Overview
Known For
Wisconsin is known for quality whitetail deer hunting and now newly managed elk hunts. Wisconsin has long been a premier destination for deer, turkey, and upland bird hunters.
Terrain
Wisconsin’s terrain has vast and diverse geography known for its landforms created by glaciers during the Wisconsin glaciation 17,000 years ago. The state includes everything from forests and farmlands to vast sandy plains. The state can be divided into five geographic regions—Lake Superior Lowland, Northern Highland, Central Plain, Eastern Ridges and Lowlands, and Western Upland. Wisconsin is 65,496 square miles, making it the 23rd-largest state in the country.
Wisconsin Hunting Seasons
| Season | Start Date | End Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Bear – Zone C, E, F
Dogs not permitted. Bait and other legal methods are permitted.
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Sep 6, 2023 | Oct 10, 2023 |
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Bear – Zone A, B, D
With aid of dogs only
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Sep 6, 2023 | Sep 12, 2023 |
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Bear – Zone A, B, D
With aid of dogs, bait, and all other legal methods
|
Sep 13, 2023 | Oct 3, 2023 |
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Bear – Zone A, B, D
With aid of bait and all other legal methods not including dogs
|
Oct 4, 2023 | Oct 10, 2023 |
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Bobcat – Period 1
Statewide.
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Oct 14, 2023 | Dec 25, 2023 |
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Bobcat – Period 2
Statewide.
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Dec 26, 2023 | Jan 31, 2024 |
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Coyote
Continuous open season.
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Jan 1, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
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Deer – Archery and Crossbow
Metro Sub Units Only.
|
Sep 16, 2023 | Jan 31, 2024 |
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Deer – Archery and Crossbow
Includes archery and crossbow equipment.
|
Sep 16, 2023 | Jan 7, 2024 |
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Deer – Youth Hunt
|
Oct 7, 2023 | Oct 8, 2023 |
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Deer – Disabled Hunters
Gun hunt for hunters with disabilities. Not a statewide season.
|
Oct 7, 2023 | Oct 15, 2023 |
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Deer – Gun
|
Nov 18, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
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Deer – Muzzleloader
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Nov 27, 2023 | Dec 6, 2023 |
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Deer – Antlerless Hunt
Statewide.
|
Dec 7, 2023 | Dec 10, 2023 |
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Deer – Holiday Hunt
Antlerless only. Open only in select Farmland (Zone 2) counties. Please see deer regulations booklet for valid units.
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Dec 24, 2023 | Jan 1, 2024 |
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Mourning Dove
Daily Bag limit: 15
|
Sep 1, 2023 | Nov 29, 2023 |
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Duck – Early Teal Season
Statewide
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Sep 1, 2023 | Sep 9, 2023 |
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Duck – Youth Waterfowl Hunt
Statewide
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Sep 16, 2023 | Sep 17, 2023 |
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Duck – Northern Zone
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Sep 23, 2023 | Nov 21, 2023 |
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Duck – Early South Zone
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Sep 30, 2023 | Oct 8, 2023 |
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Duck – Open Water Zone
Green Bay and Lake Michigan
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Dec 12, 2023 |
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Duck – Late South Zone
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Oct 14, 2023 | Dec 3, 2024 |
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Elk – Early Season
Clam Lake Elk Management Zone
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Oct 14, 2023 | Nov 12, 2023 |
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Elk – Late Season
Clam Lake Elk Management Zone
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Dec 14, 2023 | Dec 22, 2023 |
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Fox – Red & Gray
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Oct 14, 2023 | Feb 15, 2024 |
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Goose – Early
Canada geese, Snow/blue geese, and Ross’ geese.
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Sep 1, 2023 | Sep 15, 2023 |
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Goose – Northern Zone
North exterior zone. Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Blue Goose, Ross Goose, White-fronted Goose, Brant Goose
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Sep 16, 2023 | Dec 16, 2023 |
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Goose – Southern Zone 1
South exterior zone. Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Blue Goose, Ross Goose, White-fronted Goose, Brant Goose.
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Sep 16, 2023 | Oct 8, 2023 |
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Goose – Early MS River
Mississippi River subzone. Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Blue Goose, Ross Goose, White-fronted Goose, Brant Goose
|
Sep 16, 2023 | Oct 8, 2023 |
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Goose – Southern Zone 2
South exterior zone. Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Blue Goose, Ross Goose, White-fronted Goose, Brant Goose
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Dec 3, 2023 |
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Goose – Southern Zone 3
South exterior zone. Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Blue Goose, Ross Goose, White-fronted Goose, Brant Goose
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Dec 16, 2023 | Jan 2, 2024 |
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Goose – Late MS River
Mississippi River subzone. Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Blue Goose, Ross Goose, White-fronted Goose, Brant Goose
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Dec 16, 2023 | Jan 2, 2024 |
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Sharp-tailed Grouse
Season under review, see more here: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/sharptailgrouse.html
|
Oct 15, 2022 | Nov 6, 2022 |
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Ruffed Grouse Zone A
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Sep 16, 2023 | Jan 7, 2024 |
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Ruffed Grouse – Zone B
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Oct 14, 2023 | Dec 8, 2023 |
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Pheasant
Statewide. Opens 9 a.m.
