Swamp Syndicate

09/28/2025

Abel keech first deer hunting with his uncle David! Abel is 6 yrs old and he got this deer in Page County Virginia! Congratulations Abel!

09/22/2025

09/22/2025

Why should we hunt white-tailed deer?

There are both biological and management reasons why we hunt deer each fall. White-tailed deer are a prey species. Their reproductive strategy is set to cope with a high mortality rate and short lifespan. In many areas, wildlife has been displaced by human occupancy and land use. Due to the diversity of habitats, these areas also tend to produce more deer, often called the "edge effect."

In a stable deer population, annual production must be matched by annual mortality. The herd grows if the mortality level is lower than the production level. As a deer herd approaches biological carrying capacity (how many animals the land can support during the period of poorest food availability), it starts compensating.

Deer herds near or at biological carrying capacity can show reduced fawn survival. This occurs because the body weight of adult does starts declining due to competition for limited food with other deer.

Lower maternal body weight translates to lower birth weight in fawns, which can lead to lower survival rates. Low birth weight fawns that survive usually carry this signature throughout their lives, as their bodies are programmed not to attain maximum size, which requires higher caloric intake.

This larger-than-normal deer population over-browsing their preferred food sources presents challenges for future herd resiliency. Eating our preferred vegetation (crops and ornamentals) can also increase conflicts with humans and cause more accidents on roadways.

Hunting, as a form of predation, can shift eminent annual deer mortality to something that benefits both deer and people, by reducing other mortality factors like disease, starvation and vehicle strikes, while also ensuring that the remaining deer on the landscape can fulfill their ecological role in the best physical condition possible.

View the latest deer population trends in Wisconsin: https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/deermetrics/DeerStats.aspx?R=2

Photo Credit: Bob Haase

09/22/2025

Hunters! If you've harvested a deer, don't forget that you have until 5 p.m. the day after the deer is recovered to register the deer.

Good news: You can do it quickly and easily online using GameReg: https://gowild.wi.gov/wildlife/harvest

09/22/2025

Congratulations to Steve Scott on this awesome archery Bull. What a rush seeing this bad boy come in on a mission! Was a pleasure guiding you to your first moose!

08/31/2025

08/27/2025

Deer hunters know it's about time to start scouting properties to determine where they'll place their deer stands this season. That makes this an ideal time to remind hunters to avoid placing deer stands in or near ash trees, as doing so could create a clear safety hazard.

Most ash trees in the southern two-thirds of Wisconsin are dead or dying due to the emerald ash borer, and infestations in the northern part of the state are rapidly expanding. Emerald ash borer is confirmed in all 72 Wisconsin counties.

Dead and dying ash trees are structurally weaker than healthy trees, so they are not safe places to put deer stands. They may unexpectedly snap at the trunk or drop large branches. Often, it can be hard to tell if an ash tree has been infested by emerald ash borer. To keep things safe, hunters should always place deer stands in other types of trees instead.

Tree stand accidents are the leading cause of serious injury to deer hunters. One in four bowhunters has experienced a fall or near-fall from an elevated stand. It is important to place and maintain tree stands carefully, regardless of the type of tree selected.

Find more information about emerald ash borer, including ways to identify ash and signs and symptoms of infestation, on our website at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/foresthealth/emeraldashborer

08/17/2025

Putting in seasonal work cutting paths, checking stands and hanging cameras is something that’s often overlooked or neglected…. Don’t be that guy, get out there and get it done!
Moultrie Products
Ol'Man Treestands
Domain Outdoor LLC

08/07/2025

Since 1992, the Wisconsin DNR has been committed to providing accessible deer hunting opportunities for all hunters through our Gun Deer Hunt for Hunters with Disabilities. This unique hunt offers hunters with disabilities the chance to chase white tails in more accessible locations.

Generous landowner sponsors open thousands of acres of hunting land for participants each year. Interested hunters should contact landowner sponsors directly to sign up for a hunt. To be eligible, hunters must possess a qualifying permit and a gun deer license.

The deadline to contact and confirm a hunt with a sponsor is Sept. 15, 2025, and the 2025 hunt will take place from Oct. 4 -12.

More information about the Gun Deer Hunt for Hunters with Disabilities is available at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/disdeer

Note: This post has been edited to correct an inaccuracy in the hunting season dates.

08/07/2025

Latitude and Mossy Oak Bottomland. A match made in heaven.

now comes in Mossy Oak Bottomland and we've got a ton in stock. If you want to check it all out at once, come to our Aug 16th Demo day and get hands on. The Lonestar is one of the most comfortable saddles in the line up and the Ranger 22 is an extremely versatile hunting pack.

Sign up for the demo day or stop in! And don't forget to tag a buddy!

https://www.rootriverarchery.com/Shoot/Events

08/06/2025

Deer hunters in Wisconsin will notice some changes to the state's deer management units this fall.

The deer management units are divided into four zones: the Northern Forest Zone, Central Farmland Zone, Central Forest Zone and Southern Farmland Zone.

The DNR reviews Wisconsin's deer management units every few years. For the 2025 season, changes were made to the Northern Forest Zone, Central Forest Zone and the counties bordering them. Minor changes were also made to the Metropolitan Subunits across the state.

Hunters need to know their management zone, or unit number, when purchasing a bonus antlerless authorization or registering their deer harvest.

The DNR encourages hunters to check out the 2025 deer management unit map before purchasing a deer hunting license. Learn more about these changes on our website: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/deermanagement