Wisconsin 2026-27 Hunting Season Dates
Quick answer
Wisconsin's 2026-27 firearm deer season opens November 21, 2026 in every zone and closes between November 29, 2026 and December 9, 2026 depending on zone.
Archery deer season runs Sep 12, 2026-Jan 31, 2027 (Metro Sub-units and counties with extended archery seasons).
Duck season opens between September 26, 2026 and October 17, 2026 depending on zone; the last zone closes December 15, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Wisconsin DNR.
- firearm deer
- Nov 21-29, 2026; later in some zones
- archery deer
- Sep 12, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
- duck
- opens Sep 26-Oct 17, 2026 by zone
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Key seasons by species
How to read Wisconsin's seasons
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.
New 2026-27
federal openings
in Wisconsin
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opened or expanded hunting and fishing access at 1 station in Wisconsin. The final rule took effect August 31, 2026.
Deer
White-tailed Deer
Archery and Crossbow
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
Archery and Crossbow
No bucks may be harvested during the antlerless-only hunts identified below.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Gun
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Gun
Zone: Metro Subunits only
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
December 4-Day Antlerless-Only Hunt
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Antlerless-Only Holiday Hunt
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
White-tailed Deer
Gun Hunt for Hunters with Disabilities
This is not a statewide season.
Zone: Not Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Youth/Disabled Gun Deer Hunt
Zone: Statewide
Turkey
Wild Turkey
Fall
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring Youth Hunt
Application deadline for spring turkey harvest authorizations is always Dec. 10.
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring Period A
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring Period B
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring Period C
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring Period D
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring Period E
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring Period F
Zone: Statewide
Bear
Black Bear
Regular - Bait and All Other Legal Methods (No Dogs)
With the aid of bait and all other legal methods not using dogs. Application deadline for bear permits is always Dec. 10 the year before the season.
Zone: Zones A, B, D
Black Bear
Regular - Bait and All Other Legal Methods (No Dogs)
With the aid of bait and all other legal methods not using dogs. Application deadline for bear permits is always Dec. 10 the year before the season.
Zone: Zones C, E, F
Black Bear
Regular - Dogs, Bait and All Other Legal Methods
With the aid of dogs, the aid of bait and all other legal methods. Application deadline for bear permits is always Dec. 10 the year before the season.
Zone: Zones A, B, D
Black Bear
Regular - Dogs Only
With the aid of dogs only, no other methods. Application deadline for bear permits is always Dec. 10 the year before the season.
Zone: Zones A, B, D
Waterfowl
22 listed rowsCanada Goose
Regular
Zone: Northern Goose Zone
Canada Goose
Regular
Season has three segments: Sept. 16-Oct. 11, Oct. 17-Dec. 6, and Dec. 19-Jan 2, 2027
Zone: Southern Goose Zone
Canada Goose
Regular
Season has two segments: Oct. 3-Oct. 11 and Oct. 17-January 5, 2027
Zone: Mississippi Goose Zone
Duck
Regular
Zone: Northern Duck Zone
Duck
Regular
Season has two segments: Oct. 3-11 and Oct. 17-Dec. 6
Zone: Southern Duck Zone
Duck
Regular
Zone: Open Water Duck Zone
Ducks, Mergansers and Coots
Falconry
Half an hour before sunrise to sunset shooting hours.
Zone: North Zone
Ducks, Mergansers and Coots
Falconry
Half an hour before sunrise to sunset shooting hours.
Zone: Open Water Zone
Ducks, Mergansers and Coots
Falconry
Half an hour before sunrise to sunset shooting hours. Season has two segments: Oct 3-11 and Oct 17-Dec 6.
Zone: South Zone
Canada Goose
Regular
Season has three segments: Sept. 16-Oct. 11, Oct. 17-Dec. 6, and Dec. 19-Jan 2, 2027
Zone: Southern Goose Zone
Ducks, Mergansers and Coots
Falconry
Half an hour before sunrise to sunset shooting hours. Season also includes Sept 19-20 youth segment.
