The following DMUs are designated as Herd-Control Units for 2006: 1, 1M, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 22A, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29A, 30, 33, 35, 36, 47, 52, 53, 54A, 54C, 55, 57, 57A, 57B, 57C, 58, 59A, 59D, 60B, 64, 68B, 72, 73B, 73D, 74B, 77C, 77M, 80A and 81.

OUR BEST DMUs
Seventeen of the top 20 DMUs for total deer harvest in 2005 were also on the top 20 list in 2004. Most of our best DMUs are located in east-central and west-central Wisconsin. These units are also either HC or EAB units for 2006, and they are the DMUs with the highest deer density in our state.

Northern Forest Region
The total deer kill in the Northern Forest Region was down last year from 2004, but the antlered deer percentage was up in 2005. Of 74,670 whitetails killed in this region in 2005, 47 percent were antlered. The best unit in the region was DMU 2, and it was the only unit in the region to make Wisconsin's top 20 list for 2005. Hunters bagged 5,260 deer during the nine-day hunt, and 2,158, or 41 percent, were antlered. DMU 2 is in the far northwest portion of the region, and most of the DMUs in this part of the state are listed as Herd-Control Units for 2006.

The second-best unit was DMU 25 where 3,495 whitetails were registered, with 36 percent of them wearing antlers. Third best was DMU 26 with a total kill of 3,252 deer, and 1,308, or 40 percent, were legal bucks.

Most of the DMUs in the western half of this region are HC units for 2006, and most of the units in the eastern half are regular deer season units. In these regular season units, there is no more Hunter's Choice program, and a limited number of unit-specific carcass tags will be available. These tags will be sold until they are gone.

Eastern Farmland Region
Much like the Northern Forest Region, the total deer kill in the Eastern Farmland Region was down in 2005 when compared with 2004, but the antlered deer percentage increased. During the 2005 regular nine-day season, 80,806 whitetails were taken, and 32,874, or 41 percent, were bucks.

Some of Wisconsin's best deer hunting is within this region. In fact, six of 2005's top 20 DMUs -- 51B, 57B, 62A, 62B, 63A and 65B -- are located in this region. With the exception of DMU 65A, which has a regular deer season, all major units in this region are EAB or HC units this year.

The Eastern Farmland Region continues to produce big numbers of deer every year. This is likely due to the mix of wood lots and farms that serve to keep the deer well fed, with ample cover in which to hide. Plenty of deer plus good trophy-buck potential should make this region a top choice for any hunter.

DMU 62B was the region's top unit last year with 7,969 deer, and 45 percent, or 3,589, being legal bucks. DMU 62A was second highest with a total nine-day kill of 7,027 whitetails. Antlered deer made up 37 percent of that total. The third-best was DMU 63A with 6,483 deer registered, with 2,762, or 43 percent, being bucks.