Madison, Wi – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) celebrates the conclusion of the 2025 nine-day gun deer hunt. Preliminary license sales, harvest registration and hunting incident numbers are below.
 Photo Credit: iStock/Karel Bock
Preliminary License Sales Data
Preliminary figures indicate the number of deer hunters in Wisconsin slightly decreased compared to 2024. As of 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, sales for deer hunting privileges (which include gun, archery, crossbow, conservation patron and sports licenses) reached 790,044, down 0.12% from the same time last year. Of those, 550,611 were for gun privileges only (which include gun, conservation patron and sports licenses).
Deer hunting license and harvest authorization sales will continue throughout the remaining deer hunting seasons. Final license sales figures will be available in January, when DNR staff will perform a thorough analysis and interpretation.
Preliminary Harvest Totals
Preliminary figures show hunters registered 182,084 deer during the 2025 gun deer season, including 86,068 antlered and 96,016 antlerless deer. Compared to 2024, the gun season harvest total is down 0.8% statewide, with the antlered harvest down 2.6% and the antlerless harvest up 0.9%.
Since the opening of the bow and crossbow seasons, Wisconsin hunters have registered 294,757 deer. This harvest is 1.1% ahead of the same time last year.
Marquette County in the Central Farmland Zone led the state with 7.9 deer registered per square mile. Vernon County led the Southern Farmland Zone with 6.5 deer registered per square mile. DMU 201 led the Central Forest Zone registering 3.8 deer per square mile. Finally, DMU 108 led the Northern Forest Zone with 2.7 deer registered per square mile.
The DNR’s Wisconsin Deer Harvest Summary webpage contains more information regarding preliminary harvest registration totals, including county-level numbers.
The regular gun deer season ran from Nov. 22 through Nov. 30 and is followed by the statewide muzzleloader season (Dec. 1-Dec. 10), the statewide antlerless-only four-day hunt (Dec. 11-Dec. 14) and the antlerless-only holiday hunt in select farmland zone counties (Dec. 24-Jan. 1, 2026).
First Harvest Certificates Available
Hunters of all ages who harvested their first deer are encouraged to highlight this significant occasion with a first harvest certificate.
2025 Gun Deer Season Hunting Incidents
At the time of this release, the DNR reports the following firearm-involved hunting incidents from the 2025 nine-day gun deer season.
- Grant County, North Lancaster Township: On Nov. 22, 2025, in the afternoon hours, a 57-year-old male was a victim of a gunshot to his buttock while walking to a field to go deer hunting. The victim was transported to the hospital and treated for injury. Investigation pending.
- Fond du Lac County, Oakfield Township:Â On Nov. 22, 2025, in the evening hours, a 24-year-old male deer hunter was a victim of a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest. The victim was found deceased several hours after the close of hunting hours by family on private property. Preliminary investigation reflects the victim was in a tree, gun deer hunting from a saddle stand, when the unintentional discharge of their firearm occurred. Investigation pending.
Comparatively, during the 2024-gun deer season, the DNR reported one firearm-involved hunting incident resulting in injury.
For the past 10 nine-day gun deer seasons (2016-2025), the incident trend reflects an average of five hunting incidents per year. In addition, Wisconsin has had six fatality free seasons, and all 10 years reflect single digit incidents.
Previous article on the Wisconsin deer hunt is below.
Washington Co., Wi – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters the 2025-gun deer season opens Saturday, Nov. 22, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025.
Similar to last year, this year’s gun deer season runs later in the month. Fewer deer may be on the move relative to years with earlier openers. Other factors could create better deer hunting conditions, such as colder temperatures and snow cover.
Through Oct. 31, 2025, year-to-date sales for gun, bow, crossbow, sports and patron licenses reached 463,983. Of that total, 137,394 are for gun privileges only.
Submit your photos to judy@washingtoncountyinsider.com
Deer Management Units Have Changed For 2025
Hunters should be aware of updates to some of the Deer Management Units (DMUs) for the 2025 deer season. DMUs in the Northern Forest Management Zones have been converted to habitat-based units, as opposed to county-based units. Review the map of the new DMUs to double-check you know which DMU you are hunting in. You can also see a breakdown of the season structure by county and DMU.
Please note that Forest Zone DMUs are now referred to by a number. Hunters will need to know their DMU name or number when requesting antlerless permits.
Register Your Harvest
All harvested deer must be registered electronically by 5 p.m. the day after the deer is recovered. Hunters will need the unique harvest authorization number associated with each permit. Proper registration provides accurate harvest data for DNR wildlife managers and County Deer Advisory Councils for the management of Wisconsin’s deer herd.
The three options to register a deer are:
Online with GameReg
By phone at 1-844-426-3734
Electronically at a participating in-person registration station
Know Your Target
Elk sometimes move outside of the elk management zones, especially during the fall breeding season, so hunters are reminded to properly identifytheir target. Any elk taken without a tag may result in a fine and a revocation of your hunting license.
Although many hunters can tell the difference, it doesn’t hurt to freshen up your skills before you hunt. Use this comparison guideto test yourself on the differences between elk and white-tailed deer.
Hunt Safely
It’s important for all hunters to do their part and keep Wisconsin a safe place to hunt by following the four basic rules of firearm safety, TAB-K:
T – Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
A – Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.
B – Be certain of your target, what’s before and beyond it.
K – Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.
Hunters must ensure that at least 50% of outer clothing above the waist is blaze orange or fluorescent pink. Hats or head coverings, if worn, must also be at least 50% blaze orange or fluorescent pink. Faded or stained clothing is unsafe and should be replaced.
Additionally, anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1973, must have a hunter education certification to purchase a hunting license unless hunting under the Mentored Hunting Law. Learn more about safe hunting in Wisconsin and register to take a hunter education course on the DNR’s Firearm Safety webpage.
Help Fellow Wisconsinites Experiencing Food Insecurity
The DNR encourages hunters to donate Wisconsin-harvested deer through the DNR’s Deer Donation Program. The program helps stock food pantries and supports residents in need throughout the state.
Mobile-Friendly Hunter Resources
The DNR’s Online Deer Camp is a one-stop shop for everything a hunter needs to know before heading out this season. It contains helpful links and information regarding purchasing a license, regulations, shooting hours, public land maps and more.