Hunting Seasons in Wisconsin 2025: Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide

Plan your 2025–26 WI hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from whitetail deer to ducks to black bear. Wisconsin’s landscape—from the oak‑lined fields of the Driftless Area to the dense northern forests and expansive marshes of the Great Lakes region—offers year‑round hunts for every style of outdoorsman. In early autumn, you might slip through hardwood ridges for a trophy whitetail deer buck at first light; by late November, flooded marshes brim with ducks and geese under frosty skies. Whether you’re drawing a recurve bow for turkey in oak clearings or shouldering a rifle for the winter bear hunt, this guide lays out Wisconsin’s 2025–26 seasons, bag limits, license details, weapon rules, and game species so you can plan the perfect hunt. What Is There to Hunt in Wisconsin? Wisconsin supports a rich variety of game: Big Game: Whitetail deer, wild turkey, black bear, wolf (limited zones), elk and moose (special permits) Small Game & Upland Birds: Cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, gray and fox squirrels, ruffed and sharp‑tailed grouse, bobwhite quail, pheasant Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks (teal, mallard, wood duck), geese, brant, coots, rails, snipe, mourning dove Furbearers & Predators: Coyote, raccoon, fox, beaver, muskrat, mink, bobcat, otter, fisher Several furbearers—coyote, raccoon, fox, and muskrat—carry no closed season on private land, providing off‑season opportunities and aiding nuisance control. Wisconsin Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 Whitetail Deer Archery & Crossbow: Sept 13 – Jan 4, 2026 (extended to Jan 31 for metro sub‑units) Gun Hunt (Disability): Oct 4 – 12 (select zones) Youth Deer Hunt: Oct 11 – 12 General Gun: Nov 22 – 30 Muzzleloader: Dec 1 – 10 4‑Day Antlerless-Only: Dec 11 – 14 Holiday Antlerless (Zone 2 only): Dec 24 – Jan 1, 2026 Black Bear Zone A, B, D (dogs allowed): Sept 3 – 9 (dogs only); Sept 10 – 30 (all methods) Zone C, E, F (no dogs): Sept 3 – Oct 7 (all methods) Elk & Moose Elk (special permit): Season dates vary by zone; apply Dec 10, 2024 deadline Moose (limited draw): Varies by unit; same application deadline Wisconsin Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Upland Birds & Small Mammals Cottontail Rabbit: Sept 13 – Feb 28, 2026 (Milwaukee Co. year‑round) Squirrels: Sept 13 – Feb 28, 2026 Ruffed Grouse: Sept 13 – Jan 4, 2026; Sharp‑tailed: dates vary by county Bobwhite Quail & Pheasant: Oct 18 – Jan 4, 2026 (pheasant closed in select counties) Migratory Birds Early Teal: Sept 1 – 9 Early Goose: Sept 1 – 15 Rail, Snipe & Gallinule: Sept 1 – Nov 9 Mourning Dove: Sept 1 – Nov 29 Woodcock: Sept 20 – Nov 3 Youth Waterfowl: Sept 20 – 21 Northern Duck Zone: Sept 27 – Nov 25; Southern & Open‑Water Zones: Oct 4 – Dec 16 Canada Geese Zones: Sept 16 – Dec 16 (North) and split dates South. Bag Limits by Species Whitetail Deer: 1 antlered buck per season; antlerless tags as authorized Black Bear: 1 per permit (some zones allow 2) Turkey: 2 per season (1 per day) Ducks: 3 daily aggregate limit for all migratory birds; Canada goose limits per zone Quail & Rabbits: 15 quail; 10 rabbits daily Squirrels: 10 per day Coyote & Furbearers: No daily limit; season or trapping methods vary License & Tags Information for Wisconsin Hunters (2025–26) All hunters must hold a valid Wisconsin hunting license plus any required permits: Deer & Bear Tags: Over‑the‑counter after drawing system; bear permit application by Dec 10 Elk & Moose Permits: Limited‑entry draw with Dec 10 application deadline HIP Registration & Federal Duck Stamp: Required for all migratory‑bird hunters Hunter Safety Certification: Required for new hunters and youth under 16 Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader Wisconsin authorizes: Archery: Compound, recurve, crossbows during archery seasons Firearms: Center‑fire rifles, shotguns (buckshot & slugs) in gun seasons Muzzleloaders: Dec 1 – 10 deer season; vary by game Trapping & Dogs: Allowed for furbearers and bear (zones A, B, D) under rules Regulations & Resources Stay compliant by consulting Wisconsin DNR regulations: Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset for most seasons; half‑hour exceptions for migratory birds Zone Maps & County Extensions: Check extended archery counties map Harvest Reporting: Required for deer, bear, turkey, elk, and moose Season Changes: All dates subject to rulemaking; verify before you hunt Always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official Wisconsin DNR website before heading afield to ensure a legal, ethical hunt. Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR): https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/dates