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Wisconsin Hunting Season Dates 2026–27

Season openers, closers, and tag requirements by species. Always confirm against WI Dept of Natural Resources before you hunt. Dates can change.

License: resident $20 · nonresident $160. Species tags and permits are extra. See each section below.

White-tailed Deer Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Archery and Crossbow - statewideSep 12, 2026Jan 3, 2027Archery or Crossbow License
Archery and Crossbow - Metro Subunits and select DMUs (extended)Sep 12, 2026Jan 31, 2027Archery or Crossbow License
Youth Gun Deer Hunt (age 15 and under)Oct 10, 2026Oct 11, 2026Youth Gun Deer License
Gun Deer Hunt for Hunters with Disabilities - sponsored propertiesOct 3, 2026Oct 11, 2026Class A/B/C Disabled Permit + sponsored hunt enrollment
Gun Deer Hunt for Hunters with Disabilities - statewideOct 10, 2026Oct 11, 2026Class A/B/C Disabled Permit
Gun (nine-day traditional season) - statewideNov 21, 2026Nov 29, 2026Gun Deer License
Gun - Metro Subunits only (extended)Nov 21, 2026Dec 9, 2026Gun Deer License
MuzzleloaderNov 30, 2026Dec 9, 2026Gun Deer License
Statewide Antlerless-only Hunt (gun, archery and crossbow)Dec 10, 2026Dec 13, 2026Antlerless Deer Harvest Authorization
Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt - select Farmland counties (gun, archery and crossbow): Select Farmland counties - Antlerless-only Holiday HuntDec 24, 2026Jan 1, 2027Antlerless Deer Harvest Authorization

Wild Turkey Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Fall - statewideSep 12, 2026Jan 3, 2027Fall Turkey License + Harvest Authorization
Youth Turkey Hunt (age 15 and under)Apr 11, 2027Apr 12, 2027Youth Turkey License + Harvest Authorization for the zone hunted
Spring Period AApr 15, 2027Apr 21, 2027Spring Turkey License + Period A Harvest Authorization
Spring Period BApr 22, 2027Apr 28, 2027Spring Turkey License + Period B Harvest Authorization
Spring Period CApr 29, 2027May 5, 2027Spring Turkey License + Period C Harvest Authorization
Spring Period DMay 6, 2027May 12, 2027Spring Turkey License + Period D Harvest Authorization
Spring Period EMay 13, 2027May 19, 2027Spring Turkey License + Period E Harvest Authorization
Spring Period FMay 20, 2027May 26, 2027Spring Turkey License + Period F Harvest Authorization

Black Bear Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Zones C, E and F - bait and all other legal methods not using dogs: Bear Zones C, E and FSep 9, 2026Oct 13, 2026Bear Harvest Permit (drawing, application deadline Dec. 10)
Zones A, B and D - bait and all other legal methods not using dogs: Bear Zones A, B and DSep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026Bear Harvest Permit (drawing, application deadline Dec. 10)
Zones A, B and D - dogs, bait and all other legal methods: Bear Zones A, B and DSep 16, 2026Oct 6, 2026Bear Harvest Permit (drawing, application deadline Dec. 10)
Zones A, B and D - with the aid of dogs only: Bear Zones A, B and DOct 7, 2026Oct 13, 2026Bear Harvest Permit (drawing, application deadline Dec. 10)

Elk Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Elk - permit drawingOct 17, 2026Dec 13, 2026Elk Harvest Tag (permit drawing, application deadline May 31)

Beaver Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Trapping - Zone A (NW) and Zone B (NE): Beaver Zone A (Northwest) and Zone B (Northeast)Nov 7, 2026Apr 30, 2027Trapping License
Trapping - Zone C (South): Beaver Zone C (South)Nov 7, 2026Mar 31, 2027Trapping License
Trapping - Zone D (Mississippi): Beaver Zone D (Mississippi)Dec 7, 2026Mar 15, 2027Trapping License

Bobcat Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Period 1 - hunting and trapping, by awarded permitOct 17, 2026Dec 25, 2026Bobcat Harvest Permit, Period 1 (drawing, application deadline Aug. 1)
Period 2 - hunting and trapping, by awarded permitDec 26, 2026Jan 31, 2027Bobcat Harvest Permit, Period 2 (drawing, application deadline Aug. 1)

Coyote Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Hunting - year-round statewideApr 1, 2026Mar 31, 2027Small Game License
Trapping - statewideOct 17, 2026Feb 15, 2027Trapping License

American Crow Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
StatewideNov 21, 2026Mar 24, 2027Small Game License

Mourning Dove Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular - statewideSep 1, 2026Nov 29, 2026Small Game License + HIP Registration

Fisher Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Trapping - by awarded permitOct 17, 2026Jan 3, 2027Fisher Trapping Authorization (drawing, application deadline Aug. 1)

Fox (Red and Gray) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Hunting and trapping - statewideOct 17, 2026Feb 15, 2027Small Game or Trapping License

Common Gallinule Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular - statewideSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026Small Game License + HIP Registration

Ruffed Grouse Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Zone A: Ruffed Grouse Zone ASep 12, 2026Jan 3, 2027Small Game License
Zone B: Ruffed Grouse Zone BOct 17, 2026Dec 8, 2026Small Game License

