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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: *Oct. 30, 2024
*Contact: *Jeffrey Pritzl, DNR Deer Program Specialist
[email protected] or 920-366-3450

*Wisconsin’s 2024 Nine-Day Gun Deer Season
Opens Nov. 23*

 

Three people, all wearing blaze orange, kneel behind a large pile of wood while one aims their rifle at a deer out of frame.

Wisconsin's 2024 nine-day gun deer season begins Saturday, Nov. 23. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

*MADISON, Wis.* – It’s almost time for hunters across Wisconsin to head out for the 2024 nine-day gun deer season, opening Saturday, Nov. 23 and running through Sunday, Dec. 1. This is the latest nine-day window within which the season may occur, as established by state law.

With this year’s season starting further removed from the peak of breeding activity, fewer deer may be on the move relative to recent years with earlier openers. Still, there is reason for optimism, as other factors like colder temperatures and snow cover could still create excellent deer hunting conditions. Furthermore, last year’s mild winter means fawn production and antler development will likely be better than in recent years.

As of midnight on Oct. 29, 2024, year-to-date sales for gun, bow, crossbow, sports and patron licenses reached *444,743*. Of that total, *123,861* are for gun privileges only.

*Register Your Harvest*

All harvested deer must be registered electronically by 5 p.m. the day after the deer is recovered. Hunters will need the unique harvest authorization number associated with each permit. Proper registration provides accurate harvest data for DNR wildlife managers and County Deer Advisory Councils for the management of Wisconsin’s deer herd.

The three options to register a deer are:


* Online with GameReg [ [link removed] ]
* By phone at 1-844-426-3734
* Electronically at a participating in-person registration station [ [link removed] ]

*Know Your Target*

Elk sometimes venture outside of the elk management zones, especially during the fall breeding season, so hunters are reminded to properly identify their target. Any elk taken without a tag may result in a fine and a revocation of your hunting license*.*

Hunters should be sure of their target to avoid an accidental shooting of non-target animals.

See the differences between elk and white-tailed deer using the DNR’s comparison guide [ [link removed] ].

*Hunt Safely*

It’s important for all hunters to do their part and keep Wisconsin a safe place to hunt by following the four basic rules of firearm safety, *TAB-K*:


* *T *– Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
* *A *– Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.
* *B *– Be certain of your target, what’s before it and what’s beyond it.
* *K *– Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.* *

Hunters must ensure at least 50% of outer clothing above the waist is blaze orange or fluorescent pink. Hats or head coverings, if worn, must also be at least 50% blaze orange or fluorescent pink. Faded or stained clothing is unsafe and should be replaced.

Additionally, anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1973, must have a hunter education certification to purchase a hunting license unless hunting under the Mentored Hunting Law [ [link removed] ]. Learn more about safe hunting in Wisconsin and register to take a hunter education course on the DNR’s Outdoor Skills webpage [ [link removed] ].

*Mobile-Friendly Hunter Resources*

The DNR’s Online Deer Camp [ [link removed] ] is a one-stop shop for everything a hunter needs to know before heading out this season. It contains helpful links and information regarding purchasing a license [ [link removed] ], regulations [ [link removed] ], shooting hours [ [link removed] ], public land maps [ [link removed] ] and more.







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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · 101 S. Webster Street · Madison, WI 53707-7921 · 608-266-2621 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]