Wisconsin Hunting Season Information 2023-2024

WI Deer Season

WI Deer Season	Hunting Dates
Archery and Crossbow*	Sept 16, 2023–Jan 7, 2024
Archery and Crossbow**	Sept 16, 2023–Jan 31, 2024
Gun hunt for hunters with disabilities***	Oct 7, 2023–Oct 15, 2023
Youth deer hunt	Oct 7, 2023–8, 2023
Gun	Nov 18, 2023-Nov 26, 2023
Muzzleloader	Nov 27, 2023–Dec 6, 2023
December 4-Day Antlerless-Only Hunt	Dec 7, 2023–Dec 10, 2023
Antlerless-Only Holiday Hunt****	Dec 24, 2023–Jan 1, 2024

Note:

*During the designated antlerless-only hunts, no bucks may be taken.

**Counties and metro subdivisions having extended archery seasons. Check the map to see which counties have longer archery seasons.

Elk Season 2023

WI Elk Season 2023-2024	Details
Elk Hunt Application Period	• The application period for the 2023 elk hunt in Wisconsin is open until May 31. • Through coordinated efforts, Wisconsin's elk population has been successfully restored. • An annual elk hunt has been held since 2018.
Elk Hunting Season (Archery, Crossbow and Firearm)	• Oct. 14 to Nov. 12 and Dec. 14 to Dec. 22, 2023.
	• The 2023 elk hunting season is limited to the northern elk management zone. • Successful applicants can hunt during either period.
Eligibility	• Only Wisconsin residents are eligible to receive an elk tag. • Elk license applications are available for $10 each and may only be obtained once per person in person or online.
Application Fee	• Each application includes a $7 fee, directly supporting elk management, monitoring, and research in Wisconsin. • Funds are used to enhance elk habitat and benefit local wildlife.
Selection and Notification	• Winners will be notified by early June. • Wisconsin residents can only draw an elk tag once in their lifetime.
Elk Hunter Orientation	• Winners must attend a Wisconsin elk hunter orientation before getting an elk hunting license. • Elk hunting is one of the topics covered in the course, along with its history, laws, biology, behavior, and methods.
Elk Quota Approval	• This year's elk quota will be submitted to the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board for approval in May.
More Information	• For further details on the elk hunt, visit the DNR Elk Hunting webpage.

Moose Season

Wisconsin has not reintroduced moose, however numerous sightings in northern Wisconsin each year are confirmed. No moose hunting is allowed.

Elk & Moose Hunting Rules

Elk & Moose Hunting Rules	Information
Reminder Message	The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) advises hunters to distinguish between elk and white-tailed deer during hunting season.
Archery and Crossbow Seasons	• Deer season starts on September 16 for both archery and crossbow. • Occasionally, particularly during mating season, elk may go outside of management zones. • Elk hunting without the appropriate tag might result in penalties and license revocation.
Identifying Elk	• Adult elk are larger than adult deer, standing 1-2 feet taller at the shoulders. • Elk calves are similar in size to adult white-tailed does but have elk-like coloration. • Elk antlers sweep back, while white-tailed deer antlers curve forward. • Elk have tan rump patches, black legs, and dark brown manes, while deer have legs matching their bodies, white throat patches, and fluffy white tails. • Some elk may have ear tags or tracking collars, often orange with visible numbers. • A DNR comparison guide is available online for identifying elk.
Moose Sightings	• Wisconsin occasionally reports moose sightings in northern areas, although they cannot be hunted.
Elk Reintroduction	• After being eliminated in Wisconsin in the 1880s, elk were reintroduced there in 1995. • In Wisconsin's reintroduction locations, there are now more than 500 elk, mostly in the northern counties and Jackson County. • Elk may occasionally roam outside these zones.
Reporting Elk/Moose Sightings	Observations of elk outside management zones or moose can be reported to the DNR through the Wildlife Observation Tool at pps.dnr.wi.gov/wildlifeobservation/.

