs–a huge stretch of the original definition.
A proposal to change “white” to “predominantly white” (as is used in Iowa white deer game regulations) was offered at the 2013 Wisconsin Conservation Congress, but later trimmed by the Deer and Elk Committee. The reasoning seemed to be that it wasn’t necessary–that hunters seeing a mostly white deer would not even chance a shot. Well, maybe not…
http://www.thecountrytoday.com/front_page/article_2490cd96-aba6-11e3-8c1e-001a4bcf887a.html
Time To Take Action…Again!
March 28, 2014
April is Wisconsin Conservation Congress time and, as it turns out, time to show your support for the white deer…yet again. Despite the popularity of the white deer, and despite the recent law to reinstate protection of white deer in CWD zones, there are still those who view white deer as trophies and want the legal right to shoot them. This is not the time to be complacent!
Question #35 on the WCC Spring Hearing Ballot asks attendees if they favor legalizing the hunting of white and albino deer statewide! Even though the vast majority of Wisconsin residents support white deer protection, if enough people at the WCC meeting vote “yes” on this question, a 74-year tradition of white deer protection in Wisconsin could be lost.
Although the Conservation Congress (WCC) has no power to make actual laws, it is advisory to the Natural Resources Board and can influence policy decisions. Because the WCC is typically attended by only a small number of people, almost exclusively hunters, fishermen, and trappers, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that more people attend so that non-hunting issues can be represented.
Question #35, on the WCC Spring Ballot asks: Would you favor legalizing the harvest of white and albino deer statewide? Yes____ No____
Question #40 asks: Do you support extending protection of white deer to the CWD zone? Yes____ No ____
This last proposal is a “dinosaur,” in a sense, since protection was already passed in January as part of the Deer Trustee Emergency Rules Package. However, a large number of “yes” votes is still important to show support for keeping the law and for white deer in general.
The meeting this year will be Monday, April 14 at 7:00 pm (plan to arrive by 6:30 to register) at locations throughout Wisconsin (see link below). There are 58 proposals in all on the ballot, and some are very controversial (hunting tundra swans, for instance, and allowing hunters to retrieve dogs on private property without permission). Be there to vote your opinion on all these issues!
- DNR Questionnaire. To read all the WCC Spring Ballot Questions, go to: http://dnr.wi.gov/About/WCC/Documents/spring_hearing/2014/2014SpringQuestionnaire.pdf
- Meeting Locations. One meeting is held in each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. Find your closest meeting location at: http://dnr.wi.gov/About/WCC/Documents/spring_hearing/2014/2014locations.pdf
- Meeting Booklets. DNR booklets containing the questionnaire, meeting locations, and a description of the entire WCC process can be ordered in boxes of 100, free of charge, from: Kari.LeeZimmermann@wisconsin.gov
- Other. For an overview of how the WCC process works and how to write and submit your own resolution, go to: http://dnr.wi.govhttp://dnr.wi.gov/About/WCC/springhearing.html
If you cannot attend the WCC meeting, comments can be written to Mr. Scott Loomans, Bureau of Wildlife Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 or email him at Scott.Loomans@Wisconsin.gov. Written comments must be postmarked by April 14, 2014. Comments will not be counted as a vote but will be summarized for Natural Resource Board members to read. Even if you will be attending the hearing, please send a comment – the Board needs to know how you feel.
Why White Animals Need To Be Protected
March 28, 2014
An all too familiar story: Hunters impulsively kill a rare white animal (in this case, one REALLY valued by the local Native people), they post “proud” pictures on Facebook, and then the outrage begins–too late for the animal.
http://www.treehugger.com/
Author/Naturalist John Bates Argues for White Deer Protection
April 5, 2014
Well-known Wisconsin writer and co-author of White Deer: Ghosts of the Forest, John Bates, in his March 7, 2014 Lakeland Times (Minocqua) column, talks about the proposal on the Wisconsin Conservation Spring Ballot to legalize the hunting of white and albino deer. He presents information and observations on the health, genetics, hardiness, and value of these animals, and ends his column:
“For me, the final proof of their fitness is simply this: They have survived, and thrived, over time. If they were significantly unfit, they would have been culled out a long time ago. So, the argument for hunting them appears to comes down to this: do rarity and beauty enhance the value, and therefore justify the protection, of white/albino deer, or not? For me, rarity and beauty, not to mention the economic benefit to the area, are the trump cards, and thus I would vote no to the hunt.”
