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DNR West Central Region
La Crosse County Hunting
A DNR-sourced guide to La Crosse County in west-central Wisconsin: 2026-27 seasons, 2 DMUs with their quotas, registered deer by year, county and state land, towns and the shops that serve hunters.
Photo: Tony Webster from San Francisco, California (CC BY-SA 2.0)
La Crosse is the seat of La Crosse County, a 452 square mile county in the DNR West Central Region. 121,060 people call it home, per the 2024 Census estimate (+0.2% against 2020). Deer management here is Central Farmland Zone throughout (2 units). Its nearest DNR service center is DNR La Crosse Service Center in La Crosse, 10 miles from the county centre. Public hunting runs through 15 listed properties; the largest by acreage is Upper Mississippi River Refuge – La Crosse District.
Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates (population), DNR region from the DNR staff pages, deer zones from the DNR deer zone layer, service centers from DNR office locations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around La Crosse County
Antlerless quota and bonus tags in La Crosse County
The DNR set a combined 2026 antlerless quota of 4,000 for the 1 unit that cover La Crosse County; units that cross into other counties count in full. In the Farmland part of La Crosse County every license carries 3 antlerless authorizations, valid with any weapon and season the license allows. Go Wild sells bonus antlerless tags for $12 resident and $20 nonresident, limited to one purchase a day.
| Unit | Zone | Antlerless quota 2026 | Bonus public | Bonus private | Available Oct 19 | Free per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse | Central Farmland | 4,000 | 400 | 1,200 | 397 / 1,191 | 3 |
| La Crosse County Metro Sub-Unit | Central Farmland metro | In parent | 50 | 100 | 49 / 100 | 1 |
Holiday deer hunt
A nine-day antlerless-only Holiday Hunt (Dec 24, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027) is part of the La Crosse County calendar. Archers keep going after Jan. 3: the extended season runs Jan 4 to Jan 31, 2027.
Urban sub-unit
Part of La Crosse County is a metro sub-unit (La Crosse County Metro Sub-Unit) with a longer gun season, Nov 21 to Dec 9, 2026, and archery to Jan 31. Its initial bonus allotment was 150 authorizations.
Nine-day gun season
Mark Nov 21 for the gun opener; the run of firearm seasons ends with the antlerless-only hunt Dec 10 to Dec 13, 2026.
Quotas and initial bonus counts from the DNR 2026 antlerless quota and initial permit availability (approved June 24, 2026); unsold counts and free Farmland tags from the bonus availability page as of Oct. 19, 2026; Holiday Hunt and extended archery from the 2026 season map; dates from the deer regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
La Crosse County deer numbers since 1960
In 2025, La Crosse County hunters registered 1,911 bucks and 2,604 antlerless deer, 4,515 in all. Harvest peaked in 2004 at 6,220; 2015 brought 4,149.
| Season | Buck | Antlerless | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,911 | 2,604 | 4,515 |
| 2024 | 1,757 | 2,282 | 4,039 |
| 2023 | 1,848 | 2,238 | 4,086 |
| 2022 | 1,812 | 2,114 | 3,926 |
| 2021 | 1,669 | 1,875 | 3,544 |
| 2020 | 1,812 | 2,033 | 3,845 |
| 2019 | 1,644 | 1,887 | 3,531 |
| 2018 | 1,785 | 2,128 | 3,913 |
| 2017 | 1,558 | 1,838 | 3,396 |
| 2016 | 1,726 | 2,176 | 3,902 |
2026 season to date, preliminary
| Unit | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse | 79 | 128 | 207 |
| La Crosse Metro Subunit | 12 | 14 | 26 |
DNR Deer Metrics harvest history (registered deer, all seasons and weapons; values read from the DNR chart), 2025 forest DMU figures from the same source, and the DNR 2026 total harvest to date (preliminary). Checked October 19, 2026.
