Wisconsin deer hunters take note: The nine-day gun season may have ended, but your chance to bag an antlerless deer is just getting started. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encouraged hunters to participate in the upcoming late season opportunities, including the Muzzleloader, Statewide Antlerless-Only Hunt, and the Antlerless-Only Holiday Hunt. These additional seasons offer opportunities for hunters to use any unfilled antlerless harvest authorizations, as outlined in a recently released document by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
For those looking to continue their pursuit, muzzleloader season is slated for Dec. 1-10, while the Statewide Antlerless-Only Hunt runs from Dec. 11-14. Following that, the Antlerless-Only Holiday Hunt spans from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1, 2026, but only in select Farmland Zone units. Archery and crossbow seasons are also still in full swing statewide and will remain open until Jan. 4, 2026, with extensions up to Jan. 31 in certain areas. Before venturing out, hunters should review the latest regulations and consult the season structure map to ensure compliance with the designated zones and counties set for each permit.
One critical aspect of the hunting process is following the regulations regarding deer harvest registration. All hunters are required to register their taken deer electronically by 5 p.m. the day after recovery, with a user-friendly process provided by the GameReg system. This registration is a cornerstone of wildlife management, allowing the DNR and County Deer Advisory Councils to obtain essential harvest data for future planning, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Hunter safety also remains a top priority, with the DNR highlighting the imperative TAB-K firearm safety rules. This includes wearing at least 50% blaze orange or pink above the waist during any firearm deer season, a requirement that applies to all hunters except those pursuing waterfowl. Alongside safety, hunters are urged to properly dispose of deer carcasses utilizing the resources on the DNR’s Carcass Disposal webpage, which helps slow the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
The DNR also continues to promote its Deer Donation program, a significant way hunters can give back by donating their harvest to provide meals for Wisconsinites in need. Since its inception in 2000, the program has received over 100,000 donated deer, turning into more than 4 million pounds of ground venison. Those interested in contributing to this cause can find more information on the locations and partners associated with this initiative at the DNR’s Deer Donation webpage.
Furthermore, the DNR invites hunters to be active participants in wildlife management through the Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey. This survey remains open until the end of deer seasons and provides wildlife managers with valuable observations to improve population estimates for Wisconsin's deer herd and other species. Those looking to report any natural resource violations can do so confidentially at any time through the DNR violation hotline or online reporting system.