Read the entire column at http://manitowishriver.blogspot.com/2014_03_01_archive.html (scroll down the page to NWA 3/7/14 and continue scrolling until you hit: Proposals to Hunt Albino Deer and Tundra Swans Statewide) Also check out some of John’s other columns–full of interesting information and good reading!
Couple Says “Put the Science Aside” and Vote Against Harvesting White and Albino Deer
April 6, 2014
Despite the title, Randy and Debbie Augustinak, in a letter to the editor of The Lakeland Times (Minoqua), point out that it’s a “terrific advantage” being white where snow covers the ground nearly half the year–a small fact that pro-hunting advocates seem to overlook: “The ‘normal’ colored deer are easily spotted against nature’s winter backdrop, while their white-colored relatives travel stealthily through the neighborhood, not easily detected by man or predator.”
Randy and Debbie also take issue with the statement in the preface to Question #35 on the Wisconsin Conservation Congress Spring Ballot: “From a strictly biological perspective, there is no reason to protect white deer.” The Augustinaks reply:
“So? Taking that ‘logic’ to the extreme, there is also no biological reason to create music or art, marvel in wonder at a Northwoods sunrise, or allow people with disabilities to live, but we should, and we must. Sometimes we need to put the science aside for a moment and appreciate things for the pure enjoyment that they provide.”
Read Randy and Debbie’s entire letter at: http://www.lakelandtimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=11&SubSectionID=11&ArticleID=20425
“Harm Thee Not the King’s Deer”
April 9, 2014
So writes John from Mackay, Australia, who describes the “white harts” of old as sacred “to History and Crown and Church.” Read the rest of John’s comment, plus what many others have to say from the new “comment” box on the website petition page: http://protectthewhitedeer.com/online_petition.html
White Deer As a Tourist Draw? Unanimously Affirmative!
April 9, 2014
This outstanding letter was sent to the DNR in October when the public was asked to provide input on the Deer Trustee Report Proposals, which included a resolution to reinstate protection of white deer in CWD zones. B. Fuller from Madison writes:
———
Every year my family travels to Vilas Count (and surrounding areas) to take in the spectacular wildlife that Northern Wisconsin has to offer. We even go so far as to search for lodging in specific areas where the white deer can be seen and, with some patience, photographed.
I took the time to conduct an informal survey of local residents and business owners (Vilas and Iron County areas). When asked whether they viewed the White and Albino Deer populations as being a significant draw to tourism in their community, the responses were almost unanimously affirmative.
On any given summer night, for example, one can see lines of cars driving slowly down specific roads in the Boulder Junction area with cameras at the ready. The license plates of these vehicles are from many different states. The effect in terms of tourism revenue is clear, even if not empirically analyzed.
Unfortunately, the local population of white deer in most areas there has decreased due to cars, poachers, and some wolf kills, as reported by local residents in Vilas and Iron Counties, as well as from just over the border in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
———-
While certain causes of death of these rare animals are natural or do not have clear avenues for reduction, the hunting and poaching of them is indeed controllable. The costs associated with protecting white and albino deer seem minimal. The costs and effect of NOT protecting them is considerable.
Conservatively, the numbers of white deer in the CWD zone are placed at 1 in 20,000. The possibility of localized herds being completely wiped out is significant if the harvest of these few animals continues.
I would respectfully urge the Wisconsin DNR and members of the DTR Action Teams to consider placing ALL White and Albino Deer under legal protection status.
April 9, 2014
Here is an information sheet that can be printed off or emailed to friends. It has the Wisconsin Conservation Congress proposals for white deer, background info, what you can do, and a list of county locations for the April 14 WCC Spring Hearings. One stop shopping! Click here.
Meeting Reminder
April 12, 2014
The WCC Spring Hearing is this Monday, April 14. Registration begins at 6:30 pm with election of delegates at 7:00 pm. Click here for your closest meeting location.
If you cannot attend the WCC meeting, you can still send a comment (postmarked no later than April 14) to: Mr. Scott Loomans, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707, or email him at Scott.Loomans@Wisconsin.gov
Why it is so critical for you to attend: We just found out this week that the white deer protection in CWD zones that was approved in January by the Natural Resources Board is only temporary, since it was just an emergency rule. That means, depending on the vote results Monday, we could lose white deer protection in CWD zones in 2015! With Question #35 on the WCC ballot proposing legal hunting of white and albino deer statewide, we could also lose all white deer protection (and much of the white deer population) in just a few years.
