Wisconsin Hunting Regulations, Fall 2026-Spring 2027
The Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin Hunting Regulations are now available for hunters to look through. In addition to this web version of the regulations, a print copy is available at most license agent locations. Both versions contain the same information.
To use the online regulations, you must first choose a Section or click the "View All Regulations" button to see everything. You may then choose a Subsection to narrow your search and then press the View Regulation button to display the regulatory information you selected. If you'd like to see all info related to a section, select the first option ("-") to see everything under that section. You may also press Reset for a brand new search.
Please be aware that hunters are responsible for reading and following all the hunting regulations. Regulations that apply to all species are found within the "General Hunting" and "Licensing Requirements" sections, meanwhile species-specific regulations are found in the respective species sections.
Deer Season Dates and Bag Limits
2026 Deer Hunting Seasons
| Season | Dates | Location | Special Instructions |
| Archery/Crossbow | Sept. 12-Jan. 3, 2027 or Jan. 31, 2027* | Statewide | No bucks may be harvested during the statewide antlerless-only hunt or in specific DMUs during the antlerless-only holiday hunt. |
| Gun Deer Hunt For Hunters With Disabilities | Oct. 3-11 | Participating properties | See the Special Hunts webpage for more information. |
| Youth and Disabled Hunt | Oct. 10-11 | Statewide | See the Special Hunts webpage for more information. |
| Gun Deer | Nov. 21-29 | Statewide | All weapon types allowed. Metro sub-unit dates Nov. 21-Dec. 9 |
| Muzzleloader | Nov. 30-Dec. 9 | Statewide | See the Weapons and Ammunition webpage for more information. |
| Antlerless-only | Dec. 10-13 | Statewide | All weapon types are allowed. Only antlerless deer may be harvested. |
| Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt | Dec. 24-Jan. 1, 2027 | Select Farmland Zone counties only** | All weapon types are allowed. Only antlerless deer may be harvested. |
*Archery/crossbow season closes on Jan. 31, 2027, in metro sub-units and in DMUs with extended archery/crossbow season. See the Deer Season Structure map for participating counties.
**See the Deer Season Structure Map.
Bag Limits
Unless otherwise specified under “Special Instructions" (above), the bag limit for all seasons is one buck deer per unused buck deer harvest authorization valid statewide and one antlerless deer per unused antlerless deer harvest authorization valid for use in the specified zone, deer management unit (DMU) and land type (public access or private). Bow buck deer harvest authorizations are weapon-specific. For example, you may not use a rifle to fill your bow buck harvest authorization, even during the firearm gun deer season. Junior antlerless deer harvest authorizations are valid statewide.
Turkey Season Dates and Bag Limits
| Fall Season | Area/Period | Dates | Bag Limit |
| Fall 2026 | Statewide | Sept. 12-Jan. 3, 2027 | One turkey of any age or sex per harvest authorization. |
| Spring Season | Area/Period | Dates | Bag Limit |
| Youth 2027 | The turkey zone for which the harvest authorization was issued | April 17-18 | One bearded or male turkey per hunter. |
| Spring 2027 | Period A | April 21-27 | One bearded or male turkey per harvest authorization. |
| Spring 2027 | Period B | April 28-May 4 | One bearded or male turkey per harvest authorization. |
| Spring 2027 | Period C | May 5-11 | One bearded or male turkey per harvest authorization. |
| Spring 2027 | Period D | May 12-18 | One bearded or male turkey per harvest authorization. |
| Spring 2027 | Period E | May 19-25 | One bearded or male turkey per harvest authorization. |
| Spring 2027 | Period F | May 26-June 1 | One bearded or male turkey per harvest authorization. |
Bear Season Dates and Bag Limits
| Zone | Dates |
| Zones A, B and D | Sept. 9-15 With aid of bait With all other legal methods not using dogs |
| Zones A, B and D | Sept. 16-Oct. 6 With aid of dogs With aid of bait With all other legal methods |
| Zones A, B and D | Oct. 7-13 With aid of dogs only, no other methods |
| Zones C, E and F | Sept. 9-Oct. 13 With aid of bait With all other legal methods not using dogs |
Migratory Game Birds: Season Dates And Bag Limits
Migratory Game Bird Seasons
| Species | Dates | Daily Bag Limit |
| Early Teal* | Sept. 1-9 | 6 |
| Early Goose | Sept. 1-15 | 5 Canada, 20 snow, blue or Ross |
| Rail (Virginia and Sora) | Sept. 1-Nov. 9 | 25 |
| Snipe | Sept. 1-Nov. 9 | 8 |
| Common Gallinule | Sept. 1-Nov. 9 | 15 |
| Mourning Dove | Sept. 1-Nov. 29 | 15 |
| Youth Waterfowl | Sept. 19-20 | Same as regular duck season |
| Woodcock | Sept. 19-Nov. 2 | 3 |
*Please double check the shooting hours for early teal, because early teal has a different set of shooting hours than the other waterfowl species.
Regular Duck Season
Regular Duck Season Bag Limits: 6 ducks, to include not more than 4 mallards (2 hens), 2 black ducks, 3 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 3 wood ducks and scaup as outlined below. For species of ducks not listed, such as teal and ring-necks, the combined total with all other species may not exceed 6 ducks. In addition, 5 mergansers to include not more than 2 hooded mergansers.
| Zone | Dates | Daily Bag Limit |
| Northern Duck Zone | Sept. 26-Nov. 24 | 2 scaup/day: Sept. 26-Nov. 9 1 scaup/day: Nov. 10-24 |
| Southern Duck Zone | Oct. 3-11; Oct. 17-Dec. 6 | 1 scaup/day: Oct. 3-11 and Oct. 17-22 2 scaup/day: Oct. 23-Dec. 6 |
| Open Water Zone | Oct. 17-Dec. 15 | 2 scaup/day: Oct. 17- Nov. 30 1 scaup/day: Dec. 1-15 |
| Coot | *Same as duck zone you are hunting | 15 |
Regular Goose Season
| Zone | Dates | Daily Bag Limit |
| Northern Goose Zone | Sept. 16-Dec. 16 |
|
| Southern Goose Zone | Sept. 16-Oct. 11; Oct. 17-Dec. 6; Dec. 19-Jan. 2, 2027 |
|
| Mississippi River Zone | Oct. 3-Oct. 11; Oct. 17-Jan. 5, 2027 |
|
Upland Bird Season Dates and Bag Limits
| Species | Daily Bag | Area | Dates (except as noted) |
| Pheasant | One rooster daily on opening weekend; two roosters daily for remainder of season. | Statewide | Oct. 17 (9 a.m.)-Jan. 3, 2027 |
| Bobwhite quail | 5 | Statewide | Oct. 17 (9 a.m.)-Dec. 9 |
| Ruffed grouse | 5 | Zone A | Sept. 12-Jan. 3, 2027 |
| Ruffed grouse | 2 | Zone B | Oct. 17-Dec. 8 |
| Gray (Hungarian) partridge | 3 | Statewide (CLOSED in Clark, Marathon and Taylor counties) | Oct. 17 (9 a.m.)-Jan. 3, 2027 |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | The limit for sharp-tailed grouse is one per carcass tag issued. | Zone-specific permits | *No season in 2026 |
| Crow | 15 | Statewide | Nov. 21-March 24, 2027 |
Possession limit is equal to three times the daily bag limit.