More hunters, but fewer deer harvested during opening weekend

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Wisconsin hunters are experiencing a slower start to gun deer season, with fewer kills compared to last year.

While more deer hunters bought licenses this year, fewer deer were bagged during opening weekend, according to preliminary figures from the Department of Natural Resources.

Hunters registered 89,203 white-tailed deer last weekend (Nov. 23-24). That's about a 2% decrease from 2023 and nearly 5% below the five-year average.

The season began Nov. 23 and runs through Dec. 1.

Jeff Prtizl, DNR deer program specialist, said mild conditions last weekend, paired with a later start to the season, impacted deer movement.

"That one-week difference does show up in terms of reduced overall deer movement, because when we go through the month of November, deer are most active early in November, in the peak of the breeding season," Pritzl said.

Tom Knorre, a lifelong deer hunter from Montello, considers himself one of the lucky ones after bagging a doe Tuesday morning and a buck earlier this year during bow hunting season.

"The number one thing is just to be out there," Knorre said. "It is luck, but it's also spending the time."

Reports from the field varied widely from good activity to little or no deer movement depending on location.

The top three counties with the most kills were Marathon (3,037), Waupaca (3,005) and Vernon (2,801).

The number of hunters heading to the woods saw a slight uptick. Since Sunday, the DNR said 541,258 deer hunting licenses were sold compared to 539,811 over the same time period in 2023.

Last year, the state sold about 553,000 gun deer licenses throughout the entire season, down from almost 555,000 in 2022.

No reported firearm-related injuries occurred during opening weekend. Last year there were two.

As deer hunters head into the final days of the season, Knorre's advice is to stay patient and hope for the best given the conditions you're dealt.

"It's a very expensive sport, but if you play the game safely and enjoy being outdoors, there's plenty of opportunities," he said.