A new definition: We will be presenting a new resolution at the WCC meeting to better define white deer. Currently, if there is even a single spot of brown hair on a white deer, they may be shot. Natural stains on white deer are also being interpreted by hunters as “brown” coloring and their cases are getting dismissed in court by judges who say the current white deer definition and law is too vague.
We need to get this new resolution presented in as many counties as possible. If you or someone you know is interested in doing this, please contact Amy Sprecher as soon as possible: (608) 544-2054. You do not need to be a resident of a county to present a proposal. Amy can give you more information on what you need to do. Read the full resolution here.
April 13, 2014
Members of the public and even game managers often throw out the argument against white deer protection with “it’s not science.” After doing some REAL research though, the “it’s not science” argument starts sounding more like hollow echoes of previously voiced arguments that also had no basis.
Read here to find out what’s science and what’s myth in Wisconsin’s white and albino deer herd. Feel free to forward the article to others and to news sites.
Proposal To Legalize White Deer Hunt Fails In WCC Vote
April 16, 2014
The loud thud that Wisconsin residents may have heard the day after Monday night’s Conservation Congress meeting was not tectonic plates shifting or a frost quake or even Wisconsin residents bemoaning a return of snow and unseasonably cold weather. It was the crashing of Proposal #35 on the WCC ballot as 3,939 attendees voted no and only 1915 people voted yes to the question: Do you favor legalizing the harvest of white and albino deer statewide?
A proposal to reinstate protection of white deer in CWD zones did not pass, but had a close vote: 2.665 yes and 2963 no. Results are only advisory to the Natural Resources Board and represent only a small fraction of Wisconsin residents. Complete ballot results for 56 other sports-related issues are posted online and can be viewed at the WCC website.
Wood County Hunters Want to Legalize Hunting of White Deer
August 10, 2014
A group of Wood County hunters (Wisconsin Rapids area) are appealing to the DNR to legalize hunting of a small population of white and albino deer in Wood County. A proposal was introduced and passed at the April 14 Wood County Wisconsin Conservation Congress Spring Hearing and moved on to the August 9 WCC Deer and Elk Committee where, despite a motion and second to reject the proposal, it was ultimately passed by a voice vote. It now goes to the next step of the Conservation Congress, which is a vote by the WCC Executive Committee at its fall meeting.
The approving vote by the Deer and Elk committee does not represent the feelings of attendees (mostly hunters) at the WCC Spring Hearings, who voted overwhelmingly against legalizing the statewide hunting of white deer. The current statewide protection, in place for over 70 years, better represents the attitude of most hunters and the greater public who appreciate the incredible beauty and uniqueness of these animals.
WCC Deer and Elk Committee Passes Proposal To Change White Deer Definition
August 10, 2014
Members of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress Deer and Elk Advisory Committee, at their August 9 meeting in Plover, Wisconsin, voted to approve a county proposal, co-authored by Amy Sprecher and Ron Ruenger, to change the legal definition of white deer. Prior to the vote, Amy discussed the current definition of white deer and its shortcomings, and Ron spoke about the need to preserve respect and morals in the hunting community.
In essentially a legal loophole in white deer protection, an animal can currently be shot if it has only a tiny amount of brown in its coat (which often is just dirt or staining). This leaves judges and wardens, not to mention hunters, pondering what is legal–and they all miss the bigger picture, which is that so many people feel these deer shouldn’t be shot at all!
The proposal, passed by a margin of 8-6, would change the definition of white deer to “having white natural coat color over 75% of their bodies.” The proposal will now move on to the WCC Executive Committee for a vote this fall.
At the WCC Spring Hearing earlier this year, the proposal was presented in 13 counties, passed in 11, tied in 1, and lost by just 1 vote in one county. A “yes” vote by the Executive Committee will put the proposal on the 2015 WCC Spring Ballot for public vote in all Wisconsin counties.
