Wisconsin is a great place for hunters since it has so many different species to choose from. The Badger State is a hunter’s paradise, with seasons for everything from large game like deer and bear to small game like turkey and waterfowl, with highlights like the early teal season in September, the deer hunting season in November, and the waterfowl season in December.
It may be difficult to know where to begin when planning a hunting trip due to the wide variety of seasons, hunting locations, bag restrictions, and laws and regulations that must be considered. Information about Wisconsin’s hunting seasons, application due dates, and other pertinent restrictions will be provided in this section. Having a successful hunting trip in Wisconsin requires preparation, so be sure you have all the necessary equipment and permits.
Wisconsin Hunting Season
Content Highlights
Wisconsin Hunting Seasons
Hunters may enjoy Wisconsin’s rich wildlife and superb hunting conditions throughout the year. Wisconsin has excellent whitetail deer, bear, turkey, and duck hunting. Cottontail rabbits, foxes, bobcats, and skunks are also targeted for hunting. In addition, the state has disabled and youth hunting seasons. Hunters may choose a game that suits their needs. One must first understand the regulations, limits, and safety precautions to hunt legally and securely in Wisconsin.
Deer Season
Bear Zone
Hunting Season Dates
Permitted Hunting Methods
A, B, D
Sept 13 – Oct 3
With aid of dogs, aid of bait, all other legal methods
A, B, D
Oct 4 – Oct 10
With aid of bait, all other legal methods not using dogs
A, B, D
Sept 6 – Sept 12
With aid of dogs only
C, E, F
Sept 6 – Oct 10
With aid of bait, all other legal methods not using dogs
Note: It is forbidden to hunt some protected species including badgers, jackrabbits, moose, and flying squirrels. You may review the small game hunting regulations for a complete list of requirements.
Furbearers Season
Bobcat Season
Bobcat Season
Hunting Start Date
Hunting End Date
North and south zones (Period-1)
14-Oct-23
25-Dec-23
North and south zones (Period-2)
26-Dec-23
31-Jan-24
Coyote Season
Coyote Season
Hunting Start Date
Hunting End Date
Hunting
Year-round
Year-round
Trapping
14-Oct-23
15-Feb-24
Fox Season
Fox (red & gray) Season
Hunting Start Date
Hunting End Date
Hunting
14-Oct-23
15-Feb-24
Trapping
14-Oct-23
15-Feb-24
Beaver Season
Beaver Season
Hunting Start Date
Hunting End Date
Zone A (northwest)
4-Nov-23
30-Apr-24
Zone B (northeast)
4-Nov-23
30-Apr-24
Zone C (south)
4-Nov-23
31-Mar-24
Zone D (Mississippi River)
One day after the end of duck season
15-Mar-24
Mink Season
Mink Season
Hunting Start Date
Hunting End Date
Northern Zone
21-Oct-23
15-Apr-24
Central Zone
28-Oct-23
27-Mar-24
Southern Zone
4-Nov-23
15-Mar-24
Mississippi River zone
13-Nov-23
10-Mar-24
Muskrat Season
Muskrat Season
Hunting Start Date
Hunting End Date
Northern Zone
October 21, 2023
April 15, 2024
Central Zone
October 28, 2023
March 27, 2024
Southern Zone
November 4, 2023
March 15, 2024
Mississippi River zone
November 13, 2023
March 10, 2024
Fisher Season
Fisher Season
Hunting Start Date
Hunting End Date
North & South Zones
14-Oct-23
7-Jan-24
Otter Season
Otter Season
Hunting Start Date
Hunting End Date
North zone
4-Nov-23
30-Apr-24
South zone
4-Nov-23
31-Mar-24
Raccoon Season
Raccoon Season
Hunting Start Date
Hunting End Date
Resident
14-Oct-23
15-Feb-24
Non-resident
28-Oct-23
15-Feb-24
Skunk, Opossum, Weasel, Snowshoe Hare, Porcupine and Woodchucks
These species may be hunted with a valid license; however there are no season limitations, bag limits, size limits, or possession limits. To protect the environment and ensure the availability of resources in the future, responsible and sustainable practices should still be followed.
