An event so traditional in Wisconsin that it shares nearly even status with bratwurst and the Green Bay Packers is once again upon us. The eight-day 2023 Gun Deer Season opens on Saturday, November 18th and runs through Sunday the 26th.
Wisconsin DNR Deer Program Specialist Jeff Pritzl, attempting to capsulize the event, said that “Hunters’ goals are as diverse as the Wisconsin landscape. Some enjoy the challenge of pursuing a specific deer, while others find fulfillment in providing wild-sourced meat for themselves, family and friends. Whatever motivates our hunters this year, we wish them the best of luck.”
The DNR reported that as of 10:00 a.m. this (Friday 11/17) morning, year-to-date sales for gun, bow, crossbow, sports and patron licenses reached 659,302. Of that total, 309,520 are for gun privileges only. While many counties still have bonus antlerless harvest authorizations available on a first-come, first-served basis, Sheboygan County has none remaining in the category of “Public Harvest Authorization.” There are, however, 237 “Private Harvest Authorizations” remaining here as of 3 p.m. on Friday.
The DNR expects the 2023 harvest to fall short of last year’s as favorable snow conditions then made for plentiful numbers. This year’s warmer than usual temperatures will likely keep numbers lower, as little in the line of snowfall is in the forecast through Thanksgiving day. That being said, seasonable temperatures in the 30s and 40s – depending upon your location, look to be enhanced by plenty of wind to keep things feeling very November-like for the duration of the hunt.
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