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DNR Southeast Region
Waukesha County Hunting
A DNR-sourced guide to Waukesha County in southeast 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: hmalsch (CC BY 2.0)
Waukesha is the seat of Waukesha County, a 550 square mile county in the DNR Southeast Region. 417,029 people call it home, per the 2024 Census estimate (+2.5% against 2020). Deer management here is Southern Farmland Zone throughout (2 units). Its nearest DNR service center is DNR Waukesha Service Center in Waukesha, 4 miles from the county centre. Public hunting runs through 23 listed properties; the largest by acreage is Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit.
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 Waukesha County
Antlerless quota and bonus tags in Waukesha County
The DNR set a combined 2026 antlerless quota of 3,000 for the 1 unit that cover Waukesha County; units that cross into other counties count in full. In the Farmland part of Waukesha County every license carries 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waukesha | Southern Farmland | 3,000 | 1,100 | 1,900 | 1,100 / 1,900 | 2 |
| Waukesha County Metro Sub-Unit | Southern Farmland metro | In parent | — | — | 0 / 0 | 2 |
Holiday deer hunt
A nine-day antlerless-only Holiday Hunt (Dec 24, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027) is part of the Waukesha County calendar. Archers keep going after Jan. 3: the extended season runs Jan 4 to Jan 31, 2027.
Urban sub-unit
Part of Waukesha County is a metro sub-unit (Waukesha County Metro Sub-Unit) with a longer gun season, Nov 21 to Dec 9, 2026, and archery to Jan 31.
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.
Waukesha County deer numbers since 1960
In 2025, Waukesha County hunters registered 1,649 bucks and 1,671 antlerless deer, 3,320 in all. Harvest peaked in 2025 at 3,320; 2015 brought 2,281.
| Season | Buck | Antlerless | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,649 | 1,671 | 3,320 |
| 2024 | 1,504 | 1,517 | 3,021 |
| 2023 | 1,450 | 1,438 | 2,888 |
| 2022 | 1,341 | 1,478 | 2,819 |
| 2021 | 1,306 | 1,422 | 2,728 |
| 2020 | 1,354 | 1,470 | 2,824 |
| 2019 | 1,258 | 1,267 | 2,525 |
| 2018 | 1,146 | 1,156 | 2,302 |
| 2017 | 1,065 | 1,075 | 2,140 |
| 2016 | 1,043 | 1,168 | 2,211 |
2026 season to date, preliminary
| Unit | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waukesha | 83 | 103 | 186 |
| Waukesha Metro Subunit | 37 | 84 | 121 |
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 Waukesha County
CWD is present in Waukesha County. The DNR has sampled 5,973 wild deer there since 1999 and 78 tested positive. Last CWD year: 317 tested, 26 positive. The baiting and feeding ban covers Waukesha County, as it does 59 other counties. All donated deer from the county need a CWD test.
| CWD year | Samples | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 17 | 1 |
| 2025 | 317 | 26 |
| 2024 | 268 | 5 |
| 2023 | 348 | 8 |
| 2022 | 319 | 11 |
| 2021 | 222 | 3 |
| 2020 | 252 | 6 |
| 2019 | 331 | 9 |
| 2018 | 252 | 3 |
| 2017 | 146 | 2 |
| 2016 | 115 | 0 |
| 2015 | 30 | 1 |
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 Waukesha County
Bears in Waukesha County
Bear zone F covers Waukesha County; no hounds may be used. The DNR county table shows no bears registered in Waukesha County in 2024 or 2025.
| Zone | Harvest goal | 2026 permits | Minimum points | Applicants 2026 | 2025 bears | Hounds OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone F | 50 | 764 | 1 | 764 | 27 | No |
Spring turkey
For spring turkeys, Waukesha County falls in zone 2; each authorization names one zone and one of the six periods, A to F. In 2025 the DNR issued 51,056 spring authorizations across zone 2.
| Zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Success | 2025 harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2 | 51,022 | 51,028 | 51,030 | 51,065 | 51,056 | 22% | 11,024 |
Waterfowl and upland zones
Ruffed grouse: Zone B, open Oct 17 to Dec 8, 2026. Stocked rooster fields here include Paradise Valley Wildlife Area, Vernon Wildlife Area and Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit, 3,980 birds planned.
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 Waukesha County
Here are all 23 properties with public hunting ground in Waukesha County, largest first. 37 acres of open Managed Forest Law land in Waukesha County allow hunting on foot by anyone.
