Header Photo Courtesy of Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks
2023 Special Symposia
The following organized symposia were included in the program at the 83rd Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference.
S-01: The Role and Impact of Student Organizations to the Future of Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Management
Monday, 1:40PM-4:20 PM
Overview:
Becoming a member and getting involved in a student chapter of The Wildlife Society can have many benefits for students in their professional development and preparation to join the wildlife profession. The role of student organizations in the development of skill sets and the impact on securing well-trained natural resources professionals for the future will be discussed with the perspectives of students, university faculty and student chapter advisors, and wildlife professionals from agencies and organizations. The discussions will include the breadth of activities in a student chapter including networking, TWS member benefits, project development and participation, career assistance, and other opportunities for getting involved in enhancing the skills students will need to be effective stewards of our natural resources. Student chapter officers will discuss their roles and activities in their student chapter and goals for professional growth. Student chapter advisors will discuss the role of student chapters and strategies for impacting the professional development of students for a career in the natural resources. Conservation organizations and wildlife agency staff will discuss what they look for in students who have been involved with organizations and opportunities for improvement of student chapters in the development of skill sets they want in professionals. The symposium will end with a panel discussion. Students will gain a greater appreciation of how their membership and participation in a student chapter of TWS will benefit their career development and make them more marketable for employment.
Contact: Gary Potts, Past President, IL DNR (Retired) & The Wildlife Society, [email protected]
Co-organizers: Sponsored by the North Central Section of The Wildlife Society; Gary Potts, North Central Section of The Wildlife Society, (618) 322-0758, [email protected] and Dr. Cary Chevalier, MO Western State University, [email protected]
Monday, 1:40PM-4:20 PM
Overview:
Becoming a member and getting involved in a student chapter of The Wildlife Society can have many benefits for students in their professional development and preparation to join the wildlife profession. The role of student organizations in the development of skill sets and the impact on securing well-trained natural resources professionals for the future will be discussed with the perspectives of students, university faculty and student chapter advisors, and wildlife professionals from agencies and organizations. The discussions will include the breadth of activities in a student chapter including networking, TWS member benefits, project development and participation, career assistance, and other opportunities for getting involved in enhancing the skills students will need to be effective stewards of our natural resources. Student chapter officers will discuss their roles and activities in their student chapter and goals for professional growth. Student chapter advisors will discuss the role of student chapters and strategies for impacting the professional development of students for a career in the natural resources. Conservation organizations and wildlife agency staff will discuss what they look for in students who have been involved with organizations and opportunities for improvement of student chapters in the development of skill sets they want in professionals. The symposium will end with a panel discussion. Students will gain a greater appreciation of how their membership and participation in a student chapter of TWS will benefit their career development and make them more marketable for employment.
Contact: Gary Potts, Past President, IL DNR (Retired) & The Wildlife Society, [email protected]
Co-organizers: Sponsored by the North Central Section of The Wildlife Society; Gary Potts, North Central Section of The Wildlife Society, (618) 322-0758, [email protected] and Dr. Cary Chevalier, MO Western State University, [email protected]
S-02: The Importance of Conserving Non-Game Species: Case Studies of Amphibian and Reptiles in the Great Plains
Monday, 1:40PM-5:00 PM
Overview:
Midwestern amphibian and reptile populations continue to face multiple threats to their health and persistence including habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, the illegal wildlife trade, and emerging diseases. Because many these species often have relatively small home-ranges, as compared to larger game-species, they can serve as indicators of local land conservation and management efforts. Conservation of these taxa will require collaboration and cooperation from diverse stakeholders: local, federal, and tribal governments, research institutes, zoos and aquariums, non-profits, and the public. The objective of this symposium is to share current efforts and needs that will help us preserve Midwestern amphibian and reptile diversity in the Plains states, and beyond. This symposium seeks to provide a platform to share current research, management actions, and technologies and to foster collaborations for the conservation of amphibians and reptiles.
