Wisconsin DNR Names New Deer and Elk Specialist
Steve Burns assumes the role to lead the state's deer and elk management programs.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Hunting
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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has appointed Steve Burns as the state's new deer and elk specialist. He steps into the position following the retirement of his predecessor, Jeff Pritzl.
Why it matters
The specialist role is central to managing Wisconsin's wildlife populations, including the administration of elk programs and collaboration on statewide hunting rules.
Steve Burns brings five years of experience as an area wildlife biologist to his new position overseeing administrative programs. Meanwhile, the state's nine-day gun deer season is set to begin on November 21, 2026.
The players
Steve Burns
He is the newly appointed state deer and elk specialist at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources who previously served as an area wildlife biologist.
Jeff Pritzl
He is the former Department of Natural Resources deer and elk specialist who retired from the agency in 2025.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
This state agency is responsible for implementing laws and managing wildlife programs, including deer and elk conservation efforts in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Conservation Congress
This organization serves as an advisory body that works with the Department of Natural Resources to develop and review hunting and fishing rule proposals.
The details
Burns will focus on administrative duties for statewide deer and elk management while working with the Wisconsin Conservation Congress to vet hunting rule proposals. He is also responsible for overseeing the elk hunting programs across the north and central management zones.
Timeline
Elk populations were extirpated in Wisconsin during the 1880s.
The state began its initial reintroduction of elk in 1995.
Jeff Pritzl retired from the Department of Natural Resources in 2025.
The nine-day gun deer season opens on November 21, 2026.
Culture Shift
The transition in agency leadership follows the state's ongoing efforts to restore elk populations after their extirpation in the 1880s. This appointment reflects the structural shift from the initial reintroduction phase in 1995 toward long-term administrative and regulatory management.
Hunters across the state should prepare for the upcoming nine-day gun deer season, which remains scheduled to open on November 21, 2026. The change in specialist roles is largely administrative and is not expected to disrupt established hunting regulations for the season.
The takeaway
Wildlife management requires balancing administrative rule-making with historical conservation goals to support stable populations. Residents interested in hunting regulations should track future proposals from the Wisconsin Conservation Congress.
Further reading
For more information on state management programs, visit the Wisconsin Hunting section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLUK.
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