CWD and baiting in La Crosse County
CWD is present in La Crosse County. The DNR has sampled 2,083 wild deer there since 1999 and 3 tested positive. Last CWD year: 154 tested, 1 positive. The baiting and feeding ban covers La Crosse County, as it does 59 other counties. The donation program requires tests on adult deer from this county.
| CWD year | Samples | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 19 | 2 |
| 2025 | 154 | 1 |
| 2024 | 140 | 0 |
| 2023 | 159 | 0 |
| 2022 | 139 | 0 |
| 2021 | 136 | 0 |
| 2020 | 143 | 0 |
| 2019 | 175 | 0 |
| 2018 | 165 | 0 |
| 2017 | 68 | 0 |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 |
CWD by county · Bait law explained
CWD sampling from the DNR CWD summary by county (wild deer, data released through Oct. 18, 2026; CWD year runs April 1-March 31, 2026 partial); baiting from the DNR baiting and feeding page and its map; donation testing from the Deer Donation Program. Checked October 19, 2026.
Beyond deer in La Crosse County
Bears in La Crosse County
Bear zone E covers La Crosse County; no hounds may be used. 1 bears came from La Crosse County in 2025 (1 male, 0 female).
| Zone | Harvest goal | 2026 permits | Minimum points | Applicants 2026 | 2025 bears | Hounds OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone E | 185 | 2,628 | 1 | 2,628 | 128 | No |
| Year | County bears | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2024 | 7 | 7 | — |
Spring turkey
For spring turkeys, La Crosse County falls in zone 1; each authorization names one zone and one of the six periods, A to F. In 2025 the DNR issued 64,574 spring authorizations across zone 1.
| Zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Success | 2025 harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | 61,121 | 60,523 | 62,058 | 62,329 | 64,574 | 21% | 13,813 |
Elk
Part of La Crosse County lies in the Central Elk Management Zone (nearly 70% public land), with a 2026 quota of 6 bull and 6 antlerless. 2025 harvest in the zone: 9 elk; applicants: 8,452.
| Unit group | Licenses 2026 |
|---|---|
| E (Units 8, 11, 14) | 2 bull, 3 antlerless licenses |
| F (Unit 10) | 2 bull licenses |
| G (Units 9, 12, 13) | 2 bull, 3 antlerless licenses |
Waterfowl and upland zones
Ruffed grouse: Zone A, open Sep 12, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. West of the BNSF line, goose dates follow the Mississippi River zone.
Bear zones A to F · Turkey periods by zone
Bear zones from the DNR bear zone layer; targets, permits and points from the 2026 bear drawing summary; harvest from the DNR 2025 bear report and 2024 report; turkey levels from the DNR turkey reports (2025 levels; 2027 not yet published); elk from the DNR elk page; bird zones from the DNR zone layers. Checked October 19, 2026.
Public hunting ground across La Crosse County
Here are all 15 properties with public hunting ground in La Crosse County, largest first. 240 acres of open Managed Forest Law land in La Crosse County allow hunting on foot by anyone.
- Refuge district: 1Upper Mississippi River Refuge – La Crosse District (19,975 acres*)
- State wildlife areas, 3 listedVan Loon Wildlife Area (4,044 acres*), North Bend Bottoms Wildlife Area (1,684 acres*), Mississippi Islands Wildlife Area (60 acres)
- 1 state forestCoulee Experimental State Forest (2,962 acres)
- State natural areas (5)Van Loon Floodplain Savanna State Natural Area (1,574 acres), Van Loon Floodplain Forest State Natural Area (317 acres*), Northeast Coulee Oak Woodland State Natural Area (287 acres), Berg Prairie and Billy Goat Ridge State Natural Area (92 acres), Great River Trail Prairies State Natural Area (33 acres*)
- 3 state fishery areasTainter and McGraw Creeks (1,385 acres*), Coon Creek Fishery Area (673 acres*), Bohemian Valley Fishery Area
- State trail, 1 listedGreat River State Trail (256 acres*)
- Other DNR land in the county (1)La Crosse Marsh Natural Resource Area (135 acres)
Multi-county units and DNR groupings that also reach the county: DNR Statewide Habitat Areas (unnamed parcels), Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, Upper Mississippi River Refuge – Winona District, Mississippi River Nine-Foot Channel Project Lands (USACE, Wisconsin Pools).