Zone: All Zones
Canada Goose
Early Goose
Zone: Statewide
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Canada GooseRegular · Southern Goose ZoneSeason has three segments: Sept. 16-Oct. 11, Oct. 17-Dec. 6, and Dec. 19-Jan 2, 2027 | Closed | |
| Canada GooseRegular · Mississippi Goose ZoneSeason has two segments: Oct. 3-Oct. 11 and Oct. 17-January 5, 2027 | Closed | |
| CootRegular · StatewideSame as duck season for each zone | dates not listed | Closed |
| DuckYouth Waterfowl · Statewide | Closed | |
| DuckRegular · Southern Duck ZoneSeason has two segments: Oct. 3-11 and Oct. 17-Dec. 6 | Closed | |
| Ducks, Mergansers and CootsFalconry Youth Waterfowl · All ZonesHalf an hour before sunrise to sunset shooting hours. | Closed | |
| Ducks, Mergansers and CootsFalconry · South ZoneHalf an hour before sunrise to sunset shooting hours. Season has two segments: Oct 3-11 and Oct 17-Dec 6. | Closed | |
| GeeseFalconry · Zone-specificHalf an hour before sunrise to sunset. Same as the regular goose season dates; it depends on the zone. | dates not listed | Closed |
| TealFalconry Early Teal · StatewideSunrise to Sunset shooting hours. | Closed | |
| TealEarly Teal · StatewidePlease double check the shooting hours for early teal, since they have a different set of shooting hours than the other waterfowl species. | Closed |
Dove
Mourning Dove
Regular
Zone: Statewide
Pheasant
Pheasant
Regular
Season opens at 9 a.m.
Zone: Statewide
Quail
Bobwhite Quail
Regular
Season opens at 9 a.m.
Zone: Statewide
Grouse
Ruffed Grouse
Regular
Zone: Zone A
Ruffed Grouse
Regular
Zone: Zone B
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Regular
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
No Season 2026
Zone: Zone-specific permits
Rabbit
Cottontail Rabbit
Regular
Zone: Northern zone
Cottontail Rabbit
Regular
Season opens at 9 a.m.
Zone: Southern zone
Cottontail Rabbit
Regular
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Year-round season
Zone: Milwaukee County
Squirrel
Gray and Fox Squirrel
Regular
Hunting protected species like badgers, jackrabbits, moose, and flying squirrels is prohibited.
Zone: Statewide
Furbearer
Bobcat
Hunting and Trapping Period 1
Application deadline for bobcat and fisher permits is always Aug. 1.
Zone: Statewide
Coyote
Trapping
Zone: Statewide
Fox (Red and Gray)
Hunting and Trapping
Zone: Statewide
Raccoon
Hunting and Trapping - Resident
Resident season
Zone: Statewide
Raccoon
Hunting and Trapping - Nonresident
Nonresident season
Zone: Statewide
Bobcat
Hunting and Trapping Period 2
Application deadline for bobcat and fisher permits is always Aug. 1.
Zone: Statewide
Migratory Birds
Common Gallinule
Regular
Zone: Statewide
Rail (Virginia, Sora)
Regular
Zone: Statewide
Rail (Virginia, Sora), Snipe, Common Gallinule, Woodcock
Falconry
Half an hour before sunrise to sunset shooting hours.
Zone: Statewide
Snipe
Regular
Zone: Statewide
Woodcock
Regular
Zone: Statewide
Coyote
Coyote
Hunting
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Year-round hunting
Zone: Statewide
Other
Hungarian Partridge
Regular
Season opens at 9 a.m. Closed in Clark, Marathon, and Taylor counties.
Zone: Statewide (closed in Clark, Marathon, and Taylor counties)
Crow
Regular
Zone: Statewide
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Wisconsin Hunting Season FAQ
When does deer season start in Wisconsin?
Archery deer season runs Sep 12, 2026-Jan 31, 2027 (Metro Sub-units and counties with extended archery seasons). Firearm deer season opens November 21, 2026 in every zone and closes between November 29, 2026 and December 9, 2026 depending on zone. Dates can differ by zone and permit; confirm with Wisconsin DNR.
When is Wisconsin's firearm deer season?
Firearm deer season opens November 21, 2026 in every zone and closes between November 29, 2026 and December 9, 2026 depending on zone. Check zone and permit details with Wisconsin DNR before hunting.
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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