“Each of us carries within us a

worldview, a set of assumptions

about how the world works that
forms the very questions we
allow ourselves to ask and
determines our view of future
possibilities.”

--Frances Moore Lappe

Michigan Deer Advisory Team
Meeting
April 6-7, 2009
 My Role as your Facilitator
9 Design & facilitate a participatory meeting process
9 Help structure and support productive, conclusive
discussions
9 Help create an environment in which disagreement
can be expressed, and objections can be heard, not
as attacks, but as a concern which, when resolved,
will make the recommendation stronger
9 Propose a plan to seek consensus in allotted time
9 Assure that participants follow groundrules; assist
participants to stay focused and on task
 Your Role as the
Deer Advisory Team
9 Explore possibilities -- offering or exploring an idea
does not necessarily imply support
9 Listen to understand -- seek a shared
understanding even if you don’t agree
9 Express and acknowledge differing views - no
attacks or stereotyping
9 Represent and communicate your organization’s
perspective (two-way)
9 When confused, ask for clarification or more info
9 HAVE FUN!!
 Road Map
Deer Management Planning Process
Final Strategic Deer
DRAFT Strategic Deer Management Plan Implementation
Public
Management Plan Presented to NRC in by the DNR
Input
Presented to NRC April 2010
January 2010 (& Action in May)

MSU Deer Public DAT Report

Questionnaire Comments Presented to NRC
Results October 2009

April 6-7 May June July August Sept.

DAT Work DAT Work DAT Work DAT Work DAT Work Finalize
Session Session Session Session Session DAT Report
 Natural Resources and
Environmental Protection Act
(Excerpt)

Act 451 of 1994

Dennis Knapp - Presenter

 NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT (EXCERPT)
Act 451 of 1994
324.40113a Legislative findings and declarations; taking of game; issuance of orders.
Sec. 40113a. (1) The legislature finds and declares that:
(a) The wildlife populations of the state and their habitat are of paramount importance to the
citizens of this state.
(b) The sound scientific management of the wildlife populations of the state, including
hunting of bear, is declared to be in the public interest.
(c) The sound scientific management of bear populations in this state is necessary to
minimize human/bear encounters and to prevent bears from threatening or harming
humans, livestock, and pets.
(2) The commission of natural resources shall have the exclusive authority to regulate the
taking of game as defined in section 40103 in this state. The commission of natural
resources shall, to the greatest extent practicable, utilize principles of sound scientific
management in making decisions regarding the taking of game. Issuance of orders by the
commission of natural resources regarding the taking of game shall be made following a
public meeting and an opportunity for public input. Not less than 30 days before issuing an
order, the commission of natural resources shall provide a copy of the order to each of the
following:
(a) Each member of each standing committee of the senate or house of representatives
that considers legislation pertaining to conservation, the environment, natural resources,
recreation, tourism, or agriculture.
(b) The chairperson of the senate appropriations committee and the chairperson of the
house of representatives appropriations committee.
(c) The members of the subcommittee of the senate appropriations committee and the
subcommittee of the house of representatives appropriations committee that consider the
budget of the department of natural resources.
324.40113a Legislative findings and declarations;
taking of game; issuance of orders.

Sec. 40113a (1) The legislature finds & declares that:

(a) The wildlife populations of the state and their
habitat are of paramount importance to the citizens of
this state.
(b) The sound scientific management of the wildlife
populations of the state, including hunting of bear, is
declared to be in the public interest.
(c) The sound scientific management of bear
populations in this state is necessary to minimize
human/bear encounters and to prevent bears from
threatening or harming humans, livestock, and pets.
 ...continued…

(2) The commission of natural resources (NRC) shall

have the exclusive authority to regulate the taking of
game as defined in section 40103 in this state. The
NRC shall, to the greatest extent practicable, utilize
principles of sound scientific management in making
decisions regarding the taking of game. Issuance of
orders by the NRC regarding the taking of game shall
be made following a public meeting and an
opportunity for public input.
 ...continued…
Not less than 30 days before issuing an order, the
NRC shall provide a copy of the order to each of the
following:
(a) Each member of each standing committee of the
senate or house of representatives that considers
legislation pertaining to conservation, the
environment, natural resources, recreation, tourism,
or agriculture.
(b) The chairperson of the senate appropriations
committee and the chairperson of the house of
representatives appropriations committee.
(c) The members of the subcommittee of the senate
appropriations committee and the subcommittee of
the house of representatives appropriations
committee that consider the budget of the DNR.
Summary of Regional
Deer Meetings

Amy Spray
Approach Used to Develop
Recommendations
 What is Consensus?
9 A decision in which all the group members
find a common ground.
9 A search for the best decision through the
exploration of the best of everyone’s thinking.
9 Final decision is often better than any single
idea that was present at the beginning.
9 All sides of the issue are explored. Points of
disagreement are sought and encouraged.
 Consensus does not mean:

¾ Everyone getting everything they want

¾ Everyone is completely satisfied with the
outcome
¾ Everyone finally coming around to the “right”
opinion.
 Consensus does mean:
¾ Everyone understands the decision and can
explain why it is best
¾ Everyone “will live with” the decision
 Reaching Consensus
At the end of this process, I hope you’re able to
say:
– I believe that others understand my point of view;
– I believe I understand others’ points of view; and
– Whether or not I prefer the decision, I support it
because it was arrived at openly and fairly and
because it is the best solution we can achieve at
this time.
 Strategic
Recommendations
&
Framework used to Develop
Recommendations
 Strategic Recommendations
¾ Guides overall direction & defines grand
purpose

¾ Speaks in global terms about the strategies

to pursue, and the benefits that will be
achieved when the implementation has been
completed.

¾Does NOT contain a lot of details about

implementation (how/tools).
 Recommendation Framework
¾ Discuss all sides/perspectives of the issue
¾ Determine whether the DAT would like to
make a recommendation.
¾ If yes, brainstorm possible recommendations
¾ Craft language for recommendation
¾ “Will live with” recommendation
¾ Move on to next issue (will NOT be revisiting
a decision or recommendation).
 DAT’s Efforts and the
Deer Management Plan

John Niewoonder - Presenter

The Deer Management Plan will be
written by the DNR-WLD Deer Work
Group with input from:

• Deer Advisory Team

• DNR Field Biologists

• Public Survey

• Public Review Process

 How will the DAT’s efforts fit into
Michigan’s Deer Management Plan?

¾ DAT Report consisting of strategic

recommendations on a variety of deer
management issues

¾ DAT discussions will also be

summarized
Overview of Deer Issues
 Overview of Deer Issues - #1

1. Why should the DNR manage deer

(for what reasons)?
 Overview of Deer Issues - #2

2. How (or should) the DNR get input from

or represent the views of a broad spectrum
of members of the public at large and
members of the deer hunting community,
some of whom are harder to engage than
others?
 Overview of Deer Issues - #3

3. Should the DNR manage deer to provide

recreational opportunity or as an
ecological resource or both? What should
they be trying to achieve?
 Overview of Deer Issues - #4

4. How should the DNR manage deer given

regional differences? Should deer
management be standardized across the
state or structured to address regional
issues?
Overview of Deer Issues - #5

5. What is the role of deer hunting?

 Overview of Deer Issues - #6

6. How should the DNR address the

decreasing number of deer hunters?
 Overview of Deer Issues - #7

7. What role should the DNR play in

protecting the future of deer hunting as a
recreational opportunity in comparison to
or in cooperation with the hunting
community, shooting sports industry, and
non-government organizations?