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I had the privilege of listening to Dr. Meyer speak at the Sportsman Club Lake Vermilion annual luncheon. It is refreshing to see someone so enthusiastic about her work!

A good exchange took place at the meeting. One person, who was an avid deer hunter asked for insight to the belief that when wolves move in they kill all the deer,and there is little left for the hunter. As a longtime deer hunter myself I too wanted to hear the response. Dr. Meyer essentially said the wolves do not kill all the deer. However, wolves moving into the area simply shifts the deer herd to another. She said you might be unlucky to have wolves near your tree stand but another hunter all of a sudden has more deer by his/hers.

Then it got real interesting! Dr. Meyer noted that the overall deer population is down in Minnesota because of a decade long effort by the DNR to lower the deer herd. You could tell who all the deer hunters were in the crowd, because we all had that same expression of WHAT?!?!? on our faces.

She then innocently called out a local DNR official, who was quietly sitting at a table eating and asked him if he'd like to add something for the folks. If you ever have seen the "deer in the headlight" look this guy had it! he choked out a NOOOO... I'm sure he was thinking what have you just got me into young lady???

So the deer count is down, everybody is blaming the wolves, the DNR is sitting on their hands...knowing all along the main reason is there efforts. It gets political. Instead of owning it, they throw the wolves under the bus.

Thank you Dr. Meyer for your great presentation....Minnesota DNR; you have some explaining to do!