Mink Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Trapping - Northern Zone: Mink and Muskrat Northern ZoneOct 24, 2026Apr 15, 2027Trapping License
Trapping - Central Zone: Mink and Muskrat Central ZoneOct 31, 2026Mar 22, 2027Trapping License
Trapping - Southern Zone: Mink and Muskrat Southern ZoneNov 7, 2026Mar 15, 2027Trapping License
Trapping - Mississippi River Zone: Mink and Muskrat Mississippi River ZoneNov 9, 2026Mar 7, 2027Trapping License

Muskrat Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Trapping - Northern Zone: Mink and Muskrat Northern ZoneOct 24, 2026Apr 15, 2027Trapping License
Trapping - Central Zone: Mink and Muskrat Central ZoneOct 31, 2026Mar 22, 2027Trapping License
Trapping - Southern Zone: Mink and Muskrat Southern ZoneNov 7, 2026Mar 15, 2027Trapping License
Trapping - Mississippi River Zone: Mink and Muskrat Mississippi River ZoneNov 9, 2026Mar 7, 2027Trapping License

Hungarian Partridge Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Statewide except Clark, Marathon and Taylor counties: Hungarian Partridge open areaOct 17, 2026Jan 3, 2027Small Game License

Ring-necked Pheasant Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
StatewideOct 17, 2026Jan 3, 2027Small Game License + Pheasant Stamp

Bobwhite Quail Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
StatewideOct 17, 2026Dec 9, 2026Small Game License

Rabbit & Hare Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Northern Zone: Cottontail Rabbit Northern ZoneSep 12, 2026Feb 28, 2027Small Game License
Southern Zone: Cottontail Rabbit Southern ZoneOct 17, 2026Feb 28, 2027Small Game License
Snowshoe Hare: Year-round - statewideApr 1, 2026Mar 31, 2027Small Game License

Raccoon Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Resident - hunting and trappingOct 17, 2026Feb 15, 2027Small Game or Trapping License (resident)
Nonresident - hunting and trappingOct 31, 2026Feb 15, 2027Small Game or Trapping License (nonresident)

Rail (Virginia and Sora) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular - statewideSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026Small Game License + HIP Registration

River Otter Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Trapping - Northern Zone: Otter Northern ZoneNov 7, 2026Apr 30, 2027Trapping License + Otter Permit
Trapping - Southern Zone: Otter Southern ZoneNov 7, 2026Mar 31, 2027Trapping License + Otter Permit

Wilson's Snipe Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular - statewideSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026Small Game License + HIP Registration

Squirrel (Gray and Fox) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
StatewideSep 12, 2026Feb 28, 2027Small Game License

Unprotected Species (Opossum, Skunk, Weasel, Porcupine, Woodchuck and others) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Year-round - statewideApr 1, 2026Mar 31, 2027Small Game License

Waterfowl (Ducks, Coot and Geese) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Early Canada Goose - statewideSep 1, 2026Sep 15, 2026Small Game License + Waterfowl Stamps + HIP
Early Teal - statewideSep 1, 2026Sep 9, 2026Small Game License + Waterfowl Stamps + HIP
Youth Waterfowl Hunt (age 15 and under) - statewideSep 19, 2026Sep 20, 2026Youth License + HIP
Ducks and Coot - Northern Zone: Duck Northern ZoneSep 26, 2026Nov 24, 2026Small Game License + Waterfowl Stamps + HIP
Ducks and Coot - Southern Zone (first segment): Duck Southern ZoneOct 3, 2026Oct 11, 2026Small Game License + Waterfowl Stamps + HIP
Ducks and Coot - Southern Zone (second segment): Duck Southern ZoneOct 17, 2026Dec 6, 2026Small Game License + Waterfowl Stamps + HIP
Ducks and Coot - Open Water Zone: Duck Open Water ZoneOct 17, 2026Dec 15, 2026Small Game License + Waterfowl Stamps + HIP
Regular Goose - Northern Zone: Goose Northern ZoneSep 16, 2026Dec 16, 2026Small Game License + Waterfowl Stamps + HIP
Regular Goose - Southern River Zone (first segment): Goose Southern River ZoneSep 16, 2026Oct 11, 2026Small Game License + Waterfowl Stamps + HIP
Regular Goose - Southern River Zone (second segment): Goose Southern River ZoneOct 17, 2026Dec 6, 2026Small Game License + Waterfowl Stamps + HIP
Regular Goose - Southern River Zone (third segment): Goose Southern River ZoneDec 19, 2026Jan 2, 2027Small Game License + Waterfowl Stamps + HIP
Regular Goose - Mississippi River Zone (first segment): Goose Mississippi River ZoneOct 3, 2026Oct 11, 2026Small Game License + Waterfowl Stamps + HIP
Regular Goose - Mississippi River Zone (second segment): Goose Mississippi River ZoneOct 17, 2026Jan 5, 2027Small Game License + Waterfowl Stamps + HIP

American Woodcock Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular - statewideSep 19, 2026Nov 2, 2026Small Game License + HIP Registration
Verify before you hunt. These dates are compiled for planning and can change between when they're published and when the season opens, and many states vary dates by unit, zone, or WMU. Always confirm with WI Dept of Natural Resources before heading out. Nothing here is legal advice.
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