Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin Hunting Regulations

Unprotected Species

In addition to the general hunting regulations, the following regulations are specific to unprotected species:

• Unprotected Species: See Unprotected Species webpage for a list.
• Season: Open year-round.
• Possession Limits: None
• Possession And Sale: It is legal to sell the carcass, skins or feathers of legally harvested unprotected species.
• Licenses, Stamps And Permits: A small game hunting license or trapping license is required, except that:

1. Landowners do not need a license to shoot or trap unprotected species causing damage or nuisance. See the Landowner Exceptions webpage for details and exceptions for qualified individuals and landowners.
2. Persons, including landowners, hunting or trapping unprotected species must comply with all methods of taking requirements and restrictions unless otherwise authorized by a permit from the DNR.

What You Need To Hunt Furbearers:

• Resident small game license or non-resident furbearer license.
• Bobcat harvest permit/carcass tag if hunting bobcat.

See the Landowner Exemptions webpage for details and exemptions for qualified individuals and landowners.

*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.

Additional Furbearer Hunting Seasons And Regulations

Possession Limits: Unlimited for the species listed in the Furbearer Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits webpage, except that bobcat may be possessed only under the authority of a valid bobcat permit.

Possession And Sale: Lawfully harvested carcasses and pelts may be sold at any time.

Bobcat

• Immediately upon dispatching a bobcat, the pelt tag must be validated and attached. Validate the tag by slitting the month and date of kill on the tag. Attach the validated pelt tag to the carcass using wire or other similar attachment device and passing it through the animal’s mouth to eye opening, just beneath the skin.
• You must register your harvest with the DNR by 5 p.m. the day after recovery by visiting the website or by calling 844-GAME-REG (844-426-3734) AND you must present your bobcat to an authorized DNR representative for certification no later than seven days after the month of harvest. The bobcat pelt must be separated from the carcass at the time of certification.
• Persons who intend to have a bobcat mounted by a taxidermist may present the bobcat to the department for certification in whole carcass condition without separating the pelt, but shall surrender any part of the bobcat carcass required by the department within 30 days after certification. A bobcat must have a CITES tag sealed to the pelt prior to being transferred to a taxidermist.
• The certification seal must remain attached to the pelt until removed by a fur dresser or taxidermist at time of preparation.
• It is illegal to transfer, give, trade, sell or purchase any bobcat pelt unless it bears a DNR carcass tag and certification seal attached by an authorized DNR representative.
• The bobcat lower jaws from the first period will be retained by the DNR for research purposes. Lower jaws are used to determine age and sex ratios at harvest, which aid in establishing harvest quotas. See the 2025 Trapping Regulations for more information.
• Hunters and trappers must submit a portion of a harvested bobcat’s lower jaw but may retain the top portion of the bobcat skull. Full skulls sent to the DNR will not be returned.
• Night hunting for bobcats is prohibited.

Bobcat Collection for the 2025-26 Season

This year the department will only be collecting lower jaws of bobcats harvested during the first time period. No jaws or carcasses will be collected from bobcat harvested during the second time period.