Deer hunting for hunters with disabilities
The outdoors is part of Wisconsin's cultural foundation, which rings true for hunters of every background, regardless of physical ability. To serve outdoor enthusiasts with disabilities, the Wisconsin DNR provides a variety of hunting, fishing and recreational permits designed to help give people with disabilities the opportunity to partake in Wisconsin's abundant natural resources.
For those interested in learning about other outdoor opportunities for people with disabilities, visit the Open the Outdoors webpage.
Learn more about our partners who may be able to assist you with your hunt.
October Hunt For Hunters With Disabilities
Season Dates: Oct. 3-11, 2026
Thanks to generous landowners willing to sponsor hunters with disabilities on their land, the Wisconsin Deer Hunt For Hunters With Disabilities continues to grow. Hunters wishing to participate and landowners wanting to sponsor hunters on their property can learn more below.
Sponsors (Landowners)
Landowners who are interested in sponsoring a Gun Deer Hunt For Hunters With Disabilities are required to allow the opportunity for at least three qualified hunters to participate on the property. Sponsors are encouraged to keep the hunter density to at least one hunter per 20 acres of land. Lands with fewer than three participants enrolled or less than 60 acres will be approved by the DNR on a case-by-case basis. If interested, please review the rules and conditions of conducting a hunt:
Application deadlines. All sponsor applications must be received in the online portal by July 1. The sponsor must enter a complete list of the names, phone numbers, and DNR Customer IDs of all hunters by Sept. 15.
Eligibility. All participants must possess a valid gun deer license and either a Class A, B, C or D Disability Permit as defined in s. 29.193, Wis. Stats., except that the only Class B Permit holders who are eligible to participate are those who hold a Class B Permit which authorizes hunting from a vehicle and has been issued for more than 1 year.
Participation limits. No person may participate in more than one special gun deer hunt in the same calendar year.
Dates. Special gun deer hunts shall be conducted during the 9 consecutive day period that begins on the first Saturday of October. Sponsors can restrict the number of days to less than the full 9-day period (e.g., first weekend only).
Hunter participation limits. The Department may not authorize a hunt if the number of participating hunters is less than 3.
Regulation compliance. Unless otherwise provided by the Department, all participating hunters and designated assistants shall comply with all hunting rules and laws applicable to the regular gun deer season specified under s. NR 10.01(3), Wis. Adm. Code. Highly visible clothing meeting the requirements of s. 29.301, Wis. Stats., must be worn by all participating hunters and designated assistants.
Note: See current Hunting Regulations for details about valid harvest authorizations during this special hunt.
Hunting assistants. Class C Permit holders are required to have an assistant accompany them when hunting. Class A, eligible Class B, and Class D Permit holders may elect to have an assistant present.
Authorization to assistant. The designated assistant of the gun deer participant may possess a firearm while retrieving a deer shot by a participant provided the assistant possesses a current valid deer hunting license. If born after Jan. 1, 1973, the assistant must possess a Hunter Education Certificate of Accomplishment.
Other hunting restricted. During the dates of the special gun deer hunt, no person may hunt on the lands described on the application during the big and small game hunting hours specified under s. NR 10.06, Wis. Adm. Code, unless they comply with the highly visible clothing requirements of s. 29.301, Wis. Stats.
Posting requirements. If the enrolled property is land open to public hunting, the sponsor shall post, at intervals not to exceed 100 yards, the boundary of all enrolled lands at least 7 days prior to the start of the hunt with a notice that indicates the dates on which the special gun deer hunt will be conducted on those lands and the dates and hours during which hunting by nonparticipants is prohibited. All such notices shall be removed by the applicant within 2 days of the close of the gun deer hunt.
Reports. If requested by the Department, the sponsor shall complete a gun deer hunt report on forms supplied by the Department.
No fees. The landowner or applicant shall not charge any form of a fee to a person participating in a special gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities.
No person may be refused participation based on their age, race, religion, color, disability, sex, physical condition, development disability, creed, sexual orientation or national origin.
The sponsor sign-up period for the 2026 hunt will open on May 1.
Sponsor contact information will be available on this page so interested hunters can call and reserve locations directly with the landowner. Please contact Brooke VanHandel, DNR assistant deer and elk specialist, via email at Brooke.VanHandel@wisconsin.gov, or by phone at 608-354-3492 with questions.
Hunters
The hunter sign-up period for 2026 will open on July 15.
To be eligible for the Gun Deer Hunt For Hunters With Disabilities, hunters must possess a valid Class A, C, D or Class B shoot from stationary vehicle permits that are issued for longer than one year.
Hunters with one of the above permits should contact a sponsoring landowner before Sept. 15 to participate in the current year's Gun Deer Hunt For Hunters With Disabilities.
Please contact Brooke VanHandel, DNR assistant deer and elk specialist, by email at Brooke.VanHandel@wisconsin.gov, or by phone at 608-354-3492 with questions.
Using Your Farmland Harvest Authorizations During The Department-Sponsored Gun Deer Hunt For Hunters With Disabilities
Each deer hunting license purchase includes one or multiple Farmland antlerless harvest authorizations [PDF].
Hunters who hold a valid Class A, C, D or Class B shoot from stationary vehicle permit that is issued for longer than one year:
- May harvest a buck deer with their gun buck harvest authorization during the department-sponsored disabled gun deer hunt.
- May use one Farmland antlerless deer harvest authorization in any deer management unit statewide (including buck-only units) when participating in the Gun Deer Hunt For Hunters With Disabilities if they hold a gun deer license.
- May use up to two Farmland antlerless deer harvest authorizations in any deer management unit statewide (including buck-only units) when participating in the Gun Deer Hunt For Hunters With Disabilities, with the purchase of both a gun license and an archery or crossbow license or with the purchase of a Conservation Patron license.
- The hunter must choose a land type (public/private) when selecting their Farmland antlerless deer harvest authorizations but do not have to adhere to the land type selection when exercising the above privileges during the Gun Deer Hunt For Hunters With Disabilities.
Using Your Class A Or C Disabled Permit During Other Deer Seasons
Hunters who possess a valid Class A or C permit:
- May harvest a buck deer with their gun buck harvest authorization statewide during any firearm deer season, including antlerless-only seasons (excluding the two-day Youth Gun Deer Hunt, unless under the age of 16).
- May use one Farmland antlerless deer harvest authorization issued with their gun deer, archery or crossbow license to take an antlerless deer in any unit statewide (including buck-only units).
- May use up to two Farmland antlerless deer harvest authorizations to take an antlerless deer in any unit statewide (including buck-only units) with the purchase of both a gun license and an archery or crossbow license or with the purchase of a Conservation Patron license.
- The hunter must choose a land type (public/private) when selecting their Farmland antlerless deer harvest authorizations and adhere to the land type selection when participating in other seasons outside the DNR-sponsored Gun Deer Hunt For Hunters With Disabilities.