Wisconsin 2026-27 Hunting Season Dates
Quick answer
Wisconsin's listed 2026-27 firearm deer season runs Oct 3-11, 2026.
Archery and Crossbow White-tailed Deer opens Sep 12, 2026 and closes Jan 3, 2027.
Regular Canada Goose opens Sep 16, 2026 and closes Dec 16, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Wisconsin DNR.
- firearm deer
- Oct 3-11, 2026
- archery deer
- Sep 12, 2026-Jan 3, 2027
- waterfowl
- Sep 16-Dec 16, 2026
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Key seasons by species
What changed for 2026-27
Watch the gun deer and zone-specific rows
Wisconsin's gun deer season is the date most hunters know, but archery, crossbow, muzzleloader, and antlerless opportunities widen the calendar on both sides.
Confirm county, zone, and public-land details with Wisconsin DNR before using any one row as your final plan.
We summarize official agency information and link to the source for verification. Regulations can change, and zone details matter. Always confirm final dates, bag limits, permits, and legal requirements with Wisconsin DNR before hunting.
Proposed 2026-27
federal openings
in Wisconsin
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing hunting and fishing access changes at 1 station in Wisconsin. Public comment closes June 26, 2026.
Deer
White-tailed Deer
Archery and Crossbow
Sep 12, 2026-Jan 3, 2027
No bucks may be harvested during the antlerless-only hunts identified below.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Archery and Crossbow Extended
Sep 12, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
See the 2026 Deer Season Structure Map for a visual of which counties have extended archery seasons.
Zone: Metro Sub-units and counties with extended archery seasons
White-tailed Deer
Gun - Hunters with Disabilities
Oct 3-11, 2026
This is not a statewide season.
Zone: Not Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Youth/Disabled Gun
Oct 10-11, 2026
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Gun
Nov 21-29, 2026
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Gun
Nov 21-Dec 9, 2026
Zone: Metro Subunits only
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader
Nov 30-Dec 9, 2026
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
December 4-Day Antlerless-Only Hunt
Dec 10-13, 2026
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Antlerless-Only Holiday Hunt
Dec 24, 2026-Jan 1, 2027
Open only in select Farmland (Zone 2) counties. Please see page 12 of combined hunting regulations for valid counties.
Zone: Select Farmland (Zone 2) counties
Turkey
Wild Turkey
Spring Youth Hunt
Apr 11-12, 2026
Application deadline for spring turkey harvest authorizations is always Dec. 10.
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring - Period A
Apr 15-21, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring - Period B
Apr 22-28, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring - Period C
Apr 29-May 5, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring - Period D
May 6-12, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring - Period E
May 13-19, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring - Period F
May 20-26, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Fall
Sep 12, 2026-Jan 3, 2027
Zone: Statewide
Bear
Black Bear
Hunting - Bait and All Legal Methods (No Dogs)
Sep 9-15, 2026
With the aid of bait and all other legal methods not using dogs.
Zone: Zones A, B, D
Black Bear
Hunting - Bait and All Legal Methods (No Dogs)
Sep 9-Oct 13, 2026
With the aid of bait and all other legal methods not using dogs. Dogs are not permitted in these zones. Application deadline for bear permits is Dec. 10 the year before.
Zone: Zones C, E, F
Black Bear
Hunting - Dogs, Bait and All Legal Methods
Sep 16-Oct 6, 2026
With the aid of dogs, the aid of bait and all other legal methods.
Zone: Zones A, B, D
Black Bear
Hunting - Dogs Only
Oct 7-13, 2026
With the aid of dogs only, no other methods.
Zone: Zones A, B, D
Waterfowl
Canada Goose
Early Goose
Sep 1-15, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Canada Goose
Regular
Sep 16-Dec 16, 2026
Zone: Northern Goose Zone
Canada Goose
Regular
Sep 16, 2026-Jan 2, 2027
Three splits: Sept. 16-Oct. 11, Oct. 17-Dec. 6 and Dec. 19-Jan 2, 2027
Zone: Southern Goose Zone
Canada Goose
Regular
Oct 3, 2026-Jan 5, 2027
Two splits: Oct. 3-Oct. 11 and Oct. 17-January 5, 2027
Zone: Mississippi Goose Zone
Coot
Regular
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Same as duck season for each zone.