- 2 state forestsKettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit (21,534 acres*), Kettle Moraine State Forest – Mukwonago River Unit (985 acres*)
- State wildlife areas, 6 listedVernon Wildlife Area (4,349 acres), Paradise Valley Wildlife Area (1,782 acres*), Big Muskego Lake Wildlife Area (1,106 acres*), Oconomowoc State Habitat Area (238 acres), Mukwonago River State Habitat Area (132 acres), Pebble Brook State Habitat Area (32 acres)
- State natural areas (8)Lulu Lake State Natural Area (1,236 acres*), Clifford F. Messinger Dry Prairie and Savanna Preserve State Natural Area (254 acres*), Kettle Moraine Low Prairie State Natural Area (250 acres), Scuppernong Prairie State Natural Area (173 acres), Eagle Oak Opening State Natural Area (103 acres), Genesee Oak Opening and Fen State Natural Area (50 acres), Ottawa Lake Fen State Natural Area (45 acres), Mukwonago River State Natural Area (43 acres)
- State habitat areas (2 here)Scuppernong River Habitat Area (2,000 acres), Delafield State Habitat Area (104 acres)
- State trail, 1 listedGlacial Drumlin State Trail (1,020 acres*)
- Ice Age Trail areas (3 here)Ottawa SIATA (108 acres), Allen Valley State Ice Age Trail Area (25 acres), Town of Ottawa State Ice Age Trail Area
- Public access site (1)Nemahbin Lake State Public Access (26 acres)
Multi-county units and DNR groupings that also reach the county: DNR Extensive Wildlife Habitat Lands, DNR Statewide Fisheries Program Lands, Kettle Moraine State Forest.
Next door: Golden Lake Fishery Area (Remnant) (12 miles, 34 acres), Kettle Moraine State Forest – Loew Lake Unit (14 miles, 1,230 acres).
Kettle Moraine State Forest – Lapham Peak Unit and Kettle Moraine Railroad State Ice Age Trail Area are 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.
Waukesha 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 Waukesha 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: Milwaukee | 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: Waukesha | 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 F | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 2 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 2 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 2 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 2 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 2 | 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.
Waukesha County seat, towns and border counties
The 9 towns below have their own page, with the county seat first.
- Waukeshaseat · 71,461 townspeople · 4,565 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Waukeshaseat · 8,573 townspeople · 7,230 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Dousman2,551 townspeople · 14,360 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Eagle2,131 townspeople · 31,736 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Mukwonago8,512 townspeople · 19,552 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Nashotah1,313 townspeople · 4,319 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- North Lake1,739 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Wales2,913 townspeople · 13,151 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Milwaukeespans the line · 563,531 townspeople
Waukesha County meets 7 in-state counties.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Waukesha County shooting time on key dates
At Waukesha County the offset is 4 minutes (Zone B). 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 | 5:59 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:43 a.m. to 6:25 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 6:28 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:04 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:32 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:44 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:03 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:05 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 4:50 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 B offset of 4 minutes for longitude 88.30 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Can you burn in Waukesha County?
See the Wisconsin county list for Waukesha County today.
- Permit season: 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): Waukesha County is on this list.
- Burn bans come from: 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).
- Warming fires: DNR-managed lands (NR 45.07): no fire on the ground and no burning refuse except in designated fireplaces or fire rings.
Waukesha County gun ranges and clubs
17 ranges listed inside Waukesha County, Lakeview Rod & Gun Club, McMiller Sports Center and Wern Valley Sportsmen's Club among them on the DNR public range map.
