The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has released preliminary numbers from the opening weekend of the 2025 gun deer season. Hunter participation held steady, with just over 777,800 total deer license sales recorded by Sunday night — nearly unchanged from last year.
Hunters registered 90,671 deer statewide during the opening weekend, a nearly 4% increase from 2024, though still slightly below the five-year average. The antlered harvest rose 1.4%, while the antlerless harvest was up 7% from a year ago.
Cool, calm mornings and mild afternoons made for generally good hunting conditions, though a lack of snow in many areas may have affected visibility. Forecasters are calling for snow and colder weather in northern Wisconsin this week, which could help hunters heading into the second weekend.
Two firearm-related incidents were reported on opening day — one injury in Grant County and a fatal accidental shooting in Fond du Lac County.
The DNR is again encouraging hunters to donate deer to support food pantries through the statewide Deer Donation Program, with November recognized as Wild Game Meat Donation Month.
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