Gary BunnellShiocton, WI, United States
Nov 12, 2026
Thank you for your interest in returning to in-person deer registration stations in Wisconsin. The Department of Natural Resources was directed to implement on-line deer registration as part of a series of actions recommended by Dr. James Kroll, hired to serve as the Deer Trustee under then Governor Scott Walker, and approved by the Natural Resources Board serving at that time.
With ever-tightening budgets and limited staff, the on-line registration system allows the Department to assess deer harvest levels in a real-time, centralized manner ensuring DNR staff focus on high priority work during the gun-deer season. Following the transition to on-line registration, the DNR evaluated the harvest data both pre and post transition and saw no changes in harvest totals that called into question the validity of the new registration process. In addition, there have been changes to the GoWild system since back tags were provided with the purchase of a license, and modifying the system to facilitate this change would require additional costs not within the Department’s existing budget. It is hard for me to imagine going back to DNR-led in-person registration stations given the fiscal constraints the Department currently faces.
I do understand the positive benefits to some for in-person deer registration, and applaud those communities and local businesses who continue to provide services and gathering places for hunters to relax, share stories, and compare hunting results. As a result of the loss of registration stations, many businesses around the state have taken actions to attract members of the hunting communities to their businesses through such things as deer harvest contests with a wide variety of categories to enhance participation. These community opportunities help the local economies and build community without DNR oversight.
I also wanted to share that the DNR has recently hired a new Deer Management Specialist, replacing the recently retired Jeff Pritzl and I am looking forward to their future program reviews and recommendations to enhance deer management in the state.
I wish you all a safe and productive hunting season.
Robin Schmidt, Chair
Wisconsin Natural Resources Board
With ever-tightening budgets and limited staff, the on-line registration system allows the Department to assess deer harvest levels in a real-time, centralized manner ensuring DNR staff focus on high priority work during the gun-deer season. Following the transition to on-line registration, the DNR evaluated the harvest data both pre and post transition and saw no changes in harvest totals that called into question the validity of the new registration process. In addition, there have been changes to the GoWild system since back tags were provided with the purchase of a license, and modifying the system to facilitate this change would require additional costs not within the Department’s existing budget. It is hard for me to imagine going back to DNR-led in-person registration stations given the fiscal constraints the Department currently faces.
I do understand the positive benefits to some for in-person deer registration, and applaud those communities and local businesses who continue to provide services and gathering places for hunters to relax, share stories, and compare hunting results. As a result of the loss of registration stations, many businesses around the state have taken actions to attract members of the hunting communities to their businesses through such things as deer harvest contests with a wide variety of categories to enhance participation. These community opportunities help the local economies and build community without DNR oversight.
I also wanted to share that the DNR has recently hired a new Deer Management Specialist, replacing the recently retired Jeff Pritzl and I am looking forward to their future program reviews and recommendations to enhance deer management in the state.
I wish you all a safe and productive hunting season.
Robin Schmidt, Chair
Wisconsin Natural Resources Board
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