Waterfowl hunting

Please note: The 2021 Migratory Bird Season Proposed Frameworks now available

Please note: The 2021 Migratory Bird Season Public Input Summary now available

The Wisconsin waterfowl hunter is one of the most dedicated and involved conservationists in the nation, contributing time and money to waterfowl management and habitat restoration. Wisconsin is a great waterfowl hunting state, thanks in part to hunter enthusiasm and dedication to the sport. Look below for more information on waterfowl reports and surveys, hunting regulations and other current issues.

View the 2020 fall hunting forecast.

Looking for a place to waterfowl hunt? Check out this helpful resource 

Waterfowl resources

Wisconsin waterfowl season public input

Public Input

• The 2021 Migratory Bird Season Public Input Summary now available

Waterfowl reports

Wisconsin population surveys

• Wisconsin waterfowl surveys page
• Horicon NWR Fall Waterbird Survey [exit DNR]

Wisconsin technical reports

• 2017 Canada Goose harvest Summary [PDF]
• 2016 Canada Goose harvest reports [PDF]
• Three state (Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa) experimental early teal season final analysis and summary report [PDF]

Wisconsin hunter survey results

• 2019 survey results [PDF]
• 2017 survey results [PDF]
• 2015 survey results [PDF]
• 2013 survey results [PDF]

Hunter resources

Invasive Species Management

Becoming a better hunter

• Places to Waterfowl Hunt [PDF]
• The Basics of Waterfowl Hunting in Wisconsin [PDF]
• The Basics of Dove Hunting in Wisconsin [PDF]
• Decoy Tactics [PDF]
• Wingshooting
• Tom Roster's nontoxic shot lethality table [PDF]

Recipes

Check out these wild game recipes [PDF] provided by DNR staff.

Waterfowl identification

• Waterfowl identification guide [exit DNR]

Mapping tools

• Public access lands mapping system

USFWS rules/information

Federal regulations

• Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration
• Federal waterfowl baiting regulations [exit DNR]

Report banded birds

• Report bird band recoveries

Federal reports

• USFWS waterfowl population status, 2018 [PDF]

• USFWS HIP report [PDF]

Rules and regulations

Regulations

• 2020 hunting regulations [PDF]
• Waterfowl season dates
• Youth waterfowl hunt
• Invasive species prevention
• Waterfowl seasons FAQ [PDF]

Recent rule changes

• Waterfowl rules process

Waterfowl committee

• Migratory game bird advisory committee

Waterfowl management

• Waterfowl management information

Waterfowl Program Photos

WDNR Banding

WDNR Waterfowl Surveys

WDNR Off the record podcast

Attention: Be sure to check out our Wild Wisconsin: Off the Record podcast – we cover the basics of migratory game birds in Wisconsin and give you an inside look at work done to help improve your time afield and our efforts to keep you engaged. You can find it on iTunes here (be sure to subscribe to our channel): WDNR ITUNES [exit DNR] and on YouTube here:

We’re hoping to do many more podcasts and appreciate your feedback. Let us know which topics you want to be covered next.