Other Game Birds
Ruffed Grouse Season
Ruffed Grouse Season
Hunting Start Date
Hunting End Date
Zone A
16-Sep-23
7-Jan-24
Zone B
14-Oct-23
8-Dec-23
Pheasant Season
Pheasant Season
Hunting Start Date
Hunting End Date
Statewide
14 Oct, 23 (9 a.m.)
7-Jan-24
Hungarian partridge Season
Hungarian partridge Season
Hunting Start Date
Hunting End Date
Statewide (closed in Clark, Marathon, and Taylor counties)
14-Oct-23 (9 a.m.)
7-Jan-24
Seasons for Migratory Birdsin WI
Migratory Bird
Season Dates & Schedule
(Early Teal)
September. 1–9
(Early Goosel)
September. 1–15
(Rail (Virginia, Sora)
September. 1–November. 9
(Snipel)
September. 1–November. 9
(Common Gallinulel)
September. 1–November. 9
(Mourning Dovel)
September. 1–November. 29
(Youth Waterfowll)
September. 17–18
(Woodcockl)
September. 24–November. 7
(Northern-Duck Zonel)
September. 24–November. 22
(Southern-Duck Zonel)
October. 1–9
October. 15–December 4
(Open Water-Duck Zonel)
October. 15–December 13
(Cootl)
Same as Wild Duck Zone you are Hunting
(Northern Goose -Zonel)
September. 16–December 16
(Southern Goose-Zonel)
September. 16–October. 9
October. 15–December 4
December 18–January. 3, 2023
(Mississippi River Goose - Zonel)
October. 1–9
October. 15–January. 3, 2023
Wisconsin Falconry Season
FALCONRY
Season Dates
Zones
Timings
Rail (Virginia, Sora), Snipe, Common Gallinule and
September. 1–December. 16
30 minutes before sunrise until sunset
(Early Teal)
September. 1–9
Sunrise to Sunset
(Ducks, mergansers and coots)
September. 17 and 18; January. 13–February. 17, 2023
All Zones
30 minutes before sunrise until sunset
October. 1–9
South Zone
30 minutes before sunrise until sunset
October. 15–December. 4
30 minutes before sunrise until sunset
October. 15–December. 13
Open Water Zone
30 minutes before sunrise until sunset
September. 24–November. 22
North Zone
30 minutes before sunrise until sunset
(Geese)
similar to the regular statewide season
30 minutes before sunrise until sunset
Note:
There is a daily bag restriction of three migratory game birds, regardless of how many you shoot at once, with the exception of the maximum number of Canada geese allowed in your hunting area during the shooting season.
The maximum number of bags an individual may hold at any one time is three times the daily limit.
Seasons for Trapping in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Trapping Seasons
Season Dates
Zones
BOBCAT
October. 15 – December. 25, 2022
North and south zones, Period 1
December. 26 – Jan. 31, 2023
North and south zones, Period 2
FISHER
October. 15 – Jan. 8, 2023
North and South Zones
OTTER
November. 5 – April 30, 2023
North zone
November. 5 – March 31, 2023
South zone
COYOTE
October. 15 – February. 15, 2023
FOX
October. 15 – February. 15, 2023
BEAVER
November. 5 – April 30, 2023
Zone A-(northwest)
November. 5 – April 30, 2023
Zone B-(northeast)
November. 5 – March 31, 2023
Zone C-(south)
December. 5 – March 15, 2023
Zone D-(Mississippi River)
MINK AND MUSKRAT
October. 22 – April 15, 2023
Northern-Zone
October. 29 – March 22, 2023
Central-Zone
November. 5 – March 15, 2023
Southern-Zone
November. 14 – March 5, 2023
Mississippi River-zone
RACCOON
October. 15 – February. 15, 2023
Resident
October. 29 – February. 15, 2023
Non-resident
Deadlines for Permit Application
Permit Application
Deadlines
Bobcat
1-Aug-23
Bear
10-Dec-23
Elk
31-May-23
Fisher
1-Aug-23
Sharp-tailed Grouse*
31-Aug-23
Spring Turkey
10-Dec-23
Drawing Schedule
Drawings
Timings
Elk
Early Jun
Bobcat
Mid-Sept
Fisher
Mid-Sept
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Sept
Spring Turkey
Late Jan
Bear
Early Feb
Wisconsin Hunting Regulations
In Wisconsin, hunting is prohibited without a valid hunting license and the necessary stamps.
