Madison Reporter

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced that bonus antlerless deer harvest authorizations for the 2025 gun deer season will become available for purchase starting at 10 a.m. on Monday, August 18, 2025. These authorizations can be obtained online through the Go Wild license portal and at authorized license sales locations.

Bonus antlerless authorizations are being offered at a rate of one per person per day until all are sold or until the end of the 2025 deer hunting season. The cost is set at $12 each for Wisconsin residents, $20 each for non-residents, and $5 each for youth ages 11 and under.

An online queuing system will be implemented to manage the expected high volume of users accessing Go Wild when sales begin. "All users entering the site between 9:45 a.m. and 10 a.m. will be randomly assigned a number and staged in a virtual queue," according to the DNR's announcement. "Users will be arranged randomly regardless of the actual time they enter the system. There is no advantage for customers who enter the site before 9:45 a.m." Those who log on after 10 a.m. will join the end of the existing queue based on their arrival time.

To successfully complete their purchase, hunters must know which deer management zone and unit they intend to hunt in, whether they plan to hunt on public or private land, and must have an approved deer hunting license. The DNR noted that due to changes made during realignment of Northern and Central Forest Zones, some deer management unit borders have shifted for 2025. Hunters are encouraged to review updated maps before purchasing licenses.

The release outlined that bonus authorization sales during the first three days will focus on specific management zones:

- August 18: Forest Zones (Northern and Central)

- August 19: Central Farmland Zone

- August 20: Southern Farmland Zone

- August 21: All zones available

The amount of antlerless harvest opportunities varies by management unit based on local deer population levels; areas with more abundant populations offer greater harvest chances while units with fewer deer provide more limited options.

A detailed list showing how many bonus antlerless harvest authorizations remain available in each unit is accessible through the DNR’s Antlerless Deer Harvest Authorization webpage.

Hunters should also note that every purchase of a deer hunting license in Farmland Zone units automatically includes at least one antlerless harvest authorization, with some units providing additional authorizations depending on location rules.

For further details about Wisconsin’s regulations or guidance regarding this year’s hunting season, information is provided via the DNR’s Deer Hunting webpage.

"Bonus authorizations are sold at a rate of one per person per day until sold out or until the 2025 deer hunting season ends," stated officials from DNR. "Bonus authorizations are $12 each for Wisconsin residents, $20 each for non-residents and $5 each for youth ages 11 and under."

"The number of antlerless harvest opportunities will vary by deer management unit in accordance with local deer population levels," according to department guidance issued Friday. "This allows for greater harvest opportunities where deer are abundant and a more conservative harvest where deer are fewer in number."

"As a reminder, a minimum of one Farmland Zone antlerless harvest authorization is included with each deer hunting license purchase in all Farmland Zone units," said agency representatives.