Deer harvest recovers, still lower than 2020

After having the fewest deer harvested during opening weekend in more than a decade, hunters had better luck over the rest of the nine-day gun deer season, which ended Nov. 28.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reported last week that 4,186 deer were harvested in Trempealeau County this season. That total is 255 fewer than in 2020, but still 478 more than what was harvested in 2019. Making up the 2021 total were 1,658 bucks and 2,528 does. 

The Trempealeau County numbers were similar to what hunters saw statewide. There were roughly 13,000 fewer deer harvested in 2021 compared to 2020, but it was still a significant increase than 2019. The statewide total was down roughly eight percent from last year. There was a 13.2 percent decrease in the number of antlerless deer harvested. 

Jackson County was one of the few counties in the state to actually see an increase in the number of deer harvested in opening weekend, however, their total was still about 400 fewer than in 2020 and only about 50 more than what was harvested in 2019.

Buffalo County hunters harvested 3,058 deer in 2021, compared to 3,298 in 2020 and 2,997 in 2019. 

The DNR reported six hunting incidents, three occurred on opening weekend including two were in Door County. Others happened in the Waukesha County town of Ottawa; Seven Mile Creek in Juneau County; Saxon in Iron County and Rib Falls in Marathon County. The only death happened in Saxon when a 65-year-old male was accidentally shot in the chest. Another hunter moved and knocked his firearm to the ground, causing it to discharge and striking the 65-year-old, who was pronounced dead at the scene.