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West Central Region · 2026-27
Adams County Hunting
Deer units and bonus tags, Holiday Hunt status, CWD test results by year, the baiting rule, bear, turkey and waterfowl zones and every public property in Adams County, from DNR data.
Photo: newagecrap (CC BY 2.0)
Adams County covers 646 square miles of land and 42 of lakes and rivers, with the courthouse in Friendship. It counted 21,352 people in 2024, about 33 for each square mile of land. For deer it is entirely Central Farmland ground, split into 1 DMU. The DNR Oshkosh Service Center in Oshkosh is the nearest of the twelve DNR service centers. 26 public propertys on the DNR, county and federal lists sit at least partly inside the line, 6 state wildlife areas among them.
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.
Adams County DMUs and antlerless authorizations
For 2026 the antlerless target in these units is 8,000 deer, set by unit before bonus sales opened in August. Free Farmland tags here: 2 per license, specific to the unit and to public-access or private land. A bonus authorization costs $12 (resident) or $20 (nonresident) on Go Wild, one per hunter per day while they last.
| DMU | Management zone | Quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Left at Oct 19 | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | Central Farmland | 8,000 | 3,000 | 7,000 | 2,935 / 6,949 | 2 |
Late antlerless hunt
Antlerless deer only, Dec 24, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027: the Holiday Hunt is on in Adams County. Extended archery and crossbow follow, Jan 4 to Jan 31, 2027.
The nine-day
Rifles and shotguns: Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026. Muzzleloaders: Nov 30 to Dec 9, 2026. 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.
Deer registrations, Adams County
6,148 deer were registered in Adams County in 2025, ranking it 18th of 61 units with county names. Against 5,555 in 2015, the 2025 count is up 11%.
| Year | Buck harvest | Antlerless harvest | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,066 | 3,082 | 6,148 |
| 2024 | 3,418 | 3,240 | 6,658 |
| 2023 | 2,762 | 2,666 | 5,428 |
| 2022 | 2,923 | 3,097 | 6,020 |
| 2021 | 2,425 | 2,432 | 4,857 |
| 2020 | 2,609 | 3,002 | 5,611 |
| 2019 | 2,191 | 2,299 | 4,490 |
| 2018 | 2,657 | 2,916 | 5,573 |
| 2017 | 2,462 | 2,734 | 5,196 |
| 2016 | 2,639 | 2,875 | 5,514 |
Adams County so far in 2026 (preliminary)
| Unit | Bucks | Antlerless | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | 240 | 293 | 533 |
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.
Has CWD reached Adams County?
Wild deer that tested positive for chronic wasting disease have been found in Adams County: 200 of 5,658 sampled since 1999. The 2025 CWD year brought 408 samples and 53 positives. No bait and no feeding: Adams County sits under the deer baiting and feeding ban. Deer donated here must be CWD tested.
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 26 | 4 |
| 2025 | 408 | 53 |
| 2024 | 424 | 41 |
| 2023 | 343 | 23 |
| 2022 | 306 | 20 |
| 2021 | 273 | 12 |
| 2020 | 362 | 12 |
| 2019 | 362 | 6 |
| 2018 | 360 | 12 |
| 2017 | 341 | 7 |
| 2016 | 343 | 4 |
| 2015 | 167 | 2 |
More on CWD · Ban map and limits
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.
Adams County bear and turkey numbers
Black bears
Adams County lies in bear zone C (85%) and F (14%). Class A bear licenses come by preference-point drawing, and hounds are not allowed. The 2024-25 bear reports list no harvest for Adams County.
| Bear zone | Target 2026 | Licenses drawn | Points needed | Applicants | Harvest 2025 | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone C | 875 | 4,465 | 2 | 7,605 | 661 | No |
| Zone F | 50 | 764 | 1 | 764 | 27 | No |
| Year | Total | Boars | Sows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | — |
Turkey zone and permits
Turkey zone 3 covers the county. Spring 2027 permit levels have not been published; the table gives 2025 levels by zone. 55,612 spring authorizations went to zone 3 in 2025.
| Spring zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 rate | Registered 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | 52,304 | 52,068 | 52,808 | 53,441 | 55,612 | 22% | 12,324 |
Birds and small game in Adams County
For ruffed grouse, Zone B applies (Oct 17 to Dec 8, 2026).
Bear zones · Compare 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.
Adams County wildlife areas, forests and natural areas
Adams County overlaps 26 properties on the land list, from state wildlife areas to natural areas and trails. County forest: 140 acres, from the DNR report dated July 1, 2021. Private land enrolled in Managed Forest Law and open to the public adds 16,274 acres in Adams County.
