Hunters in Wisconsin registered a total of 90,671 deer during the opening weekend of the 2025 gun deer season, marking a 3.9% increase compared to 2024.
The total sales for deer hunting privileges reached 777,843, showing a slight decrease of 0.03% from the previous year.
Unfortunately, the opening day was marred by two firearm-related incidents: one non-fatal injury in Grant County and one fatality in Fond du Lac County.
MADISON, Wis.
On Tuesday, November 25, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released preliminary deer harvest and license sales figures for the opening weekend of the 2025 gun deer season.
Preliminary License Sales Data
According to the news release, the number of gun deer hunters in Wisconsin remained nearly unchanged compared to 2024. As of 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 23, sales for deer hunting privileges—which encompass gun, archery, crossbow, conservation patron, and sports licenses—totaled 777,843, a slight decline of 0.03% from the same time last year. Of these, 538,865 were for gun privileges only, which include gun, conservation patron, and sports licenses.
Final license sales figures will be available in January, when DNR staff will conduct a comprehensive analysis and interpretation.
Preliminary Registration Totals
During the opening weekend of the 2025 gun deer hunt, hunters registered a total of 90,671 deer statewide, an increase from the 87,248 registered during the same period in 2024. This represents a 3.9% rise from last year, although it is 1.1% below the five-year average.
Among the registered deer, hunters recorded 48,748 antlered deer, up from 48,063 in 2024, reflecting a 1.4% increase. The antlerless harvest reached 41,923, which is a notable 7% increase from the previous year.
Opening Weekend Hunting Incidents
As of this release, the DNR has reported two firearm-related hunting incidents on the opening day of the 2025 nine-day gun deer season, which runs from November 22 to 30.
In Grant County, North Lancaster Township, on November 22, 2025, a 57-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound to his buttock while walking to a field for deer hunting. He was transported to the hospital for treatment, and an investigation is ongoing.
In Fond du Lac County, Oakfield Township, on the same day, a 24-year-old male deer hunter suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. He was found deceased several hours after hunting hours ended by family members on private property. Preliminary investigations suggest that the victim was hunting from a saddle stand in a tree when the firearm discharged unintentionally. This incident is also under investigation.
In comparison, during the 2024 nine-day gun deer season, the DNR reported one firearm-related hunting incident that resulted in injury.
This information has been provided by the Wisconsin DNR.
Hunting and Fishing
Source: https://www.fox6now.com/news/2025-wisconsin-gun-deer-opening-weekend-harvest-preliminary-data
