Wisconsin DNR: Preliminary figures show deer harvest down this year

MADISON (WITI) -- With new rule changes this year, deer hunters throughout Wisconsin embraced the excitement of another nine-day gun deer season. A continued commitment to safe hunting led to an all-time low for recorded hunting incidents during the nine-day season -- but the deer harvest was down this year.

"Deer hunters throughout the state have been excellent partners in not only learning new rules, but passing on traditions to youth and first-time hunters out there in the woods," said Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp. "As always, we put safety first, and the efforts of hunters to do the same led to a banner year for safe hunting in Wisconsin."

Preliminary harvest summary

This year's preliminary harvest figures indicate a total of 191,550 deer harvested. The overall buck harvest of 90,336 was down roughly 8 percent. Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa have seen a similar decline in overall harvest in 2014.

Kevin Wallenfang, DNR big game ecologist, said the northeast and southern counties saw buck kills that were virtually unchanged compared to 2013. The largest decline in buck harvest figures was observed in the far northern counties, where it decreased by 18 percent compared to 2013. This area also saw a 58 percent decrease in antlerless harvest. This was a designed reduction in antlerless harvest in an attempt to increase deer numbers in the Northern Forest Zone. Overall, statewide antlerless harvest saw a 21 percent decline from 2013.

Western counties saw a decrease in buck harvest of roughly 8 percent, with the bulk of the decline seen in counties that are farthest north within the region and/or counties that include portions of the Central Forest Zone.

A breakdown of harvest by DNR region and county is available in portable document format (pdf) on the DNR website.

Preliminary nine-day harvest numbers are collected through a call-around survey of over 600 deer registration stations all across Wisconsin and likely will increase when all registration tags are officially counted.

Wisconsin sees all-time low for recorded hunting incidents during nine-day hunt

During the nine-day hunt, a total of three confirmed shooting related incidents were reported - this is an all-time low.

"Over one million hunters have attended a hunter education course since 1967, and with that many hunters knowing the firearm safety rules we will continue to see a safer hunting tradition in Wisconsin," said Jon King, DNR conservation warden and hunter education administrator.

More than 28,000 students complete the hunter safety program every year, thanks to the work of more than 4,100 volunteer hunter education instructors. Before the hunter education course started, hunter fatalities during the season often reached double digits.

Hunters asked to participate in online Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey and County Deer Advisory Council Survey

The Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey is still active until the end of all deer seasons and wildlife managers are asking hunters to send in a report of what they saw during the just completed nine-day gun hunt and during any hunting trips they make through the end of all deer hunting seasons. This information provides valuable data biologists use to improve population estimates for Wisconsin's deer herds and other species.

For additional information, search keywords "deer hunter wildlife."

December County Deer Advisory Council meetings will be open to the public for any additional comments as the councils finalize their recommendations. To view a meeting schedule, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keyword "CDAC."

An online survey is also available through December 5th for those who are unable to attend their county's meeting and would like to provide feedback.

2014 license sales

The department's license sales office reported 608,711 gun deer and 226,872 archer and crossbow (not including upgrades) licenses sold through midnight on November 30th, which signaled the close of the 2014 nine-day deer hunt. Deer license and tag sales will continue through additional hunting seasons.

Approximately 38,000 licenses were issued to hunters 12 years of age or older who were purchasing a license to hunt deer for the first time, or to those hunting for the first time in 10 years. Female deer hunters have continued to increase in number, and accounted for 35 percent of adults and 36 percent of juniors who purchased a first time resident gun deer license.

While counting down to next year...

Whether you enjoy fall foliage or chasing that trophy white-tailed deer, it's time to grab your camera and snap pictures or shoot a video showcasing your favorite activities to share with friends and family this time of year.

In four words or less, show us your favorite fall traditions! Videos should contain no spoken words and be less than 15 seconds long and pictures will need your words included.

For a better idea of what your video or photo may look like, check out this video featuring DNR staff and their families.

Entries will be reviewed by department staff and considered for submission in a music video which will be made available for public view. To enter, simply fill out this form and upload your photo or video. Enter as many times as you'd like!

For more information and a look at pictures submitted from the field, visit the department's facebook page and select "Your Tradition, Your Words" under the "more" tab or visit dnr.wi.gov and search keyword "your traditions."

Successful first-time deer hunters are also reminded to fill out a first deer certificate and commemorate their successful hunt. A printable certificate will be sent to the email address provided.

Additional deer hunting opportunities continue through December

There are additional opportunities to hunt deer in Wisconsin after the close of the nine-day season. The muzzleloader season is currently open through December 10th. The late archery season is also underway and continues until January 4th, 2015. There is also a Central Forest and Central Farmland antlerless hunt December 11th-14th, and a Southern Farmland Zone Holiday Hunt, which runs from December 24th through January 1st, 2014. It is important to note that the gun deer season for metro sub-units continues through December 10th, and archery through January 31st.

Message of thanks from Gov. Scott Walker and Secretary Stepp

With the end of another Wisconsin nine-day gun deer season, Gov. Scott Walker and Stepp have shared a video message with hunters and their families.