Figures from the opening weekend of Wisconsin’s 2024 gun deer season were released by the Department of Natural Resources on Tuesday, with reports showing an increase in the number of hunters, but a decrease in the overall harvest. Combined with the preceding archery, crossbow, conservation patron and sports licenses issued, participation reached 778,111, up just under 1/2 of one percent (0.48%) from the same time last year, with 541,258 taken out for gun privileges only.
In total, hunters registered 89,203 deer statewide during the opening weekend of the 2024 gun deer hunt, a slight, 1.8% decrease compared to the 90,831 registered during the same period last year. This also represents a 4.7% drop below the 5-year average. The differences were not unexpected, as the late start to the gun dear season was after the peak of the breeding season. In addition, a lack of tracking snow and poorer visibility due to the unusually warm temperatures last weekend contributed to the low harvest, something that’s likely to improve given the current onset of more winter-like weather.
Of note, there were no reports of firearm-involved hunting incidents so far.
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