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OFBF's policy book has more pages devoted to wildlife than any other issue. To address wildlife concerns, the organization invited its members to a daylong conference in Athens this month with Division of Wildlife (DOW) officials.

During the conference, more than 100 farmers and wildlife officials discussed management strategies for deer, turkey, black vultures, coyote and other wildlife.

DOW Chief Steve Gray said Farm Bureau has a lot in common with his agency, such as challenges with eminent domain and the animal rights movement.

"We've been working with Farm Bureau very intensively for the past 10 or 15 years, and it has paid big dividends for us," he said.

While several farmers agreed that their relationship with the DOW has improved, many expressed frustration that current policies are not adequately controlling animal numbers.

Guernsey County farmer Blaine Neilley said hunting doesn't seem to have an effect on the deer population on his farm.

"I've quit raising corn because I would expect probably 80 percent loss if I raised corn in small fields," he said.

Still, Mike Tonkovich, a DOW biologist, said hunting must be the No. 1 tool to manage deer.

"Deer frankly don't die unless you shoot them. That's the message," he said.

Tonkovich said farmers might be too conservative in the number of hunters they allow on their land. While he said farmers should allow what is comfortable for them, he suggested one hunter per 10 to 20 acres could be more effective in managing deer.

"Three guys bow hunting a few days a year is not going to do it," he said.

Tonkovich said programs where a doe must be killed before a buck are extremely unpopular among hunters, although very effective in reducing deer numbers. Other presenters noted that farmers can set the rules for what hunters are allowed to shoot on their property. Wildlife officials agreed that farmers must work cooperatively with their neighbors.

"You cannot manage your neighbor's deer," Tonkovich said.

Another challenge in controlling wildlife is urbanization and smaller land parcels.

"We want to put those animals in front of the gun and bow, and the problem is that in a lot of these places you can't," said Dave Risley, a DOW administrator.

Several farmers shared how they have used increasing wildlife populations to their advantage.

"I can see the income coming off the lease hunting is supplementing any alfalfa damage that I have," said Jackson County farmer Larry Johnson.

However, Neilley said deer damage is so severe on his farm that growing some crops is no longer economically feasible.

"I think that everyone in the state, they own the deer, they manage them, then they should pay for the damage," he said.

Some of the policy suggestions made by Farm Bureau members during the conference:

• The Division of Wildlife should determine how much money a deer is worth to the agency. Farmers should then be allowed to kill the number of deer equal to their financial losses from deer damage.

• Landowners should receive some compensation for each animal hunted on their property.

• Check-off dollars should be used to put a bounty on coyotes.

• Farmers who experience wildlife damage should be given income tax credits.

Caption: Jefferson County Farm Bureau member Danny Boyce talks with a wildlife officer during the conference.