TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
Wisconsin’s annual gun deer hunting season begins this Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. The nine-day season is akin to a holiday is many areas of the state, so revered is this annual tradition of spending time outdoors, hunting and harvesting wild game, time spent with family and friends, and the competition for who will get bragging rights to the biggest buck. In Wisconsin, deer hunting is a part of the culture of our state, a part of a way of life for many. For some it is about putting meat on the table, for others it is a sport dictated by a lot of luck and a really great shot, and for still others it is all about the camaraderie of hanging out with other hunters. For many, it is all of these things.
But it’s also much more than that. Deer hunting, from mid-September when the archery/crossbow season begins, through the end of January when it ends, and including all of the hunts in between – special hunts for hunters with disabilities, youth hunts, the gun season, muzzleloader season, anterless-only hunt, and the holiday hunt – involves more than 876,000 participants each year, drawing hunters from all 50 states in the union and 14 different countries in 2020.
By comparison, the Wisconsin State Fair draws about 840,000 participants each year, and the Green Bay Packer Stadium at Lambeau Field, at full capacity, can only hold 81,441 and is the largest venue in the state of Wisconsin. Picture a packed Lambeau Field times nearly 11. That’s how many people deer hunt in Wisconsin during deer hunting season.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), 220,000 licenses will be sold for the gun deer hunting season in this week leading up to opening day alone, and that’s not counting all the people who have already purchased their license. [For those who haven’t yet purchased their hunting license, all licenses, stamps, and hunting permits can be purchased at https://gowild.wi.gov.]
Only Texas has more hunters that come from out of state than Wisconsin. Wisconsin is the number two destination in the U.S. for non-resident hunters.
The economic benefits of deer hunting to our state are huge, contributing $235 million to our state and local economies, according to the DNR.
Before the hunt begins, here are a few reminders and tips for a safe, ethical, and successful deer hunting season.
Always practice the four firearm safety rules:
1. Always treat every gun as if it were loaded. (It might be, even if you think it isn’t.)
2. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction. (At ALL times.)
3. Always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. (This is the best way to prevent an accidental discharge.)
4. Always be sure of your target and beyond. Know your target and what’s BEHIND your target. (Make sure you have an adequate backstop — don’t shoot at a flat, hard surface or water.)
Dress for warmth and safety
In addition to dressing in layers for warmth and to prevent hypothermia, during the gun deer hunting season, at least 50 percent of a hunter’s outer clothing above the waist must be high-visibility blaze orange or fluorescent pink in color. In addition, any hat or head covering must likewise be at least 50 percent blaze orange or fluorescent pink. Faded or stained clothing, even in these colors, may not meet legal requirements and is not safe. Camo-blaze clothing, of which 50 percent is blaze orange or fluorescent pink, may meet the legal requirement but is not as safe. The DNR recommends 100 percent solid blaze orange or fluorescent pink for optimum safety.
Know your species and your tag limitations
Before heading out for the hunt, be sure you know how to identify the difference between a whitetail deer and an elk.
• An adult whitetail deer has legs the same color as its body and a white throat patch. Its tail is large with a white underside and a white rear under its tail, and it has a white underbelly. An adult elk has a dark throat area, black legs, a dark brown mane, and a tan rump patch.
• An elk calf is about the same size as an adult whitetail doe. Know how to tell the difference.
• An adult elk stands 1-2 feet taller than an adult whitetail deer at the shoulders.
• A whitetail buck has antlers that curve forward. An elk has antlers that sweep back.
Check the harvest authorization on your deer hunting license. The number and types of harvest authorizations may vary based on where in the state you are hunting and whether you have a bonus antlerless deer harvest authorization. All harvest permits are for use in the zone specified on the authorization.
Shooting a deer with a collar or ear tags
Deer (or other wildlife) wearing a tracking collar or ear tags are part of a DNR research project and are legal for harvest. However, if you harvest a marked deer, you are asked to call 608.935.1940 and to leave a message with the tag or collar numbers and your contact information. [In addition to registering your deer online.]
Know your hunting regulations
It is every hunter’s responsibility to have a good understanding of hunter’s safety, how to safely handle a weapon, and the regulations that apply to the game the hunter intends to hunt. For hunters who are hunting with a parent or guardian or mentor, the parent, guardian, or mentor assumes responsibility for teaching these things to the hunter. Education helps ensure a safe, legal, ethical hunt.
Wisconsin’s gun deer hunting regulations are too numerous to encompass in a single article. Complete 2021 Wisconsin hunting regulations can be found in published format at DNR ranger stations and some local businesses and gas stations. Wisconsin’s deer hunting regulations are also available on the DNR website at: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/deer. Here you’ll find information on everything from Chronic Wasting Disease (and testing) to carcass movement regulations, from shooting hours to baiting restrictions, and everything in between. Whether you’re planning to hunt alone or as part of a group, it never hurts to brush up on current regulations and check out what’s new for the year.
Harvest registration
Don’t forget to register your deer online at: https://gowild.wi.gov/wildlife/harvest after the kill. Deer must be registered no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day after the deer carcass is recovered.
Photos and stories
If you harvest a beautiful buck or have a fantastic hunting story to share, feel free to send photos and stories for possible publication to: [email protected]. We’ll print some of the success stories and pictures on a “2021 brag board” in a future edition.