Contact: Mark Mills, Professor of Biology, Missouri Western State University, [email protected]
Co-organizers: Mark Mills, Missouri Western State University; Daren Riedle, Kansas Dept of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism
Monday, 1:40PM-5:00 PM
Overview:
Midwestern amphibian and reptile populations continue to face multiple threats to their health and persistence including habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, the illegal wildlife trade, and emerging diseases. Because many these species often have relatively small home-ranges, as compared to larger game-species, they can serve as indicators of local land conservation and management efforts. Conservation of these taxa will require collaboration and cooperation from diverse stakeholders: local, federal, and tribal governments, research institutes, zoos and aquariums, non-profits, and the public. The objective of this symposium is to share current efforts and needs that will help us preserve Midwestern amphibian and reptile diversity in the Plains states, and beyond. This symposium seeks to provide a platform to share current research, management actions, and technologies and to foster collaborations for the conservation of amphibians and reptiles.
Contact: Mark Mills, Professor of Biology, Missouri Western State University, [email protected]
Co-organizers: Mark Mills, Missouri Western State University; Daren Riedle, Kansas Dept of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism
S-03: Education and Interpretation: Ensuring Relevancy for the Future
Monday, 1:40PM-5:00 PM
Overview:
Presenters will present on a variety of education-focused topics including:
Monday, 1:40PM-5:00 PM
Overview:
Presenters will present on a variety of education-focused topics including:
- current RESEARCH highlighting conservation and environmental education needs and demands.
- new educational PRINCIPLES focusing on the best conservation and environmental education practices to engage diverse audiences;
- examples of current or innovative educational programs leading to increased relevancy for conservation organizations.
S-04: Modern Hunter Education
Monday, 1:40PM-5:00 PM
Overview:
Over 500,000 new hunter education students graduate each year in the US, but are we delivering on their expectations, and are we truly helping them to become new hunters? What are our goals with hunter education? Are we offering the right advanced hunter education programs? What do we know about these new graduates? How has online education affected our ability to communicate effectively with each new generation of new hunters? Join us as we look for answers to these questions and dig in to find ways to retain and encourage new graduates to support our industry.
Contact: Alex Baer, Executive Director, IHEA-USA, [email protected]
Monday, 1:40PM-5:00 PM
Overview:
Over 500,000 new hunter education students graduate each year in the US, but are we delivering on their expectations, and are we truly helping them to become new hunters? What are our goals with hunter education? Are we offering the right advanced hunter education programs? What do we know about these new graduates? How has online education affected our ability to communicate effectively with each new generation of new hunters? Join us as we look for answers to these questions and dig in to find ways to retain and encourage new graduates to support our industry.
Contact: Alex Baer, Executive Director, IHEA-USA, [email protected]
S-05: Student, Early-Career, and First-Timer Presentations with Feedback
Tuesday, 10:20 AM - 5:00 PM
Overview:
Conference participation plays an integral role in professional development in the natural resources field. However, presenting your science to a room of seasoned professionals can be intimidating, especially for students and those early in their careers. You may be nervous about what questions professionals may ask; may not have received any earlier feedback on presentation content, style, or format; or are presenting on a project that is still in progress. Further, at conventional conferences you may receive little to no feedback on your presentation, and the discussion often stops once the presentation ends. These situations may leave you feeling discouraged when you sought a positive, interactive, feedback driven, and maybe more relaxed presentation experience.
This symposium aims to provide a relaxed venue with peers in which to present your work at its current stage while allowing more time for open feedback and discussion than a typical conference presentation. With these goals in mind, this symposium targets undergraduate and graduate students, early-career professionals, and first-time presenters who seek feedback on presentation content, style, or format, as well as a discussion of research directions with peers. Examples of welcomed presentation topics include proposals, research ideas, in-progress projects, and first-time presentations, among others.
This symposium is centered around providing feedback and discussion for each presenter. As such, presentations should be 10 to 12 minutes to provide more time for feedback and discussion than a typical symposium. Presenters should inform the audience on their desired form of feedback or discussion directions. The symposium will close with a discussion session to allow continued dialogue and feedback on given presentations as well as general presentation advice.
Contact: Logan Cutler, Graduate Research Assistant, South Dakota State University, [email protected]
Co-organizers: Shaley Valentine (Southern Illinois University); Hadley Boehm (University of Missouri)
Tuesday, 10:20 AM - 5:00 PM
Overview:
Conference participation plays an integral role in professional development in the natural resources field. However, presenting your science to a room of seasoned professionals can be intimidating, especially for students and those early in their careers. You may be nervous about what questions professionals may ask; may not have received any earlier feedback on presentation content, style, or format; or are presenting on a project that is still in progress. Further, at conventional conferences you may receive little to no feedback on your presentation, and the discussion often stops once the presentation ends. These situations may leave you feeling discouraged when you sought a positive, interactive, feedback driven, and maybe more relaxed presentation experience.
