The nine-day gun season concluded November 30th and harvest numbers once again in the Northern Forest region decreased by over 16% according to the Wisconsin DNR. Overall, the preliminary numbers show a decrease from 2024 as well, but the season is still open. There are several reasons attributed to the reduced harvest – decrease in the number of hunters, changes in deer management and changing deer population dynamics. However, we saw increased harvest numbers in 2021 (309,392) with 12,451 less licenses sold and 2022 (340,282) with 25,671 less licenses sold than 2020. Why the fall and increases in 2021 and 2022? Certainly, the factors listed above play a part, but a major contributor is wolves. In February 2021 we had a wolf hunt and deer harvests increased the following two seasons. There is absolutely a direct correlation, and Wisconsin needs to have another wolf hunt. Hunter Nation continues to lead the charge in a federal delisting and supports Congressman Tom Tiffany’s H.R. 845 Pet and Livestock Protection Act.