- 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 | |
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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.
2017 seasons | |
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Zone C where dogs are not permitted | |
Sept. 6 - Oct. 10 |
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All other zones where dogs are permitted | |
Sept. 6 - 12 |
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Sept. 13 - Oct. 3 |
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Oct. 4 - 10 |
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Check the bear hunting regulations for a complete set of rules. |
Migratory birds
2016 seasons | ||
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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 |
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Mississippi River subzone | Oct. 1 - 7* & Oct. 15 - Jan. 5, 2017 Season is CLOSED Oct. 8 - 14 |
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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 |
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Horicon zone | Sept. 16 - Dec. 16* | |
Mississippi River subzone | Oct. 1 - 7* & Oct. 15 - Jan. 5, 2017 Season is CLOSED Oct. 8 - 14 |
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Wild ducks | ||
North zone | Sept. 24 - Nov. 22 | |
South zone | Oct. 1 - Oct. 9 & Oct. 15 - Dec. 4 Season is CLOSED Oct. 10 - 14 |
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Mississippi River zone | Oct. 1 - 7 & Oct. 15 - Dec. 6 Season is CLOSED Oct. 8 - Oct. 14 |
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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 | ||
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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 | ||
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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 | ||
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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 | ||
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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. |