This symposium aims to provide a relaxed venue with peers in which to present your work at its current stage while allowing more time for open feedback and discussion than a typical conference presentation. With these goals in mind, this symposium targets undergraduate and graduate students, early-career professionals, and first-time presenters who seek feedback on presentation content, style, or format, as well as a discussion of research directions with peers. Examples of welcomed presentation topics include proposals, research ideas, in-progress projects, and first-time presentations, among others.
This symposium is centered around providing feedback and discussion for each presenter. As such, presentations should be 10 to 12 minutes to provide more time for feedback and discussion than a typical symposium. Presenters should inform the audience on their desired form of feedback or discussion directions. The symposium will close with a discussion session to allow continued dialogue and feedback on given presentations as well as general presentation advice.
Contact: Logan Cutler, Graduate Research Assistant, South Dakota State University, [email protected]
Co-organizers: Shaley Valentine (Southern Illinois University); Hadley Boehm (University of Missouri)
S-06: The State of the Art of Conservation Social Science/Human Dimensions in the Midwest
Tuesday, 10:20 AM - 5:00 PM and Wednesday, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Overview:
The conservation and management of fish and wildlife resources is a dynamic interplay between people and nature. State and federal agencies, academia, tribal governments, and conservation institutions are placing increasing emphasis on the ‘people’ component of that equation. This is evidenced by many new staff positions dedicated to the conservation social sciences in the Midwest region. Responding to this need, the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) has established a technical working group of conservation social scientists and practitioners. This symposium will serve to 1) introduce this new group to the broader Midwest conservation community; 2) showcase the state of the art in conservation social science research; and 3) provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on how social science can address conservation challenges in the region, and opportunities for collaboration and coordination across boundaries. We anticipate this symposium will fill one day and consist of 50% original research presentations open to submission from members of the Midwest fish and wildlife community on the topic of conservation social science, and 50% open forum and facilitated discussion regarding the new MAFWA technical working group and conservation social science challenges and opportunities.
Contact: Adam Landon, Conservation Social Scientist, MN DNR, [email protected]
Co-organizers: Emily Pomeranz, Human Dimensions Research Specialist, Michigan Department of Natural Resources; Kiandra Rajala, Regional Social Scientist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Tuesday, 10:20 AM - 5:00 PM and Wednesday, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Overview:
The conservation and management of fish and wildlife resources is a dynamic interplay between people and nature. State and federal agencies, academia, tribal governments, and conservation institutions are placing increasing emphasis on the ‘people’ component of that equation. This is evidenced by many new staff positions dedicated to the conservation social sciences in the Midwest region. Responding to this need, the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) has established a technical working group of conservation social scientists and practitioners. This symposium will serve to 1) introduce this new group to the broader Midwest conservation community; 2) showcase the state of the art in conservation social science research; and 3) provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on how social science can address conservation challenges in the region, and opportunities for collaboration and coordination across boundaries. We anticipate this symposium will fill one day and consist of 50% original research presentations open to submission from members of the Midwest fish and wildlife community on the topic of conservation social science, and 50% open forum and facilitated discussion regarding the new MAFWA technical working group and conservation social science challenges and opportunities.
Contact: Adam Landon, Conservation Social Scientist, MN DNR, [email protected]
Co-organizers: Emily Pomeranz, Human Dimensions Research Specialist, Michigan Department of Natural Resources; Kiandra Rajala, Regional Social Scientist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
S-07: Putting Regional Collaboration into Practice
Tuesday, 10:20 AM - 5:00 PM
Overview:
The Midwest Landscape Initiative (MLI; https://www.mlimidwest.org) is sponsoring this special symposium to highlight landscape-scale conservation efforts in the Midwest region. The MLI is a collaboration of fish and wildlife organizations that identifies shared conservation priorities to develop solutions for healthy, functioning ecosystems in the Midwest. By the end of this symposium, participants should have a better understanding of the MLI, other landscape-scale conservation efforts in the Midwest, and how we can most effectively work together as a region.
