The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ preseason forecast of fewer deer being harvested during the season’s opening firearms hunting weekend proved exact.
“We expected a lower harvest than last year based on the results of the hunting season, so the numbers are not surprising,” said Jeff Pritzl, DNR deer program specialist.
Statewide, total harvest was 16% below last year and 10% below the five-year average.
The number of white-tailed deer killed in Wisconsin’s northern woods is down 27% from the start of the season, and statewide is down 16%
