MADISON, Wis. -- State wildlife experts said roughly the southern half of Wisconsin is populated with at least 20 percent more whitetail deer than desired by recommended goals.

In many places in the southern third of the state, the state Department of Natural Resources estimates deer populations are more than 40 percent above goal as the fall hunting seasons unfold.

DNR deer expert Keith Warnke said ample supplies of bonus tags are available in those areas to shoot antlerless deer.

Warnke said fawn production this spring was about the same as a year ago. He said 11 deer management units in northeast Wisconsin are below population goals for deer.

The DNR has an online color map on its Web site that compares estimated deer populations to recommended goals to give hunters a general idea of population trends.