As hunters begin the final countdown to the nine-day gun deer season opener, the DNR is offering a few deer hunting forecast details to help prepare.
First, it’s been a relatively dry year and crop harvest is on or ahead of schedule.
Access in low-lying areas should not be hampered by flooding. However, unfrozen conditions in much of the state may limit access in some of the wetter areas.
Deer numbers are trending upward in much of the state. Deer numbers are high throughout the Farmland Zones, with a lot of antlerless harvest opportunities in many Farmland Deer Management Units.
Additional antlerless deer harvest supports a healthier herd.
The state experienced a very mild winter, which usually leads to better fawn numbers and antler growth.
There are no buck-only units this year. Antlerless harvest quotas in the Northern Forest were increased by 40% overall.
However, some northern counties with limited antlerless permits have sold out.
Hunters will have a different experience based on where in the state they hunt, whether they are hunting public or private land, forest or farmland, hunting pressure, and many other factors.
You can see the full deer hunting forecast on the DNR website.
