Tracks & Trails

Preliminary figures indicate that hunters registered 203,295 deer during the 2022 gun deer season, including 98,397 antlered and 104,898 antlerless deer. Since archery season opened on September 17th, hunters have registered 301,540 deer statewide to date with all seasons combined. Compared to 2021, the total firearm deer harvest was up 14.4% statewide with the antlered harvest up 14.7% and antlerless harvest up 14.1%.

All four deer management zones showed harvest increases from 2021 for both antlered and antlerless harvests. The Central Farm Zone (plus 30.6%) saw the most significant increase, with Northern Forest Zone (plus 19.3%) also seeing a considerable increase. The Central Farmland Zone was up 13.5%, while the Southern Farmland Zone was up 10.2%.

Locally, Chippewa County registered 4,137 deer, 1,895 antlered deer and 2,242 antlerless. Last year, Chippewa County registered 3,713 deer during the gun deer season.

Clark County registered a total of 6,991 deer during the gun deer hunt, 2,984 antlered and 4,007 antlerless. Clark County had the third highest total harvest in the Central Farm Zone behind Marathon and Shawano Counties. Last year Clark County harvested 5,592 deer during the gun deer season.

Eau Claire County registered a total of 2,574 deer, 1,212 antlered and 1,362 antlerless. Last year Eau Claire County registered 2,159 deer. The Central Forest Zone in Eau Claire County registered an average of 4.8 deer per square mile.

Taylor County registered 3,845 deer, 1,973 antlered and 1,872 antlerless. Compared to all counties in the Northern Forest Zone, Taylor County tallied the highest number of deer registrations.

With exception of cold temperatures and windy conditions opening weekend, DNR staff across the state reported good weather throughout the week days of the season. Warm weather later in the season melted snow causing reductions in deer and hunter activity.

Unfortunately the DNR reported 8 firearm involved injures and 1 fatality for the entire 2022 gun deer season. Two injuries were the result of unloading a firearm within a vehicle. Four injuries were self-inflicted while 2 accidents resulted during deer drives. An average of 6.4 hunting accidents per year have occurred throughout the last 10 gun deer seasons (2013 – 2022). In addition, there were zero fatalities in 6 of those 10 years.

The DNR is asking hunters to participate in their Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey which will remain active until all deer seasons have ended. Wildlife managers ask that hunters submit a report of what they observed during their time in the field, i.e., raccoons, bear, turkeys, etc. This information provides valuable data to County Deer Advisory Councils which make recommendations for future deer seasons. Additional information is available on the DNR website. Look for Wildlife Hunter Survey.