Attention Wisconsin deer hunters: While the nine-day gun season has wrapped up, your opportunity to hunt antlerless deer is just beginning. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is encouraging hunters to take part in the upcoming late-season events, which include the Muzzleloader season, the Statewide Antlerless-Only Hunt, and the Antlerless-Only Holiday Hunt. These additional seasons allow hunters to utilize any unfilled antlerless harvest authorizations, as detailed in a recent document from the DNR.
For those eager to continue their hunting journey, the muzzleloader season is set for December 1-10, followed by the Statewide Antlerless-Only Hunt from December 11-14. After that, the Antlerless-Only Holiday Hunt will take place from December 24 to January 1, 2026, but only in select Farmland Zone units. Additionally, archery and crossbow seasons are currently ongoing statewide and will remain open until January 4, 2026, with some areas extending until January 31. Before heading out, hunters should check the latest regulations and review the season structure map to ensure they comply with the designated zones and counties for each permit.
A crucial part of the hunting process is adhering to the regulations for deer harvest registration. All hunters must register their harvested deer electronically by 5 p.m. the day after recovery, using the user-friendly GameReg system. This registration is vital for wildlife management, enabling the DNR and County Deer Advisory Councils to gather essential harvest data for future planning, as stated by the DNR.
Hunter safety remains a top priority, with the DNR emphasizing the importance of the TAB-K firearm safety rules. This includes wearing at least 50% blaze orange or pink above the waist during any firearm deer season, a requirement that applies to all hunters except those hunting waterfowl. In addition to safety, hunters are encouraged to properly dispose of deer carcasses by utilizing the resources available on the DNR’s Carcass Disposal webpage, which helps mitigate the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
The DNR also promotes its Deer Donation program, a significant initiative that allows hunters to give back by donating their harvest to provide meals for those in need in Wisconsin. Since its launch in 2000, the program has received over 100,000 donated deer, resulting in more than 4 million pounds of ground venison. Interested individuals can find more information about locations and partners associated with this initiative on the DNR’s Deer Donation webpage.
Moreover, the DNR invites hunters to actively participate in wildlife management through the Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey. This survey remains open until the end of the deer seasons and provides wildlife managers with valuable observations to enhance population estimates for Wisconsin’s deer herd and other species. Those wishing to report any natural resource violations can do so confidentially at any time via the DNR violation hotline or online reporting system.
Source: https://hoodline.com/2025/12/wisconsin-hunters-extended-opportunities-await-in-late-season-deer-hunts/
