Hunt_Content Page_Season Dates and Application Deadlines

Season dates and application deadlines

Deer

2020 seasons
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
Zone C where dogs are not permitted
Sept. 9 - Oct. 13
  • with aid of bait
  • with all other legal methods not using dogs
All other zones where dogs are permitted
Sept. 9 - 15
  • with aid of bait only
Sept. 16 - Oct. 6
  • with aid of dogs
  • with aid of bait
  • with all other legal methods
Oct. 7 - 13
  • with aid of dogs only
2021 seasons
Note: There are new bear zones for the 2021 season
Zones A, B, D: where dogs are permitted
Sept. 8 - 14, 2021
  • with aid of dogs only
Sept. 15 - Oct. 5, 2021
  • with aid of dogs
  • with aid of bait
  • with all other legal methods
Oct. 6 - 12, 2021
  • with aid of bait only
  • with all other legal methods not using dogs
Zones C, E, F: where dogs are not permitted
Sept. 8 - Oct. 12, 2021
  • with aid of bait
  • with all other legal methods not using dogs

Migratory birds

2020 seasons
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
Mississippi River subzone Oct. 3 - Oct. 11 & Oct. 17 - Jan. 5, 2021
Season is CLOSED Oct. 12 - 16
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
Mississippi River subzone Oct. 3 - Oct. 11 & Oct. 17 - Jan. 5, 2021
Season is CLOSED Oct. 12 - 16
Wild ducks
North zone Sept. 26 - Nov. 24
South zone Oct. 3 - Oct. 11 & Oct. 17 -
Dec. 6
Season is CLOSED Oct. 12 - 16
Mississippi River zone Oct. 3 - Oct. 11 & Oct. 17 -
Dec. 6
Season is CLOSED Oct. 12 - 16
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
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
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
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
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.