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On the Hunt

The History of Deer Hunting in Wisconsin

Robert C. Willging

 

The most comprehensive and authoritative exploration of deer hunting in the Badger State, by one of Wisconsin's most prolific outdoor writers.

 

320 pages, 8 x 9, 144 b&w photos
Paperback: $29.95 | ISBN: 978-0-87020-900-0
Ebook: $19.99 | ISBN: 978-0-87020-544-6
Publication Date: 12/15/2017

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Front cover of On the Hunt

Description

Deer hunting has been a vital part of life in the Great Lakes region for millennia. From early indigenous peoples to the sportsmen of today, renowned outdoor writer and wildlife biologist Robert C. Willging explores deer hunting's long legacy in Wisconsin, from subsistence to sport, while considering the beauty and biology of the animal. 

On the Hunt covers subsistence and sport hunting, deer camps, evolving deer-management policies, and developments and controversies—from human encroachment on deer habitat to CWD. Range maps and charts tracking annual herd populations and harvest goals complement Willging’s engaging storytelling.

Meticulously researched from Department of Conservation papers, hunting magazines, newspapers, historic photos of classic deer camps, and the personal stories of hunters and deer managers, On the Hunt offers a fascinating glimpse into a distant and not-so-distant past, when the hunt joined men in almost mythical unity and bucks were seemingly larger than life.

It is the perfect preparation for the avid hunter's annual fall trek with friends and family into the Wisconsin woods.

Robert Willging author photo

Author Bio

Robert C. Willging is a freelance outdoor writer and the author of History Afield: Stories from the Golden Age of Wisconsin Sporting Life. His work has appeared in Deer & Deer Hunting, The Boundary Waters Journal, Wisconsin Outdoor Journal, Wisconsin Natural Resources, High Country News, Turkey Call, WildBird, The Trapper & Predator Caller, Fur-Fish-Game, Wisconsin Outdoor News, and other publications. He holds a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and a master’s degree in wildlife sciences from New Mexico State University. He also worked as a wildlife biologist for the US Department of Agriculture. He lives in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and hunts from a deer camp in Oneida County.

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Tells the fascinating story of the white-tailed deer: its natural history from prehistoric time to present-day management controversies. It’s the most comprehensive and enjoyable treatise of the whitetail deer that I’ve seen. Whether you are an avid hunter or enjoy seeing the graceful whitetail, reading "On the Hunt" is a must. Once you start it you won’t put it down.

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Mike Dombeck
Former Chief, US Forest Service; UW System Fellow and Professor of Global Conservation, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point

"My passion has always been white-tailed deer—its past, present, and future. As much as I thought I knew about the animal, I learned a lot more after going through On the Hunt."

—Jeff Schinkten, President, Whitetails Unlimited

On the Hunt

On the Hunt

The History of Deer Hunting in Wisconsin

Robert C. Willging

320 pages, 8 x 9, 144 b&w photos

To order a copy, follow the links below or visit your favorite bookseller.

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Last Updated: July 24, 2026


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