History Of Wisconsin Deer Hunting

Wisconsin has a long and storied tradition of regulated gun deer hunting, going back to 1851. There have been many changes over the years, but none more dramatic as those experienced by hunters during the 1990's.

1834: Lafayette County, first reported crop damage by deer.

1851: First closed season for deer, Feb. 1: June 30. Indians permitted to hunt anytime.

1876: Hunting with dogs prohibited statewide.

1887: Two game wardens appointed by governor at a monthly salary of $50. Nighttime hunting prohibited statewide.

1888: Game laws published in pamphlet form.

1890: First chief warden appointed.

1892: Lawful for any person to kill any dog running or hunting deer. 1895: Sheboygan first county closed to deer hunting. Deer cannot be transported unless accompanied by hunter. Last October deer season in state.

1897: First bag limit for deer, two per season. Resident license costs $1, nonresident license costs $30. Estimated license sales total 12,000.

1900: Twelve hunters killed by firearms. 1903: Estimated 78,164 licenses sold.

1905: Use of salt licks prohibited. 1909: Season 20 days long, limit one deer.

1909: Season 20 days long, limit one deer. First civil service exam given on a competitive basis for prospective wardens.

1914: Twenty-four hunters killed, 26 injured. License sales at 155,000.

1915: First buck only season

1917: Shining deer while in possession of firearm illegal. Conservation Commission delegated some powers related to deer season, but legislature still retains authority to set seasons. Deer tags (paper) required for the first time; cost: 10 cents.

1920: First use of metal deer tags; cost: 10 cents.

1921: Wardens are instructed that "all deer found in possession..with horns less than three inches in length, is a fawn and should be confiscated."

1924: Estimated gun kill is 7,000.

1925: Legislature passes law closing deer season in alternate years.

1927: No open season

1928: Deer hunters required to wear official conservation button while hunting. Game Division formed within Conservation Department. Estimated harvest, 17,000; deer tags sold, 69,049.

1929: No open season 1930: Estimated kill, 23,000; deer tags sold; 77,284.

1931: No open season. First annual legislative appropriation for deer and bear damage, $12,000. 1932: Price of deer tag increased to $1. Estimated kill, 36,009; deer tags sold, 70,245.

1933: No open season. Conservation Congress, an advisory group representing public opinion as registered at annual county hearings, begins to assist Conservation Commission in establishing a deer management policy. Conservation Commission given power to set open season dates for all game.

1934: First bow deer season. Estimated gun kill, 21,251; deer tag sales, 83,938.

1935: No open season.

1937: Shortest deer season on record, three days.

1938: Use of the .22 rifle and .410 shotgun prohibited.

1939: Licensed children between ages of 12 and 16 must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Buckshot prohibited statewide.

1941: Deer predators rare; timber wolves nearing extinction. Estimated gun kill, 40,403; deer tags sold, 124,305.

1942: Back tags required while deer hunting.

1943: First doe and fawn season in 24 years.

1945: First year of 'shotgun only' counties. Wearing red clothing required while hunting deer.

1950: First 'any deer' season since 1919. Estimated gun kill, 167,911; deer tags sold, 312,570.

1951: Deer hunting license and tag cost $2.50. Orange colored clothing now included under red clothing law.

1953: First season gun deer hunters required to register deer at checking station.

1954: Two-thirds of bucks harvested are less than three years old.

1956: 100th established gun deer season. Registered gun kill, 35,562; deer tags sold, 284,645.

1958: Longest deer season since 1916, 16 days. Rock County open for the first time since 1906. First harvest by management unit (in northwest and northeast only) Registered gun kill, 95,234, of which 44,987 taken by party permit; deer tags sold, 335,866; party permits sold, 58,348.

1959: First statewide deer registration by management unit. Game Management Division of Conservation Department assumes responsibility for coordinating the state's deer program.

1960: First open season in Kenosha County since 1906. Hunter not permitted to buy a deer license after opening of gun season. Green and Racine Counties open for the first time since 1906. Registered gun kill, 61,005, of which 25,515 taken by party permit; deer tags sold, 338,208; party permits sold, 47,522.

1961: Resident big game license increased from $4 to $5. Hunters required to transport deer openly while driving to registration station.

1962: Deer population above 400,000.

