Deer hunters, sportsmen's clubs and conservation groups will gather next week to talk about managing the deer population in the Upper Peninsula.
The Upper Peninsula Regional Deer Advisory Team (RDAT) will hold its inaugural meeting Saturday, March 26, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Bay de Noc Community College in Escanaba.
The Upper Peninsula RDAT, comprised of members representing various sportsmen’s clubs and conservation groups, as well as the public at large, was created to serve as an advisory group to the DNR’s Wildlife Division. Regional Deer Advisory Teams are currently being formed in the Lower Peninsula as well.
Each RDAT will meet biannually to provide direct input on deer management issues to Wildlife Division staff and to aid in communication with the public, key partners and organizations.
“The RDAT meetings will offer great additional opportunities for our staff to directly interact with people who are very interested in deer management; for group members to provide input, share ideas, and learn more about the various processes we use; and for both parties to consider the information we use when managing deer in Michigan” said DNR Deer and Elk Program Leader Brent Rudolph.
Organizations currently represented on the Upper Peninsula RDAT include both the Western and Eastern Upper Peninsula Citizens’ Advisory Councils, the Hiawatha Sportsman’s Club, Michigan Crossbow Federation, UP Sportsmen’s Alliance, UP Whitetails Association, Sault Area Sportsman’s Club, and Wildlife Unlimited of Dickinson County.
A number of at-large members who do not represent any particular group also sit on the team. Charter members will serve either two or three year terms, and the team will eventually experience a rotation of new members serving alongside returning members.
“Our aim in forming these groups is to create an approach for the many outstanding organizations, as well as unaffiliated hunters in each region, to come together and provide unified input as a jumping off point to develop regional approaches to deer management and facilitate a grassroots communications network,” said DNR Wildlife Chief Russ Mason.
RDAT meetings are open to the public. Members of the public are invited to attend and observe the discussion. Interested parties who would like to provide comments to the RDAT teams can e-mail comments to michdeer@gmail.com.
A full list of RDAT members, along with more information about the teams and deer management in Michigan, is available online by clicking on THIS LINK.
RDAT updates will also be available online HERE under "get involved."
