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South Central Region county guide
Richland County Hunting
Hunting Richland County in 2026-27: the Southern Farmland zone rules, every DMU that crosses the county, bonus antlerless availability, CWD and baiting, public land, towns, services and shooting hours.
Photo: wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0)
586 square miles of land make up Richland County, and Richland Center holds the county offices. Roughly 17,123 residents in 2024 works out to near 29 people a square mile. All of it lies in the Southern Farmland Zone, divided into 1 deer management unit. DNR walk-in help is at the La Crosse service center, 48 miles from the middle of the county. Hunters can choose among 18 public properties here, the biggest being Knapp Creek Wildlife Area.
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.
Richland County deer units, quotas and tags
3,000 antlerless deer is the 2026 quota sum for the 1 DMU on this table, each counted whole. The Farmland unit includes 1 antlerless authorization per license at no extra cost; choose the unit and public or private land when you buy. Price of a bonus antlerless authorization: $12 resident, $20 nonresident; buyers are held to one a day.
| Unit | Deer zone | Antlerless quota | Bonus (public land) | Bonus (private land) | Remaining Oct 19 | Free tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richland | Southern Farmland | 3,000 | 500 | 2,000 | 500 / 2,000 | 1 |
Holiday Hunt
Christmas Eve to New Year's Day is the antlerless-only Holiday Hunt here: Dec 24, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027. Archery and crossbow also continue Jan 4 to Jan 31, 2027 in the extended season.
November gun hunt
Firearm deer dates: gun Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026, muzzleloader Nov 30 to Dec 9, 2026, December antlerless-only 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.
Richland County deer, year by year
Richland County produced 4,744 registered deer in 2025, 27th among the 61 county-named units. Ten seasons earlier, in 2015, the unit registered 6,085 (-22% since).
| Harvest year | Antlered | Antlerless | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,224 | 2,520 | 4,744 |
| 2024 | 2,359 | 2,713 | 5,072 |
| 2023 | 2,590 | 2,869 | 5,459 |
| 2022 | 2,666 | 2,998 | 5,664 |
| 2021 | 2,568 | 2,807 | 5,375 |
| 2020 | 2,964 | 3,495 | 6,459 |
| 2019 | 2,580 | 3,059 | 5,639 |
| 2018 | 3,003 | 3,784 | 6,787 |
| 2017 | 2,652 | 3,039 | 5,691 |
| 2016 | 2,858 | 3,244 | 6,102 |
2026 early-season deer, preliminary
| Unit (as DNR lists it) | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richland | 116 | 114 | 230 |
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.
Deer disease and baiting, Richland County
The DNR CWD summary lists 2,927 positive wild deer for Richland County from 22,195 samples. For CWD year 2025 the county logged 1,198 samples and 428 detections. Richland County is one of 60 counties where baiting and feeding deer are banned. Every donated deer must be tested.
| Year | Sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 57 | 22 |
| 2025 | 1,198 | 428 |
| 2024 | 1,347 | 448 |
| 2023 | 1,257 | 382 |
| 2022 | 1,394 | 375 |
| 2021 | 1,311 | 278 |
| 2020 | 1,553 | 304 |
| 2019 | 1,459 | 247 |
| 2018 | 1,393 | 187 |
| 2017 | 856 | 87 |
| 2016 | 470 | 61 |
| 2015 | 377 | 37 |
Statewide CWD page · Bait rules statewide
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.
Richland County bear, turkey and upland zones
Bear numbers
For bears, Richland County is zone E. Hounds are not permitted. Richland County does not appear in the 2024 or 2025 bear county tables.
| Zone | Target 2026 | Permits | Fewest points | Applicants | 2025 harvest | Hounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone E | 185 | 2,628 | 1 | 2,628 | 128 | No |
Turkeys in Richland County
Zone 1 sets the turkey authorizations in Richland County; 2025 is the most recent year with published levels. Spring 2025 brought 64,574 authorizations to zone 1.
| Turkey zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Success rate | Harvest 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | 61,121 | 60,523 | 62,058 | 62,329 | 64,574 | 21% | 13,813 |
Zones for birds and rabbits
Zone B grouse dates: Oct 17 to Dec 8, 2026. Look for stocked roosters at Willow Creek Fishery Area (Richland and Sauk Counties); the 2026 plan totals 140 birds.
