Deer hunting opportunities continue through December in Wisconsin

DEER HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUE THROUGH DECEMBER IN WISCONSIN

December 9, 2014

MADISON - While the nine-day gun deer season has come and gone, additional opportunities to deer hunt in Wisconsin are available through December.

In the Central Forest and Central Farmland zones, the annual four-day antlerless-only hunt will take place Dec. 11-14. Anyone with an unused antlerless deer tag valid in these zones may participate. All hunters, with the exception of those pursuing waterfowl, must wear blaze orange during this hunt.

It is important to note that this season is not open in the Northern Forest and Southern Farmland zones.

Later in December, hunters in the Southern Farmland Zone will have an opportunity to hunt antlerless deer, during what is known as the Holiday Hunt, from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1, 2015. This is the first year antlered bucks may not be harvested during this hunt - this includes archery and crossbow hunters. However, any unfilled antlerless tag valid for this zone may be filled. Again, all hunters must follow blaze orange clothing rules.

The late archery season continues statewide until Jan. 4, 2015, while the gun deer season for metro sub-units continues through Dec. 10, and archery through Jan. 31.

For a map of deer management zones [PDF] in Wisconsin, visit dnr.wi.gov, search keyword "deer," and select the Deer Management Zones option from the "Maps" list.

The department has provided a number of useful resources - all hunters are encouraged to review the 2014 deer hunting regulations [PDF] and FAQs, available at keyword "deer."

To ask specific questions before or during the hunt, hunters can also contact the DNR Call Center toll-free at 1-888-936-7463. Call center staff are on hand seven days per week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Spanish- and Hmong-speaking representatives are also available.

Lastly, those interested in deer management in Wisconsin are reminded that the final County Deer Advisory Council meetings of 2014 will be held in each county in December. These meetings will provide the public with an important opportunity to provide input regarding each county's deer population objectives before recommendations are advanced to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

December meetings will be open to the public for any additional comments as the councils finalize their recommendations. To view a meeting schedule, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keyword "CDAC."

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Wallenfang, DNR big game ecologist, 608-261-7589

Last Revised: Tuesday, December 09, 2014