Analyzing the numbers of the gun deer season
Wisconsin gun deer hunters harvested 5.2% more deer than the year previous. Early harvest registration showed 189,622 deer registered by the end of the gun deer season. Since the start of archery season, hunters registered a total of 289,361. The combined archery and gun deer seasons harvest currently sits at 8.7% greater than 2023. The muzzleloader season, the statewide antlerless hunt, late season archery, and the holiday hunt in areas that it takes place, still provide opportunities for hunters to bag deer.
No surprise that most of the hunting finished with the close of the gun deer season last Sunday. The majority of the deer harvested by hunters comes from the traditional nine day gun deer season. Case in point, in Clark County hunters harvested 2,002 bucks during this past gun season. In the archery season, hunters killed 392 bucks with bows and 824 bucks with crossbows, for a total of 1,216 archery bucks. So far this season in Clark County the total harvest sits at 8,175 with 5,311 deer killed in the gun deer season The Northern Forest Zone remains 7.9% below the historic average for buck harvest and fell another 1.8% from 2023. The antlerless harvest increased from 2023 in the north but still remains 7.2% below the average. Anecdotally, after a lot of miles walked hunting grouse in several areas of the northwoods, I did not see a single scrape this fall up there. I saw them in the Central Forest Zone and in the Central Farmland Zone.
Some of the highest deer densities in the state lie in the Southern Farmland Zone and the harvest actually dropped for both antlered and antlerless deer compared to last year. Interesting, but in the end, not as concerning to hunters as the low deer populations of the Northwoods.
We came so close to an incident free gun deer hunting season. Only one incident in the entire nine day gun deer season. Quite the accomplishment by Wisconsin hunters. Wisconsin started teaching Hunter Education in 1967, brought about after a public outcry following the 1966 gun deer season, in which, 264 hunting incidents occurred resulting in 21 fatalities.
To go from 264 down to one incident is an accomplishment by the hunting community of Wisconsin. We should be proud of that, yet it still is one too many. To illustrate I’ll let you read the synopsis of that hunting incident released by the DNR: “On Nov. 29, 2024, at approximately 4 p.m., a 14-year-old male was sitting in an enclosed tower stand with his father, hunting on private property. The victim’s father heard what sounded like a gunshot in the distance. Shortly after, the victim felt pain in his feet and found that he was shot through both the left and right foot. The victim was transported privately to the hospital and received medical treatment for his injuries. The shooter has been identified, and an investigation is pending.”
Think of a bullet from a deer hunting firearm. Think of that going through the wall of an enclosed stand, two boots, and two feet. Think of the damage to a 14 year old’s feet caused by that bullet. No basketball or wrestling this winter for him. One incident is too much. This won’t be remembered as a good season for this family.
If you want to take a look at what types of incidents take place you can read up on every incident from 2007 until present at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/incidentreport The tradition of the gun deer season in Wisconsin remains strong and an important event. Not just from the economic stand point. It is the second largest economic event in Wisconsin, only exceeded by Christmas; but also, a social and family affirming event. From a perspective of gathering food for sustenance and reaffirming the value of the outdoors, wildlife, and the places they live, gun deer season connects us.
553,652 hunting licenses were purchased by hunters just for gun deer hunting. If you add in archery, crossbow, sports licenses, and conservation patron licenses, the total hunting licenses sold just for hunting deer totaled 791,023. Both numbers increased from 2023.
The December 4-Day antlerless only hunt starts tomorrow. Maybe you just want to sit outside and enjoy some fresh air, peace, and solitude. Four more days to hunt with your trusty rifle. And let’s face it, one more meal of tenderloin wouldn’t be a bad thing. Good luck to those heading out this weekend, but please remember, Safe Hunting is No Accident!
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CHUCK K OLAR LOCAL OUTDOORSMAN