White Deer Photos Available At Local Art Shows
August 25, 2014
See and buy Mike Richard’s outstanding photos of white deer and other wildlife at upcoming art shows. Visitor’s to Mike’s Forest and Flight Photography booth at the recent Merrimac Community Festival and Middleton’s Good Neighbor Festival were amazed and awed to see pictures of the area’s white deer. Find Mike and more of his photos at these upcoming shows:
- Pardeeville Watermelon Festival–Saturday, September 6 (10 am–4 pm), Chandler Park
- Wisconsin Dells Wo-Zha-Wa Days–Friday (Noon-5 pm), Saturday (9 am-5 pm), and Sunday (9:00 am-3:30 pm), September 12-14, Bowman Park
- Wisconsin Heights Holiday Arts and Craft Fair–Saturday, November 8 (8 am-3:00 pm), Wisconsin Heights High School Gym
CNN Features Story of White Deer in Danbury, Connecticut
August 26, 2014
“Rare deer sighting shocks neighbors” is the lead-in to this August 23, 2014 story of a white deer sighting in Danbury, Connecticut. Actually, “wonder, amazement, and awe” are better descriptions of most people’s reactions to their first sighting (see our White Deer Experience page).
While entertaining, the video has some glaring inaccuracies: It is estimated that white fawns occur only once in 20,000 births–NOT in 100! Also, the deer is what is referred to as a “white deer” as opposed to a true albino because it’s eyes appear normal instead of pink. The term piebald is used only when there is some brown coat color.
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2014/08/23/dnt-white-deer-rare-connecticut.wcbs.html
State of Virginia Gains White Deer Advocate
September 11, 2014
It all started when Regena Stith, a Virginia resident, had that “White Deer Experience”:
Some time ago, when I was driving to Charlottesville early one morning, a large white doe was standing in the center of the road. The highway was quiet, no cars in sight. I stopped the car and sat mesmerized by the sight before me. Calm and deliberate, the doe returned my gaze, then walked to the side of the road and at the edge of the woods turned and looked at me before disappearing into the dense foliage. That moment electrified me with its astounding beauty!
After that, Regena hit the internet to find out what she could about white deer. Her efforts lead to this website and a phone call to Amy Sprecher to learn more about our efforts in Wisconsin. White deer are not protected in Virginia, so Regena is already at work to raise awareness with bumper stickers, shirts, and a website of her own. She also contacted the local paper. Read her story here, plus a letter to the editor in which she advocates protection for Virginia’s white deer.
White Deer Sculpture Is Part of Reedsburg Art d’Tour
October 4, 2014
A 50-mile self-guided tour near Reedsburg, Wisconsin from October 4-13 opens the rural landscape to viewing, art, music, and culture in Fermentation Fest’s Art D’Tour. One of the art pieces on the tour is a sculpture by Roxbury artist Mary Dickey called “A Call to Nature” and features a throne and two statues of white deer. The tour brochure reads:
Mary Dickey’s roadside shrine, A Call to Beauty, asks us to contemplate the idea of a creation and our place in it. Inspired by Wisconsin’s rich history of made environments and the profound unity of nature, Mary’s piece invites you to leave the everyday, enthrone yourself and let the cherished white deer lead your vision to the beauty of the countryside.
Learn more about Mary and the making of the sculpture at facebook.com/ACall2Beauty
Click here to find out more about Fermentation Fest, the Art D’Tour, and to download a map of the tour route. Mary’s art piece is No. 22 on the tour and is located just outside Ironton, Wisconsin (west of Reedsburg). This is Amish country, so expect to see horses and buggies. It is also the location of several white deer, so there’s a chance (especially in the evening) of seeing both the concrete variety and the real thing!
White Buck Deja Vu
October 23, 2014
In a story very similar to the killing of Leland’s white buck, a white deer kill in Michigan last week becomes another lightning rod for both emotion and opinion (see Facebook). Hunters in favor of shooting the deer take “shots” at wildlife viewers, vegetarians, and animal rights activists. Hunters and non-hunters who want the white deer protected are outraged, while news media are delighted to have another controversial event story to send out on the wire service.
The truth is, if this hunter (an 11-year old boy) hadn’t shot the white deer, someone else probably would have. White deer were protected in Michigan until 2008, when one hunter, after a fine on a “questionable” white deer kill (he claimed it had some brown on it), embarked on an intense, expensive, and ultimately successful legal fight to overturn the rule.
Without protection, more of these white deer, already so incredibly rare, will be killed. But a lifeless mount, no matter how well done or how many people see it, will only collect dust instead of attention. And the ultimate truth remains, as Outdoor Life contributor Charlie Elk once mused while viewing (and almost shooting) an albino deer: If I kill this deer, I deny another the same experience (of seeing the white deer).
