Wisconsin Early Deer Hunt Totals Down 27 Percent From 2018

MILWAUKEE, WI — Citing a later-than-normal start to the 2019 gun deer hunting season in Wisconsin, state officials say the number of deer killed during the opening weekend is nearly 27 percent lower than it was a year ago.

In total, 90,286 deer were harvested by gun and registered statewide during the opening weekend of the gun deer hunt in 2019, compared to 123,090 in 2018, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reporting. A total of 46,866 bucks were registered on opening weekend, compared to 67,636 in 2018 — a decline of about 30 percent.

"In 2018, we held the earliest possible deer season followed by the latest possible season in 2019. This occurred between the 2012-13 and 2007-08 seasons as well, and we saw similar declines in opening weekend registration totals," DNR big game ecologist Kevin Wallenfang said in a statement about the 2019 opening weekend.

Despite the lower kill numbers, Wisconsin officials say more than half a million hunters purchased licenses to take part in opening weekend of Wisconsin's 168th gun deer season.

According to state data released this week, sales for gun, bow, crossbow, sports and patron licenses reached 782,815 as of midnight Sunday. Of that total, 555,227 were for gun privileges only. This number includes gun, patron and sports licenses.

Four Incidents Reported During Opening Weekend

In Oneida and Marathon counties, two separate incidents involved hunters who shot their own guns, striking their own left feet. The Oneida County incident involved a 38-year-old man whose shot struck his left foot and a 29-year-old woman in Marathon County whose shot struck her left foot.

In Fond du Lac County, a hunter shot toward a running deer and struck a 19-year-old woman in the left hand. She was treated at a local hospital, state officials said.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the fourth incident occurred in Washburn County on Sunday, Nov. 24, when a 31-year-old man was struck by a single bullet. Local police said the shooter has been found, but are not revealing his name until he is charged in court. His victim is expected to make a full recovery, police said.