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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
| 2019 seasons | |
|---|---|
| Archery and Crossbow | Sept. 14 - Jan. 5, 2020 |
| Archery and Crossbow *Metro Sub-units only* | Sept. 14 - Jan. 31, 2020 |
| Gun hunt for hunters with disabilities: This is not a statewide season. Learn more... | Oct. 5 - 13 |
| Youth deer hunt | Oct. 5 - 6 |
| Gun | Nov. 23 - Dec. 1 |
| Muzzleloader | Dec. 2 - 11 |
| December 4-day antlerless hunt | Dec. 12 - 15 |
| Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt *Only in valid farmland units. Please see deer regulations booklet for valid units. |
Dec. 24 - Jan. 1, 2020 |
| All dates are subject to change through a rule making or a legislative process. Please check the Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations for a complete set of dates and unit designations. | |
Bear
Application deadline for bear permits is always December 10.
| 2019 seasons | |
|---|---|
| Zone C where dogs are not permitted | |
| Sept. 4 - Oct. 8 |
|
| All other zones where dogs are permitted | |
| Sept. 4 - 10 |
|
| Sept. 11 - Oct. 1 |
|
| Oct. 2 - 8 |
|
| Check the bear hunting regulations for a complete set of rules. | |
| 2020 seasons | |
|---|---|
| Zone C where dogs are not permitted | |
| Sept. 9 - Oct. 13 |
|
| All other zones where dogs are permitted | |
| Sept. 9 - 15 |
|
| Sept. 16 - Oct. 6 |
|
| Oct. 7 - 13 |
|
Migratory birds
| 2019 seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Youth waterfowl hunt | Statewide | Sept. 14 - 15 |
| Early teal season | Statewide | Sept. 1 - 9. |
| Canada goose, Snow/blue geese, Ross' geese | ||
| Early goose season | Sept. 1 - 15 | |
| Canada goose | Northern zone | Sept. 16 - Dec. 16 |
| Southern zone | Sept. 16 - Oct. 6 & Oct. 12 - Dec. 1 & Dec. 16 - Jan. 4, 2020 Season is CLOSED Oct. 7 - 11 & Dec. 2 - 15 |
|
| Mississippi River subzone | Sept. 28 - Oct. 4 & Oct. 12 - Jan. 4, 2020 Season is CLOSED Oct. 5 - 11 |
|
| Snow/blue geese, Ross' geese, white-fronted geese, other geese and brant | Northern zone | Sept. 16 - Dec. 16 |
| Southern zone | Sept. 16 - Oct. 6 & Oct. 12 - Dec. 1 & Dec. 16 - Jan. 4, 2020 Season is CLOSED Oct. 7 - 11 & Dec. 2 - 15 |
|
| Mississippi River subzone | Sept. 28 - Oct. 4 & Oct. 12 - Jan. 4, 2020 Season is CLOSED Oct. 5 - 11 |
|
| Wild ducks | ||
| North zone | Sept. 28 - Nov. 26 | |
| South zone | Sept. 28 - Oct. 6 & Oct. 12 - Dec. 1 Season is CLOSED Oct. 7 - 11 |
|
| Mississippi River zone | Sept. 28 - Oct. 4 & Oct. 12 - Dec. 3 Season is CLOSED Oct. 5 - 11 |
|
| 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. 21 - Nov. 4 |
| Mourning dove | Statewide | Sept. 1 - Nov. 29 |
| Season dates for waterfowl vary annually. The migratory game bird regulations will be available in July. | ||
| Check the migratory game bird regulations for a complete set of rules. | ||
Wild turkey
Application deadline for spring turkey harvest authorizations is always December 10.
| 2019 seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Youth turkey hunt | April 13 - 14 | |
| Spring 2019 | ||
| Period A | April 17 - 23 | |
| Period B | April 24 - 30 | |
| Period C | May 1 - 7 | |
| Period D | May 8 - 14 | |
| Period E | May 15 - 21 | |
| Period F | May 22 - 28 | |
| Fall 2019 | ||
| Zones 1 - 5 | September 14 - Jan. 5, 2020 | |
| Zones 6 - 7 | Sept. 14 - Nov. 22 | |
Small mammals
| 2019 seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cottontail rabbit | ||
| Northern zone | Sept. 14 - Feb. 29, 2020 | |
| Southern zone | Oct. 19 (9 a.m.) - Feb. 29, 2020 | |
| Squirrels (gray and fox) | ||
| Statewide | Sept. 14 - Jan. 31, 2020 | |
| Hunting protected species, such as badger, jackrabbit, moose and flying squirrel is prohibited. | ||
| Check the small game hunting regulations for a complete set of rules. | ||
Other game birds
| 2019 seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pheasant | Statewide | Oct. 19 (9 a.m.) - Jan. 5, 2020 |
| Bobwhite quail | Statewide | Oct. 19 (9 a.m.) - Dec. 11 |
| Ruffed grouse | ||
| Zone A | Sept. 14 - Jan. 31, 2020 | |
| Zone B | Oct. 19 - Dec. 8 | |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | Season is under review. | |
| Hungarian partridge | Statewide (closed in Clark, Marathon and Taylor counties) | Oct. 19 (9 a.m.) - Jan. 5, 2020 |
| 2018 seasons | ||
| Crow | ||
| Statewide | Sept. 15 - Nov. 15 | |
| Jan. 18 - Mar. 20, 2019 | ||
| Check the regulations for a complete set of rules. | ||
Furbearers
Application deadline for bobcat, fisher and otter permits is always August 1.
| 2019 seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coyote | ||
| Hunting | Continuous open season | |
| Trapping | See coyote trapping seasons. | |
| Fox, red and gray | ||
| Hunting | Oct. 19 - Feb. 15, 2020 | |
| 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. 19 - Dec. 25 | ||
| Period 2 - Dec. 26 - Jan. 31, 2020 | ||
| Trapping | See bobcat trapping seasons. | |
| Fisher | See fisher trapping seasons. | |
| Otter | See otter trapping seasons. | |
| Raccoon | ||
| Resident | Oct. 19 - Feb. 15, 2020 | |
| Non-resident | Nov. 2 - Feb. 15, 2020 | |
| Trapping | See raccoon trapping seasons. | |
| Opossum, skunk, weasel, snowshoe hare and woodchuck | No season limits, bag limits, size limits or possession limits, but a license is required. | |
Last revised: Thursday September 26 2019
