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DNR reports lower overall deer harvest in Ashland County; mature bucks noted
Summary
Ashland County DNR staff reported a 10% drop in deer harvest compared with the five-year average, attributed in part to the absence of antlerless tags; staff also said bucks seen were larger-bodied and antlered than recent years.
Jenna, representing the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources at the meeting, reported that Ashland County’s deer harvest during the nine‑day season was below recent averages and down from last year, and that different weapon categories saw varying results.
Jenna said the county’s harvest was “down 10% from the five‑year average and 7% from last year,” with a 35% drop in the antlerless (doe) harvest compared with typical years; the county did not have an antlerless tag season this year. She reported 533 bucks and 127 does harvested for a total of 660 deer to date in Ashland County, including youth, veteran and disabled hunts.
Why it matters: The lack of an antlerless season reduces harvest opportunity and can shift hunter effort to other counties, staff said. That in turn can affect local deer population management and future season allocations.
Jenna also said the animals harvested tended to be larger-bodied and that many yearlings reached 6‑ to 8‑point racks—an indicator staff said could reflect the mild prior winter that improved body condition. Staff cautioned that lower participation and less time spent hunting—fewer deer drives and fewer days at camps—also contributed to the reduced harvest totals.
Weapon-specific counts: Jenna gave weapon-specific figures as part of the field update: 69 bucks taken with vertical bow, 257 with crossbow and 527 during gun seasons across reporting windows, with some accounting overlaps due to reporting categories. Jenna said those weapon‑specific totals already exceeded prior-season totals for bow and crossbow in prior years.
Quote: “The deer harvest was down 10% from the five‑year average and 7% from last year. That includes a 35% drop for doe harvest,” Jenna said.
Ending: DNR staff said they will continue aging samples and CWD testing and will return to the committee with further seasonal data and any management recommendations.
