Hunting and Trapping Season Dates

Season dates for all species are found on this page. Some species listed are protected and therefore do not have a season. Some seasons are subject to change before hunting and trapping regulations pamphlets are published. Consult the regulation pamphlets before going into the field.

Check the Outdoor Report for the most up to date hunting and outdoor news releases or the Hunting and Trapping Regulations for more details on hunting and trapping in Wisconsin.

Download the 2010 Wisconsin Hunting and Trapping season dates for season dates extending into and ending in 2011. [PDF 424KB]

The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Regulations (Exit DNR)

2010 Season Dates

White-tailed Deer (non-CWD units and non-metro units)

• Bow - Sept. 18 - Nov. 18 and Nov. 29 - Jan. 9, 2011
• Gun - Nov. 20 - Nov. 28
• Muzzleloader - Nov. 29 - Dec. 8
• Youth Deer Hunt - Oct. 9 - 10
• Statewide Antlerless Hunt - Dec. 9 - Dec. 12

**See the 2010 Deer Hunting Regulations for a list of Herd Control and Earn-a-Buck units; possible October gun hunt dates, and for CWD hunt dates.

Black Bear

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Zone C where dogs are not permitted: - Sept. 8 - Oct. 12

All other zones where dogs are permitted:

Sept. 8 - Sept. 14

• with aid of bait
• with all other methods not utilizing dogs

• with aid of dogs
• with aid of bait
• with other methods

• with aid of dogs only

Wild Turkey

Youth Turkey Hunt: April 10 - 11

2010 Spring Open Zones:

• Period A: Apr 14 - 18
• Period B: Apr 21 - 25
• Period C: Apr 28 - May 2
• Period D: May 5 - 9
• Period E: May 12 - 16
• Period F: May 19 - 23

Late Fall Season- November 29 - December 31 (Zones 1-5)

Ring-necked Pheasant

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Statewide - Oct. 16 (noon) - Dec. 31

Ruffed Grouse

• Zone A - Sept. 18 - Jan. 31, 2011
• Zone B - Oct. 16 - Dec. 8

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Oct. 16 - Nov. 7

Bobwhite Quail

Statewide - Oct. 16 (noon) - Dec. 8

Gray (Hungarian) Partridge

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Statewide* - Oct. 16 (noon) - Dec. 31

*Closed in Clark, Marathon, and Taylor Counties

Crow

• Jan. 25 - March 20
• Sept. 18 - Nov. 18

Mourning Dove

Statewide - Sept. 1 – Nov. 9

Cottontail Rabbit

• Northern Zone - Sept. 18 - Feb. 28, 2011
• Southern Zone - Oct. 16 (noon) - Feb. 28, 2011

Gray and Fox Squirrels

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Statewide - Sept. 18 - Jan. 31, 2011

Raccoon

• Resident Hunting/Trapping - Oct. 16 - Feb. 15, 2011
• Non-Resident Furbearer - Oct. 30 - Feb. 15, 2011

Fox (All Species)

• Northern Zone - Oct. 16 - Feb. 15, 2011
• Southern Zone - Oct. 30 - Feb. 15, 2011

Coyote

Hunting:
Continuous open season except closedin the northern Wisconsin wolf management zone during the regular gun deer, December antlerless only, and muzzleloader seasons.

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Trapping:

• Northern Zone - Oct. 16 - Feb. 15, 2011
• Southern Zone - Oct. 30 - Feb. 15, 2011

Opossum, Skunk, Weasel, and Snowshoe Hare

No season limits, bag limits, size limits, or possession limits

Protected Species

Hunting Protected Species such as badger, woodchuck, wolf, elk, jackrabbit and flying squirrel is prohibited. See Small Game Regulations for more details.

Beaver

Trapping Only:

• Zone A (Northwest) - Nov. 6 - Apr. 30, 2011
• Zone B (Northeast) - Nov. 6 - Apr. 30, 2011
• Zone C (South) - Nov. 6 - Mar. 31, 2011
• Zone D (Mississippi River) - Day after duck season closes to March 15, 2011.

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Muskrat

• Northern Zone - Oct. 16 - Feb. 28, 2011
• South Zone - Oct. 30 - Feb. 28, 2011
• Winnebago - Oct. 30 - March 15, 2011
• Mississippi River - Begins the day after duck season closes or thesecond Monday in November, whichever occursfirst and ends February 28, 2011.

Mink

• North Zone - Oct. 16 - Feb. 28, 2011
• South Zone - Oct. 30 - Feb. 28, 2011
• Winnebago - Oct. 30 - March 15, 2011
• Mississippi River - Begins the day after duck season closes orthe second Monday in November, whicheveroccurs first and ends on February 28, 2011.

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Otter

Permits required

Trapping Only:

• Northern Zone - Nov. 6 - April 30, 2011
• Central Zone - Nov. 6 - Mar. 31, 2011
• South Zone - Nov. 6 - Mar. 31, 2011

Fisher

Permits required

Trapping Only:

• Various Zones - Oct. 16 - Dec. 31

Bobcat

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Permits required

Hunting/Trapping:

• Period 1 - Oct. 16 - Dec. 25
• Period 2 - Dec. 26 - Jan. 31, 2011

Waterfowl

Early September Canada Goose Season

Dates: September 1 - 15
Bag: Daily bag of five geese.

Youth Waterfowl Hunt

Dates: September 18 - 19
Bag: Regular season bag limits apply.

Ducks

Dates:

• Northern Zone: September 25 – November 23;
• Southern Zone: October 2 – October 10 and October 16 - December 5

Canada Geese

Dates:

• Exterior Zone North: September 18 – December 11
• Exterior Zone South: September 18 – October 10 and October 16- December 16
• Mississippi River Subzone: October 2 – October 10 and October 16 – December 30
  

• Horicon Zone:
  • Periods 1: September 16 – October 31
  • Periods 2: November 1 – December 16
  Bag: Daily bag of two, six tags per hunter.

• Collins Zone:
  • Period 1: September 16 – October 3
  • Period 2: October 4 – October 24
  • Period 3: October 25 – November 19
  Bag: Daily bag of two, six tags per hunter

**Shooting hours begin at 9am on Oct 2

Other Geese

Light geese (Snow, Blue and Ross) and Brant
Dates: Seasons are the same as for the Canada goose zones and subzones.
Bag: Daily bag Limit, 1 brant and 20 light geese

White-fronted geese
Dates: Same as for Exterior Zone and Collins Zone; Horicon Zone, September 22- December 16
Bag: Daily bag Limit, 1 white-fronted goose.

Woodcock

Sept. 25 - Nov. 8

Contact your local DNR office

Questions for Wildlife Management