Wisconsin’s Archery & Crossbow Deer Season Opens This Weekend

As the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to change, Wisconsin hunters are gearing up for the start of archery and crossbow deer season. Opening on this Saturday, September 14th, 2024, the season runs through January 5th, 2025, with extended seasons available in 35 counties and metro subunits until January 31st, 2025. These early weeks of archery and crossbow season offer the perfect opportunity for hunters to harvest deer before their behavior shifts in response to increased pressure during the later gun seasons.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters to prioritize safety and be mindful of their surroundings while hunting. Even when hunting with a bow or crossbow, hunters should follow essential safety guidelines, such as wearing a safety harness in a tree stand and using three points of contact when climbing in or out of the stand. It's also important to use a haul line to bring up unloaded gear, including bows or crossbows, to avoid accidents.

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With hunting comes the responsibility of registering all harvested deer. Hunters are required to register their deer by 5 PM the day after recovery. This can be done easily through the DNR's GameReg system online, by phone, or at participating registration stations.

For hunters looking to scout the perfect location, the DNR offers a wealth of mobile-friendly resources, including hunting regulations, season dates, and maps of public lands open to hunting. These tools can be accessed through the DNR’s Hunting webpage and the Public Access Lands (PAL) tool, ensuring hunters are well-prepared before ever stepping into the woods.

In addition to safety and regulations, hunters are urged to remain vigilant against chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal illness that affects deer, elk, moose, and caribou. CWD spreads through contact with an infected animal’s saliva, urine, feces, or blood, as well as indirectly through contaminated environments. To slow the spread of CWD, hunters should observe all baiting and feeding bans in place, especially in counties where the disease has been detected.

The DNR implements baiting and feeding bans in areas with confirmed CWD cases to prevent deer from congregating unnaturally, which can increase the likelihood of disease transmission. Hunters can find a map of counties with active bans and learn more about CWD prevention on the DNR’s Baiting and Feeding Regulations webpage.

As Wisconsin hunters head into the woods this fall, staying informed, prepared, and safety-conscious will ensure a rewarding start to the season.