Wisconsin Hunting Regulations, Fall 2026-Spring 2027

Weapons

It is illegal to:  

• Hunt with any means other than a rifle, shotgun, handgun, muzzleloader, airgun, bow and arrow, crossbow (min. draw weight of 100 lbs.) or falconry.
• Hunt with a machine gun or other fully automatic weapon.
• Hunt a migratory game bird with or while in possession of a shotgun larger than 10 gauge.
• Possess or use any firearm for hunting if you are a felon or have been prohibited from possessing a firearm under Wisconsin law. A hunting license does not authorize a felon to possess a firearm for hunting.
• Shoot a firearm (airgun does not apply) within 100 yards of a building devoted to human occupancy while on lands the hunter does not own, including public lands and public waters, without the permission of the owner or occupant of the building.

Ammunition

It is illegal to:  

• Use, possess or have under control of any of the following while hunting:
  • Shot shells containing shot larger than T, except when hunting for furbearing animals when buckshot may be used, and migratory birds where F may be used
  • Any tracer or incendiary ammunition that is not a distress flare.
  • Any bullet, arrow or bolt that is designed or modified to explode or deliver poisons or drugs.
  • Hunt a game bird with any ammunition other than an arrow, bolt or shot shell that consists of more than one projectile.
• Hunt a deer, bear or elk with any ammunition other than an arrow, bolt or bullet that is a single projectile of an expanding design.
• Hunt game birds or wild turkey with lead or other toxic shot while on federal waterfowl production areas (WPAs).

Reasonable Equipment

It is illegal to hunt with any weapon or ammunition that is of inherent design or used in such a manner as to not be reasonably capable of reducing a target wild animal to possession.

Muzzleloaders

Muzzleloaders may be used statewide during any firearm deer season. During the muzzleloader-only deer season, all muzzleloaders must shoot a projectile loaded only from the muzzle. Black powder revolvers are not legal during the muzzleloader-only season because they are capable of being loaded by the cylinder instead of the muzzle.

Handguns

It is illegal to:  

• Possess a concealed handgun unless authorized by a concealed carry license or other authorization to possess a concealed firearm.
• Hunt with a handgun, including muzzleloading handguns, if under age 18.

Short-Barreled Shotgun Or Rifle

Rifles must have an overall minimum length of 26 inches with a 16-inch minimum barrel length. Shotguns must have an overall minimum length of 26 inches with an 18-inch minimum barrel length unless the user has a federal license to possess a “short-barreled” rifle or shotgun.

Bows, Arrows And Crossbows

Crossbow and bow and arrows may be used by any person hunting under the authority of a gun license during any firearm season (i.e., small game, gun deer or muzzleloader for deer season). Bows and crossbows are legal for any person to use for hunting wild turkey under the authority of a turkey hunting license or for hunting migratory birds and small game under the authority of a small game hunting license and non-resident furbearer license. A crossbow is not legal to hunt under the authority of an archery license, and bow and arrow is not legal to hunt under the authority of a crossbow license.

Bow and arrow may be used to hunt small game and migratory birds under the authority of an archery license, and a crossbow may be used to hunt small game and migratory birds under the authority of a crossbow license.

Arms Transportation

All firearms (excluding handguns) must be unloaded when inside any vehicle, whether moving or stationary, and must be unloaded when on any moving vehicle. It is legal to shoot from a wagon or trailer if it is not attached to a motor vehicle while hunting. All crossbows must be unloaded if cocked while inside or on a moving vehicle.

Note: A loaded firearm may be placed on, but not inside, a vehicle that is stationary. All firearms, bows and crossbows must be unloaded when inside or on any motor-driven boat while the motor is running. A firearm is considered unloaded if the shell or cartridge is removed from the chamber and any clip, magazine or cylinder that is attached to the firearm is empty, the cap or primer is removed from a percussion muzzleloader, the flashpan of a flint lock muzzleloader is cleaned of powder or the battery is disconnected and removed from an electronic-ignition system muzzleloader.

Qualified persons with disabilities with the permit authority to shoot from a stationary vehicle must have all firearms (other than handguns) unloaded while the vehicle is in motion.

It is illegal to:  

• Place, possess or transport a cocked crossbow inside or on a motorized vehicle unless it is unloaded (bolt removed).
• Load a firearm other than a handgun while inside a motor vehicle or to discharge any firearm or airgun, including handguns, inside or from any moving or stationary vehicle except for certain disabled hunters with proper permits.

Use Of Devices

It is illegal to:

• Hunt any animal with the aid of any aircraft, including unmanned aircraft or drones.
• Use, or possess with the intent to use, laser sights while hunting except by Class C visually disabled permit holders.
• Use or hunt with a suppressor or silencer, unless the hunter possesses the proper federal firearm license that authorizes possession and use of the device.