Deer Hunting Regulations

*Be aware that the general hunting regulations also apply, in addition to the species-specific regulations below. Read the info in the General and Licensing Requirements section in the Wisconsin Hunting Regulations.

Baiting and Feeding Deer Regulations

Scents

Scents that are used only to attract deer by odor may be used for hunting deer statewide, but the scent may not be placed or deposited in a manner that makes it accessible for consumption by deer. Scents measuring greater than two ounces shall be removed daily at the end of shooting hours. Scent quantities of two ounces or less do not need to be removed daily and may be placed, used or deposited in any manner for hunting deer.

Natural Vegetation And Plantings

Hunting with the aid of material deposited by natural vegetation, material found solely as a result of normal agricultural or gardening practices or with the aid of crops planted and left standing as wildlife food plots is legal. It is illegal to establish or maintain food plots/plantings on DNR-owned or -managed lands.

Baiting

It is illegal to place, use or hunt deer over bait or feed material in many counties. Visit the Baiting and Feeding Regulations webpage for a map of prohibited locations. Check the map frequently as changes can occur throughout the season. For the remainder of the state, baiting for hunting purposes is allowed only under the following conditions:

Baiting Amount

On each contiguous parcel of land under the same ownership, up to two gallons of bait may be placed in total if the parcel is less than 40 acres. If the parcel is 40 acres or more, two gallons may be placed per every 40 acres. Bait may be spread out or divided into more than one pile as long as the total amount of bait or feed material is not more than two gallons per 40 acres.

Bait Placement

It is illegal to:

• Place a baiting site within 100 yards of another baiting site.
• Hunt within 100 yards of more than two gallons of bait on the same parcel of land.
• Place a baiting site within 50 yards of any trail, road or campsite used by the public or within 100 yards of a roadway having a posted speed limit of 45 mph or more.
• Place feed at a deer feeding site that is known to be used by bear or elk.

Timing

It is illegal to:

• Place, use or hunt over bait or feed for hunting purposes during the closed deer season, except bait may be placed starting at midnight the day prior to the archery deer season opener. Baiting must stop at the close of all deer seasons.
• Hunt over bait or a feeding site that is in violation of these regulations unless the area is completely free of bait or feed material for at least 10 consecutive days prior to hunting, pursuing animals or dog training.

Note: Removal of unlawfully placed bait or feed material does not preclude the issuance of a citation for the original placement of unlawful baiting or feeding material.

Content

It is illegal to:

Place, use or hunt over any bait or feed material that:

• Contains any animal part or animal byproduct. Animal parts and byproducts include honey, bones, fish, meat, solid animal fat, animal carcasses and parts of animal carcasses but do not include liquid scents.
• Is contained in or deposited by a feeder that is designed to deposit or replenish feed automatically, mechanically or by gravity.
• Contains or is contained within metal, paper, plastic, glass, wood or other similar processed materials. This does not apply to scent materials.

Group Hunting Law

It is illegal to kill game for another person except during a firearm deer season when a member of a group deer hunting party may kill a deer for another member of the party. However, junior antlerless deer harvest authorizations may only be filled by the person to whom the authorizations are issued. Group hunting is not legal for persons hunting with bows and crossbows. All participants must be licensed, and each must possess a firearm or airgun. Members of a group deer hunting party should also agree in advance that a harvest authorization holder is willing to use their authorization number to register a deer killed by another member of the party.

• A group deer hunting party must be two or more hunters who are hunting together within sight or voice contact at all times. Temporary loss of voice or visual contact for a reasonable time due to terrain or weather conditions is acceptable. Hunters may not kill deer for persons who are not out actively hunting with the party.
• Hunters in a group hunting party may not use cellular phones, special free radio communications or other mechanical or electronic amplifying devices (except hearing aids) to establish contact with the person for whom the deer is killed.
• People participating only as deer drivers are not required to possess firearms or hunting licenses.
• Adults may not hunt deer with firearms or airguns during the youth gun deer hunt.
• While group hunting, a mentor may not fill any of their mentee’s deer harvest authorizations.

Possession and Sale of Deer

It is illegal to:

• Possess any deer from which the antlers have been removed, broken or altered so as to make determination of the legality of the deer impossible. Any such deer is considered an illegal deer if taken during a season for hunting only antlerless deer.
• Possess a deer carcass unless the hunter possesses the appropriate proof of a deer harvest authorization.
• Sell, purchase, barter or offer to sell, purchase or barter any deer or deer part, except that the head, skin (not in spotted coat) and antlers (not in velvet) of any deer may be sold or bartered when these parts are separated from the rest of the carcass.
• Possess deer that are entirely white except for the hooves, tarsal glands, head and parts of the head unless special written authorization is obtained from the department.

Note: Deer with antlers in velvet or in spotted coat may be harvested during the open deer season. The velvet antlers and spotted hide may not be sold or transferred to another person. Albino and all-white deer may not be harvested.