ASHWAUBENON – Hunters in Northeast Wisconsin have been complaining for years about not seeing enough deer in the woods. That could change, however, with the state’s new hunting structure.

On Wednesday, the Natural Resources Board voted 6 -1 to approve the 2010 hunting structure. The plan includes several changes from last year.

Hunters will be allowed to kill only bucks in 18 management zones where the population is under goal, up from 13 last year. The Natural Resources Board also approved reducing the number of zones with antlerless-only hunts to 46, down from 50 last year.

The Department of Natural Resources said one of its main goals is to grow the deer population in northern Wisconsin.

“In Northeast Wisconsin, north of Green Bay, we’re definitely trying to build that herd there. In many of those units, we will have no antlerless hunting this year to try to build that herd as fast as possible,” said Keith Warnke, a big game ecologist with the DNR.

That’s the best news some hunters say they’ve heard in years.

“You should be restricted from harvesting in those areas and I believe that Wisconsin sportsmen realize this and know that if they continue to take the breeding does, there isn’t going to be that expansion that they’re looking for,” said Ralph Fritsch, a hunter from Townsend and member of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.

Though, not all hunters will be happy with the changes. Some believe the old system was better.

“Earn-a-buck, while unpopular with many hunters, has been the most successful in getting hunters to change behaviors to support DNR herd reduction objectives,” said John Noreika, a hunter from Verona.

The DNR said it has to balance the demands of hunters with what is best for non-hunters.

“I don’t think we can address everyone’s concerns all the time with deer season structure because when you look at deer, deer impact everyone in Wisconsin. You can’t make everyone happy, but we are listening,” said Warnke.

Warnke said estimates put the 2010 deer population about 3% lower than 2009.

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