This symposium will include an overview of the Midwest Landscape Initiative; however, the majority of the symposium will consist of presentations by partners to share information and updates about their landscape-scale conservation efforts and planning tools, and how they may be informing and/or integrating with the MLI. Examples of presentations include an overview of work across states to implement recommendations from the AFWA SWAPs and Landscape Report from September 2021; an update and invitation for feedback on the development of the Midwest Conservation Action Plan and related products; and a discussion of other large-scale collaborations ongoing.
The later afternoon is proposed as an interactive workshop. The focus will be on participation of attendees, with a goal to identify ways that conference participants can use the resources MLI is developing and engage in the effort if interested. Our facilitators will guide participants through a series of brainstorm sessions, which will provide attendees an opportunity to provide feedback on what has been developed or accomplished, and at the same time, suggest possible direction and ideas for the regional initiative moving forward.
The work in our region is enhanced by the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives shared. To that end, we encourage all to attend, from directors to management biologists to research students to field technicians to policy analysts and everyone among and between.
Contact: Kate Parsons, MLI Communication and Engagement Coordinator, USFWS, [email protected]
Co-organizers: Claire Beck, MAFWA
Tuesday, 10:20 AM - 5:00 PM
Overview:
The Midwest Landscape Initiative (MLI; https://www.mlimidwest.org) is sponsoring this special symposium to highlight landscape-scale conservation efforts in the Midwest region. The MLI is a collaboration of fish and wildlife organizations that identifies shared conservation priorities to develop solutions for healthy, functioning ecosystems in the Midwest. By the end of this symposium, participants should have a better understanding of the MLI, other landscape-scale conservation efforts in the Midwest, and how we can most effectively work together as a region.
This symposium will include an overview of the Midwest Landscape Initiative; however, the majority of the symposium will consist of presentations by partners to share information and updates about their landscape-scale conservation efforts and planning tools, and how they may be informing and/or integrating with the MLI. Examples of presentations include an overview of work across states to implement recommendations from the AFWA SWAPs and Landscape Report from September 2021; an update and invitation for feedback on the development of the Midwest Conservation Action Plan and related products; and a discussion of other large-scale collaborations ongoing.
The later afternoon is proposed as an interactive workshop. The focus will be on participation of attendees, with a goal to identify ways that conference participants can use the resources MLI is developing and engage in the effort if interested. Our facilitators will guide participants through a series of brainstorm sessions, which will provide attendees an opportunity to provide feedback on what has been developed or accomplished, and at the same time, suggest possible direction and ideas for the regional initiative moving forward.
The work in our region is enhanced by the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives shared. To that end, we encourage all to attend, from directors to management biologists to research students to field technicians to policy analysts and everyone among and between.
Contact: Kate Parsons, MLI Communication and Engagement Coordinator, USFWS, [email protected]
Co-organizers: Claire Beck, MAFWA
S-08: R3 Symposium
Tuesday, 10:20 AM - 5:00 PM
Overview:
Strategic efforts to recruit, retain, and reactivate (R3) outdoor participants by state fish and wildlife agencies, industry, and NGO partners have shown measurable impacts on participation and subsequent funding for wildlife conservation. It is imperative that R3 professionals continue to share progress in facilitating regional collaboration, working collectively to address our relevance to our diverse constituencies, and providing and expanding opportunities for participation in outdoor recreation in general with an emphasis on activities relating to hunting, angling, boating, trapping, and shooting sports. This symposium will support professional idea share and allow for updates on individual and collaborative R3 and relevancy projects in the Midwest region, furthering our shared mission.
Contact: Tanna Fanshier, R3 Coordinator, Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks, [email protected]
Co-organizers: Kevin Robling, South Dakota Game, Fish, & Parks, MAFWA R3 & Relevancy Technical Working Committee Director Liaison; Megan Wisecup, Iowa DNR, MAFWA R3 & Relevancy Technical Working Committee Chair; Jeff Rawlinson, R3 Coordinator, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, MAFWA R3 & Relevancy Technical Working Committee Vice Chair
Tuesday, 10:20 AM - 5:00 PM
Overview:
Strategic efforts to recruit, retain, and reactivate (R3) outdoor participants by state fish and wildlife agencies, industry, and NGO partners have shown measurable impacts on participation and subsequent funding for wildlife conservation. It is imperative that R3 professionals continue to share progress in facilitating regional collaboration, working collectively to address our relevance to our diverse constituencies, and providing and expanding opportunities for participation in outdoor recreation in general with an emphasis on activities relating to hunting, angling, boating, trapping, and shooting sports. This symposium will support professional idea share and allow for updates on individual and collaborative R3 and relevancy projects in the Midwest region, furthering our shared mission.
