Wisconsin Hunting Seasons 2026-2027 – Game Units, Equipment Laws & Tags
If you’re planning fall deer camp, a spring gobbler morning, or a duck opener on the marsh, this guide pulls the official Wisconsin dates into one easy-to-read place. Below, you’ll find the latest openers and closers, top species, permit notes, public-land map resources, and zone details so you can plan without bouncing between a dozen tabs. For a broader regional comparison, you can also browse State Hunting Season Guides.
Wisconsin’s 2026–2027 outlook is already taking shape on the DNR’s official dates pages, and that matters because the combined regulations booklet is typically refreshed in June or July as approvals are finalized. The major open/close dates are live now, but it’s still smart to re-check the official rulebook before opener, especially for unit-specific details, goose permits, and shooting hours.
Wisconsin Hunting Season Overview 2026-2027
What makes Wisconsin a fun place to plan a year in the field is the variety. You can slide from September teal and doves into archery deer, chase pheasants and grouse through October cover, and still have late opportunities rolling into January. A few details stand out this cycle: archery deer runs long in metro subunits and select farmland counties, fall turkey stretches statewide into early January, and the current deer management map approved for 2025 remains the map hunters should be using in 2026 unless the DNR announces another change.
Quick-Glance Table: Key Species, Dates & Methods
| Species | 2026–2027 Dates | Main Methods / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deer 🦌 | Sept. 12, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 | Archery/crossbow; extended to Jan. 31 in metro subunits & select farmland counties |
| Deer Gun | Nov. 21–29, 2026 | Firearm |
| Deer Muzzleloader | Nov. 30–Dec. 9, 2026 | Muzzleloader |
| Bear 🐻 | Sept. 9–Oct. 13, 2026 | Dates vary by zone and dog use |
| Elk | Oct. 17–Dec. 13, 2026 | Archery, crossbow and firearm; draw only |
| Spring Turkey 🦃 | Apr. 11–May 26, 2026 | Youth plus Periods A–F |
| Fall Turkey | Sept. 12, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 | Statewide |
| Ducks | Sept. 26–Dec. 15, 2026 | Zone-based splits |
| Geese | Sept. 1, 2026 – Jan. 5, 2027 | Early and regular zone-based splits |
| Pheasant | Oct. 17, 2026 (9 a.m.) – Jan. 3, 2027 | Small game license + pheasant stamp |
| Squirrels | Sept. 12, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 | Statewide |
| Coyote | Year-round | Open continuously |
Dates summarized from Wisconsin DNR official pages.
All Big Games: Archery & Rifle
Here is the information broken down into three separate tables—one for each species heading.
Deer 🦌
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Archery / Crossbow | Sept. 12 – Jan. 3 (extended to Jan. 31 in metro subunits and select farmland counties) |
| Youth Deer Hunt | Oct. 10–11 |
| Disabled Hunt | Oct. 3–11 (approved areas only) |
| 9-Day Gun Hunt | Nov. 21–29 |
| Muzzleloader | Nov. 30 – Dec. 9 |
| Statewide Antlerless Hunt | Dec. 10–13 |
| Holiday Antlerless-only | Dec. 24 – Jan. 1 (select Farmland Zone counties) |
| Bonus Antlerless Authorizations | Go on sale Aug. 18; sold first-come, first-served by zone, unit, and land type |
| Overall Note | Beginner-friendly framework once broken into chunks |
Bear 🐻
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Zones A, B, D (Dogs allowed) | • Sept. 9–15: Bait and other legal methods (no dogs) • Sept. 16 – Oct. 6: Dogs, bait, and other legal methods • Oct. 7–13: Dogs only |
| Zones C, E, F (No dogs) | Sept. 9 – Oct. 13: Bait and other legal methods that do not involve dogs |
| Tag Application | Not over-the-counter; hunters apply by Dec. 10 |
| License Issuance | Through the state’s preference point lottery |
Elk
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| 2026 Season Dates | Oct. 17 – Dec. 13 (archery, crossbow, and firearm) |
| Application Period | March 1 – May 31 |
| Drawing Date | Early June |
| Northern Elk Management Zone | Unit Groups A, C, and D — bull tags only |
| Central Zone | Groups E, F, and G — both bull and antlerless allocations (depending on group) |
| Mandatory Requirement | License winners must complete required elk hunter education before buying the tag |
| Overall Note | One of the toughest tags in the state to draw |
Turkey Season 🦃
- Youth turkey hunt: April 11–12, 2026
- Period A: April 15–21
- Period B: April 22–28
- Period C: April 29–May 5
- Period D: May 6–12
- Period E: May 13–19
- Period F: May 20–26
- Fall turkey: Sept. 12, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 statewide
- Spring draw deadline: Dec. 10 each year
- Good to know: Spring authorizations use a preference drawing, while leftover permits are sold as bonus authorizations. For fall, one harvest authorization is included with each fall turkey or conservation patron license.