Michigan local Tim Reinert agrees: “This deer was in our backyard in the spring and my wife took a picture. All of the people near us wanted to only shoot pictures, not the deer. We aren’t anti hunting but instead wanted this rare deer to be able to spread his genes so his legacy lives on after he died of a natural cause.” (Livingston Daily)
In contrast, the father of the hunter speaks of the pride and attention killing this deer brought to his son: “He kind of feels like a rock star right now,” Mick Dingman said. “Everyone is calling, all of the hunting shows and hunting magazines.” It is a sad commentary that the esteem which Native Americans once held for white deer has now become, for some people, esteem for the hunter who shoots one.
Collision Proves Deadly For Platteville White Buck
November 6, 2014
Roadkilled deer are an all too common sight in Wisconsin, but a recent roadkill near Platteville wasn’t common at all. The all white buck, killed October 30 on Hwy 151 just south of Platteville, was one of several white deer that have been hanging out right on the University of Wisconsin–Platteville campus and near the city. The story of the roadkill made the local news, with additional pictures of the buck and the campus visitors on the Platteville police Facebook page.
Closer to Leland, but no less devastating, were two recent white deer losses from car collisions: a doe near Witwen in September and another doe this past week near Plain. A white fawn was killed by a car on Hwy. 23 west of Leland last summer, proving that cars and trucks are the some of the worst “predators” of white deer.
Since the normal gray-brown winter coat of most deer fades so much into the late fall landscape, one would think a pure white coat would be an advantage, but these stories prove that any deer, no matter what its color, is no match for a speeding hunk of steel. It also highlights how important it is to protect the white deer from hunting, which is just one more kind of “unnatural” selection that these deer don’t need.
New “White Deer” Website Up In Virginia
November 17, 2014
Virginia resident Regena Stith was motivated to work toward protecting her state’s rare white deer after an amazing roadside encounter with a white deer. She later told a reporter: “I really think there is a lack of understanding about these animals”…”I don’t think there is anyone (in Virginia) to champion this cause.”
Now the deer have their “champion,” and Regena is just getting started! Check out the photos, info, and links at protectvirginiawhitedeer.org The photo below (used with permission) is from Regena’s website.
Petition Signers Give Voice
November 17, 2014
People from all over Wisconsin, the nation, and even the world have signed our Online Petition to protect the white deer. Many have left comments, from the brief to the lengthy. Here is a sampling.
From near (Shelah from Baraboo, Wisconsin):
I’ve only seen one in my life. When I saw it, it took my breath away! How can you kill something that leaves you frozen in complete awe of its unique beauty?
To the far (Holly from Loveland, Ohio):
The white deer are beautiful and carry the message of hope and peace. I have spent 40 years visiting and finally living on family property in Vilas and Oneida counties. Seeing the white deer are treasured memories shared with all others who have had the privilege of encountering them. To allow such a beautiful and sacred symbol to be hunted is unnecessary and wasteful. When people hear that there as been a sighting of white deer they flock to the area in hopes of glimpsing these rare animals, as well as spending money and time while on their pilgrimages. Allow them to flourish, tell their story and they will be one more thing (that is) a very special experience in the northern woods.
To the really far (Debbie from Cumbria, UK):
Just cannot understand why anyone would want to kill such a beautiful and rare animal?
And back to Wisconsin again (Gerald from Wind Lake, Wisconsin):
I am an avid hunter, but I would never take a white deer legal or not! Lets all work together to save these special and rare animals.
And we agree… Find more comments at the bottom of the Petition Page (and sign the petition, too, if you’d like).
NO HUNTING ALLOWED
November 18, 2014
For the curious, the uninformed, and those who didn’t read their deer hunting regulations booklet yet, WHITE DEER ARE PROTECTED IN ALL OF WISCONSIN FOR THE 2014 HUNTING SEASON! The 2014 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations booklet reads: Albino and all-white deer are now protected statewide, including those found within the CWD affected areas. The Wisconsin Deer Hunting Rule Changes For 2014 pamphlet also states: The protection of all white and albino deer has been restored statewide, including CWD affected areas. The regulations booklet goes on to say “It is illegal to possess…albino or all-white deer…”
White and albino deer were protected in all of Wisconsin since 1940, until a rule change in 2008 made them legal to hunt in CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) zones. The Natural Resources Board, at its January 22, 2014 meeting, reversed this exception when it approved an emergency rules package for statewide deer management that reinstated white deer protection in CWD zones.
Results of this decision, unfortunately, are just for the 2014 hunting season, so more work needs to be done to gain permanent protection for white and albino deer in all of Wisconsin.