Contact: Tanna Fanshier, R3 Coordinator, Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks, [email protected]
Co-organizers: Kevin Robling, South Dakota Game, Fish, & Parks, MAFWA R3 & Relevancy Technical Working Committee Director Liaison; Megan Wisecup, Iowa DNR, MAFWA R3 & Relevancy Technical Working Committee Chair; Jeff Rawlinson, R3 Coordinator, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, MAFWA R3 & Relevancy Technical Working Committee Vice Chair
S-09: Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act: Changes and Challenges in Conservation
Tuesday, 1:20 PM - 3:00 PM
Overview:
Endangered species listings in the Midwest are on the rise. The relatively recent listing of the rusty-patched bumble bee is creating challenges for transportation agencies in urban centers where the bee is known to occur. The potential uplisting of the northern long-eared bat is likely to further constrain state forestry activities. And the potential listing of wide-ranging species like the lesser prairie chicken, monarch butterfly and western bumble bee are likely to further constrain local, regional, and state activities and pose further permitting challenges for developers, especially in the energy sector. Over the next several years, additional listings of mussels and turtles are likely to further constrain water management and in-water construction.
There have been several recent changes to the Endangered Species Act to help local, regional, and state agencies and their private and non-profit partners. Habitat Conservation Plans can now be written exclusively for non-listed species (i.e., without having to cover at least one listed species). Federal grant funding is now available for the creation of Safe Harbor Agreements and Candidate Conservation Agreements. And more recently, ESA implementors and regulators are working to find ways that HCPs can work with and streamline projects that require Biological Assessments under Section 7.
In this symposium, we will highlight examples of state agencies, private developers, and non-profit organizations developing long-term conservation programs for listed species affected by forestry, transportation, and energy projects. We will discuss some of the creative solutions and lessons learned in long-term conservation planning for imperiled species. And lastly, we will highlight examples of successful conservation planning efforts in the Midwest.
Contact: Rebecca Sloan, Senior Conservation Planner, ICF, [email protected]
Tuesday, 1:20 PM - 3:00 PM
Overview:
Endangered species listings in the Midwest are on the rise. The relatively recent listing of the rusty-patched bumble bee is creating challenges for transportation agencies in urban centers where the bee is known to occur. The potential uplisting of the northern long-eared bat is likely to further constrain state forestry activities. And the potential listing of wide-ranging species like the lesser prairie chicken, monarch butterfly and western bumble bee are likely to further constrain local, regional, and state activities and pose further permitting challenges for developers, especially in the energy sector. Over the next several years, additional listings of mussels and turtles are likely to further constrain water management and in-water construction.
There have been several recent changes to the Endangered Species Act to help local, regional, and state agencies and their private and non-profit partners. Habitat Conservation Plans can now be written exclusively for non-listed species (i.e., without having to cover at least one listed species). Federal grant funding is now available for the creation of Safe Harbor Agreements and Candidate Conservation Agreements. And more recently, ESA implementors and regulators are working to find ways that HCPs can work with and streamline projects that require Biological Assessments under Section 7.
In this symposium, we will highlight examples of state agencies, private developers, and non-profit organizations developing long-term conservation programs for listed species affected by forestry, transportation, and energy projects. We will discuss some of the creative solutions and lessons learned in long-term conservation planning for imperiled species. And lastly, we will highlight examples of successful conservation planning efforts in the Midwest.
Contact: Rebecca Sloan, Senior Conservation Planner, ICF, [email protected]
S-10: Public Engagement in Wildlife Conservation: Community Leaders, Landowners, and Partners
Tuesday, 1:20 PM - 4:20 PM
Overview:
Most wildlife professionals find themselves required to distribute their time and effort across many different, demanding projects setting the stage for wildlife professionals feeling spread thinner than ever. Oftentimes, there are opportunities to recruit engaged members of the public, as well as partner organizations, to help fill in these gaps. This symposium will provide a diversity of real-world examples depicting the critical roles of community leaders, landowners, and partners in advancing wildlife conservation. Attendees will learn about community engagement efforts that create localized networks of committed citizens. Speakers will span topics ranging from volunteers helping with camera trap surveys, species inventories, habitat development and management, landowner engagement with agencies and organizations, and wildlife disease education and mitigation. These grassroots level topics are intended to provide relevant content for any wildlife professional.