1963: First year of quota party permits in eight management units. Assassination of President Kennedy lessens hunting pressure.

1964: Party permit quota extended to 32 management units.

1967: Hunter Safety Education Program begins.

1970: Registered gun kill, 72,844; license sales, 501,799. Thirteen hunters killed.

1973: No deer season fatalities.

1978: Record registered deer kill, 150,845; license sales, 644,594. 1980: Blaze orange clothing required. First season of Hunter's Choice permit. New law prohibits shining wild animals from 10pm to 7am, Sept. 15-Dec. 31. Coyote season closed in northern management units during gun season to protect nascent wolf population.

1981: Record registered deer kill, 166,673; license sales, 629,034. 1982: Another record registered deer kill, 182,715; license sales, 637,320. Three deer season fatalities.

1983: Harvest continues to rise, another record registered deer kill, 197,600; license sales, 649,972. Experimental antlerless deer hunt in six southern management units to relieve crop damage.

1984: Big jump in registered kill to 255,726; license sales, 657,969. Handgun deer hunting allowed in shotgun areas. Group hunting legalized.

1985: Fifth consecutive year of record kill, 274,302; license sales, 670,329. Deer season extended in 21 management units. Legislature further strengthens road hunting restrictions.

1986: Gun deer season now nine days statewide. Landowner preference program begins for Hunter's Choice permits.

1987: First year of bonus antlerless permits. Seven fatalities, 46 hunting accidents.

1988: Handguns permitted statewide.

1989: Record registered harvest, 310,192; license sales, 662,280. Pre-hunt herd estimated at 1.15 million. Two fatalities, 37 hunting accidents.

1990: Another record deer kill, 350,040, including 209,005 antlerless deer; record license sales, 671,890. Pre-hunt herd estimated at 1.3 million. Season extended for seven days in 67 management units.

1991: Third consecutive year of record harvest, 352,330. Hunters allowed to buy more than one bonus antlerless permit. Season extended in 72 management units, mostly in the north. First year of separate, seven-day, muzzle loader season. Two fatalities, 25 hunting accidents.

1992: Though kill fourth highest on record, 288,820, many hunters voice discontent over lack of success and claim DNR raised expectations by pre-hunt harvest prediction of around 370,000. Hunters allowed to apply for bonus antlerless permits in more than one unit. Natural Resources Board approves DNR Secretary's recommendation to keep the gun season at nine days. New metropolitan management units established around LaCrosse, Madison and Milwaukee.

1993: Harvest drops to 217,584, including 100,977 antlerless deer. Pre-hunt herd population estimated at 1 million with many units well below prescribed population goals. Thirty-four units, mainly in the north, designated as buck-only units. One fatality, 17 hunting accidents.

1994: Hunter's Choice permits available total 442,320 as compared to the previous year's 212,895. Quota raised to 177,340 from 103,140 in 1993. Pre-hunt harvest predicted between 250,000 and 280,000. Six northwest management units remain buck-only areas. Kill totals 307,629. Six fatalities, 28 hunting accidents. Herd beginning to build up in southern agricultural range.

1995: Herd estimated at 1.5 million deer. Over 577,000 antlerless permits available with 414,000 plus applicants, thus, over 163,000 bonus permits offered to hunters. Quota raised to 236,360, compared to 177,340 in 1994. For the first time, hunters who participate in both the archery and gun deer seasons have greater flexibility in using Hunter's Choice or bonus permits in that they can tag a deer with their antlerless permits during either the archery, gun or muzzleloader seasons. Kill totals 398,002, a new state record. 32 accidents, one fatal.

1996: 'Earn a Buck' requirement placed on hunters in 19 deer management units situated in agricultural range where existing deer seasons and permit systems were not controlling herd growth. Special four-day antlerless season, state's first October gun-deer hunt since 1897, takes place in 19 'earn a buck' units, resulting in harvest of 24,954 deer. Kill totals 388,791. Safest nine-day gun season ever; one fatality, 14 accidents.

1997: The 146th deer season. Herd estimated at 1.17 million deer Early Zone T season in seven management units and three state parks (Oct. 23: Oct. 26) results in preliminary kill of 7,055 antlerless deer. Earn a Buck provision in Zone T units scuttled.