GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has reported a rise in the deer population, prompting several communities to take action to limit baiting and feeding. This increase in deer numbers can lead to significant challenges.
The 2025 Gun Deer Hunt season is set to begin next week.
According to the Wisconsin DNR, the overall deer population this year is at least as high as it was in 2024, and likely even greater in many regions, thanks to the mild winters experienced over the past two years.
The DNR estimates that there are over 2 million deer across the state as we enter this hunting season, which is comparable to last year’s figures.
Typically, the population decreases to around 1.8 million after the hunting season. The DNR’s website notes that a larger deer population can create various issues for neighborhoods, including damage to gardens and landscapes, conflicts with pets, and an increased risk of vehicle collisions with deer.
Logan Lasee, who has been hunting for about 15 years and serves as an assistant naturalist at Brown County Parks, shared insights on what contributes to the thriving deer herd:
“Deer do really well where people live. They really love edge habitats, so where you have little patches of trees here, some farm fields there, and all these pockets of habitat. Deer do really well with that. So, it’s not surprising to hear that their population is doing really well,” Lasee explained.
In light of the rising population, the villages of Howard and Hobart have implemented measures to reduce deer numbers in their areas by enforcing feeding bans. Additionally, Howard is permitting hunters to harvest deer on village-owned property, with this opportunity limited to bow hunting only.
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Source: https://www.wbay.com/2025/11/13/wisconsin-dnr-reports-an-increase-deer-population/
