Based upon several reports from registration stations throughout Wisconsin, there is a significant decline of deer registration for the 2009 gun deer season.

            An official 29% drop from the 2008 season marks the results of this year’s data. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, only 195,647 deer have been registered. 86,251 of those registered were bucks and 109,396 were antlerless deer. All 72 counties of Wisconsin reported declines, which makes the data consistent that the deer have not migrated to another region of Wisconsin.

             These results are clear at a local truck stop in Waupaca that registers deer. One employee, Jessica Pelzar, says, “Deer registrations were down 40% at the end of Sunday evening.”

Other locations within Wisconsin have reported the same results, such as the Viking Express I in Reedsburg, where only 233 deer were registered when they expected 1000.

            One hunter from Arrowhead, senior Brennan Deswarte, who has been desperate to see deer this year says, “I have not seen deer, nor deer tracks by my tree stand.”

            The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources indicates these are the lowest numbers in 27 years.

Along with the decline of deer registered, there was also a decrease in the number of hunting incidents, making the 2009 season the fourth safest hunting year in history.