Compare bear zones · All turkey zones
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 land on the Richland County map
18 listed properties reach into Richland County; acres for properties that cross a county line are the whole property. The 2026 MFL report lists 391 acres open to public hunting in Richland County. Private land open by lease: 8 VPA-HIP and 1 THAP properties.
- State fishery areas (11 here)Bear Creek Fishery Area (763 ac*), Willow Creek Fishery Area (Richland and Sauk Counties) (529 ac), Camp Creek Fishery Area (Remnant) (382 ac), Milancthon Creek Fishery Area (Remnant) (201 ac), Elk Creek Fishery Area (Remnant) (104 ac*), Pine River-Yuba Fishery Area (Remnant) (90 ac), Hansell Creek Fishery Area (Remnant) (62 ac), Ash Creek Fishery Area (Remnant) (52 ac), Knapp Creek Fishery Area (Remnant) (52 ac), Mill Creek Fishery Area (Remnant) (25 ac), Sabin Springs Fishery Area (5 ac)
- State natural areas in the county (6)Richwood Bottoms State Natural Area (935 ac*), Gotham Jack Pine Barrens State Natural Area (413 ac), Smith Slough and Sand Prairie State Natural Area (397 ac), Orion Mussel Bed State Natural Area (175 ac*), Bear Creek Sedge Meadow State Natural Area (89 ac*), Hub City Bog State Natural Area (48 ac)
- State wildlife area: 1Knapp Creek Wildlife Area (1,604 ac)
Multi-county properties here: Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, DNR Scattered Wildlife Lands.
Over the county line: Knapp Creek Fishery Area (12 miles, 12 ac).
Skip Rem-Engine Creek and Rem-Fancy Creek; DNR lists no hunting there.
Land by type · MFL open lands · VPA-HIP leases · THAP map
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.
Season dates that cover Richland County
Richland County sits in the Southern Farmland deer zone. These 41 rows are the dated hunting segments the DNR schedule puts there, from the September archery opener into spring turkey.
| Game | Season | Applies in | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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: Richland | 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 | |
| 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 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 2) | Southern Goose Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| 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.
Richland County towns, plus bordering counties
Towns for Richland County hunters, starting with the courthouse town.
- Richland Centerseat of county · 5,052 people · 3,938 mapped public acres nearby
- Gotham12,975 mapped public acres nearby
- Lone Rock837 people · 14,294 mapped public acres nearby
Richland County touches 5 other Wisconsin counties.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Richland County: legal hunting light
Deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey: 30 minutes before sunrise until 20 minutes after sunset. Ducks, geese, doves and spring turkey: same start, done at sunset.
| Day | Reason | Northern table | Southern table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery, fall turkey and grouse opener | 6:07 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:51 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:12 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:40 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:52 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:11 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:13 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 4:58 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 D offset of 12 minutes for longitude 90.44 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Burning rules in Richland County
Richland County status today: open the Wisconsin county 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): Richland County is not on this list.
- Who sets a ban: 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).
- Fires on public land: DNR-managed lands (NR 45.07): no fire on the ground and no burning refuse except in designated fireplaces or fire rings.
Richland County: where to shoot
Inside the county line: 1 range, from rod and gun clubs to public map ranges and archery lanes.
handgun on file
About 15 miles away, Viola Sportsman's Club is the closest range the DNR maps as public.
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
Richland County DNR offices and hunting businesses
Gas stations and hardware stores that only sell licenses are left out; these are hunting shops.
DNR service center and offices
Service center counters are open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays; field offices see visitors by appointment.
Butchering and processing
Taxidermists
Guides and preserves
Hunting shops nearby
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.
