It’s getting closer..... brush up on the rules before your gun deer hunt! 

If you leave it, tag it! Know your tagging rules before you head into the woods

Hunters are required to carry the appropriate carcass tag when hunting. The carcass tagging FAQ (visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords "tag it"), will help hunters make sure they are ready for another year in the field, while the frequently asked questions offers additional information regarding changes for 2016.

GameReg tutorial places registration information at your fingertips

To help ensure every hunter is aware of registration options in 2016, a helpful GameReg tutorial is now available online. This video can be viewed in the field or at home, and provides a step by step look at what to expect in 2016.

A link to the GameReg system is available through the Pocket Ranger app for mobile devices. For more information regarding electronic registration, search keyword “GameReg.” 

Wisconsin’s deer need your help – submit a harvested deer for CWD sampling

CWD sampling is offered at various locations throughout southern, central and northern Wisconsin. For information regarding where to take your deer for sampling, search keywords "CWD sampling" or contact the DNR call center at 888-936-7463. Hunters are reminded to contact sampling stations in advance to verify hours of operation.

Are you hunting in a split Deer Management Unit this year? Use the interactive hunt map to make sure you’re ready to go!

A split DMU is one of nine counties that are divided between two separate Deer Management Zones.  Wisconsin is broken into four Deer Management Zones, two of which are forest zones and two being farmland zones. When registering a deer harvested in a split DMU, hunters will need to indicate whether the deer was harvested in the Forest (Zone 1) or Farmland (Zone 2) portion of the county.

The following counties are split between two different zones in 2016: Marinette, Oconto, Clark, Eau Claire, Jackson, Monroe, Juneau, Adams, Wood and Clark. Check out the online deer zone and management unit map (dnr.wi.gov, keyword “DMU”) and find out which rules apply where you hunt.

Are you a visual learner? Check out the 2016 Deer Show with host Dan Small

Deer Hunt Wisconsin 2016 with Dan Small will help hunters prepare for another fall deer hunt and will help viewers get ready for deer season on-the-go. The entire show is available online! search keywords “deer show” or visit the department’s Youtube page, select “playlists” and select “Deer Hunt Wisconsin 2016 with Dan Small.”

Looking for all of this year’s key changes in one place? 

There are a few notable changes for this year’s deer hunting season, and you can find them in a helpful “Deer Hunt 2016 – What do you need to know?” document, found at dnr.wi.gov, keyword “deer.”

Help those in need this holiday season - consider donating a deer  

Department staff would like to remind hunters about the opportunity to donate deer through Wisconsin’s Deer Donation Program.  There is no cost to donate a deer - hunters only need to register and tag a deer and then drop it off at one of the 2016 Deer Donation sites.

Hunters have donated over 87,000 deer and nearly 3.9 million pounds of venison since the Deer Donation Program began in 2000. The collected meat is distributed through food pantries to Wisconsin families in need of food assistance.  The program relies on the cooperation of counties across the state, USDA-Wildlife Services, and community programs such as Hunt for the Hungry and Target Hunger.  These organizations help organize donations, coordinate processing, and distribute venison.To learn more and find a site near you, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords “deer donation.”

If you’re not sure – ask!

DNR Call center staff is available seven days a week (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) to answer any questions. Call toll free 1-888-WDNRINFo (1-888-936-7463). Bilingual operators and publications are also available.

For more general information regarding deer hunting in Wisconsin, search keyword “deer.” And, be sure to visit DNR’s Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and LinkedIn pages to learn more and share your love for Wisconsin’s wild outdoors with others.