Hunt_Content Page_Season Dates and Application Deadlines

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
*Open only in select Farmland (Zone 2) counties. Please see page 12 of combined hunting regulations for valid counties.

 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.

2022 Seasons
Note:  Bear zones for the 2022 season
Zones A, B, D: where dogs are permitted
Sept. 7-13, 2022
  • with aid of bait
  • with all other legal methods not using dogs
Sept. 14-Oct. 4, 2022
  • with aid of dogs
  • with aid of bait
  • with all other legal methods
Oct. 5-11, 2022
  • with aid of dogs only
Zones C, E, F: where dogs are not permitted
Sept. 7 - Oct. 11, 2022
  • with aid of bait
  • with all other legal methods not using dogs

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.

2021-2022 Seasons
2022 Spring Turkey Youth Hunt April 16 - 17, 2022
Spring 2022
Period A April 20 - 26, 2022
Period B April 27 - May 3, 2022
Period C May 4 - 10, 2022
Period D May 11 - 17, 2022
Period E May 18 - 24, 2022
Period F May 25 - 31, 2022
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.