2024 Deer Hunting Season Begins in Wisconsin

SUPERIOR, Wis.– Deer hunting is a beloved Midwest tradition that brings families together year after year.

“My husband, son and I hunt together. You know, they’re not quite in the area, that’s real important too. You know, I’m really looking forward to it,” said Pat Kukull, owner of Superior Shooter Supply.

Many enthusiastic hunters, counting down the days until opener weekend.

“So around here, in Northern Wisconsin, deer opener is pretty much a state holiday. So, a lot of people get excited,” said Scott Miller, manager at Northwest Outlet.

And businesses are feeling the impact from customers preparing for the big weekend, both near and far.

“We’ve got a lot of great customers, it seems like even though they’re not from the area, they stop in here when they’re passing through,” said Miller.

“We even have some nonresidents from Canada came through. And they come every single year. And the gentleman was like, I could get this online, but I just want to come, see the store, and talk. And I see them once a year,” said Kukull.

And with November coming to a close, Deer opener in Wisconsin is finally here.

There’s a lot to be excited about with deer hunting, however, there’s also lot to think about when it comes to the little things, like comfort in the stand.

“You know, the big thing is just having the right clothes to be warm. And you know, starting with the base layer. You know, the key to a lot of it is just the layering aspect. You don’t want to just get the heaviest parka that you have because you’re going to get hot walking out to the stand,” said Miller.

But with the sport itself, keeping safety in mind is crucial.

According to the owner of Superior Shooter Supply, there’s two words to remember when deer hunting.

“Well, the rule of thumb is always barrel down. No matter what happens. Barrel down. If you have it in a safe position, always. Even if you have something say as bad as a misfire, and it’s not aimed its barrel down. That’s the most important thing,” said Kukull.

In Wisconsin and Minnesota, the clothing rules for hunting, you must wear 50 percent blaze orange.

“Blaze orange is incredibly important. And it seems like every year, even with blaze orange, somebody seems to get themselves into trouble. And you know, I’ve never seen a deer running around with blaze orange,” said Miller.

Wearing orange is something to keep in mind, even when not hunting.

“If you’re not hunting deer, and you’re taking a stroll, hunting grouse or something, please remember to wear orange. Everybody going in the woods, even if you’re walking your dog alongside the road, put an orange cap on, or a vest or something,” said Kukull.

When it comes to this tradition, for both the shop owners, and the hunters, it will continue to live on for generations. To create those lasting memories.

“Of course we’ve been here for 44 years, so not only are we seeing kids, but we’re also seeing grandkids now! And it’s all good. It’s great to see this,” said Kukull.