DNR releases preliminary figures for gun deer hunt season

MADISON, WI – (WGBW) – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) releases the preliminary figures for the nine-day gun deer hunt season. This year’s harvest numbers are up just over 5 percent statewide from last year. It was also the safest season on record. Only one non-fatal shooting incident happened. This surpasses the previous record set last year when there were only 3 non-fatal accidents. See the complete press release below:

Preliminary Figures from 9-day gun deer hunt season

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) celebrates the conclusion of the 2024 nine-day gun deer hunt, which kicked off the holiday season in Wisconsin with opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, harvest food for the table, and create memories with family and friends. Preliminary license sales, harvest registratio,n and hunting incident numbers are now available.

Preliminary License Sales Data

Preliminary figures indicate the number of deer hunters in Wisconsin slightly increased compared to 2023. As of 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, sales for deer hunting privileges (which include gun, archery, crossbow, conservation patron, and sports licenses) reached 791,023, up from 788,697 for the same time period last year. Of those, 553,652 were for gun privileges only, up from 553,479 in 2023.

Deer hunting license and harvest authorization sales will continue throughout the remaining deer hunting seasons. Final license sales figures will be available in January, when DNR staff will perform a thorough analysis and interpretation.

Preliminary Harvest Totals

Preliminary figures show hunters registered 189,622 deer during the 2024 gun deer season, including 89,787 antlered and 99,835 antlerless deer. Compared to 2023, the gun season harvest total is up 5.2% statewide, with the antlered harvest up 3.6% and the antlerless harvest up 6.6%.

Since the opening of the bow and crossbow seasons, Wisconsin hunters have registered 289,361 deer. This harvest is 8.7% ahead of the same time last year.

Adams County in the Central Farmland Zone led the state with 12.4 deer registered per square mile. Vernon County led the Southern Farmland Zone with 7 deer registered per square mile. Adams County also led the Central Forest Zone, registering 4.2 deer per square mile. Finally, Florence County led the Northern Forest Zone with 2.9 deer registered per square mile.

The regional harvest breakdown by deer management zone compared to the five-year average was as follows:

Preliminary 2024 Gun Deer Season Harvest Totals
Deer Management Zone	2024 Gun Deer Harvested	Change From 2023	Five-Year Average Comparison
Northern Forest Zone	Antlered: 17,591	-1.8%	-7.9%
	Antlerless: 11,909	8.7%	-7.2%
Central Forest Zone	Antlered: 3,947	8.7%	11.1%
	Antlerless: 3,042	6%	9.9%
Central Farmland Zone	Antlered: 49,326	9.1%	8.2%
	Antlerless: 61,685	9.2%	1.9%
Southern Farmland Zone	Antlered: 18,923	-5%	-1.2%
	Antlerless: 23,199	-0.6%	-2.7%
Total Preliminary Harvest Registrations	Antlered: 89,787	3.6%	2.7%
	Antlerless: 99,835	6.6%	-0.2%
	Total: 189,622	5.2%	1.2%

The DNR’s Wisconsin Deer Harvest Summary webpage contains more information regarding preliminary harvest registration totals, including county-level numbers.

The regular gun deer season ran from Nov. 23 through Dec. 1 and is followed by the statewide muzzleloader season (Dec. 2-Dec. 11), the statewide antlerless-only four-day hunt (Dec. 12-Dec. 15) and the antlerless-only holiday hunt in select farmland zone counties (Dec. 24-Jan. 1, 2025).

First Harvest Certificates Available

Hunters of all ages who harvested their first deer are encouraged to highlight this significant occasion with a first harvest certificate.

2024 Gun Deer Season Hunting Incidents

At the publication time of this news release, the DNR reports only one nonfatal firearm-related hunting incident during the 2024 gun deer season.

• Vernon County, Wheatland Township: 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.

With various hunting seasons continuing through January of next year, the DNR reminds hunters to always practice the four primary rules of firearm safety, known as 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 it and what’s beyond it.
• K – Keep your finger outside your trigger guard until you are safe to shoot.