Furbearers Season
- Coyote: open year-round
- Fox (red and gray): Oct. 17, 2026 – Feb. 15, 2027
- Raccoon: Resident Oct. 17, 2026 – Feb. 15, 2027; Nonresident Oct. 31, 2026 – Feb. 15, 2027
- Bobcat: Period 1 runs Oct. 17–Dec. 25; Period 2 runs Dec. 26, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027
- Permit note: Bobcat permits still require application, and the deadline is Aug. 1.
Upland Birds Season
| Species | 2026–2027 Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pheasant | Oct. 17 (9 a.m.) – Jan. 3, 2027 | Noon closure on certain properties during early weekday part of the run |
| Ruffed Grouse Zone A | Sept. 12, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 | Northern coverts stay in play longer |
| Ruffed Grouse Zone B | Oct. 17 – Dec. 7, 2026 | Shorter southern framework |
| Hungarian Partridge | Oct. 17 (9 a.m.) – Jan. 3, 2027 | Closed in Clark, Marathon and Taylor counties |
| Bobwhite Quail | Oct. 17 (9 a.m.) – Dec. 9, 2026 | Statewide |
| Crow | Nov. 21, 2026 – March 24, 2027 | Statewide |
| Sharp-tailed Grouse | Oct. 17–Nov. 8, 2026 | Only if the state opens it by permit |
A small but very Wisconsin-specific detail: pheasant hours close at noon on weekdays on certain designated properties during the early portion of the run, and Richard Bong State Recreation Area has a 2 p.m. close for all species after Oct. 19 except listed exceptions. That’s the kind of fine print that can ruin a good day if you miss it.
Upland Animals Season
| Species | 2026–2027 Dates | Zone Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Squirrels (gray & fox) | Sept. 12, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 | Statewide |
| Cottontail Rabbit | Sept. 12, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 | Northern Zone |
| Cottontail Rabbit | Oct. 17, 2026 (9 a.m.) – Feb. 28, 2027 | Southern Zone |
| Cottontail Rabbit | Year-round | Milwaukee County |
| Snowshoe Hare | No closed season listed | License required |
If you’re brand-new and want a lower-pressure start, squirrels and rabbits are honestly a smart on-ramp. The gear list is simple, access is broader, and you learn a lot about moving quietly, reading sign, and spotting habitat transitions without the intensity of a once-a-year tag.
Other Small Games Season
| Species | 2026–2027 Dates | Best Category Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | Sept. 1 – Nov. 29, 2026 | Small migratory bird |
| Bobwhite Quail | Oct. 17 (9 a.m.) – Dec. 9, 2026 | Small upland bird |
| Squirrel | Sept. 12, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 | Small game mammal |
| Crow | Nov. 21, 2026 – March 24, 2027 | Other game bird |
| Weasel / Woodchuck / Porcupine / Opossum / Skunk / Snowshoe Hare | No closed season listed | License required |
Dates above are from the official Wisconsin DNR small game tables.
Migratory Birds Season
| Species | 2026 Dates |
|---|---|
| Early Teal | Sept. 1–9 |
| Early Goose | Sept. 1–15 |
| Rail (Virginia, Sora) | Sept. 1–Nov. 9 |
| Snipe | Sept. 1–Nov. 9 |
| Common Gallinule | Sept. 1–Nov. 9 |
| Mourning Dove | Sept. 1–Nov. 29 |
| Woodcock | Sept. 19–Nov. 2 |
| Youth Waterfowl | Sept. 19–20 |
This is one of the better states for folks who like variety in September. You can open the month with teal or doves, then shift into woodcock a little later once the weather nudges migration along. Just remember that migratory bird pursuits come with extra paperwork compared with a basic squirrel outing.
Ducks, Scaup, Mergansers & Geese Season
| Zone / Species Group | 2026–2027 Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Duck Zone | Sept. 26 – Nov. 24, 2026 | Regular duck framework |
| Southern Duck Zone | Oct. 3–11 and Oct. 17–Dec. 6, 2026 | Split structure |
| Open Water Duck Zone | Oct. 17 – Dec. 15, 2026 | Big-water option |
| Coot | Same dates as ducks in each zone | Zone-matched |
| Northern Goose Zone | Sept. 16 – Dec. 16, 2026 | Regular goose |
| Southern Goose Zone | Sept. 16–Oct. 11; Oct. 17–Dec. 6; Dec. 19, 2026 – Jan. 2, 2027 | Holiday split included |
| Mississippi Goose Zone | Oct. 3–11, 2026 and Oct. 17, 2026 – Jan. 5, 2027 | Long late run |
For mergansers, Wisconsin treats them inside the regular duck framework, so they open and close with the duck dates in the zone you’re in. For scaup, the DNR’s current 2026 dates page folds them into the duck framework rather than listing a separate opener/closer line, so use your duck-zone dates and then double-check the annual waterfowl packet for the zone-specific scaup bag-limit split before opener.
