Hunters kill 112,580 deer on opening weekend

Wisconsin wildlife officials say gun hunters killed about 6,000 more deer over opening weekend this year than last.

The Department of Natural Resources says hunters killed 112,581 deer over Saturday and Sunday. That's up 5.6 percent from 106,404 deer harvested over opening weekend last year.

DNR officials cautioned the numbers are based on a staff call-around to registration stations Monday morning and could change.

The agency's license sales office, meanwhile, reported hunters had purchased 603,919 gun deer licenses by the time shooting hours began on Saturday, including a record 99,998 licenses on Friday alone. Sales will continue through the season's last day on Sunday.

Hunters bought 607,926 licenses prior to opening day last year.