Bear Season

Bear Zone	Hunting Season Dates	Permitted Hunting Methods
A, B, D	Sept 13 – Oct 3	With aid of dogs, aid of bait, all other legal methods
A, B, D	Oct 4 – Oct 10	With aid of bait, all other legal methods not using dogs
A, B, D	Sept 6 – Sept 12	With aid of dogs only
C, E, F	Sept 6 – Oct 10	With aid of bait, all other legal methods not using dogs

Wild Turkey Season

WI Wild Turkey Season	Hunting Dates
Spring 2023
Period (A)	April 19, 2023–April 25, 2023
Period (B)	April 26, 2023–May 2, 2023
Period (C )	May 3, 2023–May 9, 2023
Period (D)	May 10, 2023–May 16, 2023
Period (E )	May 17, 2023–May 23, 2023
Period (F)	May 24, 2023–May 30, 2023

2023 Spring Turkey Youth Hunt	April 15, 2023–April 16, 2023

Fall 2023
Statewide	Sept 16, 2023-Nov 17, 2023
Zones 1 - 5	Nov 18, 2023–Jan 7, 2024

Note: Find the Zones 1 – 5 Details here

Small Mammals Season

Cotton Rabbit

Cottontail Rabbit Season	Hunting Start Date	Hunting End Date
Northern zone	16-Sep-23	29-Feb-24
Southern zone	14-Oct-23 (9 am)	29-Feb-24
Milwaukee County	Year-round	Year-round

Squirrels Season

Squirrels Season	Hunting Start Date	Hunting End Date
Statewide Squirrels (gray and fox)	16-Sep-23	29-Feb-24

Note: It is forbidden to hunt some protected species including badgers, jackrabbits, moose, and flying squirrels. You may review the small game hunting regulations for a complete list of requirements.

Bobcat Season

Bobcat Season	Hunting Start Date	Hunting End Date
North and south zones (Period-1)	14-Oct-23	25-Dec-23
North and south zones (Period-2)	26-Dec-23	31-Jan-24

Coyote Season

Coyote Season	Hunting Start Date	Hunting End Date
Hunting	Year-round	Year-round
Trapping	14-Oct-23	15-Feb-24

Fox Season

Fox (red & gray) Season	Hunting Start Date	Hunting End Date
Hunting	14-Oct-23	15-Feb-24
Trapping	14-Oct-23	15-Feb-24

Beaver Season

Beaver Season	Hunting Start Date	Hunting End Date
Zone A (northwest)	4-Nov-23	30-Apr-24
Zone B (northeast)	4-Nov-23	30-Apr-24
Zone C (south)	4-Nov-23	31-Mar-24
Zone D (Mississippi River)	One day after the end of duck season	15-Mar-24

Mink Season

Mink Season	Hunting Start Date	Hunting End Date
Northern Zone	21-Oct-23	15-Apr-24
Central Zone	28-Oct-23	27-Mar-24
Southern Zone	4-Nov-23	15-Mar-24
Mississippi River zone	13-Nov-23	10-Mar-24

Muskrat Season

Muskrat Season	Hunting Start Date	Hunting End Date
Northern Zone	October 21, 2023	April 15, 2024
Central Zone	October 28, 2023	March 27, 2024
Southern Zone	November 4, 2023	March 15, 2024
Mississippi River zone	November 13, 2023	March 10, 2024

Fisher Season

Fisher Season	Hunting Start Date	Hunting End Date
North & South Zones	14-Oct-23	7-Jan-24

Otter Season

Otter Season	Hunting Start Date	Hunting End Date
North zone	4-Nov-23	30-Apr-24
South zone	4-Nov-23	31-Mar-24

Raccoon Season

Raccoon Season	Hunting Start Date	Hunting End Date
Resident	14-Oct-23	15-Feb-24
Non-resident	28-Oct-23	15-Feb-24

Skunk, Opossum, Weasel, Snowshoe Hare, Porcupine and Woodchucks

These species may be hunted with a valid license; however there are no season limitations, bag limits, size limits, or possession limits. To protect the environment and ensure the availability of resources in the future, responsible and sustainable practices should still be followed.