Next door: Half Moon Bottoms State Natural Area (12 miles, 202 acres), North Bend Wet Prairie State Natural Area (12 miles, 33 acres), Halfmoon Lake Fishery Area (12 miles, 126 acres), Black River Savanna State Natural Area (12 miles, 566 acres).
La Crosse River Trail Prairies State Natural Area is closed to hunting.
Statewide land list · MFL hunting rules
Public land from the DNR managed lands layer and property pages, DNR state natural area, county forest and federal records; county forest acres from the DNR county forest acreage report (July 1, 2021); MFL open acres from the DNR MFL report; leases from the DNR VPA-HIP and THAP lists. Acres within 10 miles of the county seat are a GIS measure. Checked October 19, 2026.
La Crosse County season calendar, 2026-27
Archery, the nine-day gun hunt, muzzleloader, bear, turkey, upland birds, rabbits, furbearers and the duck and goose splits for La Crosse County.
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery and crossbow | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth and disabled gun deer hunt | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun deer (9-day) | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Metro sub-unit gun | Metro sub-unit: La Crosse | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Statewide antlerless-only (December 4-day hunt) | Statewide | Dec 10, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt | Holiday Hunt: La Crosse | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Extended archery and crossbow | Extended archery | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone E | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Elk | Elk (archery, crossbow and firearm) | Central Elk Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 1 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 1 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 1 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 1 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 1 | May 26, 2027 | Jun 1, 2027 | |
| Ruffed Grouse | Ruffed grouse | Grouse Zone A | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Ruffed Grouse | Ruffed grouse | Grouse Zone B | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Pheasant | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite Quail | Bobwhite quail | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Hungarian partridge | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | Squirrel | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Cottontail rabbit | Southern cottontail zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe Hare | Snowshoe hare | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| American Crow | Crow | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Mar 24, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Youth waterfowl hunt | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 1) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 2) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 1) | Southern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 1) | Mississippi River Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 2) | Southern Goose Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 2) | Mississippi River Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 5, 2027 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (holiday split) | Southern Goose Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 2, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon (resident) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon (nonresident) | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red and gray fox | Fox (red and gray) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Coyote (hunting) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 1 (hunting and trapping) | Northern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 1 (hunting and trapping) | Southern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 2 (hunting and trapping) | Northern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 2 (hunting and trapping) | Southern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Unprotected species | Unprotected species (opossum, skunk, weasel, woodchuck, porcupine, starling, English sparrow, chukar, coturnix quail, etc.) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 hunting regulations and season dates, checked October 19, 2026.
La Crosse County seat, towns and border counties
The 6 towns below have their own page, with the county seat first.
- La Crosseseat · 51,049 townspeople · 22,425 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Bangor1,573 townspeople · 3,306 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Brice Prairie23,918 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- French Island22,863 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Holmen11,866 townspeople · 23,671 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- St. Joseph8,001 public acres in a 10-mile circle
La Crosse County meets 4 in-state counties and Houston (MN) and Winona (MN) in a neighbouring state.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
La Crosse County shooting time on key dates
At La Crosse County the offset is 16 minutes (Zone E). The times below already include it for both DNR shooting-hours areas.
| Date | Hunt | Northern Area hours | Southern Area hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery, fall turkey and grouse opener | 6:11 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:55 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:16 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:44 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:56 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:15 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:17 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
Deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey table times from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources shooting hours tables, plus the Zone E offset of 16 minutes for longitude 91.11 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Fires, permits and bans around La Crosse County
Today's La Crosse County status is on the Wisconsin burn ban list.
