Deer kill over 340,000 3 Hunters fatally shot
Hunters shot more than 340,000 deer during the firearms season that ended Sunday, the second safest on record for hunting accidents.
The state Department of Natural Resources reported 343,644 deer were registered by 5 p.m. Monday. That includes 125,060 bucks, down 3.5% from last year, and 218,584 antlerless deer, up 6% from last year.
A total of 641,432 gun-deer licenses were purchased.
The Wisconsin DNR has attributed the differences to earn-a-buck regulations being imposed in more deer management units this season. These rules require hunters to shoot an antlerless deer before earning a buck tag. (EAB)
Total firearms accidents reported to the DNR dropped from 11 to six
Three hunters were killed this season, compared with two last year:
fatally shot hunters:
David R. Ruck, 18, of Saxeville was killed Nov. 18 in Waushara County when his 63-year-old grandfather mistook him for a deer.
Scott Kiefer, 29, of Montgomery, Ill., was shot to death Nov. 19 in Burnett County by a 54-year-old member of his hunting party whose rifle caught on brush and fired.
Shaun L. Winter, 26, of Madison was fatally shot Saturday in Price County by a 32-year-old member of his hunting party who didn't know Winter had moved to a different spot during a deer drive.
non-fatal shootings:
17-year-old man shot a 42-year-old man through the calf Nov. 20 in Buffalo County when a deer ran between them.
A 47-year-old man shot himself Nov. 21 in Green Lake County. He said his rifle fell from his tree stand, shooting off one toe before the bullet lodged in his abdomen.
A 43-year-old man grazed a 19-year-old man on the hip Friday in Dunn County.
