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Open the Outdoors
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) [exit DNR] celebrates the 20th Anniversary of offering outdoor skills workshops to women throughout North America!
- Contact information
- For information on deer hunting, contact:
- Scott Roepke
Assistant deer biologist
Bureau of Wildlife Management
608-261-7588
Deer hunting
With a thriving deer herd, Wisconsin is recognized as one of the premier deer hunting states in the nation.
Season information
Tools for your season
- Deer season dates
- Deer season structure and boundary descriptions
- Deer hunting regulations and hours
- Deer carcass tags [PDF]
- Baiting and feeding regulations
- Antlerless deer (bonus) carcass tags availability
- Deer registration stations
- So You Got a Deer [PDF exit DNR]
- Videos on safe deer processing [exit DNR]
- Deer donation
- Frequently asked questions about gun season
Deer hunting opportunities
Monitoring the herd
- Deer herd management
- Deer harvest summary
- Deer abundance and densities in deer management units (DMU)
- Deer management unit information
- Deer diseases
Connect with us!
Ask the experts
The Department of Natural Resources hosted a series of daily online deer hunt chats throughout the deer season. Experts answered questions and provided tips on topic areas ranging from regulations and safety, to how women can get involved in the hunt. To see the archived chats, visit ask the experts and select a chat topic.
- Women in hunting
- Get ready for the hunt
- Need a place to hunt?
- Safe and legal, the keys to a successful hunt
New DNR wildlife blog
The Department of Natural Resources launched the first ever wildlife blog during the 2012 deer hunt with a "Hunting for the Health of it" theme. Readers revisit the blog as each day Jeff Pritzl, DNR Northeast Region Wildlife Supervisor, explores seven health-related aspects of hunting. Topics include social, physical, emotional, career, intellectual, environmental and spiritual, aspects of the hunt that lead to increased health for the participant, communities and our natural resources. Follow the DNR wildlife blog.
Beginning November 17 and running through November 28, hunters, families and non-hunters energized by the deer season submited photos that represent what the traditions of the deer hunt mean to them. The public voted for their favorite picture and the winner received a free three-year subscription to Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine. Anyone interested in the traditions of the hunt should "like" us on Facebook to follow the stories of the deer season. Visit us on Facebook [exit DNR].
Deer show
Once again DNR has partnered with Dan Small to produce "Deer Hunt 2012," an informative and entertaining one-hour television show aimed at helping hunters brush up on safety, know the science and get ready for the fun, family and traditions of the hunt. This year's show captures important research on buck mortality, fawn recruitment and the social side of deer management; the importance of passing along the hunting tradition to the next generation and recruiting new hunters; hunter safety and the new ATV/UTV laws; a ride-along with a conservation warden; the link between forest management and deer management; the season forecast; and hunting tips. There are recipes and a campfire conversation with DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp and others as they share their first-deer stories and encourage seasoned hunters to share their traditions and the thrill of the harvest with new hunters. View the entire Deer Hunt Wisconsin 2012.
Tweet-a-long
Get the latest news and information by following DNR on Twitter. During the season we had live-feed tweets and images from a ride-along with a DNR conservation warden out working deer season. Warden ride-alongs often reveal interesting events and insights into the deer hunt that many of us never see. The tweet-along focused on the social, safety and community-building aspects of the nine-day deer season.
Follow us at twitter.com/WDNR.
Other features
Want more? We provided a special daily feature for 14 days covering Wisconsin's 161st gun deer hunt. Features articles showcased videos, slide shows, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube posts highlighting the season's memories and tales for years to come. Topics included: safety, the rise of women hunters, deer donations, recipies and much more!
Find more features for the 161st gun hunt.
