The 2025 Wisconsin nine-day gun season, held from November 22 to November 30, has wrapped up, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has released preliminary statistics. While the season remains a cultural cornerstone for hunters across the state, the numbers reveal both familiar patterns and subtle shifts in participation and harvest trends. Hunting participation remains strong, though the long-term trend shows a gradual decline from peak decades. According to the DNR’s preliminary report, there was approximately 790,044-gun deer licenses sold (Including both resident and non-resident) which reflects a 0.12% decrease from 2024. Around 300,000 licenses were active by the first Saturday for opening weekend sales reflecting the traditional surge in pre-season and early-season purchases. Youth license sales held steady, suggesting that recruitment efforts, such as mentored hunts, are helping maintain younger hunter numbers. For the 2025 harvest totals, the numbers show modest changes compared to 2024, influenced by weather, deer population dynamics, and hunter effort. Wisconsin hunters registered 182,084 deer this season, which is a 0.8% decrease from the previous year. This season included 86,068 antlered deer and 96,016 antlerless deer. The Northern Forest Zone harvest numbers were up slightly, aided by favorable tracking snow. The Central Farmland Zone remains the highest producing region, with strong antlerless harvests due to agricultural habitat. The Southern Farmland Zone had stable harvests, though some counties saw fewer mature bucks due to localized winterkill impacts from previous years. Several elements shaped this year’s results, opening weekend saw cold but manageable conditions with light snow in the north. Deer population health in some areas are still recovering from past severe winters. Last is hunter effort, many hunters reported seeing more deer than 2024, suggesting localized population rebounds. With the nine-day rifle season concluded, hunters now turn to the statewide muzzleloader season (Dec. 1-10) and the antlerless-only four-day hunt (Dec.11-14). These late season opportunities will further shape the final 2025 harvest totals.
Conservation Corner is a weekly article produced by the Forest County Land Conservation and Land Information Department. For more information contact Lucas O’Brien, Forest County Land Conservation Technician at 715-478-1387 or by e-mail at