Deer kill up during 9-day Wisconsin season

MADISON — Preliminary data from the state Department of Natural Resources indicates hunters killed slightly more deer during Wisconsin's 9-day gun season than last year.

Hunters killed 204,725 deer, up from 199,583 deer taken last year.

The agency sold 612,377 gun licenses through the end of the 9-day season, up 6 percent from the same period last year. It's unclear how many hunters may have used them during the season. The licenses are valid for the youth gun hunt in October as well as the muzzleloader season and four-day antlerless hunt in December. The DNR doesn't break out which licenses were used during each season.

The 9-day gun season began on Nov. 21 and wrapped up Sunday. The agency reported three firearm-related fatalities and five firearm-related injuries.