Forest management, whether timber harvesting or tree planting, is one of the most commonly executed habitat management project. But what about shrubs? If you ask me, shrubs get the short end of the stick – and I’m not just referring to their stature. Shrubs are an essential habitat component for deer and other wildlife as they can provide nuts, fruits, woody browse and cover, to name only a few benefits. Yet, they are often overshadowed by trees, which is why this month’s Cooperator Update focuses on all things shrubs. In addition to covering their benefits and planting best practices in “Create Diversity With Shrubs Plantings: Calling All Wildlife,” we also provide resources on how you can sell shrub (and tree) seeds and manage pesky shrubs like buckthorn.

Antlerless Tag Requests 

Requests for DMAP antlerless tags can be made by contacting your local DMAP biologist. Before contacting them, here are a couple of friendly reminders:

• Who qualifies for tags: To qualify for tags, you must be a current level 2 or 3 DMAP member who has had a property assessment within the last three years that indicated negative herd or habitat health impacts from deer overabundance and paid your DMAP fees.
• Making a request: Tag requests can be made by emailing your local DMAP biologist the following information:
  • DMAP ID number
  • Name(s) of the individual(s) requesting tags (make sure all individuals requesting tags have an up-to-date DNR customer ID number in MyDMAP)
  • Number of tags requested
• Request deadline: All tag requests (including transferring tags between hunters) must be submitted by Oct. 23, 2024.

If you have questions on DMAP antlerless tags, please feel free to contact us at DNRDLFWPWMDMAPHelp@wisconsin.gov.

Deer Harvest and Observation Data Tracking

Tracking deer harvest and observation data can be a great way to learn more about your deer herd and help guide your management decisions. The Harvest and Observations tab of MyDMAP is here to help. Here, you can track your harvest across time, including deer characteristics, to see how well your management is working. Plus, any information you add will be used to personalize your Annual Deer Harvest Report.

Upcoming In-Person Workshops

Sick To Fit: Deer Health Workshop

Oct. 24, 2024 | 1 – 4 p.m. | Poynette, WI Do you have interest in or concerns about CWD? Do you want more experience aging deer or assessing the health and body condition of your harvest? If so, join us for our Sick to Fit workshop to hear from our expert DNR wildlife health staff. Space is limited to 20 participants, so log in to your MyDMAP account to RSVP today!   To learn more about this workshop, view the full workshop agenda. To register: Log into MyDMAP. Select the "Resources" tab. Scroll down to "Workshops and Events." Select the "RSVP" button next to "Sick To Fit: Deer health workshop."  Photo credit: Patrick Durkin

Upcoming Virtual Workshops

The Bucks Are Running: Factors That Influence Deer Movement And Activity

Nov. 7, 2024 | 6:30 – 8 p.m. | Virtual via Zoom Every deer season, I woke up to my grandpa yelling, “The bucks are running, time to get moving.” But what really makes a deer move? In this virtual workshop, we’ll welcome Jamie Goethlich, Ph.D. candidate at UW-Madison, to discuss his research on how temperature, barometric pressure and moon phase impact deer activity. Plus, he’ll provide an overview of how time of day, predators and hunting pressure, to name a few, influence deer movement.

To learn more about this workshop, view the full workshop agenda.

This workshop is free and open to all DMAP members and their families. Registration is requested.

To register and access the zoom link:

1. Log into MyDMAP.
2. Select the "Resources" tab.
3. Scroll down to "Workshops and Events."
4. Select the "RSVP" button next to "The Bucks Are Running: Factors That Influence Deer Movement And Activity" to register.
5. Click “Link” next to " The Bucks Are Running: Factors That Influence Deer Movement And Activity" to access the workshop (Zoom link).

Create Diversity With Shrub Plantings: Calling All Wildlife

Matt Esser, Southwest DMAP Biologist

If you’re wondering how to increase habitat diversity and attractiveness of your property to wildlife, look no further than shrub planting. Shrubs provide a number of benefits, such as nesting sites and cover for various species and do so earlier in the season than trees. They also start bearing fruit at an earlier age and produce it more consistently than trees. Knowing where to start can be difficult, as there are many factors to consider before planting shrubs. This month’s feature article highlights the necessary steps (planning, researching and ordering) to make you a "PRO" shrub planter!

Read Create Diversity With Shrub Plantings: Calling All Wildlife 

Buckthorn Management

Haley Frater, DMAP/Private Lands Coordinator

One of the most common invasive species in Wisconsin is buckthorn. Common and glossy buckthorn are shrubs or small trees that can grow in almost any environment. As with most invasive shrubs, they’re the first to green-up in the spring and the last to lose their leaves in the fall. Their long growing season paired with their prolific production of black berries enables them to quickly invade and take over new areas. Further, despite popular folklore, buckthorn is not a desirable food source for wildlife. In fact, it's the exact opposite. Buckthorn is often considered a starvation food, as it’s a diuretic for most wildlife, including deer. To learn how to manage buckthorn on your property, check out the helpful guide below: Read Management Of Invasive Plants In Wisconsin: Common And Glossy Buckthorn

Got Seeds?

Liam Stevens, Northwest DMAP Biologist 

The Reforestation Program is a DNR initiative to purchase quality seeds from native trees and shrubs to meet statewide reforestation goals, and they're looking to buy from you! To sell seeds, we recommend starting by contacting your local state nursery (find yours via the state tree and shrub nursery map) as the species and quantities they're looking for change yearly. Some of the species included on the 2024 list are oaks, pines and walnut, among others.  For information on collection, cleaning and payment, visit the DNR's Sell Seed webpage.

This Month's Question

Field edge feathering is a great way to enhance a landscape to provide more cover and food for wildlife while also making the field or forest opening more attractive. Edge feathering is done by creating a gradual transition zone from mature forest to open area. Planting native shrubs, such as American hazelnut, highbush cranberry, dogwood and ninebark, is a great way to effectively achieve this gradual transition.

Which of the following factors of an edge has the greatest influence on its benefit to wildlife?

a. The width/depth of the edge from forest to open area
b. The size of the field or opening the edge is next to
c. The vegetative characteristics within the edge
d. The length that the edge stretches alongside the opening

Last Month's Answer

Deer need a variety of ecosystems to meet their year-round food and cover demands. In last month’s Herd You Were Wondering, we asked you which of the ecosystems they rely on is most closely tied to their density. The correct answer, according to recent research, is woody wetlands! Here’s why: woody wetlands contain a mix of broadleaf trees and shrubs as well as non-pine conifers like cedar. Thus, they provide forage and cover in winter when resources are the most limited.

Have questions or suggestions or want tags? Reach out to your local DMAP biologist. 

Contact: DNRDLFWPWMDMAPHelp@wisconsin.gov