Holiday Antlerless Hunt Raises Local Hunting Activity and Oversight

The Holiday Antlerless Hunt, which runs December 24 through January 1, is underway across Wisconsin and has already altered hunting patterns in northeast counties. On December 23, Shawano County DNR wildlife biologist Jaqi Christopher told officials that local hunters often reserve antlerless tags for the extended season, a practice expected to drive increased activity during the holiday period. “A lot of our private land hunters are waiting, saving their antlerless tags for those antlerless hunts,” she said.

Christopher noted that antlerless registrations this season have been nearly even with buck totals. “It’s basically 50-50 bucks to does,” she said, an observation that signals how harvest composition this year may differ from prior seasons and could influence deer population management decisions in the coming months.

For Menominee County residents the ongoing hunt matters for several reasons. Increased hunter presence on weekends and holidays can affect traffic on rural roads, use of public access points, and interactions between hunters and landowners. Where large portions of nearby counties are privately owned, as in Shawano County, harvest timing and reporting can create spillover effects in adjacent jurisdictions. County leaders and landowners may need to ensure clear signage and communication about property boundaries and permission to reduce conflicts during the holiday stretch.

The season also has policy implications for local wildlife management. Harvest patterns that shift toward more antlerless takes during a condensed period can alter population models used by state and local managers. Accurate and timely registration data are therefore important for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and county conservation staff as they assess harvest outcomes and plan future seasons.

Christopher reminded hunters that regulations vary by county and urged everyone to review local guidelines before heading into the woods. Full details and season rules are available on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website. Menominee County residents should verify regulations, secure landowner permission when required, and take standard safety precautions while the holiday hunt continues.