By State Rep. Kevin Petersen

All over Wisconsin people are enjoying this year’s gun deer hunting season. That is hardly news for most Wisconsinites. Hunters anticipate the season like a child yearns for Christmas morning.

Here’s what you might not know – as reported in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, deer hunting puts more than $2.1 billion into our state’s local economies. Wisconsin’s hunters are keeping businesses strong in every corner of the state, and provide a bond like no other between families and friends who enjoy the camaraderie and traditions of the hunt.

Hunting is more than simply a sport in Wisconsin, with its importance extending beyond our state’s retail health. There were approximately 16,500 vehicle vs. deer crashes in 2021. American Family Insurance reported the average repair cost was $4,800.

An estimate from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) cites approximately 1.5 million deer populate the state. Waupaca County had over 44,000 and Waushara County had over 30,000 deer. In 2021, hunters harvested over 9,300 deer in Waupaca County and 6,400 in Waushara County.

Like so many traditions, the joy of deer hunting is passed down from generation to generation. I’ve consistently voted for legislation that both enhances the sport as well as encourages its future. For instance, we improved Wisconsin’s mentorship program by removing a minimum age a young hunter can be mentored by an adult. We’ve also added blaze pink as an acceptable color for Wisconsin hunters.

As hunters populate the fields and forests of our state, I will continue to back bills that enhance deer hunting and sportsmanship – traditions that are inherently a part of Wisconsin’s culture.