Season dates and application deadlines
View and print 2021 season dates and application deadlines [PDF].
Deer
| 2021 Seasons | |
|---|---|
| Archery and Crossbow | Sept. 18, 2021 - Jan. 9, 2022 |
| Archery and Crossbow *Metro Sub-units only* | Sept. 18, 2021 - Jan. 31, 2022 |
| Gun hunt for hunters with disabilities: This is not a statewide season. Learn more... | Oct. 2-10, 2021 |
| Youth deer hunt | Oct. 9-10, 2021 |
| Gun | Nov. 20-28, 2021 |
| Muzzleloader | Nov. 29 - Dec. 8, 2021 |
| December 4-Day Antlerless Hunt | Dec. 9 - Dec. 12, 2021 |
|
Antlerless-Only Holiday Hunt |
Dec. 24, 2021 - Jan. 1, 2022* |
| All dates are subject to change through a rulemaking or a legislative process. Please check the Wisconsin Hunting Regulations for a complete set of dates and unit designations. | |
Bear
The application deadline for bear permits is always Dec. 10, the year prior to season.
| 2021 Seasons | |
|---|---|
| Note: There are new bear zones for the 2021 season | |
| Zones A, B, D: where dogs are permitted | |
| Sept. 8-14, 2021 |
|
| Sept. 15 - Oct. 5, 2021 |
|
| Oct. 6-12, 2021 |
|
| Zones C, E, F: where dogs are not permitted | |
| Sept. 8 - Oct. 12, 2021 |
|
Migratory Birds
| 2021 seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Youth waterfowl hunt | Statewide | Sept. 18-19 |
| Early teal season | Statewide | Sept. 1 - 9. |
| Early Canada goose, Snow/blue geese, Ross' geese | ||
| Statewide | Sept. 1 - 15 | |
| Canada goose, Snow/blue geese, Ross' geese, white-fronted geese, other geese and brant | Northern zone | Sept. 16 - Dec. 16 |
| Southern zone | Sept. 16 - Oct. 10; Oct. 16 - Dec. 5; Dec. 20 - Jan. 4, 2022 Season is CLOSED Oct. 11-15 & Dec. 6-19 |
|
| Mississippi River subzone | Oct. 2-10; Oct. 16 - Jan. 4, 2022 Season is CLOSED Oct. 11-15 |
|
| Wild Ducks | ||
| North zone | Sept. 25 - Nov. 23 | |
| South zone | Oct. 2-10; Oct. 16 - Dec. 5 Season is CLOSED Oct. 11-15 |
|
| Open Water zone (Green Bay and Lake Michigan) | Oct. 16 - Dec. 14 | |
| Mergansers | Statewide | Same as wild ducks in the zone in which you are hunting |
| Coot | Statewide | Same as wild ducks in the zone in which you are hunting |
| Moorhen, Sora and Virginia rails and Snipe | Statewide | Sept. 1 - Nov. 10 |
| Woodcock | Statewide | Sept. 25 - Nov. 8 |
| Mourning dove | Statewide | Sept. 1 - Nov. 29 |
| Season dates for waterfowl vary annually. | ||
| Check the migratory game bird regulations for a complete set of rules. | ||
Wild Turkey
The application deadline for spring turkey harvest authorizations is always Dec. 10.
| 2021 Seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Youth turkey hunt | April 17 and 18, 2021 | |
| Spring 2021 | ||
| Period A | April 21-27, 2021 | |
| Period B | April 28 - May 4, 2021 | |
| Period C | May 5-11, 2021 | |
| Period D | May 12-18, 2021 | |
| Period E | May 19-25, 2021 | |
| Period F | May 26 - June 1, 2021 | |
| Fall 2021 | ||
| Zones 1 - 5 | Sept. 18, 2021 - Jan. 9, 2022 | |
| Zones 6 - 7 | Sept. 18 - Nov. 19, 2021 | |
Small Mammals
| 2021 Seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cottontail rabbit | ||
| Northern zone | Sept. 18, 2021 - Feb. 28, 2022 | |
| Southern zone | Oct. 16, 2021 (9 AM) - Feb. 28, 2022 | |
| Milwaukee County | Year round | |
| Squirrels (gray and fox) | ||
| Statewide | Sept. 18, 2021 – Jan. 31, 2022 | |
| Hunting protected species, such as badger, jackrabbit, moose and flying squirrel is prohibited. | ||
| Check the small game hunting regulations for a complete set of rules. | ||
Other Game Birds
| 2021 Seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pheasant | Statewide | Oct. 16, 2021 (9 AM) - Jan. 9, 2022 |
| Ruffed grouse | ||
| Zone A | Sept. 18, 2021 - Jan. 9, 2022 | |
| Zone B | Oct. 16 - Dec. 8, 2021 | |
| Crow | ||
| Statewide | Sept. 18 - Nov. 18, 2021 | |
| Jan. 28, 2022 - Mar. 20, 2022 | ||
| Hungarian partridge | Statewide (closed in Clark, Marathon and Taylor counties) | Oct. 16, 2021 (9 AM) - Jan. 9, 2022 |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | Season is under review. | Oct. 16 - Nov. 7, 2021 (only if season is open) |
| Bobwhite quail | Statewide | Oct. 16 (9 AM) - Dec. 8, 2021 |
| Check the regulations for a complete set of rules. | ||
Furbearers
The application deadline for bobcat, and fisher permits is always Aug. 1. An otter application will no longer be required for the 2020 season.
| 2021 Seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coyote | ||
| Hunting | Year-round | |
| Trapping | See coyote trapping seasons. | |
| Fox, red and gray | ||
| Hunting | Oct. 16, 2021 - Feb. 15, 2022 | |
| Trapping | See fox trapping seasons. | |
| Beaver | See beaver trapping seasons. | |
| Mink | See mink trapping seasons. | |
| Muskrat | See muskrat trapping seasons. | |
| Bobcat | ||
| Hunting | ||
| Oct. 16 - Dec. 25, 2021 | ||
| Dec. 26, 2021 - Jan. 31, 2022 | ||
| Trapping | See bobcat trapping seasons. | |
| Fisher | See fisher trapping seasons. | |
| Otter | See otter trapping seasons. | |
| Raccoon | ||
| Resident | Oct. 16 - Feb. 15, 2022 | |
| Non-resident | Oct. 30 - Feb. 15, 2022 | |
| Trapping | See raccoon trapping seasons. | |
| Wolf | Zones 1–6 | Nov. 6 - Feb. 28, 2022 |
| Opossum, skunk, weasel, snowshoe hare and woodchuck | No season limits, bag limits, size limits or possession limits, but a license is required. | |