Season dates and application deadlines
Deer
2020 seasons | |
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Archery and Crossbow | Sept. 12 - Jan. 3, 2021 |
Archery and Crossbow *Metro Sub-units only* | Sept. 12 - Jan. 31, 2021 |
Extended Archery/Crossbow hunt *Only in valid farmland units. Please see deer regulations booklet for valid units. |
Jan. 4 - Jan. 31, 2021 |
Gun hunt for hunters with disabilities: This is not a statewide season. Learn more... | Oct. 3 - 11 |
Youth deer hunt | Oct. 10 - 11 |
Gun | Nov. 21 - 29 |
Muzzleloader | Nov. 30 - Dec. 9 |
December 4-day antlerless hunt | Dec. 10 - 13 |
Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt *Only in valid farmland units. Please see deer regulations booklet for valid units. |
Dec. 24 - Jan. 1, 2021 |
All dates are subject to change through a rulemaking or a legislative process. Please check the Wisconsin Deer 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.
2020 seasons | |
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Zone C where dogs are not permitted | |
Sept. 9 - Oct. 13 |
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All other zones where dogs are permitted | |
Sept. 9 - 15 |
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Sept. 16 - Oct. 6 |
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Oct. 7 - 13 |
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2021 seasons | |
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Note: There are new bear zones for the 2021 season | |
Zones A, B, D: where dogs are permitted | |
Sept. 8 - 14, 2021 |
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Sept. 15 - Oct. 5, 2021 |
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Oct. 6 - 12, 2021 |
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Zones C, E, F: where dogs are not permitted | |
Sept. 8 - Oct. 12, 2021 |
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Migratory birds
2020 seasons | ||
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Youth waterfowl hunt | Statewide | Sept. 19 - 20 |
Early teal season | Statewide | Sept. 1 - 9 |
Canada goose, Snow/blue geese, Ross' geese | ||
Early goose season | Sept. 1 - 15 | |
Canada goose | Northern zone | Sept. 16 - Dec. 16 |
Southern zone | Sept. 16 - Oct. 11 & Oct. 17 - Dec. 6 & Dec. 22 - Jan. 5, 2021 Season is CLOSED Oct. 12 - 16 & Dec. 7 - 21 |
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Mississippi River subzone | Oct. 3 - Oct. 11 & Oct. 17 - Jan. 5, 2021 Season is CLOSED Oct. 12 - 16 |
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Snow/blue geese, Ross' geese, white-fronted geese, other geese and brant | Northern zone | Sept. 16 - Dec. 16 |
Southern zone | Sept. 16 - Oct. 11 & Oct. 17 - Dec. 6 & Dec. 22 - Jan. 5, 2021 Season is CLOSED Oct. 12 - 16 & Dec. 7 - 21 |
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Mississippi River subzone | Oct. 3 - Oct. 11 & Oct. 17 - Jan. 5, 2021 Season is CLOSED Oct. 12 - 16 |
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Wild ducks | ||
North zone | Sept. 26 - Nov. 24 | |
South zone | Oct. 3 - Oct. 11 & Oct. 17 - Dec. 6 Season is CLOSED Oct. 12 - 16 |
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Mississippi River zone | Oct. 3 - Oct. 11 & Oct. 17 - Dec. 6 Season is CLOSED Oct. 12 - 16 |
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Mergansers | Statewide | Same as wild ducks in the zone in which you are hunting |
Coot and Moorhen | Statewide | Same as wild ducks in the zone in which you are hunting |
Sora and Virginia rail | Statewide | Same as wild ducks in the zone in which you are hunting |
Snipe | Statewide | Same as wild ducks in the zone in which you are hunting |
Woodcock | Statewide | Sept. 19 - Nov. 2 |
Mourning dove | Statewide | Sept. 1 - Nov. 29 |
Season dates for waterfowl vary annually. The migratory game bird regulations will be available in July. | ||
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 | ||
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2021 Youth turkey hunt | April 17-18, 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 - Jan. 9, 2022 | |
Zones 6 - 7 | Sept. 18 - Nov. 20, 2021 |
Small mammals
2020 seasons | ||
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Cottontail rabbit | ||
Northern zone | Sept. 12 - Feb. 28, 2021 | |
Southern zone | Oct. 17 (9 a.m.) - Feb. 28, 2021 | |
Squirrels (gray and fox) | ||
Statewide | Sept. 12 - Jan. 31, 2021 | |
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
2020 seasons | ||
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Pheasant | Statewide | Oct. 17 (9 a.m.) - Jan. 3, 2021 |
Bobwhite quail | Statewide | Oct. 17 (9 a.m.) - Dec. 9 |
Ruffed grouse | ||
Zone A | Sept. 12 - Jan. 3, 2021 | |
Zone B | Oct. 17 - Dec. 8 | |
Sharp-tailed grouse | Season is under review. | |
Hungarian partridge | Statewide (closed in Clark, Marathon and Taylor counties) | Oct. 17 (9 a.m.) - Jan. 3, 2021 |
2020 seasons | ||
Crow | ||
Statewide | Sept. 12 - Nov. 19 | |
Jan. 25 - Mar. 20, 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.
2020 seasons | ||
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Coyote | ||
Hunting | Continuous open season | |
Trapping | See coyote trapping seasons. | |
Fox, red and gray | ||
Hunting | Oct. 17 - Feb. 15, 2021 | |
Trapping | See fox trapping seasons. | |
Beaver | See beaver trapping seasons. | |
Mink | See mink trapping seasons. | |
Muskrat | See muskrat trapping seasons. | |
Bobcat | ||
Hunting | ||
Period 1 - Oct. 17 - Dec. 25 | ||
Period 2 - Dec. 26 - Jan. 31, 2021 | ||
Trapping | See bobcat trapping seasons. | |
Fisher | See fisher trapping seasons. | |
Otter | See otter trapping seasons. | |
Raccoon | ||
Resident | Oct. 17 - Feb. 15, 2021 | |
Non-resident | Oct. 31 - Feb. 15, 2021 | |
Trapping | See raccoon trapping seasons. | |
Opossum, skunk, weasel, snowshoe hare and woodchuck | No season limits, bag limits, size limits or possession limits, but a license is required. |