rifle, trap, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery on file
rifle, handgun, archery, trap, sporting clays on file
rifle, sporting clays, shotgun on file
archery, 3D archery on file
archery, 3D archery on file
archery, 3D archery on file
| Name and kind | Town | Guns and bows | Getting in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schultz Resort Rod & Gun Club · rod and gun club | Muskego | trap/rifle/handgun/smallbore rimfire/archery/action pistol/silhouette/shotgun/3D archery | Members only |
| Sherwood Forest Bowmen · archery range | Sussex | archery/3D archery | Access not stated |
| Whale-Tales Archery · archery range | Dousman | archery/3D archery | Access not stated |
| Wisconsin Firearms Training Center · outdoor range | Brookfield | handgun/rifle | Access not stated |
| Boxhorn Sportsman's Club · sporting clays course | Muskego | trap/sporting clays/5-stand/shotgun | Access not stated |
| Fletcher Arms Waukesha · indoor range | Waukesha | shotgun/rifle | Access not stated |
| Lakeview Trap & Sport Club · trap and skeet club | Muskego | trap/shotgun | Access not stated |
| Menomonee Falls Rod and Gun Club · rod and gun club | Menomonee Falls | rifle/handgun/trap/shotgun | Members only |
| Milwaukee Casting and Sportmen's Club · rod and gun club | New Berlin | trap/5-stand/shotgun/archery/3D archery | Members only |
| Stone Bank Sportsmen`s Club · rod and gun club | Ashippun | trap/5-stand/rifle/handgun/smallbore rimfire/archery/3D archery/muzzleloader/air gun/shotgun | Members only |
| Waukesha Gun Club · sporting clays course | Waukesha | trap/skeet/sporting clays/5-stand/muzzleloader/shotgun | Access not stated |
County shoot dates
| Date, shoot | Format | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2026: Girl & A Gun at McMiller Sports Center | Clinic | Listing |
| Nov 2, 2026: • 10 WEEK FALL TRAP League Starts Wednesday at Lakeview Trap and Sport Club | Trap | Register |
| Nov 7, 2026: Rifle Sight In at Oconomowoc Sportsmans Club | Club match | Entry |
| Nov 8, 2026: Rifle Sight In at Oconomowoc Sportsmans Club | Club match | Entry |
| Nov 14, 2026: Rifle Sight In at Oconomowoc Sportsmans Club | Club match | Entry |
| Nov 15, 2026: Rifle Sight In at Oconomowoc Sportsmans Club | Club match | Entry |
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
Waukesha County: processing, mounts and gear
Where Waukesha 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
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.
Waukesha County on the Wisconsin events calendar
Retrieved October 19, 2026: 4 upcoming events, covering NWTF banquet and WWA fundraiser.
Next dates
| Held | What | Where | Register | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 3, 2026 | 11th Annual Christmas Bash / WWA fundraiser | Rustic Manor 1848 Hartland Waukesha Co. | Event details | Source |
| Feb 18, 2027 | 5th Annual Cabin Fever Winter Bash / WWA fundraiser | Matty's Bar & Grille New Berlin Waukesha Co. | Event details | Source |
| Mar 11, 2027 | Lake Country Longbeards NWTF Banquet / NWTF banquet | Oconomowoc Waukesha Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Kettle Moraine Chapter NWTF Banquet / NWTF banquet | New Berlin Waukesha Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
Waukesha County, answered
Which processor should I call first in Waukesha County?
Bunzel's Meat Market, the nearest listing; call ahead in season.
Do duck hunters in Waukesha County need orange?
No. Waterfowl hunters are exempt.
What DMU should I pick for Waukesha County on Go Wild?
The unit where you will hunt: Waukesha and Waukesha County Metro Sub-Unit. Farmland tags and bonus tags are unit specific.
Can I shoot a buck during the Holiday Hunt in Waukesha County?
No. Only antlerless deer, with any weapon.
Is the Waukesha County deer harvest rising or falling?
Compare the years: 2025 3,320; 2024: 3,021; 2015: 2,281.
Can I shoot a doe in Waukesha County with my gun license?
Yes, with a free Farmland tag or a bonus authorization for the unit and land type.
Can I use a feeder for deer in Waukesha County?
No. Automatic and gravity feeders are never legal for deer bait in Wisconsin.
How many deer were tested for CWD in Waukesha County in 2025?
317 in CWD year 2025, 26 positive.
How many turkey permits does Waukesha County get?
Zone 2 had 51,056 spring authorizations in 2025; 2027 levels are not out yet.
How many points do I need for a Waukesha County bear tag?
Zone F needed 1 preference points in the 2026 drawing.
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.
Waukesha 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: Sajith T S (CC BY-SA 2.0); NPS Photo (Public domain); D.L. (CC BY-SA 2.0); royal_broil (CC BY-SA 2.0); Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA (CC BY 2.0); Anne Marie Peterson from Madison, WI, US (CC BY-SA 2.0); D.L. (CC BY-SA 2.0); Chris Rycroft from Madison, Wisconsin, United States (CC BY 2.0); The Hidden Hide with Ray (CC BY 2.0).