All outdoors users—hunters, trappers, wildlife viewers, nature photographers and farmers will find the 2024 fall forecasts informative, useful, and optimistic.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 2024 deer, migratory bird, upland bird, bear, and furbearer forecasts have been prepared and are now available online at the WDNR website.  

The 2024 Wisconsin Hunting Regulations for fall 2024-spring 2025 are also online and will be available later this month as a printed pamphlet; the forecast package will not appear in a printed pamphlet. 

Both items are home-printer friendly, include color photographs, maps, season dates, charts, and script.

The five sections total 23 pages, with the deer section being one-half of the material.  

Written and prepared for hunters, other outdoor users will find helpful information on where wildlife may be seen in habitat landscapes.

Deer hunters should note that in 2024 the antlerless-only holiday hunt will run from December 24 to January 1, 2025 in 41 counties, and 35 of those 41 counties have an extended archery season ending January 31, 2025.  The numbers of antlerless authorizations issued with each license have been modified in some cases, ranging up to four permits.  

The nine-day gun deer season, which opens Saturday November 23, is the latest possible date.  This will have an impacts from weather, crop harvests, leaf cover, and deer movement.

The deer biologists remind hunters in the script that there is usually more to a deer hunt than deer and encourage hunters to enjoy some of the other sights, sounds, and opportunities as well.

Eric Cananla, DNR biologist in the Southern District said, “The 2024 deer season will be here before we know it and it will be welcomed by deer hunters all over the nation.  We hope you take time this fall to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty and world class hunting opportunities that Wisconsin has to offer.”

Derek Johnson, DNR biologist in the Northern District  said, “From our camp to yours, have fun, stay safe, and remember to enjoy the small things while in the woods this fall, too from bucks chasing does to those pesky squirrels rustling in the leaves, it’s all part of the experience.”

Rubbing blaze orange jackets with field wardens, farmers, other hunters, and those serving coffee and sandwiches can become part of this tradition.

My oral and written suggestion to DNR staff recently were that a sixth section for the 2025 forecast could include remarks and forecasts on quiet gatherings, as well as viewing and photography opportunities.  This material would be useful to those who are hunters as well as non-hunters.  Because autumn is an extremely popular season for “leaf peakers,” comments as to where, when and how to venture would be useful to thousands of folks dressed in leisure clothing and in the field with blaze orange garb.  At some point, Wisconsin may expect this quiet crowd to voluntarily chip in some dollars.  Providing this information and recognizing that most everyone is impacted by the nine-day gun deer season make these pages even more worthy.  

Coming to mind are hickory and walnut pickers, novice mycologists, microphagous gourmets out seeking sulphur fungi, puffballs, hen-of-the-woods, oyster mushrooms, digging ginseng, and conservation-minded landowners.

As an example of “section six,” could tell when elk are bugling at Clam Lake and Black River Falls.  Enjoying a small fall in southern Wisconsin, where vistas of maples are rare would surely help those having limited travel opportunities but still wanting to take in autumn.

Others might find seeing Wisconsin through color photographs enough to satisfy some and inspire them to reach for a checkbook to make a donation to wildlife conservation and habitat restoration.  The state’s deer biologists are also looking for general public opinion in deer management. 

Some shrubs and trees are now adorned with cones, fruits, tendrils and thorns.  Field corn kernels are beginning to dent, garden beans, tomatoes and potatoes are ready to be eaten, squirrels are cutting twigs to harvest fallen acorns, but acorn production is spotty, at best.

Prairies continue to bloom pretty with cream and bottle gentians.  The fungal kingdom is wild with color, shape and texture.  Wild ginseng fruits are becoming vivid red, but it is too early to think about digging.  Protecting the plant and planting the seeds are better options.