As a candidate in 2010, Gov. Scott Walker said changes were needed to the state's management of chronic wasting disease.

Among his promises regarding the state Department of Natural Resources was a pledge to push "policymakers in Madison (to) recognize that our Chronic Wasting Disease efforts aren't working and shift to a strategy that makes sense for our hunters."

Once he took office, Walker honored a separate pledge to revamp the state's deer management and hired consultant James C. Kroll to be the state's "whitetail deer trustee" and recommend changes. Kroll's $125,000 report came out in 2012, was recently discussed at public hearings around the state, and is expected to be forwarded for final consideration by the Natural Resources Board in December 2013.

The report recommends a "more passive approach" to chronic wasting disease, and new sampling procedures that will help determine the spread of the disease.

"Dealing with wildlife diseases is not unlike responding to wild fires, and a response plan should be developed on this model, focusing on early detection of 'break outs' and citizen involvement (active approach)," Kroll's report said.

The report also recommends that the DNR "put the fun back into hunting by simplifying seasons, bag limits and youth qualifications."

Walker promised to push for changes in the state's approach to chronic wasting disease. He hired Kroll, and such recommendations are an important part of his report.

We rate this a Promise Kept.

As a candidate, Scott Walker questioned the state's deer management practices, saying outside help was needed to evaluate how the Department of Natural Resources manages the herd.

Central to his DNR-related promises was to push "policymakers in Madison (to) recognize that our Chronic Wasting Disease efforts aren"t working and shift to a strategy that makes sense for our hunters."

Earlier we rated as In the Works his promise to appoint a "white tail deer trustee” to review the state's deer management system. That rating came after the hiring of consultant James C. Kroll, who is being paid $125,000. His report is due in June.

Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said that the state's chronic wasting disease strategy will be reviewed by Kroll. That moves this promise to In the Works as well.