Other Game Birds

Ruffed Grouse Season

Ruffed Grouse Season	Hunting Start Date	Hunting End Date
Zone A	16-Sep-23	7-Jan-24
Zone B	14-Oct-23	8-Dec-23

Pheasant Season

Pheasant Season	Hunting Start Date	Hunting End Date
Statewide	14 Oct, 23 (9 a.m.)	7-Jan-24

Hungarian partridge Season

Hungarian partridge Season	Hunting Start Date	Hunting End Date
Statewide (closed in Clark, Marathon, and Taylor counties)	14-Oct-23 (9 a.m.)	7-Jan-24

Seasons for Migratory Birds in WI

Migratory Bird	Season Dates & Schedule
(Early Teal)	September. 1–9
(Early Goosel)	September. 1–15
(Rail (Virginia, Sora)	September. 1–November. 9
(Snipel)	September. 1–November. 9
(Common Gallinulel)	September. 1–November. 9
(Mourning Dovel)	September. 1–November. 29
(Youth Waterfowll)	September. 17–18
(Woodcockl)	September. 24–November. 7
(Northern-Duck Zonel)	September. 24–November. 22
(Southern-Duck Zonel)	October. 1–9
	October. 15–December 4
(Open Water-Duck Zonel)	October. 15–December 13
(Cootl)	Same as Wild Duck Zone you are Hunting
(Northern Goose -Zonel)	September. 16–December 16
(Southern Goose-Zonel)	September. 16–October. 9
	October. 15–December 4
	December 18–January. 3, 2023
(Mississippi River Goose - Zonel)	October. 1–9
	October. 15–January. 3, 2023

Wisconsin Falconry Season

FALCONRY	Season Dates	Zones	Timings
Rail (Virginia, Sora), Snipe, Common Gallinule and	September. 1–December. 16		30 minutes before sunrise until sunset
(Early Teal)	September. 1–9		Sunrise to Sunset
(Ducks, mergansers and coots)	September. 17 and 18; January. 13–February. 17, 2023	All Zones	30 minutes before sunrise until sunset
	October. 1–9	South Zone	30 minutes before sunrise until sunset
	October. 15–December. 4		30 minutes before sunrise until sunset
	October. 15–December. 13	Open Water Zone	30 minutes before sunrise until sunset
	September. 24–November. 22	North Zone	30 minutes before sunrise until sunset
(Geese)		similar to the regular statewide season	30 minutes before sunrise until sunset

Note:

There is a daily bag restriction of three migratory game birds, regardless of how many you shoot at once, with the exception of the maximum number of Canada geese allowed in your hunting area during the shooting season.
The maximum number of bags an individual may hold at any one time is three times the daily limit.

Seasons for Trapping in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Trapping Seasons	Season Dates	Zones
BOBCAT	October. 15 – December. 25, 2022	North and south zones, Period 1
	December. 26 – Jan. 31, 2023	North and south zones, Period 2
FISHER	October. 15 – Jan. 8, 2023	North and South Zones
OTTER	November. 5 – April 30, 2023	North zone
	November. 5 – March 31, 2023	South zone
COYOTE	October. 15 – February. 15, 2023
FOX	October. 15 – February. 15, 2023
BEAVER	November. 5 – April 30, 2023	Zone A-(northwest)
	November. 5 – April 30, 2023	Zone B-(northeast)
	November. 5 – March 31, 2023	Zone C-(south)
	December. 5 – March 15, 2023	Zone D-(Mississippi River)
MINK AND MUSKRAT	October. 22 – April 15, 2023	Northern-Zone
	October. 29 – March 22, 2023	Central-Zone
	November. 5 – March 15, 2023	Southern-Zone
	November. 14 – March 5, 2023	Mississippi River-zone
RACCOON	October. 15 – February. 15, 2023	Resident
	October. 29 – February. 15, 2023	Non-resident