Small public hunting areas in Richland County
8 smaller public areas in Richland County, 591 acres together, each with its own section below: acres, office, zones, DNR map and the facts its agency documents give.
Ash Creek Fishery Area (Remnant)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | State Fishery Area |
| Acres | 52 (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting) |
| County | Richland |
| Map point | 43.2863, -90.3994 (directions) |
| Zones | Southern Farmland Zone; Bear Zone E (hound hunting prohibited) |
Elk Creek Fishery Area (Remnant)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | State Fishery Area |
| Acres | 104 (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting) |
| Counties | Richland, Vernon |
| Map point | 43.4517, -90.6430 (directions) |
| Zones | Southern Farmland Zone; Bear Zone E (hound hunting prohibited) |
Hansell Creek Fishery Area (Remnant)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | State Fishery Area |
| Acres | 62 (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting) |
| County | Richland |
| Map point | 43.5299, -90.3247 (directions) |
| Zones | Southern Farmland Zone; Bear Zone E (hound hunting prohibited) |
Knapp Creek Fishery Area (Remnant)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | State Fishery Area |
| Acres | 52 (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting) |
| County | Richland |
| Map point | 43.3045, -90.6482 (directions) |
| Zones | Southern Farmland Zone; Bear Zone E (hound hunting prohibited) |
Milancthon Creek Fishery Area (Remnant)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | State Fishery Area |
| Acres | 201 (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting) |
| County | Richland |
| Map point | 43.5436, -90.3528 (directions) |
| Zones | Southern Farmland Zone; Bear Zone E (hound hunting prohibited) |
Mill Creek Fishery Area (Remnant)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | State Fishery Area |
| Acres | 25 (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting) |
| County | Richland |
| Map point | 43.4236, -90.5857 (directions) |
| Zones | Southern Farmland Zone; Bear Zone E (hound hunting prohibited) |
Pine River-Yuba Fishery Area (Remnant)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | State Fishery Area |
| Acres | 90 (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting) |
| County | Richland |
| Map point | 43.5175, -90.4033 (directions) |
| Zones | Southern Farmland Zone; Bear Zone E (hound hunting prohibited) |
Sabin Springs Fishery Area
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | State Fishery Area |
| Acres | 5 (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting) |
| County | Richland |
| Map point | 43.4262, -90.5328 (directions) |
| Zones | Southern Farmland Zone; Bear Zone E (hound hunting prohibited) |
Richland County: short answers
How do I register a turkey from Richland County?
Online or by phone through GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after recovery; there are no in-person stations.
What is the largest public property in Richland County?
Knapp Creek Wildlife Area, 1,604 acres.
Do I register geese shot in Richland County?
No. Wisconsin has had no state goose registration since 2017; HIP certification is required.
Do I need blaze orange in Richland County?
Yes, during any firearm deer season: 50% of outer clothing above the waist, orange or fluorescent pink.
Can I find a deer processor close to Richland County?
Yes, try Richland Locker Co, Kickapoo Locker Service and Prem Meats Self-Service Kiosk first.
Is there a Holiday Hunt in Richland County?
Yes, Dec 24, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027, antlerless only.
Which deer management units cover Richland County?
Richland, per the DNR county-to-unit list.
Are bonus antlerless tags left for Richland County?
Richland: 500 public, 2,000 private as of Oct. 19, 2026.
How many deer were registered in Richland County in 2025?
4,744: 2,224 bucks and 2,520 antlerless.
What happens if my Richland County deer tests positive?
You earn a replacement authorization: a statewide buck tag for an antlered deer, a same-unit tag for an antlerless one.
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.
Last word on Richland County seasons
If anything here disagrees with the DNR regulations, the regulations win.
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: royal_broil (CC BY-SA 2.0); GlacierNPS (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA (CC BY 2.0); Anne Marie Peterson from Madison, WI, US (CC BY-SA 2.0); Birding for Climate (Public domain); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).