Contact: Gary Potts, Past President, IL DNR (Retired) & The Wildlife Society, [email protected]
Co-organizers: Sponsored by the North Central Section of The Wildlife Society; Gary Potts, North Central Section of The Wildlife Society, (618) 322-0758, [email protected] and Jace Elliott, IA DNR, (515) 249-7056, [email protected]
Tuesday, 1:20 PM - 4:20 PM
Overview:
Most wildlife professionals find themselves required to distribute their time and effort across many different, demanding projects setting the stage for wildlife professionals feeling spread thinner than ever. Oftentimes, there are opportunities to recruit engaged members of the public, as well as partner organizations, to help fill in these gaps. This symposium will provide a diversity of real-world examples depicting the critical roles of community leaders, landowners, and partners in advancing wildlife conservation. Attendees will learn about community engagement efforts that create localized networks of committed citizens. Speakers will span topics ranging from volunteers helping with camera trap surveys, species inventories, habitat development and management, landowner engagement with agencies and organizations, and wildlife disease education and mitigation. These grassroots level topics are intended to provide relevant content for any wildlife professional.
Contact: Gary Potts, Past President, IL DNR (Retired) & The Wildlife Society, [email protected]
Co-organizers: Sponsored by the North Central Section of The Wildlife Society; Gary Potts, North Central Section of The Wildlife Society, (618) 322-0758, [email protected] and Jace Elliott, IA DNR, (515) 249-7056, [email protected]
S-11: The Future Paradigm for Managing White-tailed Deer in the Midwest: Fewer Hunters, More Deer, What’s Next?
Tuesday, 1:20 PM - 5:00 PM
Overview:
Traditional deer management as it has existed for the past several decades is at a crossroads. With many hunters from the past 20-30 years aging out of the sport and far fewer younger hunters replacing them, agencies are faced with fewer deer hunters forecasted over the next 10-20 years. At the same time, deer abundance throughout the Midwest region is likely stable and some localized areas continue to experience deer overabundance. All of this comes as Chronic Wasting Disease continues to spread across the landscape, suburban sprawl expands creating increased conflict potential, and deer reproduction and population growth potential remains unchanged. Agencies are faced with the challenge of asking fewer hunters to take the same or perhaps more deer than are currently harvested in their state to achieve management goals. With that, agencies will need to develop and adapt new strategies that will include hunting but also alternative approaches for controlling deer abundance. This symposium will address the history of deer management in the Midwest (how we got here); the challenges to continuing to use hunter harvest as the primary population management tool; examples of scale-dependent alternative management actions; and thoughts about a new paradigm in Midwest deer management.
Contact: Chad Stewart, Deer, Elk, and Moose Management Specialist, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, [email protected]
Co-organizers: Dwayne Etter, Michigan DNR; Melissa Nichols, Michigan DNR
Tuesday, 1:20 PM - 5:00 PM
Overview:
Traditional deer management as it has existed for the past several decades is at a crossroads. With many hunters from the past 20-30 years aging out of the sport and far fewer younger hunters replacing them, agencies are faced with fewer deer hunters forecasted over the next 10-20 years. At the same time, deer abundance throughout the Midwest region is likely stable and some localized areas continue to experience deer overabundance. All of this comes as Chronic Wasting Disease continues to spread across the landscape, suburban sprawl expands creating increased conflict potential, and deer reproduction and population growth potential remains unchanged. Agencies are faced with the challenge of asking fewer hunters to take the same or perhaps more deer than are currently harvested in their state to achieve management goals. With that, agencies will need to develop and adapt new strategies that will include hunting but also alternative approaches for controlling deer abundance. This symposium will address the history of deer management in the Midwest (how we got here); the challenges to continuing to use hunter harvest as the primary population management tool; examples of scale-dependent alternative management actions; and thoughts about a new paradigm in Midwest deer management.
Contact: Chad Stewart, Deer, Elk, and Moose Management Specialist, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, [email protected]
Co-organizers: Dwayne Etter, Michigan DNR; Melissa Nichols, Michigan DNR