- When a permit is needed: Within DNR forest fire protection areas, whenever the ground is not completely snow-covered.
- Counties outside DNR burning-permit authority (per DNR daily restrictions on 2026-10-27): La Crosse County is on this list.
- Ban orders: The Wisconsin DNR, through daily county burning restrictions and permit suspensions within its forest fire protection areas (NR 30.05 emergency burning regulations; NR 45.07(3) emergency use and burning rules on DNR lands by posted notice).
- Campfires while hunting: DNR-managed lands (NR 45.07): no fire on the ground and no burning refuse except in designated fireplaces or fire rings.
La Crosse County gun ranges and clubs
La Crosse County holds 6 listed ranges; none appears on the DNR public range map.
archery, 3D archery on file
rifle, highpower, handgun, trap, smallbore rimfire on file
archery, 3D archery on file
archery, 3D archery on file
trap, shotgun on file
trap, rifle, archery, muzzleloader, cowboy action on file
The closest DNR-map range is Viola Sportsman's Club, 35 miles off in Vernon County.
County shoot dates
| Date, shoot | Format | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2026: NRL22 at Holmen Rod and Gun Club | NRL22 / PRS rimfire | Club page |
| Nov 14, 2026: Cowboy Action Shoot at Holmen Rod and Gun Club | Club match | Entry |
| Dec 6, 2026: NRL22 at Holmen Rod and Gun Club | NRL22 / PRS rimfire | Club page |
| Dec 12, 2026: Cowboy Action Shoot at Holmen Rod and Gun Club | Club match | Entry |
| Feb 19-20, 2027: La Crosse Gun Show | Gun show | Listing |
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
La Crosse County: processing, mounts and gear
Where La Crosse County has few listings, bordering counties fill the gap.
Agency desks nearby
The service center counter opens weekdays 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Field offices need an appointment.
Venison processing
Taxidermists nearby
Hunting preserves
Gun, archery and outdoor stores
DNR service centers and field offices from DNR office locations; processors from the Deer Donation Program list, DNR CWD sampling station partners and directory listings; shops from the DNR license agent layer and directories. Checked October 19, 2026; call ahead. All Wisconsin hunting services.
La Crosse County, answered
Can I use a feeder for deer in La Crosse County?
No. Automatic and gravity feeders are never legal for deer bait in Wisconsin.
How many deer were tested for CWD in La Crosse County in 2025?
154 in CWD year 2025, 1 positive.
How many turkey permits does La Crosse County get?
Zone 1 had 64,574 spring authorizations in 2025; 2027 levels are not out yet.
How many points do I need for a La Crosse County bear tag?
Zone E needed 1 preference points in the 2026 drawing.
What is GameReg?
Wisconsin's harvest registration system at gamereg.wi.gov or 1-844-426-3734.
Can I hunt state natural areas in La Crosse County?
Most DNR-owned SNAs are open; 5 are listed here. Check each page for closures.
Which processor should I call first in La Crosse County?
Andy's Deer Processing, the nearest listing; call ahead in season.
Do duck hunters in La Crosse County need orange?
No. Waterfowl hunters are exempt.
Are elk licenses split by unit in La Crosse County?
Yes. For 2026 licenses are unit-group specific, bull and antlerless separately.
Can I shoot a buck during the Holiday Hunt in La Crosse County?
No. Only antlerless deer, with any weapon.
Answers from the DNR Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations, registration rules, blaze orange rules, DNR harvest and CWD data and the sources cited above. Checked October 19, 2026.
La Crosse County, final word
State wildlife areas post refuges and closed areas; read the property page before you go.
Sources: DNR Fall 2026-Spring 2027 hunting regulations, season dates, Wisconsin DNR hunting, Census and the agencies linked in each section. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Anne Marie Peterson from Madison, WI, US (CC BY-SA 2.0); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA (CC BY 2.0); royal_broil (CC BY-SA 2.0); Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren (CC BY 2.0); Juliana Chong (CC BY 2.0).