Deer Hunting Seasons Generated $233 million in Wisconsin Last Year.

Deer hunters spent $233 million in Wisconsin during the 2000-2001 hunting seasons, according to a new Department of Tourism study.  

Following last season's hunting seasons bow, gun, muzzleloader and early and late Zone T), the Department of Tourism with the assistance of the Department of Natural Resources surveyed 804 hunters.  

The study only measured travel expenditures, not equipment or other expenditures that the hunters may have made prior to their hunting trips. Here are some of the findings:

• During the 2000 deer hunting season, an estimated 563,875 or 82% of the licensed hunters actually hunted deer during the 2000 season.

• Wisconsin residents accounted for 94% of the licensed deer hunters.

• Residents who hunted locally averaged 10.1 days of hunting compared to traveling hunters (non-residents and those who hunted outside their local area) who hunted 3.2 days.

• Seven out of ten hunters were gun hunters; 21% hunted with a bow; and 2% used a muzzleloader.

• 31% of the deer hunters stayed in paid accommodations --11% stayed in hotels/motels/B&Bs; 10% rented a condo or cabin; and 10% camped.

• The average number of nights traveling hunters spent away from home during the 2000 deer hunting seasons was 3.3.

• Traveling hunters had an average party size of 4 people versus local hunters with 3 people.

• Eleven percent of the hunting parties had children under the age of 13 in their group.

• Traveling hunters (non-residents and residents who hunted outside their local area) spent almost 50% more per day than hunters who hunted in their local area ($56.85 vs. $23.02).

Per Hunter/Per Day Expenditures 

For information on obtaining this or other Department of Tourism research documents, please see our Research page.