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HUNTING BY ANY MEANS FOR ANY ANIMAL IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED WITHIN THE VILLAGE OF LAC LABELLE LIMITS - INCLUDING PRIVATE LANDS, VILLAGE OWNED LANDS, OR LANDS ENTRUSTED TO AN ENVIRONMENTAL FOUNDATION - WITHOUT A CURRENT VILLAGE OF LACLABELLE HUNTING PERMIT.
Background and Rationale
Background and Rationale
While urban deer herds may provide enjoyment for wildlife viewing and nature enthusiasts, large numbers of these animals create a high incidence of human-deer conflict. Most landowners readily recognize the problems of the destruction caused to farm fields, landscaping, and gardens by the deer that live in our community. Elevated deer populations also result in increased deer-vehicle collisions and can pose a risk to the health and safety of people and their pets. Among many strategies, management programs to cull deer on a local scale helps to mitigate these conflicts.
Disease Transmission
Deer are known to transmit harmful pathogens to people and warm-blooded animals through vectors such as ticks, mosquitos, and biting midges. Close contact with dear and exposure to their living environment increases risk of these diseases. In Wisconsin, deer can carry Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). Although there are no known human cases of CWD or EHD, there are many other viral and prion diseases carried by deer which include: Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Powassan Virus. While Lymes is common, many of these other diseases are rare. However, they are significantly more serious if contracted by humans or their pets.
Deer-Vehicle Collisions
On average, more than 17,000 crashes occur annually between deer and vehicles in Wisconsin and over the last 25 years, the state has allocated no less than $20M of public funds to manage the problem of deer carcasses on our roadways. Based on data reported by State Farm Insurance, Wisconsin is the 5th most common state where animal-driver collisions occur and the likelihood of a Wisconsin driver being involved in an animal-related accident are greater than 1 in 60 - rounding out the top 3 highest-risk states nationally. The average vehicle repair cost is in excess of $6,000 for vehicles that hit deer and according to a 2024 report, one person was killed or injured in an deer crash every 12.2 hours in deer-vehicle collisions.
Property Damage
Deer-related damage in Wisconsin is a multi‑million‑dollar annual issue, with historical losses in the tens of millions, and ongoing costs from direct crop damage. Roughly estimating damages for soybean and corn crops as a result of deer, costs can exceed $120 per acre, depending on yield loss and input expenses.
In our beautiful community by the lake, local deer enjoy grazing on abundant hostas, stripping them down to the stems overnight, as well as the beautiful daylilies, tulips, roses, and pansies that accent our landscaping - not to mention bucks shredding the bark of saplings and juvenile trees to rub off their velvet. Serious gardeners know to protect their plants, flowers, and vegetables with netting or high fencing, or spray stinky deer deterrent around the yard, but that's not aesthetically pleasing to everyone.
The destruction is not just limited to farmland and residential property - recreational grounds are damaged too. Our local golf course, The Club at Lac La Belle, endures significant trampling, scraping, scent marking, and defecation year round and especially during the rut. Uncle Henry's Backyard, the new par 3, 9-hole short course, is the deer's favorite place to hang out. The maintenance crew dedicate countless hours to repairs and clean-up after the deer herds enjoy their time on the greens, which contribute to the high price of membership and tee times.
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