With both the Minnesota and Wisconsin archery seasons kicking off, businesses such as Chalstrom’s Archery in Duluth, are seeing an influx of hunters coming through their doors.

“Archery license sales have been really strong for the last, and deer licenses in general, really strong for the last month. We just came up on the deadline for people for their doe permits. And so quite a few folks in the last two weeks came in to get their licenses so that they would be eligible for doe permits,” said John Chalstrom, owner of Chalstrom’s Archery.

With the stretch of warm weather throughout the two states, people have had more time to spend outdoors. The weather has also benefitted hunters, because when the weather cools down, animals slow down movement to conserve energy and heat.

“You know this September feels like August weather, you know, and customers are still getting out and enjoying the outdoors a lot and that includes hunting and fishing. So, the outdoor sports really doing good right now because the weather is held up and the way the weather outlooks looking up, I’d say we’re going to have probably a record-breaking fall,” said Chalstrom.

As archers draw their bows for the first time of the season, they can look hope their luck looks like 2024 bear season’s success.

“Most years we end up with for processing, we do about 15-16 bear, and as of this morning, we’ve taken in 30 and so with a month left to go for bear season. So, the bear hunters are having a very, very good year. It’s probably the best bear season we’ve seen in like the last 20 years,” said Chalstrom.

PREVIOUS REPORTING: Wisconsin’s archery and crossbow deer hunting season opens – WDIO.com

2024 Minnesota Deer Archery and Crossbow Season – September 14 to December 31.
2024 Wisconsin Deer Archery and Crossbow Season – September 14 to January 5.
*Some metro sub-units and counties have extended archery seasons that go to January 31.