All turkey harvests must be reported to authorities.
Shotguns and muzzle-loading shotguns, crossbows and bow and arrows are some of the permitted hunting weapons and tactics.
When on a wild turkey hunt, you can’t utilize any kind of artificially-produced or amplified bird calls or noises.
During the autumn turkey season, however, using dogs to hunt wild turkeys is permitted.
No use of electronic or live decoys to attract wild turkeys is allowed.
A valid hunting license, stamp, and harvest permit for turkeys are required to possess a firearm, bow, or crossbow during the spring season.
The drawing for the harvest permits for turkeys uses a cumulative preference approach.
Hunting migratory game birds requires a small game license, a Wisconsin Waterfowl stamp, and a Federal Migratory Bird Stamp.
When going for waterfowl that migrate, you may only use specified firearms and ammunition.
Some buildings and vehicles are off-limits to hunters.
Certain hunting equipment, such as decoys left in the water unattended or put more than 200 feet from the cover, is forbidden.
Only boats powered by paddle, oars, or pole may be used for hunting from the water.
There are regulations regarding the placement of waterfowl blinds on state land.
There are restrictions on the use of vehicles, such as drones, for the taking of migratory game birds.
Waterfowl, coots, and mourning doves cannot be hunted with the use of bait.
Disabled hunters are afforded certain privileges under the law.
There are laws and restrictions that must be followed when youths go hunting.
Certain bodies of water mandate a minimum hunting distance from land.
Particular bodies of water require the use of blind anchors.
For certain bodies of water, daily blind removal is required.
When shooting from shore to shore is practicable in a small stream, jumping shots from a non-motorized boat is permitted.
Hunting ducks, coots, or mourning doves using bait is prohibited.
Hunting is permitted over fields that have recently been harvested or planted as part of a legitimate agricultural operation.
Mourning doves may be legally hunted in areas where agricultural crops or wildlife feeding plots have been manipulated.
After a crop has been harvested and the grain or seed has been taken from the field, it is against the law to distribute or disperse the crop in any way.
The Youth Waterfowl Hunt is open only to those who have not yet reached their fifteenth birthday.
The only kind of waterfowl that adults guiding young hunters are allowed to take is geese.
Mentors over the age of 16 who want to hunt geese this season must have a valid Canada Goose Permit for the current hunting season.
Under the Harvest Information Program (HIP), young hunters are expected to report their catches.
Wisconsin Hunting License charges
Harvest permits and licenses can be bought at a number of shops and establishments spread out over the state. Licenses for residents and non-residents are offered; fees vary according on residency, season, bag method, and special designations.
The bow season for deer hunting in Wisconsin starts as early as September 18
When does the hunting season start in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin’s hunting season normally begins in September and ends in January; however, this varies depending on the kind of wildlife being pursued. The early teal season in September, the deer hunting season in November and the waterfowl season in December are just a few of the season’s highlights.
What types of games can I hunt in Wisconsin?
Deer, bear, wolves, turkey, small mammals, game birds, and furbearers are just some of the animals you may go for on a hunting trip in Wisconsin.
Are there any hunting safety regulations in Wisconsin?
Like many other states, Wisconsin has many rules in place to ensure hunters’ safety. During weapon season, hunters must cover at least half of their bodies in bright orange or neon pink. It’s also against the law to hunt or fire a weapon within fifty feet of a public road or one hundred yards of a public building or private residence. Drones cannot be used to help track the game during the hunting season, either.
Do I need a hunting license to hunt in Wisconsin?
Yes, a hunting license is required in Wisconsin. A hunting license may be bought either online or from a licensed provider.
Are there any hunting seasons specific to youth in Wisconsin?
Young hunters in Wisconsin may participate in the Youth Waterfowl Hunt if they are 15 or under. Participants must be accompanied by an adult mentor aged 18 or older and may collect any authorized species of waterfowl, including geese.
