Hunting And Outdoor Sports
Wisconsin 2025 Preliminary Gun Deer Hunt License Sales, Harvest Totals Now Available
Wisconsin 2025 Preliminary Gun Deer Hunt License Sales, Harvest Totals Now Available
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Madison, WI
MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) celebrates the conclusion of the 2025 nine-day gun deer hunt, which kicked off the holiday season in Wisconsin with opportunities for hunters to enjoy the outdoors, harvest food for their tables, and create memories with family and friends. Recent updates from the DNR reveal both preliminary license sales and harvest totals that offer insights into this crucial time of year for hunters in the state.
Preliminary License Sales Data
Recent figures indicate a slight decrease in the number of deer hunters participating in Wisconsin's gun season compared to the previous year. As of November 30, 2025, sales for various deer hunting privileges, which include gun, archery, crossbow, conservation patron, and sports licenses, reached a total of 790,044. This represents a minor decline of 0.12% from the same time in 2024. Breaking it down further, 550,611 of these licenses were specifically for gun hunting privileges.
The DNR announced that sales for deer hunting licenses and harvest authorizations will continue throughout the remainder of the hunting season. Final license sales figures will be made available in January, following a thorough analysis and interpretation by DNR staff.
Preliminary Harvest Totals
In terms of harvest totals, hunters registered 182,084 deer during the 2025 gun deer season. This included 86,068 antlered deer and 96,016 antlerless deer. In comparison to the previous year, the harvest total for this year’s gun season reflects a drop of 0.8% statewide: with antlered harvests down by 2.6% but an increase in antlerless deer harvested by 0.9%.
Since the bow and crossbow seasons commenced, Wisconsin hunters have registered a total of 294,757 deer — a figure 1.1% ahead of where they stood last year at this time.
Looking at specific regions, Marquette County in the Central Farmland Zone led in deer registration, boasting an impressive 7.9 deer registered per square mile. Vernon County topped the Southern Farmland Zone with 6.5 deer registered per square mile, while DMU 201 led the Central Forest Zone with 3.8 registered, and DMU 108 led the Northern Forest Zone with 2.7 registered deer per square mile.
Insight into Hunting Incidents
The DNR also reports on firearm-involved hunting incidents that occurred during the nine-day gun deer season. Two notable incidents occurred: one in Grant County where a 57-year-old male suffered a gunshot wound while walking to his hunting spot, and a tragic event in Fond du Lac County that resulted in a 24-year-old male being found deceased following what was determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound from a high tree stand.
Compared to previous seasons, which averaged five hunting incidents annually, this year’s data reflects a continuing trend of low incident rates within the firearm hunting environment, with all 10 years from 2016 to 2025 showing single-digit incidents.
The DNR emphasizes the importance of adhering to fundamental firearm safety rules. Specific rules such as treating every firearm as if it is loaded and pointing the muzzle in a safe direction are core components of safe hunting practices that can significantly reduce incidents.
In conclusion, as the Wisconsin DNR continues to analyze the trends emerging from the gun deer hunting season, hunters and stakeholders are encouraged to stay informed about any changes and updates that might affect their hunting practices and regulations going forward.
These preliminary figures indicate an ongoing trend posed by various social and environmental pressures on hunting participation and success. Hunter feedback suggests that while some challenges remain with the weather and deer populations, overall enthusiasm appears consistent. With upcoming seasons and transitional periods such as the muzzleloader season approaching, attention must focus on the ongoing safety practices that keep incidents low. The DNR’s commitment to ensuring a safe hunting environment is commendable, yet the community I suspect requires further engagement to address concerns and uncertainties. This year is shaping up to be crucial in understanding the balance between hunting culture and ecological responsibility. The implications for participants, conservationists, and lawmakers alike remain significant.