Other Waterfowls Season
- Youth Waterfowl: Sept. 19–20, 2026
- Coot: same dates as duck dates in each zone
- Falconry for ducks, mergansers and coots: youth weekend Sept. 19–20, 2026, plus late falconry dates Jan. 8–Feb. 12, 2027, along with the regular zone dates
- Licensing reminder: duck pursuits require a small game license, Wisconsin waterfowl stamp, federal duck stamp, and HIP registration; goose runs also require the appropriate goose permit.
More Games Season
- Disabled deer hunt: Oct. 3–11, 2026
- Youth deer hunt: Oct. 10–11, 2026
- Antlerless-only deer hunt: Dec. 10–13, 2026
- Holiday antlerless deer hunt in select Farmland Zone counties: Dec. 24, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027
- Fall turkey: Sept. 12, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
- Crow: Nov. 21, 2026 – March 24, 2027
- Milwaukee County rabbit: open year-round Wisconsin DNR Season Dates
Game Units & Public Access
For public-land planning, the handiest official tool is the DNR’s PAL system, which shows public access parcels plus private lands enrolled in programs like MFL, FCL, VPA and THAP. Deer hunters should also use the DNR’s current DMU mapping page or the interactive DMU layer so they don’t buy bonus antlerless tags for the wrong unit. That sounds obvious, but plenty of people have learned it the hard way at 5 a.m. in a gas-station parking lot.
License Details 🎟️
| License / Add-On | Resident | Youth / Junior | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservation Patron | $165 | Junior (12–17): $75 | $620 | Big all-in package |
| Sports Package | $60 | Junior (12–17): $35 | $295; Junior $36 | Includes fishing, small game and gun deer |
| Small Game | $18 | Junior $9; Under 12 $7 | $90; Under 12 $7 | Nonresident 5-day option: $60 |
| Gun Deer | $24 | Ages 12–17: $20; Under 12: $7 | $200; Under 12: $7 | Separate firearm tag |
| Archer | $24 | Ages 12–17: $20; Under 12: $7 | $200; Under 12: $7 | Separate bow tag |
| Crossbow | $24 | Ages 12–17: $20; Under 12: $7 | $200; Under 12: $7 | Separate crossbow tag |
| Spring Turkey License | $15 | Under 12: $7 | $65; Under 12: $7 | Turkey stamp also required |
| Fall Turkey License | $15 | Under 12: $7 | $65; Under 12: $7 | Includes one fall authorization |
| Turkey Stamp | $5.25 | Under 12: $4.50 | $5.25 | Add-on |
| Waterfowl Stamp | $12 | — | $12 | Add-on |
| Federal Duck Stamp | $30.50 | — | $30.50 | Includes fees/surcharge |
| HIP Certification | Free | Free | Free | Required for migratory birds |
These are the fee figures listed on the Wisconsin DNR Go Wild resident and nonresident fee pages. Before checkout, I’d still confirm your exact bundle in Go Wild, especially if you’re stacking sports packages, youth pricing, or bonus authorizations.
FAQ
Do I need to apply ahead of time for turkey or bear?
Yes. Spring turkey applications are due by Dec. 10, and bear applications are also due by Dec. 10 the year before the run. Both use allocation systems rather than simple walk-up sales.
Are bonus antlerless deer tags sold over the counter?
Yes, once released. For 2026, bonus antlerless authorizations are scheduled to go on sale Aug. 18 and are sold first-come, first-served by zone, unit and land type.
Where can I find public land and enrolled private access?
Use the DNR PAL map. It includes state parcels and also access programs such as VPA, MFL, FCL and THAP.
Can I rely on sunrise/sunset apps for legal hours?
I wouldn’t. Wisconsin posts species-specific shooting-hours documents through the regulations hub, and those are the safer reference for staying legal by region and date.
Prepare for Your Wisconsin Hunt
If I were planning a Wisconsin trip for 2026–2027, we’d do three things first: confirm the exact unit on the DMU map, buy any bonus or draw-related paperwork as early as possible, and save the PAL map on my phone before I lose signal. That matters here more than in a lot of states because the details really do swing by unit, zone, split and even property. A metro deer archer, a Horicon marsh duck hunter, and a northwoods grouse walker are all playing slightly different games. And honestly, that’s part of the charm. Wisconsin rewards the hunter who reads the fine print, not just the weather.
