Wisconsin Deer Hunters Have Monster Year

Wisconsin bow hunters posted the best archery deer harvest ever in the state, while the deer hunt in general was the second best season on record.

The 2007 season resulted in 518,573 whitetails being killed -- 116,042 by archers and 402,531 by gun hunters, the third best season on record.

“Bringing the herd down to established population goals and maintaining herd and ecosystem health are our main management objectives,” said Keith Warnke, Departmen tof Natural Resources big game biologist. “And while record harvests are not part of our objectives, the fact remains that hunters had a hugely successful season.”

Before the season the DNR's population projection was 1.6-1.8 million deer. After population modeling is complete, a new population model will be established along with a projection for the fall of 2008.

“This was a large harvest,” Warnke said. "Hunters put in a great effort and we’re making progress moving the population toward goals.”