September 21, 2026 – Washington Co., Wi -The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is continuing to track an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) that has affected deer across southeastern Wisconsin, with Washington County reporting more than 1,000 deer deaths.
Erin Larson, DNR deer herd health specialist, and wildlife biologist Steffen Peterson recently spoke in West Bend about the outbreak, what the numbers mean and what hunters can expect heading into the 2026 deer season.
Larson said the DNR began receiving reports of sick and dead deer in several southeastern Wisconsin counties. Washington County initially had about 340 reported deer but that number has climbed to more than 1,000.
Other counties have also reported EHD-related deer deaths, including about 70 in Ozaukee County, fewer than 10 in Milwaukee County and approximately 50 in Dodge County.
Peterson said the numbers represent reported deer, not necessarily the total number of deer that have died.
“It is not the total die-off,” Peterson said. “But we are getting hundreds of calls every day.”
He said the reports provide a good indication of where deer are being found, although there is a lag in getting some locations onto the map.
Peterson acknowledged, some areas of Washington County have been hit particularly hard.
“There is a hole in our county because of EHD, but it is not the same extent of die-off throughout the entire county,” he said.
In some localized areas, Peterson said the deer population could have dropped dramatically.
“You could have a core area where the population is plummeting 90%,” he said.
What hunters should know
- Doe tags: The DNR has not simply turned off the availability of bonus permits because of the EHD outbreak. Changing bonus permit availability requires an emergency rule process that includes a defined geographic area, a scope statement and Natural Resources Board action. DNR officials said there is no immediate switch that can be flipped to stop bonus permit sales.
- The numbers: More than 1,000 EHD-related deer have been reported in Washington County. DNR officials stressed that reported deer do not represent the total number of deer that have died. The outbreak is also not uniform across the county.
- The midge: EHD is spread by biting midges. A hard freeze will kill the midges and stop transmission for the season.
- Reproduction: The DNR said there is no evidence that EHD harms the reproductive health of adult deer that survive the disease.
- Deer movement: Peterson said deer will move into areas where food and cover are available. He noted Washington County’s deer population had grown substantially in recent years, increasing about 42% from 2021 through 2025.
- 2026 hunting season: Peterson said no one can predict exactly how the herd will respond to the outbreak. He expects deer movement and recovery to occur, but the effects will vary from one area to another.
Peterson emphasized that his role is to provide hunters with the best information available so they can make their own decisions.
Hunters and landowners are encouraged to continue reporting recently dead deer to the DNR. Those reports help biologists track where EHD is occurring and how widely it has spread.
The DNR is scheduled to provide another update on the state’s deer herd health during a virtual media briefing at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.
The briefing will include updates on chronic wasting disease, current baiting and feeding bans, safe deer carcass disposal and the EHD outbreak in southeastern Wisconsin. Larson is scheduled to participate in the briefing.
What about consumption of the meat? Is it safe?