DeerFest

05/25/2026

Honoring those who served!

05/12/2026

🦌 IT'S ALIVE.

The new DeerFest 2026 website is officially LIVE — and this season is going to be one for the books.

August 14–16, 2026
Holiday Inn Convention Center · Stevens Point, WI

Hunting. Fishing. Conservation. Live demos, interactive exhibits, and the outdoor experience Wisconsin has been waiting for all year.

🎟️ Tickets go on sale June 23 — mark your calendar. Early access moves fast.
🏕️ Vendors — spots are filling. Get your application in now before they're gone.

Explore everything at https://dripl.ink/Y2PYE

The Season Starts Here. 🦌

The ultimate outdoor experience — hunting, fishing, and conservation. August 14–16, 2026 · Holiday Inn Convention Center · Stevens Point, WI

04/16/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1bi11swrtF/?mibextid=wwXIfr

If you or someone you know has their first successful turkey hunt this spring, you can celebrate it with a First Harvest Certificate from the DNR!

This is a great way to commemorate a first successful hunt for hunters of any age, especially for those participating in the youth hunt this weekend. It's also free!

Just click the link, fill in the corresponding information and upload a photo – we'll take care of the rest: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/firstcert.html

04/11/2026

Good luck Wisconsin youth hunters! Drop some photos below!!!

04/09/2026

What’s the public opinion on this in Wisconsin??

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KW8TWfE2G/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Minnesota Bowhunters had a very interesting post today. Many in Wisconsin feel the same way, but is it too late here to get some common-sense guardrails back?

Here's the MN info:

As of right now, crossbow inclusion into Minnesota archery seasons is still set to expire on June 30th. We hope this failed experiment is allowed to expire, and we have been very actively working to see that happen. This is not over yet!

Most hunters who are generally supportive of crossbow inclusion believe that it will have a positive impact on youth hunter retention and recruitment. It does not and has never produced those results. It simply sells more crossbows and removes the archery requirement from archery seasons.

If allowed to expire crossbows would:

■ Return to 60+ and disability permits

■ Remain legal for use during the general / firearm season

■ Also remain as a legal option for youth during the MEA youth season

Things to consider:

● Not the best weapon option for youth or women

● Does not increase the number of individual youth or female deer hunters

● NOT ARCHERY

● No benefit to overall deer harvest or management

● Creates a substantially worse firearm / general season hunting opportunity (when most population management occurs)

● Artificially doubling archery season participation will have a negative impact on bowhunter opportunity, access, and harvest.

04/08/2026

https://www.outdoornews.com/2026/03/30/wisconsins-iola-conservation-club-hosts-first-all-girl-hunter-education-class/?fbclid=IwZnRzaARCgsZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeByU-nv2Imv5lFUVgyGSxv6q_r6J5o4yvMkub3tv9fxZnUu5Lu5S2bcC5q9c_aem_8qN_c8fJu0X6Uq4qDxALKQ

All 12 students are girls, which Bestul said hasn’t happened in any of his classes over his four decades of volunteer instruction.

04/01/2026

🚨 BIG NEWS FROM DEERFEST 🚨

After years of planning, DeerFest is officially going FULLY INDOORS… with a climate-controlled whitetail habitat 🦌❄️

That’s right — live deer walking the showroom floor so you can practice calling, rattling, and judging bucks at point-blank range.

But it doesn’t stop there…
• Tree stand demos at 20 feet (harness optional 😅)
• “Realistic rut simulation” every hour on the hour
• And rumor has it… a 200” buck will be released somewhere in the building 👀

Mark your calendars… you won’t want to miss this one.

…or will you? 😏

03/17/2026

There’s nothing like that feeling of spotting your first shed of the season 👀🦌

Shed hunting isn’t just about finding antlers—it’s about getting back out in the woods, covering miles, and piecing together the story of the deer that made it through another season. Every shed tells a story, and every step is part of the chase.

A few fresh finds from the grind… and hopefully many more to come.

Who else is putting in the miles and stacking up bone? Drop your best finds below 👇

03/13/2026

What’s your favorite scouting method? (Trail Cam, Glassing, Sign reading, etc)

02/07/2026

Who knows what is happening here??

02/06/2026

We're cranking it up for 2026: more interactive exhibits, live archery demos, pro seminars, big-buck contests, 200+ exhibitors, family activities, and non-stop action all weekend long at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Stevens Point, WI (August 14-16).

Pure outdoor fun for everyone. What's one thing that would make your DeerFest weekend UNFORGETTABLE? Drop it in the comments—we're listening and building this year's event with YOU in mind!

Mark your calendars and spread the word. Let's pack the place! 🔥