Zone: All Zones
Duck
Regular
Sep 26-Nov 24, 2026
Zone: Northern Duck Zone
Duck
Regular
Oct 3-Dec 6, 2026
Two splits: Oct. 3-11 and Oct. 17-Dec. 6
Zone: Southern Duck Zone
Duck
Regular
Oct 17-Dec 15, 2026
Zone: Open Water Duck Zone
Ducks, Mergansers and Coots
Falconry
Sep 19, 2026-Feb 12, 2027
Half an hour before sunrise to sunset. Splits: Sept 19-20 and Jan 8-Feb. 12, 2027. Also South Zone Oct 3-11 and Oct 17-Dec 6; Open Water Zone Oct 17-Dec 15; North Zone Sept 26-Nov 24.
Zone: All Zones
Teal
Early Teal
Sep 1-9, 2026
Please double check shooting hours for early teal, since they have different shooting hours than other waterfowl species.
Zone: Statewide
Waterfowl
Youth Waterfowl
Sep 19-20, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Dove
Mourning Dove
Regular
Sep 1-Nov 29, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Pheasant
Pheasant
Regular
Oct 17, 2026-Jan 3, 2027
Season opens at 9 a.m.
Zone: Statewide
Quail
Bobwhite Quail
Regular
Oct 17-Dec 9, 2026
Season opens at 9 a.m.
Zone: Statewide
Grouse
Ruffed Grouse
Regular
Sep 12, 2026-Jan 3, 2027
Zone: Zone A
Ruffed Grouse
Regular
Oct 17-Dec 8, 2026
Zone: Zone B
Rabbit
Cottontail Rabbit
Regular
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Year-round season.
Zone: Milwaukee County
Cottontail Rabbit
Regular
Sep 12, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
Zone: Northern zone
Cottontail Rabbit
Regular
Oct 17, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
Season opens at 9 a.m.
Zone: Southern zone
Squirrel
Gray and Fox Squirrel
Regular
Sep 12, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
Zone: Statewide
Furbearer
Bobcat
Hunting and Trapping - Period 1
Oct 17-Dec 25, 2026
Application deadline for bobcat permits is Aug. 1.
Zone: Statewide
Bobcat
Hunting and Trapping - Period 2
Dec 26, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
Application deadline for bobcat permits is Aug. 1.
Zone: Statewide
Coyote
Trapping
Oct 17, 2026-Feb 15, 2027
Zone: Statewide
Fox (Red and Gray)
Hunting and Trapping
Oct 17, 2026-Feb 15, 2027
Zone: Statewide
Raccoon
Hunting and Trapping - Resident
Oct 17, 2026-Feb 15, 2027
Resident season.
Zone: Statewide
Raccoon
Hunting and Trapping - Nonresident
Oct 31, 2026-Feb 15, 2027
Nonresident season.
Zone: Statewide
Wolf
Hunting
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
No dates listed for wolf hunting season.
Zone: Statewide
Wolf
Hunting with aid of dogs
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
No dates listed.
Zone: Statewide
Wolf
Trapping
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
No dates listed.
Zone: Statewide
Migratory Birds
Common Gallinule
Regular
Sep 1-Nov 9, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Rail (Virginia, Sora)
Regular
Sep 1-Nov 9, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Rail, Snipe, Gallinule, Woodcock
Falconry
Sep 1-Dec 16, 2026
Half an hour before sunrise to sunset. Total daily bag limit for migratory game birds is 3, singly or in the aggregate.
Zone: Statewide
Snipe
Regular
Sep 1-Nov 9, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Teal
Falconry - Early Teal
Sep 1-9, 2026
Sunrise to Sunset.
Zone: Statewide
Woodcock
Regular
Sep 19-Nov 2, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Coyote
Coyote
Hunting
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Year-round hunting season.
Zone: Statewide
Other
Crow
Regular
Nov 21, 2026-Mar 24, 2027
Zone: Statewide
Hungarian Partridge
Regular
Oct 17, 2026-Jan 3, 2027
Season opens at 9 a.m. Closed in Clark, Marathon, and Taylor counties.
Zone: Statewide (closed in Clark, Marathon, and Taylor counties)
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Regular
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
No Season in 2026.
Zone: Zone-specific permits
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Wisconsin Hunting Season FAQ
When does deer season start in Wisconsin?
September 12, 2026 is the first listed deer opener for Wisconsin; it is archery and crossbow white-tailed deer Sep 12, 2026-Jan 3, 2027.
When is Wisconsin's firearm deer season?
Oct 3-11, 2026 is the listed firearm deer window for Wisconsin. Check zone and permit details with Wisconsin DNR before hunting.
When does spring turkey open in Wisconsin?
A current spring turkey opener is not listed for Wisconsin yet. Check Wisconsin DNR for the latest turkey dates.
Do I need a license to hunt in Wisconsin?
Yes. Hunters generally need the appropriate Wisconsin hunting license, and some seasons may require tags, permits, stamps, or zone-specific authorizations. Confirm final requirements with Wisconsin DNR.
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