Wisconsin Early Season Deer Report - Sept. 17 - Oct. 12

A total of 297 Wisconsin deer hunters have reported 785 hunting trips via the online survey. A total of 120 individuals have also supplied an email address to have a summary of their observations e-mailed to them at the end of the survey period.

Trips were reported from 67 of 72 counties in the state, and in 92 of 139 deer management units. DMU 53 has the greatest number of observations (29), followed by DMU 71CWD with 27 observations. Hunters reported spending 2,709 observation hours in the field, and averaged 3.5 hours per trip. Most trips and observation hours occurred in the Southern Farmland followed by the Northern Forest, the Eastern Farmland, the Western Farmland and lastly the Central Forest region.

Deer hunters have reported 373 bucks, 758 does, 533 fawns, and 138 unknowns. Statewide, hunters averaged 0.67 deer seen per hour. Deer seen per hour varied between regions with the high being the Eastern Farmland averaging 0.97 deer per hour and the low being the Southern Farmland averaging 0.55 deer per hour. The Western Farmland and Central Forest reported 0.84 and 0.67 deer per hour, respectively. Hunters in the Northern Forest saw 0.56 deer per hour.

The most frequently observed species other than deer were turkeys. Hunter sightings varied greatly by regions, with most sightings occurring in Wisconsin’s primary turkey range, the farmland and central forest regions. The next most frequently seen animal was raccoons.

Pleases continue to enter your observations by clicking here.

Questions about the Wisconsin Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey, accessing the tally sheet, reporting your observation, or the results of the survey, can be referred to Jes Rees at (608) 221-6360.