DNR: Hunters Bagged 3% Fewer Bucks Last Year

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin deer hunters shot 3 percent fewer bucks and 40 percent fewer does during all of last year’s hunting seasons. The DNR reports a total harvest of 329,000 animals in 2009. Officials said the decline was much bigger for antlerless deer because the Earn a Buck program was no longer in effect. Also, there were fewer tags available for antlerless deer in the northern forest area.

Bow and arrow hunters had more success. The DNR said archers took 19 percent more bucks last year, or about 41,000 – the 4th highest in history. The gun buck harvest fell by 11 percent, and experts also cited unfavorable weather for the reduced total harvest. But many hunters blamed the DNR for overestimating the deer herd, saying it resulted in too many does being killed. Officials responded a few weeks ago by unveiled a comprehensive campaign to determine more exact deer estimates. The DNR says its post-hunting deer population estimate is 990,000, down slightly from a year ago.