About/General

Sharp-tailed grouse hunting and management

Sharp-tailed Grouse Management Plan The Wisconsin DNR is working on the Wisconsin 2023-2033 Sharp-tailed Grouse Management Plan. The draft plan sets a course for how the DNR intends to manage sharp-tailed grouse and the habitat they use…

Spring turkey hunting opportunities for the disabled

For disabled hunters wishing to participate in the spring turkey hunting season, there are two options available. These options and information on how to apply are outlined below. For information on turkey season dates, harvest authorization levels…

Waterfowl Hunting

Mourning dove hunting

Attention: Now available, new upland gamebird hunting tool mapping application! Please visit Fields & Forest Lands Interactive Gamebird Hunting Tool and explore its features and mapping information!

Report bird band recoveries

Have you ever experienced the excitement of harvesting, finding or observing a banded or neck-collared bird? Those who do may wonder where the bird originated, how old it is or where to report the information on the band. The North American Bird…

Trapping season dates and application deadlines

The river otter trapping season in the Northern Zone will close early, effective April 1, 2024, at midnight. No river otters can be harvested on or after April 1. Registration can still occur on April 1, so long as the harvest occurred the prior…

Trapping in Wisconsin

Trapping is one of the oldest forms of hunting. It was the “mountain man” trappers who opened up North America for westward expansion. Probably the first industry in North America, the fur trade continues today. Trapping in Wisconsin is highly…

Snowmobile safety tips

Zero alcohol keeps you safe on the trail Drinking alcohol before snowmobiling or during your ride slows your reactions, impairs your judgment, and is a leading contributor to snowmobiling deaths. Last winter, alcohol was involved in 70 percent of…

Ordinances and waterway markers

Before boating on unfamiliar Wisconsin waterways, check for a sign at the public boat landing to determine if there are local regulations (more restrictive than state law) that may apply on that water body. Boating ordinances Wisconsin law allows…

Establishing a slalom course

There are two permits necessary to place a slalom course on public waterways. The following steps are necessary to apply for a slalom permit.