Overview

License rates

Resident

Any resident in active service with the Armed Forces, who exhibits proof that he or she is on furlough or leave is eligible for a free Small Game & Fishing License. All other hunting, trapping or fishing licenses can be purchased at resident rates.

Active service, means full time employment as a member of the armed services and does not include annual summer training by members of the national guard or reserves.

Nonresidents

A hunting, fishing and trapping license can be purchased at the resident rate by a nonresident who is:

• a member of the Wisconsin National Guard;
• an active member of the Armed Forces stationed in Wisconsin;
• a member of a Reserve Unit of the Armed Forces located in Wisconsin; or
• a current member of the Armed Forces or current member of a Reserve Unit of the Armed Forces stationed out of state who was a resident at the time he or she entered active service.

Hunter safety

Anyone who has completed basic training in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves or National Guard may purchase a hunting license without the need to possess a hunter safety certificate or accomplishment.

Deferral

Any U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard member who is serving on active duty unable to exercise his or her privilege to fish, hunt or trap as permitted by the permit/license due to his or her service on active duty (includes members of a reserve unit when serving on active duty for the U.S. Armed Forces) may defer a permit or license. This deferral can be used for any of the following permits:

1. Antlerless Deer Permit for a regular deer management unit;
2. Bobcat hunting or trapping permit;
3. Otter trapping permit;
4. Fisher trapping permit;
5. Canada goose hunting permit;
6. Spring and Fall Turkey hunting permit;
7. Sharp-trailed grouse hunting permit;
8. Class A Bear license;
9. Elk hunting license; or
10. Upriver Sturgeon Spearing license.

Deer hunting

Deer hunting

Filling a buck tag

Any active duty service member of the U.S. Armed Forces may fill their one buck tag with one deer of either sex in any season open to deer hunting with a firearm. The active duty service member must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

• any resident who is an active member of the Armed Forces* stationed outside of Wisconsin who is on furlough or leave; or
• any nonresident who is still an active member of the Armed Forces* and who is stationed outside of Wisconsin, BUT ONLY IF they were a resident at the time they entered active service.

Active U.S. Armed Forces members also includes any person who is a member of a unit incorporated into the Armed Forces, such as an activated National Guard unit serving under the direction of a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Antlerless deer permit or tag

Any resident in active service with the Armed Forces stationed outside Wisconsin and who is on furlough or leave may obtain an antlerless deer permit/tag for any one of the "regular" deer management units, even if the quota of tags is already sold out for that unit.

To obtain a deer carcass tag, contact DNR Customer Service at 1-888-936-7463.

Turkey hunting

Turkey hunting

Any resident in active service with the U.S. Armed Forces stationed outside Wisconsin, and who is on furlough or leave, may obtain a turkey permit for any zone and time period, without the need to go through the normal application and drawing process.

To obtain a turkey carcass tag, contact DNR Customer Service at 1-888-936-7463.

Goose hunting

Goose hunting

Any resident in active service with the U.S. Armed Forces stationed outside Wisconsin, and who is on furlough or leave, may obtain Canada goose permits/tags for the Horicon Zone for any time period, without the need to apply and be selected through the normal application and drawing process.

To obtain a goose permit, contact the DNR Customer Service at 1-888-936-7463.

Sturgeon spearing

Sturgeon spearing

Any resident in active service with the U.S. Armed Forces stationed outside Wisconsin, who is on furlough or leave, may purchase a sturgeon spearing license after the October 31 deadline, through the end of the open season for spearing sturgeon.

For more information, contact the DNR Customer Service at 1-888-936-7463.