Want to learn more about hunting seasons in Wisconsin? Take a look at our complete guide, including how to get a license, season dates, and more.

If you’re looking to go deer, bear, or bird hunting this season, no need to look further than our own Wisconsin backyard. Hunting seasons in Wisconsin are fairly popular—in fact, Forbes ranked Wisconsin 5th in the United States for hunting, in no small part because of the massive amount of public land available here. There are over six million acres available during hunting season throughout the state, meaning that there are ample opportunities and plenty of game to hunt. 

Wisconsin boasts several prime hunting spots, but one that stands above the rest is Buffalo County, named the “Whitetail Deer Capital of the World” by Landtrust. Landtrust also recommends Marinette County for black bears and Richland County for wild turkey. 

In addition to the public land available to everyone during hunting season, you can also look into hunting on private land with the owner’s permission. Other private landowners participate in a special program that allows hunters the chance to use their land in exchange for financial benefits. These locations change often, so check out the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Wisconsin DNR) map before planning your hunting trip.

But before you get ready to go out on the hunt, we rounded up everything you need to know about hunting seasons in Wisconsin. Read on to learn about hunting licenses and permits, when hunting seasons in Wisconsin begin, and what you can hope to hunt while you’re here. 

What to know about hunting licenses and permits in Wisconsin

If you want to go hunting in Wisconsin, you’ll need a license and sometimes a permit, depending on what animals you want to hunt. However, before buying a license, you must complete the Wisconsin hunter education certification requirements, which can be done online or a hybrid of both online and in the field. This is a requirement for anyone born on or after January 1, 1973. Here’s some additional information to keep in mind:

• Licenses are good from April 1 to March 31.
• First-time hunters can obtain a mentor-only hunting license before completing the education course as long as they’re hunting with a licensed hunter—see program details here.
• You can buy a license online through the Wisconsin DNR website, by calling 1-888-936-7463, or by visiting a Wisconsin DNR office.

As far as permits are concerned, there are certain kinds of animals for which the DNR has a limit on hunting and trapping. These permits are issued through a drawing process, so if you’re interested in hunting bobcat, fisher, otter, elk, black bear, wild turkey, and sharp-tailed grouse, be sure to submit your application for the permit by the annual deadline (included below). 

Hunting seasons in Wisconsin by game categories

For each of the following game categories, we took the first date listed on the Wisconsin DNR website under each section through the latest date included. Most sections have been updated for the 2025 season (extending into 2026), except for the small game and game birds category. 

Deer

The deer hunting season in Wisconsin is broken down by how you hunt, and there are limited specific dates for antlerless deer. For hunters using a bow or crossbow, the season runs from September 13 to January 31. For those using a gun or muzzleloader, the hunt is on between November 22 and December 10. 

As previously mentioned, limited dates for antlerless hunting run from December 11 to December 14 and again from December 24 to January 1 for the antlerless-only holiday hunt. Other special October dates include a gun hunt for hunters with disabilities (which is not a statewide season) from October 4 to October 12 and youth deer hunting from October 11 to October 12. 

Falconry

Birds in this category include rail, snipe, common gallinule, woodcock, early teal, ducks, mergansers, coots, and geese. Hunting season for this category runs from September 01 to February 13. 

Migratory Birds

This game category overlaps with the falconry category and includes two additional types of birds, the mourning dove and the waterfowl (for youth hunting). This season runs from September 1 through January 2.

Wild Turkey

Turkey hunting season is split into two sections—the spring season from April 16 to May 27 and the fall season from September 13 to January 4. There’s also a youth hunt in the spring on April 12 and April 13. 

Bear

Bear hunting in Wisconsin is divided into six zones, and permits depend on whether you’re using the help of dogs, the aid of bait, or all other legal methods (check out bear management zones here). Zones A, B, and D (where dogs are permitted) run from September 3 to October 7—the same applies to zones C, E, and F (where dogs are not permitted). 

Small Game

This category only includes cottontail rabbits and squirrels (gray and fox), and the hunting season starts September 14 through February 28 (per 2024 guidelines available)—in Milwaukee County, the season is open year-round. It also should be noted that the small game category prohibits protected species like badgers, jackrabbits, moose, and flying squirrels. 

Game Birds

Game birds include pheasant, ruffed grouse, crow, Hungarian partridge, sharp-tailed grouse, and bobwhite quail. This hunting season (per 2024 guidelines available) runs from September 14 through March 26.

Furbearers

This game category includes wolf, coyote, fox (both red and gray), beaver, mink, muskrat, bobcat, fisher, otter, and raccoon. The season depends on the type of furbearers you want to hunt, from October 18 through February 15. Note that coyote hunting is year-round. 

Permits for hunting seasons in Wisconsin

As mentioned, certain special permits are required and decided by a lottery of sorts. To be considered, you must first complete an application by the required date. Below are the required dates depending on the game you’d like to hunt or trap:

• The application for bobcat and fisher permits is August 1. Please note that otter applications are no longer required. 
• The application deadline for spring turkey harvest authorizations is always December 10. 
• The application deadline for bear permits is always December 10, the year before the season begins.