Hunters register 16% fewer deer over opening weekend of 2023 Wisconsin gun deer season

Hunters registered 92,050 white-tailed deer over the opening weekend of the Wisconsin nine-day gun deer hunting season, a 16% decrease from last year and 10% lower than the 5-year average, according to preliminary data released Tuesday by the Department of Natural Resources.

All four deer management regions – southern farmland, central farmland, central forest and northern forest – showed lower year-over-year registrations.

Following a long-term trend, the number of gun deer licenses dropped this year. Hunters bought 421,525 gun licenses so far in 2023, down 0.6% from last year, according to the agency.

The 2023 opening weekend registration included 51,870 bucks, 13% fewer than last year, and 40,180 antlerless deer, a 14% decrease.

Hunters who took to the field opening weekend had mild conditions, with relatively light winds and temperatures in the 40s.

However, a lack of snow cover made it more difficult to spot and track deer. The 2022 opening weekend featured snow cover across the state.

People are using the words "quiet" and "slow" to describe the opening weekend of the season, said Jeff Pritzl, DNR deer program specialist.

Temperatures increased quickly each day over opening weekend and seemed to suppress both hunter and deer movement in the afternoons, according to the DNR. 

The lower kill registered so far this gun deer season comes on the heels of lower registrations during the early bow seasons.

The opening weekend of the gun deer season typically accounts for half of the total harvest, Pritzl said.

For the 2023 gun deer season, opening weekend regional harvest reports included: central farmland with 51,539 deer registered (27,439 bucks and 24,100 antlerless) for a cumulative regional decrease of 16%; southern farmland with 22,000 (11,723 and 10,277), down 6%; northern forest with 14,762 (10,408 and 4,354), down 27%; and central forest with 3,749 (2,300 and 1,449), down 16%.

The DNR reported two firearm incidents over the opening weekend, including one in which a hunter shot a woman walking a dog.

The incident occurred Sunday on private property in Big Flatts Township in Adams County when a physically disabled hunter, hunting from a vehicle, fired at what he thought was an antlerless deer. However, it was a dog being walked by a woman; the bullet struck the woman in the abdomen. The 47-year-old woman was transported via Med Flight to a hospital and is being treated.

Mike Weber, DNR administrative warden, said the incident is under investigation and did not say whether charges would be filed against the shooter.

The other incident occurred Saturday in Argonne Township of Forest County when a 53-year-old male suffered a self-inflicted gunshot to the foot. The victim was walking to his tree stand on public property and adjusted his rifle sling when he accidentally pulled the trigger. The victim was transported to the hospital for non-life threating injuries.

Weber reiterated the importance of practicing the TAB-K rules of firearm safety: treat every firearm as if it is loaded; always point the muzzle in a safe direction; be certain of your target and what's beyond it; keep your finger out of the trigger guard until ready to shoot.

Wisconsin's 10-year average is about six shooting incidents for the nine-day gun deer hunt.

The 2023 gun deer hunt runs through Sunday. The DNR is expected to provide a full-season report Nov. 28.

Smith:Anticipation builds among hunters as the 9-day Wisconsin gun deer season approaches