Northwest Wisconsin Leads Way in Below-Target Bear Season

NORTHWEST WISCONSIN (WCFW / WLAK / WBZH / WSCM) – Northwest Wisconsin zones saw the largest totals for this year’s bear hunting season, which fell short of the statewide harvest target.

According to preliminary results released by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on Wednesday, the 2025 season saw a total of 3,724 bears harvested across the state. That total was over 300 bears short of the overall harvest target of 4,075 bears, and slightly below the five-year harvest average of about 3,800 bears.

The 2025 bear hunting season ran from Sept. 3 to Oct. 7. 13,110 bear hunting licenses were awarded to hunters across the state this year.

Hunting Zone A in northern Wisconsin was the only zone to exceed the harvest target, seeing a total of 1,161 bears harvested with a target of 1,075. The DNR issued 1,680 licenses in Zone A, leading to a hunter success rate of 69 percent.

Hunting Zone D in western Wisconsin saw the second highest harvest total, but it fell short of its harvest target. Hunters harvested 906 bears in the zone with a target of 1,100. The DNR also issued 3,570 licenses, leading to a hunter success rate of only 25 percent.

The Northwest Wisconsin hunting zones accounted for a preliminary combined total harvest of 2,067 bears. Hunting Zones B, C, E, and F combined for a total of 1,657.

Northwest Wisconsin lead the way in a resurgent bear hunting season last year, with 1,237 bears harvested in Zone A and 1,177 bears harvested in Zone D. Overall, the 2024 season saw a total of 4,285 bears harvested, over 500 more than the 2025 season.