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- Contact information
- For information on hunting season dates and deadlines, contact:
- DNR Customer Service
Toll Free 1-888-WDNRINFo
(1-888-936-7463)
Season dates and application deadlines
Deer
| 2016 seasons | |
|---|---|
| Archery and Crossbow | Sept. 17 - Jan. 8, 2017 |
| Gun hunt for hunters with disabilities This is not a statewide season. Learn more... | Oct. 1 - 9 |
| Youth deer hunt | Oct. 8 - 9 |
| Gun | Nov. 19 - 27 |
| Muzzleloader | Nov. 28 - Dec. 7 |
| December 4-day antlerless hunt | Dec. 8 - 11 |
| Antlerless only Holiday Hunt *Only in valid farmland units. Please see deer regulations booklet for valid units. |
Dec. 24 - Jan. 1, 2017 |
| All dates are subject to change through a rule making or a legislative process. Please check the 2016 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations for a complete set of dates and unit designations. | |
Bear
Application deadline for bear permits is always December 10.
| 2016 seasons | |
|---|---|
| Zone C where dogs are not permitted | |
| Sept. 7 - Oct. 11 |
|
| All other zones where dogs are permitted | |
| Sept. 7 - 13 |
|
| Sept. 14 - Oct. 4 |
|
| Oct. 5 - 11 |
|
| Check the bear hunting regulations for a complete set of rules. | |
Migratory birds
| 2016 seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Youth waterfowl hunt | Statewide | Sept. 17 & 18 |
| Early teal season | Statewide | Sept. 1 - 7 |
| Canada goose | ||
| Early goose season | Sept. 1 - 15 | |
| North exterior zone | Sept. 16 - Dec. 16* | |
| South exterior zone | Sept. 16 - Oct. 9* & Oct. 15 - Dec. 21 Season is CLOSED Oct. 10 - 14 |
|
| Mississippi River subzone | Oct. 1 - 7* & Oct. 15 - Jan. 5, 2017 Season is CLOSED Oct. 8 - 14 |
|
| Horicon zone New!!! 1 Period |
Sept. 16 - Dec 16* | |
| Snow/blue geese, Ross' geese, White fronted geese, other geese and Brant | ||
| North exterior zone | Sept. 16 - Dec. 16* | |
| South exterior zone | Sept. 16 - Oct. 9* & Oct. 15 - Dec. 21 Season is CLOSED Oct. 10 - 14 |
|
| Horicon zone | Sept. 16 - Dec. 16* | |
| Mississippi River subzone | Oct. 1 - 7* & Oct. 15 - Jan. 5, 2017 Season is CLOSED Oct. 8 - 14 |
|
| Wild ducks | ||
| North zone | Sept. 24 - Nov. 22 | |
| South zone | Oct. 1 - Oct. 9 & Oct. 15 - Dec. 4 Season is CLOSED Oct. 10 - 14 |
|
| Mississippi River zone | Oct. 1 - 7 & Oct. 15 - Dec. 6 Season is CLOSED Oct. 8 - Oct. 14 |
|
| Mergansers | Statewide | Same as wild ducks in the zone in which you are hunting |
| Coot and Moorhen | Statewide | Same as wild ducks in the zone in which you are hunting |
| Sora and Virginia rail | Statewide | Same as wild ducks in the zone in which you are hunting |
| Snipe | Statewide | Same as wild ducks in the zone in which you are hunting |
| Woodcock | Statewide | Sept. 24 - Nov. 7 |
| Mourning dove | Statewide | Sept. 1 - Nov. 29 |
| Season dates for waterfowl vary annually. The migratory game bird regulations will not be available until June. | ||
Wild turkey
Application deadline for turkey permits is always December 10 for spring and August 1 for fall.
| 2016 seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Youth turkey hunt | April 9 - 10 | |
| Spring 2016 | ||
| Period A | April 13 - 19 | |
| Period B | April 20 - 26 | |
| Period C | April 27 - May 3 | |
| Period D | May 4 - 10 | |
| Period E | May 11 - 17 | |
| Period F | May 18 - 24 | |
| Fall 2016 | ||
| Zones 1 - 5 | Sept. 17 - Dec. 31 | |
| Zones 6 & 7 | Sept. 17 - Nov. 18 | |
| 2017 seasons | ||
| 2017 Youth turkey hunt | April 15 - 16 | |
| Spring 2017 | ||
| Period A | April 19 - 25 | |
| Period B | April 26 - May 2 | |
| Period C | May 3 - 9 | |
| Period D | May 10 - 16 | |
| Period E | May 17 - 23 | |
| Period F | May 24 - 30 | |
| Fall 2017 | ||
| Zones 1 - 5 | Sept. 16 - Dec. 31 | |
| Zones 6 & 7 | Sept. 16 - Nov. 17 | |
Small mammals
| 2016 seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cottontail rabbit | ||
| Northern zone | Sept. 17 - Feb. 28, 2017 | |
| Southern zone | Oct. 15 (9 a.m.) - Feb. 28, 2017 | |
| Squirrels (gray and fox) | ||
| Statewide | Sept. 17 - Jan. 31, 2017 | |
| Hunting protected species, such as badger, woodchuck, jackrabbit, moose and flying squirrel is prohibited. | ||
| Check the small game hunting regulations for a complete set of rules. | ||
Other game birds
| 2016 seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pheasant | Statewide | Oct. 15 (9 a.m.) - Dec. 31 |
| Bobwhite quail | Statewide | Oct. 15 (9 a.m.) - Dec. 7 |
| Ruffed grouse | ||
| Zone A | Sept. 17 - Jan. 31, 2017 | |
| Zone B | Oct. 15 - Dec. 8 | |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | Season is under review. | |
| Hungarian partridge | Statewide (closed in Clark, Marathon and Taylor counties) | Oct. 15 (9 a.m.) - Dec. 31 |
| Crow | ||
| Statewide | Sept. 17 - Nov. 17 | |
| Jan. 18, 2017 - Mar. 20, 2017 | ||
| Check the regulations for a complete set of rules. | ||
Furbearers
Application deadline for bobcat, fisher and otter permits is always August 1.
| 2016 seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coyote | ||
| Hunting | Continuous open season | |
| Trapping | See coyote trapping seasons. | |
| Fox, red and gray | ||
| Hunting | Oct. 15 - Feb. 15, 2017 | |
| Trapping | See fox trapping seasons. | |
| Beaver | See beaver trapping seasons. | |
| Mink | See mink trapping seasons. | |
| Muskrat | See muskrat trapping seasons. | |
| Bobcat | ||
| Hunting | ||
| Period 1 - Oct. 15 - Dec. 25 | ||
| Period 2 - Dec. 26 - Jan. 31, 2017 | ||
| Trapping | See bobcat trapping seasons. | |
| Fisher | See fisher trapping seasons. | |
| Otter | See otter trapping seasons. | |
| Raccoon | ||
| Resident | Oct. 15 - Feb. 15, 2017 | |
| Non-resident | Oct. 29 - Feb. 15, 2017 | |
| Trapping | See raccoon trapping seasons. | |
| Opossum, skunk, weasel and snowshoe hare | No season limits, bag limits, size limits or possession limits, but a license is required. | |
| Check the regulations for a complete set of rules. | ||
Last revised: Friday November 18 2016
