Season Dates And Application Deadlines - Wisconsin DNR

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Season dates and application deadlines

View and print 2026 Season Dates and Application Deadlines.

  • Deer
  • Bear
  • Migratory Birds
  • Falconry
  • Turkey
  • Small Game
  • Other Game Birds
  • Furbearers

Deer

2026 Seasons

Archery and Crossbow*

*No bucks may be harvested during the antlerless-only hunts identified below.

Sept. 12 – Jan. 3, 2027
Archery and Crossbow *Metro Sub-units and counties with extended archery seasons*See the map for counties with extended archery seasons.Sept. 12 – Jan. 31, 2027
Gun hunt for hunters with disabilities: This is not a statewide season. Learn more...Oct. 3 – 11
Youth/disabled gun deer huntOct. 10 – 11
GunNov. 21 – 29
Gun in Metro Subunits onlyNov. 21 - Dec. 9
MuzzleloaderNov. 30 – Dec. 9
December 4-Day Antlerless-Only HuntDec. 10 – 13
Antlerless-Only Holiday Hunt*Open only in select Farmland (Zone 2) counties. Please see page 12 of combined hunting regulations for valid counties.Dec. 24 – Jan. 1, 2027*
All dates are subject to change through rulemaking or a legislative process. Please check the Wisconsin Hunting Regulations for the complete dates and unit designations.

Bear

The application deadline for bear permits is always Dec. 10, the year before the season.

2026 Seasons
Note: Bear Management Zones
Zones A, B, D: where dogs are permitted
Sept. 9-15
  • with the aid of bait and all other legal methods not using dogs.
Sept. 16-Oct. 6
  • with the aid of dogs, the aid of bait and all other legal methods.
Oct. 7-13
  • with the aid of dogs only, no other methods.
Zones C, E, F: where dogs are not permitted
Sept. 9-Oct. 13
  • with the aid of bait and all other legal methods not using dogs.

Migratory Birds

2026 Dates will be determined in April.

2026 Seasons
Early TealTBD - dates available in April
Early GooseSept. 1 – 15
Rail (Virginia, Sora)TBD - dates available in April
SnipeTBD - dates available in April
Common GallinuleTBD - dates available in April
Mourning DoveSept. 1 – Nov. 29
Youth WaterfowlTBD - dates available in April
WoodcockSept. 19 – Nov. 2
Northern Duck ZoneTBD - dates available in April
Southern Duck Zone

TBD - dates available in April

Open Water Duck ZoneTBD - dates available in April
Coot*Same as duck season for each zone
Northern Goose ZoneTBD - dates available in April
Southern and Mississippi Goose ZonesTBD - dates available in April

Falconry

2026 Dates will be determined in April.

2026 Seasons
Rail (Virginia, Sora), Snipe, Common Gallinule & WoodcockHalf an hour before sunrise to sunsetTBD - dates available in April
Early TealSunrise to SunsetTBD - dates available in April
Ducks, mergansers & cootsHalf an hour before sunrise to sunsetAll ZonesTBD - dates available in April
South ZoneTBD - dates available in April
Open Water ZoneTBD - dates available in April
North ZoneTBD - dates available in April
GeeseHalf an hour before sunrise to sunset*Same as the regular goose season dates; it depends on the zone
The total daily bag limit for migratory game birds is 3, singly or in the aggregate, to include not more than the legal limit for Canada geese in the zone/season you are hunting.
The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.

Wild Turkey

The application deadline for spring turkey harvest authorizations is always Dec. 10.

2026 Seasons
2026 Spring Turkey Youth HuntApril 11 – 12
Spring 2026
Period AApril 15 – 21
Period BApril 22 – 28
Period CApril 29- May 5
Period DMay 6–12
Period EMay 13– 19
Period FMay 20 – 26
Fall 2026StatewideSept. 12 – Jan. 3, 2027

Small Game

2026 Seasons
Cottontail rabbitNorthern zoneSept. 12 – Feb. 28, 2027
Southern zoneOct. 17 (9 a.m.) – Feb. 28, 2027
Milwaukee CountyYear-round
Squirrels (gray and fox)StatewideSept. 12 – Feb. 28, 2027
Hunting protected species like badgers, jackrabbits, moose, and flying squirrels is prohibited.
Check the hunting regulations for a complete set of rules.

Other Game Birds

2025 Seasons
PheasantStatewideOct. 18 (9 a.m.) – Jan. 4, 2026
Ruffed grouseZone ASept. 13 – Jan. 4, 2026
Zone BOct. 18 – Dec. 8
CrowStatewideNov. 22 – March 25, 2026
Hungarian partridgeStatewide (closed in Clark, Marathon, and Taylor counties)Oct. 18 (9 a.m.) – Jan. 4, 2026
Sharp-tailed grouseZone-specific permitsOct. 18-Nov. 9
Bobwhite quailStatewideOct. 18 (9 a.m.) – Dec. 10
Check the hunting regulations for a complete set of rules.
2026 Seasons
PheasantStatewideOct. 17 (9 a.m.) – Jan. 3, 2027
Ruffed grouseZone ASept. 12 – Jan. 3, 2027
Zone BOct. 17 – Dec. 8
CrowStatewideNov. 21 – March 24, 2027
Hungarian partridgeStatewide (closed in Clark, Marathon, and Taylor counties)Oct. 17 (9 a.m.) – Jan. 3, 2027
Sharp-tailed grouseZone-specific permitsOct. 17-Nov. 8 (if season is open)
Bobwhite quailStatewideOct. 17 (9 a.m.) – Dec. 9
Check the hunting regulations for a complete set of rules.

Furbearers

The application deadline for bobcat and fisher permits is always Aug. 1. An otter application is no longer required for the season.

2026 Seasons
WolfHunting
Hunting with the aid of dogs
Trapping
CoyoteHuntingYear-round
TrappingOct. 17 – Feb. 15, 2027
Fox (red and gray)Hunting and TrappingOct. 17 – Feb. 15. 2027
BeaverSee beaver trapping seasons.
MinkSee mink trapping seasons.
MuskratSee muskrat trapping seasons.
BobcatHunting and TrappingPeriod 1: Oct. 17 – Dec. 25
Period 2: Dec. 26 – Jan. 31, 2027
FisherSee fisher trapping seasons.
OtterSee otter trapping seasons.
RaccoonHunting and TrappingResident: Oct. 17 – Feb. 15, 2027
Nonresident: Oct. 31 – Feb. 15, 2027

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