Deadlines for Permit Application

Permit Application	Deadlines
Bobcat	1-Aug-23
Bear	10-Dec-23
Elk	31-May-23
Fisher	1-Aug-23
Sharp-tailed Grouse*	31-Aug-23
Spring Turkey	10-Dec-23

Drawing Schedule

Drawings	Timings
Elk	Early Jun
Bobcat	Mid-Sept
Fisher	Mid-Sept
Sharp-tailed Grouse	Sept
Spring Turkey	Late Jan
Bear	Early Feb

Wisconsin Hunting Regulations

In Wisconsin, hunting is prohibited without a valid hunting license and the necessary stamps.

All turkey harvests must be reported to authorities.

Shotguns and muzzle-loading shotguns, crossbows and bow and arrows are some of the permitted hunting weapons and tactics.

When on a wild turkey hunt, you can’t utilize any kind of artificially-produced or amplified bird calls or noises.

During the autumn turkey season, however, using dogs to hunt wild turkeys is permitted.

No use of electronic or live decoys to attract wild turkeys is allowed.

A valid hunting license, stamp, and harvest permit for turkeys are required to possess a firearm, bow, or crossbow during the spring season.

The drawing for the harvest permits for turkeys uses a cumulative preference approach.

Hunting migratory game birds requires a small game license, a Wisconsin Waterfowl stamp, and a Federal Migratory Bird Stamp.

When going for waterfowl that migrate, you may only use specified firearms and ammunition.

Some buildings and vehicles are off-limits to hunters.

Certain hunting equipment, such as decoys left in the water unattended or put more than 200 feet from the cover, is forbidden.

Only boats powered by paddle, oars, or pole may be used for hunting from the water.

There are regulations regarding the placement of waterfowl blinds on state land.

There are restrictions on the use of vehicles, such as drones, for the taking of migratory game birds.

Waterfowl, coots, and mourning doves cannot be hunted with the use of bait.

Disabled hunters are afforded certain privileges under the law.

There are laws and restrictions that must be followed when youths go hunting.

Certain bodies of water mandate a minimum hunting distance from land.

Particular bodies of water require the use of blind anchors.

For certain bodies of water, daily blind removal is required.

When shooting from shore to shore is practicable in a small stream, jumping shots from a non-motorized boat is permitted.

Hunting ducks, coots, or mourning doves using bait is prohibited.

Hunting is permitted over fields that have recently been harvested or planted as part of a legitimate agricultural operation.

Mourning doves may be legally hunted in areas where agricultural crops or wildlife feeding plots have been manipulated.

After a crop has been harvested and the grain or seed has been taken from the field, it is against the law to distribute or disperse the crop in any way.

The Youth Waterfowl Hunt is open only to those who have not yet reached their fifteenth birthday.

The only kind of waterfowl that adults guiding young hunters are allowed to take is geese.

Mentors over the age of 16 who want to hunt geese this season must have a valid Canada Goose Permit for the current hunting season.

Under the Harvest Information Program (HIP), young hunters are expected to report their catches.

Wisconsin Hunting License charges

Harvest permits and licenses can be bought at a number of shops and establishments spread out over the state. Licenses for residents and non-residents are offered; fees vary according on residency, season, bag method, and special designations.

License Types	Non-Residents	Residents
(Archery)	USD 160	USD 25
(Crossbow)	USD 160	USD 25
(Gun Deer)	USD 160	USD 25
(Small game)	USD 85	USD 18
(Elk)	Not Applicable	USD 10
(Turkey)	USD 60	USD 15

For more details on WI Hunting Licenses find at:

https://www.eregulations.com/

https://gowild.wi.gov/