Special Fall Hunting And Trapping Season Application Deadlines Approaching

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters and trappers that less than two weeks remain to apply for bobcat and fisher permits or a chance to hunt sharp-tailed grouse this fall.

The harvest of bobcat and fisher is regulated through a special permitting system, and harvest permits are awarded through a preference point lottery system. To receive a permit, a hunter must apply by the Aug. 1 deadline and be a drawing winner.

Thanks to years of habitat work in the Northwest Sands region, hunters will have an opportunity to hunt sharp-tailed grouse in Wisconsin for the first time since 2018. Years of work restoring and reconnecting the fragmented habitat that sharp-tailed grouse depend on has allowed the population to increase every year since 2021.

Individuals interested in sharp-tailed grouse hunting this season must apply by Friday, Aug. 1, to enter a limited permit drawing. The season will run from Oct. 18 until Nov. 9, and preference points from prior years will be honored. The application is open to both residents and nonresidents.

Applications for a permit can be purchased online in Go Wild or at your local DNR license sales location.

For more information about trapping in Wisconsin, visit the DNR’s Trapping Regulations webpage. For more information about sharp-tailed grouse, check out the DNR’s Sharp-Tailed Grouse Hunting webpage.