Deer Population Goals

Wisconsin's estimated post-hunt deer population is well above goal again this year. Since 1960, biologists have used hunter harvest and population modeling techniques to estimate herd size. Population goals were first established in 1962. The original over winter (post hunting season) goal for the Wisconsin deer herd was 441,900 deer. As deer range expanded and hunting interest increased, the goal has grown until today it stands at nearly 709,000 an increase in goal of more than 60%.

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Between 1962 and 1984, the over winter estimate averaged 1% over goal. Between 1985 and 1994, the over winter estimate averaged 16% above goal, and between 1995 and 2004, the average was 43% over goal. The over winter estimate indicates that the statewide deer herd has been at or within 5% of goal only twice in the last 20 years.

At the end of the 2004 deer season, after the second largest harvest in history, the over winter population estimate will be about 50% over goal which is closer than the 56% after the 2003 season, but still requires a lot of work in many units to bring the population down to goal.

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