The Chippewa County Deer Advisory held their first 2022 meeting on Tuesday, March 22 to make preliminary recommendations for the 2022 deer seasons.

Terrance Shaurette has recently taken over the position of the DNR Wildlife Biologist for Chippewa and Eau Claire Counties. Although it feels like old man winter is still holding a grip on our March weather, it appears our local deer populations has experienced a fairly mild winter. According to Shaurette, the 2021-22 Winter Severity index for Chippewa and Eau Claire Counties currently rate at approximately 40, which indicates an extremely mild winter.

A total of fewer than 50 points on the winter severity index (WSI) is considered mild; 50-79 is considered moderate, with about 10 percent winter mortality; 80-99 is severe with an esti –

mated 10-20 percent mortality and 100 or more points is very severe with 20 percent or more mortality.

Through the month of February, only Ash- land, Bayfield, Douglas, Vilas, and Iron Coun ties had accumulated more than 50 points. The last severe winter in Chippewa County was in 2013-14. Following that severe year, the Chippewa County Deer Advisory Council proposed a population increase until the herd eventually reached a maintenance level.

Although some portions of Chippewa County currently appear to have a stable or above stable deer population, Shaurette indicated the fawn to doe ratio numbers were lower in 2021 with 90 fawns per 100 does compared to 2020 with 99 fawns to 100 does. He also indicated the county had a lower number of vehicular