Deer gun harvest numbers up across state

The preliminary 2022 nine-day gun deer season harvest totals were up 14.4% across Wisconsin.

A total of 203,295 deer were harvested this year, compared to 177,667 a year ago. Of this year’s total, 104,898 deer taken were antlerless, while 98,397 were antlered.

All four deer management zones showed harvest increases from 2021 for both antlered and antlerless harvests. The Central Forest Zone (30.6%) saw the most significant increase, with the Northern Forest Zone (19.3%) also seeing a considerable increase. The Central Farmland Zone was up 13.5%, while the Southern Farmland Zone was up 10.2%.

The Central Farmland Zone in Adams County led the state with over 12 deer registered per square mile. Vernon County led the Southern Farmland Zone with almost seven deer registered per square mile. The Central Forest Zone in Eau Claire County registered 4.8 deer per square mile. Taylor County registered the most per square mile in the Northern Forest Zone at four.

Opening weekend saw cold temperatures and snow throughout the state, with ideal conditions except for the strong winds on Nov. 19. DNR staff across the state reported good weather throughout the weekdays of the season. Warm weather later in the season melted snow, reducing deer and hunter activity.

More information regarding preliminary registration totals, including county-level numbers, is available at dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/harvest/deerharvest.html.

Since archery seasons opened on Sept. 17, hunters have registered 301,540 deer statewide.

As of 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 27, sales for gun, bow, crossbow, sports and patron licenses reached 795,072. Of that total, 436,423 were for gun privileges only and 554,898 were for all gun privileges including gun, sports and patron licenses. The year-to-date sales for all deer licenses are down 1.6% from the same time last year.

This year, licenses were sold to hunters in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Additionally, hunters came from 21 different countries to deer hunt in Wisconsin.

As of Nov. 29, the DNR reported eight firearm-involved injuries and one fatality for the entire 2022 gun deer season.