DNR Accepting Applications For Sandhill State Wildlife Area Learn To Hunt Deer Program

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now accepting applications for the 2025 Learn to Hunt Deer program at Sandhill Wildlife Area. Applications will be accepted through July 1.

Sandhill's Learn-to-Hunt workshops include classroom instruction, hands-on field experience and a mentored hunt on thousands of acres of intensively managed wildlife habitat. This unique opportunity provides participants with a rich educational experience while achieving deer management objectives on the 9,150-acre property.

The program is open to young hunters aged 12-15. Adults (age 16+) without previous experience hunting deer with a firearm may also apply. A chaperone must accompany all hunters. Registration for the program is $40.

All participants (and accompanying mentors) must attend one of the workshops. This year's in-person workshop dates are Aug. 20, 22 and 23.

Both the youth and adult workshops will cover the same topics:

• Deer biology and management
• Hunting rules and regulations
• Ethical hunter behavior
• Basic firearm safety
• Practice sighting and firing a hunting rifle

The program will culminate with a two-day hunt on Nov. 8-9 at Sandhill Wildlife Area near Babcock in Wood County. All participants must complete a Hunter Education course before the hunt.

"The winter of 2024-25 was the eleventh consecutive mild winter, according to the Winter Severity Index at Sandhill, and fawn recruitment is projected to be favorable as we have received ample spring rains. Higher fawn recruitment means more new deer added to the herd," said Darren Ladwig, DNR wildlife biologist at Sandhill. "This Learn to Hunt gives new hunters a good opportunity to try deer hunting while helping us reach our deer harvest goal for 2025."

Apply for the 2025 Sandhill Learn To Hunt using our online application. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. on July 1, 2025.