In Sunday's Blade, we took a look at the first phase of a long-term study of the impact of various predators on the deer population in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Deer hunters have consistently pointed the finger at wolves, claiming that the increase in the number of wolves has resulted in a corresponding drop in deer herd size. While on the surface that seems to make a lot of sense -- more of a predator means less of the prey -- but the formula in the U.P. is more complicated than that. Differences in terrain, snowfall and the presence of livestock all figure into the role wolves play in culling the white-tailed deer herd. Three years into the study, coyotes have been the number one predator of deer, with wolves ranking fourth. Those numbers are expected to change once the complete study is on the books in six years or so. The jury should hold off on reaching any kind of verdict until the big picture is laid out in front of us.