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Oct 14, 2023 | Jan 7, 2024 |
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Bobwhite quail
Statewide. Opens 9 a.m.
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Dec 6, 2023 |
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Rabbit – Cottontail Milwaukee County
|
Jan 1, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
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Rabbit – Cottontail Northern Zone
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Sep 16, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
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Rabbit – Cottontail Southern Zone
Opens 9 a.m.
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
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Turkey – Youth
Youth only
|
Apr 16, 2022 | Apr 17, 2022 |
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Turkey – Spring Period A
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Apr 20, 2022 | Apr 26, 2022 |
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Turkey – Spring Period B
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Apr 27, 2022 | May 3, 2022 |
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Turkey – Spring Period D
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May 11, 2022 | May 17, 2022 |
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Turkey – Spring Period E
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May 18, 2022 | May 24, 2022 |
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Turkey – Spring Period F
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May 25, 2022 | May 30, 2022 |
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Turkey – Youth
Youth only
|
Apr 15, 2023 | Apr 16, 2023 |
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Turkey – Spring Period A
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Apr 19, 2023 | Apr 25, 2023 |
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Turkey – Spring Period B
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Apr 26, 2023 | May 2, 2023 |
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Turkey – Spring Period C
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May 3, 2023 | May 9, 2023 |
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Turkey – Spring Period D
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May 10, 2023 | May 16, 2023 |
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Turkey – Spring Period E
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May 17, 2023 | May 23, 2023 |
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Turkey – Spring Period F
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May 24, 2023 | May 30, 2023 |
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Turkey – Fall Statewide
Statewide |
Sep 16, 2023 | Nov 17, 2023 |
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Turkey – Fall Zones 1-5
Zones 1-5
|
Nov 18, 2023 | Jan 7, 2024 |
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Woodcock
|
Sep 23, 2023 | Nov 6, 2023 |
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Hungarian partridge
Statewide. Season opens at 9am. (Closed in Clark, Marathon and Taylor counties.)
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Jan 7, 2024 |
Wisconsin Licenses, Permits, and Regulations
Wisconsin hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the official website of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Click below to view the website.
Hunting GPS Maps
Every Wisconsin hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Wisconsin hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of hunt zones, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Wisconsin.
Hunting Zones
Wisconsin has four Hunt Zones, also known as Deer Management Zones (DMZ) or Turkey Zones, based on different habitat types: Northern Forest, Central Forest, Central Farmland and Southern Farmland. Click below to view Wisconsin’s hunt zones in more detail through an interactive map.
Hunting Layers
WI Private Lands
Over 2,500,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Wisconsin. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.
WI Gov Lands
onX has the most accurate public lands maps with over 7,200,000 acres in Wisconsin to help you plan your next adventure. Tap any public land parcel to learn more.
WI Hunt Zones
Wisconsin Deer Management Units, Deer Management Zones, Bear and Turkey Hunt Zones. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.
Includes 5 Sublayers
- Bear
- Deer Mgmt Units
- Deer Mgmt Zones
- Turkey
- Clam Lake Elk Range
WI Possible Access
onX has mapped 660,000 acres of possible access lands in Wisconsin including timber companies and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.
WI Forest Tax Law
Wisconsin Forest Tax Law is comprised of both forest tax and forest managed law lands. This layer only shows land that is open to access to hunters in both programs.
WI Forest Legacy Lands
Wisconsin Forest Legacy Lands enrolled in the Forest Legacy Program. Check local Fish and Game for hunting access in these areas.
WI Voluntary Public Access
Wisconsin DNR Voluntary Public Access Program. On-the-ground boundary signs override boundaries shown in DNR and third-party web mapping applications and should be respected.
WI Turkey Hunting Access Program
Wisconsin DNR Turkey Hunting Access Program. On-the-ground boundary signs override boundaries shown in DNR and third-party web mapping applications and should be respected.
WI Game Bird
WI Game Bird Layer. Shows Areas suitable for Ruffed Grouse, Woodcock, Pheasant Stocking areas, and Dove fields. View local regulations before hunting.
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