Wisconsin hunters experienced a slight decline in buck harvests during the recent nine-day gun deer season compared to last year.
Preliminary data released by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources indicates that hunters registered fewer deer, totaling 182,468, which is nearly a 1 percent decrease from the 183,532 deer registered in the previous year. This year’s harvest also fell 1.5 percent below the five-year average.
The late start to the season contributed to reduced deer movement, as it occurred after the peak of the rut, or mating season. However, the winter storm that brought over a foot of snow to northern Wisconsin before Thanksgiving proved beneficial for some hunters, according to DNR Deer Program Specialist Jeff Pritzl.
“Most people, especially in the northern half of the state, noted that the rut was definitely over, leading to a decrease in buck activity during daylight hours,” Pritzl stated. “However, I did hear from several individuals who mentioned that deer were moving well up north after the snow.”
The buck harvest totaled 86,452, down 2.6 percent from the same period last year. In contrast, the antlerless harvest reached 96,016 deer, which is an increase of nearly 1 percent from 2024.
License sales saw a slight dip compared to last year, with the DNR reporting 550,611 gun deer licenses sold through Sunday, down from 553,652 in 2024.
The nine-day hunting season commenced on November 22 and concluded on Sunday. This annual event significantly contributes to the state’s economy, with hunting generating an estimated $2.5 billion in state spending.
Dick Shutt, a 75-year-old hunter from Webster, has participated in the season almost every year since he was 12. He noted that some hunters found success in the north, mentioning that his son shot a 10-point buck. While the snow improved visibility and encouraged deer movement for some, Shutt acknowledged the challenges it posed for hunters. “It was really tough going after we had that snowstorm,” he remarked.
In northern Wisconsin, the harvest decreased by more than 14 percent. The central forested region experienced the most significant decline in the state, with a 35 percent drop in overall harvest. Pritzl noted that comparing this year’s harvest to last year’s is complicated due to changes in deer management unit boundaries.
Conversely, farmland areas in central Wisconsin saw a 7 percent increase in deer harvested compared to last year, while southern Wisconsin’s farmland areas reported an 8 percent decrease.
The DNR recorded only two hunting incidents during the gun deer season, one of which was fatal. April Dombrowski, director of the agency’s recreational safety and outdoor skills bureau, reported that a 24-year-old man died from an unintentional self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest in Fond du Lac County on opening day. Additionally, a 57-year-old man from Grant County was injured by a stray bullet on the same day.
“The trend continues to go down with hunting incidents,” Dombrowski stated.
The DNR indicated that the state has averaged five hunting incidents annually over the past decade, with no fatalities occurring in six of the last ten seasons. Last year, one person was injured out of eight hunting incidents throughout 2024, marking one of the safest years in decades.
The DNR also estimated that hunters would submit 19,750 samples for chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing this year. Preliminary results show that over 9,500 deer have been sampled statewide, with around 1,000 testing positive for the disease, primarily in southern Wisconsin where CWD is prevalent.
Erin Larson, the agency’s herd health specialist, confirmed that there were no new detections of CWD in wild deer during the nine-day hunt.
Wisconsin is estimated to have approximately 1.8 million deer.
Editor’s note: This story previously reported 88,068 deer were harvested, but hunters killed 86,068 deer. The story has been updated.
Source: https://www.wpr.org/news/wisconsin-hunters-bucks-gun-deer-season
