The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has released preliminary license sales, harvest registration and hunting incident numbers. 

Preliminary figures indicate the number of deer hunters in Wisconsin slightly decreased compared to 2024. Sales for deer hunting privileges, which include gun, archery, crossbow, conservation patron and sports licenses reached 790,044, down 0.12% from the same time last year. 

Deer hunting license and harvest authorization sales will continue throughout the remaining deer hunting seasons. 

Preliminary figures show hunters registered 182,084 deer during this year's gun deer season, including 86,068 antlered and 96,016 antlerless deer. Compared to last year, the gun season harvest total is down 0.8% statewide, with the antlered harvest down 2.6% and the antlerless harvest up 0.9%.

A total harvest of 2,312 was reported in Washington County with 4,692 in Dodge County.

On Nov. 22, in the evening hours, a 24-year-old male deer hunter was a victim of a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The victim was found deceased several hours after the close of hunting hours by family on private property. Preliminary investigation reflects the victim was in a tree, gun deer hunting from a saddle stand, when the unintentional discharge of their firearm occurred. Investigation pending.