Forest and Flight Photography Taking Flight
November 19, 2014
Leland area resident, Mike Richard, is using his years of hunting skills to catch wildlife on film, with some incredible results. With unbelievable patience, a steady hand, and a camera that can take rapid-fire, stop-action photos, Mike is preserving images of the local white deer and other wildlife, including cranes, swans, and eagles. Mike specializes in “stitched” photos, which are pictures fused from multiple images.
Mike’s work can be seen at Sprecher’s Tavern in Leland, Wisconsin, or at various arts and crafts fairs. The next chance to see his framed prints and cards will be at the Holiday Craft Bazaar at the River Valley High School gym in Spring Green, Wisconsin, Saturday, December 6, from 9 am to 3 pm. For anyone who loves wildlife, fine photos, and fine art, any of Mike’s photos would make excellent Christmas gifts (including for yourself).
The Sauk Prairie Eagle will be featuring an article on Mike and his work in next week’s edition.
Cape Girardeau’s “Great White Buck” Is No More
December 6, 2014
After a nearly 2000-hit viewer spike for this website on October 21 following the news of a Michigan white deer kill (also see “White Buck Deja Vu” below), a similar spike on December 2 didn’t bode well. Sure enough. That’s the day a large white buck was shot by a bow hunter in the southeastern Missouri city of Cape Girardeau.
This unfortunate deer was living in the wrong place by just a matter of miles, since right across the Mississippi River in Illinois, it is illegal to kill white and albino deer. In Missouri, it is not.
The “Great White Buck” was a legend of sorts in Cape Girardeau, where people had enjoyed catching a glimpse of the ghostly deer since it was a fawn.
Cape Girardeau’s local paper, the Southeast Missourian, wrote: “For the past seven years, the albino buck has treated area outdoorsmen to a rare display. Arguably Cape Girardeau’s most notorious deer, it was striking, ethereal and possessed of a bizarre elegance that has turned it into something of a local celebrity.”
Despite the buck’s celebrity status, however, and despite the decision by many local hunters to let the buck pass, one hunter finally succumbed to the lure of the grand and unusual (and a prominent spot in the news and sports magazines) with the excuse: “My buddy was tired of people trespassing on his land to see the deer, so he told me, ‘I want you to shoot this deer.'” So, like a good friend, he did…
Rep.-Elect Dave Considine Hears About Sauk County’s White Deer
December 20, 2014
Wisconsin’s Assembly District 81, home to some of Sauk County’s white deer, has been represented for the last six years by Fred Clark, who will be retiring at the end of this year. Fred will be replaced by newly elected Dave Considine from Baraboo. District 81 takes in Leland and an area east of Leland, including the townships of Honey Creek, Troy, Freedom, and Sumpter, and the cities of Baraboo, Portage, Prairie du Sac, Sauk City, Mazomanie, Black Earth, and Arena.
On December 11 this month, several people from Leland attended a community listening session with Rep. Clark and Rep.-Elect Considine at the Ruth Culver Library in Prairie du Sac. They showed pictures of white deer as trophy kills in states where white deer are not protected, with newspaper articles about the outrage and helplessness felt by local citizens who had enjoyed viewing the deer. “This is going to be what happens here (again!) if we don’t get permanent protection for the deer.”
Dave expressed his support for protecting the area’s white deer and spoke later with a DNR official regarding the issue. He emailed that permanent protection is proposed and will receive final hearings across the state in January. (Check the website later for more details.)
A VERY BIG THANK YOU to Rep. Clark for his involvement in getting white deer protected in the CWD zones of Wisconsin this past year. It was through his legislative effort that a temporary proposal to reinstate protection in those areas was added to the DNR’s Emergency Rules Package and which has hopefully paved the way for permanent protection of white deer in all of Wisconsin.
Above: Rep. Fred Clark (left) responds to a citizen concern while Rep.-Elect Dave Considine (right) takes notes during a community listening session at the Ruth Culver Library in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin.
White Deer in Art and Christmas
December 22, 2014
White deer make their way into hearts and minds and even sometimes onto canvas. Check out these websites where artists combine myth, magic, and design to create some of the finest in white deer paintings: Pinterest and Tumblr and Google
Even at Christmastime, white deer can be found on lawns as plywood cut-outs or light-draped frames and as elegant statues for mantles and tabletops. In the Leland area, the white deer on the lawn could be the real thing–scouting out the foundation plantings, no doubt, to nibble when the snow gets deep.
Whether real, or in paint or porcelain, the white deer are a thing of incredible beauty.
