Archery, crossbow deer hunting seasons start Saturday

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters that the archery and crossbow deer hunting seasons open Saturday, Sept. 14. The two seasons run through Jan. 5, 2025, except in the 35 counties and metro subunits that have extended seasons open until Jan. 31, 2025.

The early archery and crossbow seasons are great opportunities for hunters to harvest antlerless deer before they change their patterns and experience additional hunting pressure during the gun deer season. In Taylor County, more than 2,000 bonus antlerless harvest authorizations were still available Wednesday for hunters on private land.

As a reminder, all harvested deer must be registered by 5 p.m. the day after recovery using GameReg online, by phone or at a participating registration station.

In the DNR’s 2024 Deer Season Forecast, DNR wildlife biologist Derek Johnson said hunters should see a bump in deer populations in the state’s Northern District.

“Being that this past winter was so mild, we expect better fawn recruitment and winter survival from yearlings and some adults,” Johnson wrote. “This means hunters in many areas should see more deer. There is a delayed effect if you’re looking for older deer to harvest. Expect more young deer to be in the woods this fall and for more mature deer to be present in successive falls hereon.

“We always encourage hunters to get out and scout their hunting locations early to see what’s changed,” he added. “This fall, we likely won’t see the generational acorn crop like we saw last year. There’s also a lot of timber cutting going on across the Northwoods. There are lots of factors that change every year that can lead to small changes in deer movement, and capitalizing on these is key. Look for edge habitats, thick brush lines between food and bedding areas and pinpoint focus areas like a forest opening that deer are likely to visit.”

Just like when hunting with a firearm, archery and crossbow hunters should always remember these safety tips: Always practice TAB-K. T = Treat every firearm as if it is loaded. A = Always point the muzzle in a safe direction. B = Be certain of your target, what's before and beyond it. K = Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot.

Always wear a safety harness in a tree stand. Use three points of contact when going into or out of the stand.

Use a haul line to bring the unloaded bow or crossbow into the stand.

Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.

Operate any ATV or UTV soberly and responsibly. The DNR also reminds hunters of the mobile-friendly resources available on the DNR’s hunting webpage (https:// dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Hunt). In addition to hunting regulations, season dates, hunting hours and other valuable resources, the public can also find a list of the public lands open to hunting using the DNR’s Public Access Lands webpage (https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/lands).