- Conservation easement, 1 listedCentral Sands Pines Forest Legacy Easement (9,111 ac)
- State natural areas (7 here)Quincy Bluff and Wetlands State Natural Area (6,607 ac), Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area (1,286 ac*), Roche-a-Cri Woods State Natural Area (473 ac), Sohlberg Silver Lake State Natural Area (308 ac), Lawrence Creek State Natural Area (288 ac*), Roche-a-Cri Mound State Natural Area (21 ac), Brooks Bluff State Natural Area (20 ac)
- State wildlife areas in the county (6)Colburn Wildlife Area (5,062 ac), Leola Marsh Wildlife Area (2,515 ac), Lawrence Creek Fish and Wildlife Area (949 ac*), Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area (81 ac), Beaver Avenue State Habitat Area (80 ac), Town of Richfield State Habitat Area (20 ac)
- State fishery areas: 3Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area (844 ac*), Upper Neenah Fishery Area (370 ac), Lake Camelot Public Access
- State habitat areas, 5 listedCarter Creek State Habitat Area (395 ac*), Fordham Creek-Little Roche a Cri Creek State Habitat Area (346 ac), Lake Camelot State Habitat Area (160 ac), Lake Arrowhead State Habitat Area (110 ac), Campbell Creek-White Creek State Habitat Area (26 ac)
- State park (1)Roche a Cri State Park (453 ac)
- Waterfowl production area (1)New Chester Waterfowl Production Area (343 ac)
- 1 other dnr landDNR Miscellaneous Lands (200 ac)
- County forest in the county (1)Adams County Forest (140 ac)
Statewide groupings with parcels here: DNR Statewide Habitat Areas (unnamed parcels), Leopold Wetland Management District.
Close by, across the boundary: Upper Fox Headwaters State Natural Area (12 miles, 195 ac), Buckhorn Wildlife Area (12 miles, 1,675 ac).
Public land hub · County forests · Open MFL land
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.
Which seasons are open in Adams County
Deer dates are statewide in Wisconsin; bear, turkey, grouse, cottontail and waterfowl dates follow zone lines, so only the rows for Adams County are listed.
| Species | Season | Where it applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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: Adams | 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 C/F | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 3 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 3 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 3 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 3 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 3 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 3 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 3 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 3 | 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 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.
From Adams County towns to the counties around it
Pick a base town in Adams County; its page lists the closest public properties and legal hours.
- Friendshipcounty seat · 678 people in 2024 · 16,139 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Dellwood19,804 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Lake Camelot18,685 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Lake Sherwood17,180 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
Bordering Adams County: 6 Wisconsin counties.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
When you can shoot at Adams County
Two tables cover the state, one for the Northern Area and one for the Southern Area, each for Zone A. West of 88 degrees you add 4 minutes per degree of longitude.
| Day | Season | North table | South table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery, fall turkey and grouse opener | 6:03 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:47 a.m. to 6:29 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:32 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:08 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:36 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:48 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:07 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:09 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 4:54 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 C offset of 8 minutes for longitude 89.77 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Before you burn in Adams County
Adams County status today: open the Wisconsin county list.
- Permits: 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): Adams 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.
Adams County gun ranges and clubs
4 ranges in Adams County, from the DNR range layer and directory listings checked October 19, 2026.
archery, 3D archery on file
trap, shotgun on file
Nearest range on the DNR public range map: M&M Sportshop & Shooting Range in Juneau County, about 19 miles from the county center. Details
Matches and shows here
| When and what | Kind | Go |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2027: Kettle Moraine SCTP Shoot 2027 | Youth | Details |
| Jun 12-13, 2027: Wisconsin High School Clay Target League State Championship 2027 | Youth | Details |
| Jun 25-27, 2027: Wisconsin SCTP State Championship 2027 | Youth | Details |
| Jul 13-18, 2027: Wisconsin State Trapshoot 2027 | Trap | Details |
| Jul 21, 2027: Wisconsin Cheese Makers Shoot 2027 | Trap | Details |
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
Adams County hunting services
Each group starts with Adams County listings and fills in from neighbours.
Who to call at the DNR
Walk in at a service center on weekdays (8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.); call ahead for a field office.
Deer processors
Mounts and taxidermy
Guided hunts
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.
Adams County on the Wisconsin events calendar
Learn to Hunt: 1 upcoming event. Retrieved October 19, 2026.
Still to come
| Held | What | Where | Register | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 4–Dec 6, 2026 | Learn to Hunt Deer – Adams County / Learn to Hunt | Adams Co. | Sign up | Source |
Adams County questions from hunters
How many bucks were registered in Adams County in 2025?
3,066 antlered deer.
Has chronic wasting disease turned up in Adams County?
Yes: 200 CWD-positive wild deer on record since 1999.
Can I feed deer in my yard in Adams County?
No; feeding deer is banned along with baiting.
How many bear permits are there for Adams County?
Zone C drew 4,465 permits for 2026 against a harvest target of 875.
When is spring turkey season in Adams County?
Youth hunt Apr 17 to Apr 18, 2027, then Periods A to F from Apr 21 to Jun 1, 2027.
Is there a county forest in Adams County?
Yes, 140 acres as of the DNR 2021 report.
What is the deadline to register a deer in Adams County?
5 p.m. the day after you recover it; the confirmation number starts with W.
Do bowhunters wear orange in Adams County?
Yes, whenever a firearm deer season is open.
Which venison processors are nearest Adams County?
Ron's Meat Processing, Wisconsin River Meats and Scott's Custom Butchering, in order of distance.
When does deer season end in Adams County?
Jan 31, 2027 for archery and crossbow.
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.
Double-check before Adams County
The DNR can change quotas, bonus sales and bans between seasons. The regulations booklet is the legal reference.
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: wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0); tuchodi (CC BY 2.0); Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA (CC BY 2.0); Anne Marie Peterson from Madison, WI, US (CC BY-SA 2.0); royal_broil (CC BY-SA 2.0); Yellowstone National Park (Public Domain Mark 1.0); ilouque (CC BY 2.0); James St. John (CC BY 2.0).