Wisconsin’s Gun Deer Season Begins Amidst Declining Harvest Numbers
Wisconsin hunters are set to embark on the state’s cherished nine-day gun deer season, commencing at dawn on Saturday and concluding on December 1. This annual event is met with enthusiasm, though many participants are eager to rebound from a difficult 2023 season, which reported a harvest of approximately 174,000 deer. This figure marks a significant 17% drop compared to 2022 and follows an above-average harvest in 2021.
The decline was particularly pronounced in northern Wisconsin, which experienced a staggering 27% decrease in antlerless deer and a 14% drop in antlered deer harvests—indicating the most severe downturn across the state’s four management zones. Remarkably, the number of hunters remained relatively stable, with 434,817 licenses issued for firearm deer hunting in 2023, reflecting a slight 0.8% decrease from the previous year.
Factors contributing to the lower deer numbers include severe winter conditions that may have adversely affected populations, according to officials from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Additionally, hunters contend that increased wolf activity has significantly reduced the northern deer herd.
Looking ahead, DNR officials have expressed concerns regarding this season’s prospects. The timing of the season coincides with the year’s latest dates, coinciding with the end of the rut, which typically reduces deer movement during daylight hours—making hunting more challenging. As hunters prepare to take to the woods, the 2023 gun deer season promises to be a test of patience and strategy as the challenges of wildlife management and environmental factors weigh heavily on this long-standing tradition.
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Photo credit www.wisn.com
