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Northeast Region county guide
Brown County Hunting
Hunting Brown County in 2026-27: the Central Farmland zone rules, every DMU that crosses the county, bonus antlerless availability, CWD and baiting, public land, towns, services and shooting hours.
Photo: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
530 square miles of land make up Brown County, and Green Bay holds the county offices. Roughly 273,909 residents in 2024 works out to near 517 people a square mile. All of it lies in the Central Farmland Zone, divided into 2 deer management units. DNR walk-in help is at the Green Bay service center, 8 miles from the middle of the county. Hunters can choose among 6 public properties here, the biggest being Green Bay West Shores 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.
Brown County deer units, quotas and tags
2,700 antlerless deer is the 2026 quota sum for the 1 DMU on this table, each counted whole. The Farmland unit includes 2 antlerless authorizations 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | Central Farmland | 2,700 | 200 | 750 | 199 / 748 | 2 |
| Brown County Metro Sub-Unit | Central Farmland metro | In parent | 75 | 150 | 75 / 150 | 2 |
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.
City-edge sub-unit
Brown County Metro Sub-Unit: extra days for gun (Nov 21 to Dec 9, 2026) and archery (to Jan 31, 2027). Initial metro bonus supply: 225.
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.
Brown County deer, year by year
Brown County produced 3,627 registered deer in 2025, 40th among the 61 county-named units. Ten seasons earlier, in 2015, the unit registered 3,044 (+19% since).
| Harvest year | Antlered | Antlerless | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,656 | 1,971 | 3,627 |
| 2024 | 1,540 | 1,762 | 3,302 |
| 2023 | 1,471 | 1,485 | 2,956 |
| 2022 | 1,220 | 1,595 | 2,815 |
| 2021 | 1,249 | 1,494 | 2,743 |
| 2020 | 1,289 | 1,792 | 3,081 |
| 2019 | 1,204 | 1,607 | 2,811 |
| 2018 | 1,305 | 1,532 | 2,837 |
| 2017 | 1,310 | 1,630 | 2,940 |
| 2016 | 1,396 | 1,558 | 2,954 |
2026 early-season deer, preliminary
| Unit (as DNR lists it) | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | 82 | 108 | 190 |
| Brown Metro Subunit | 100 | 92 | 192 |
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, Brown County
The DNR CWD summary shows zero positives for Brown County after 968 samples. Brown County has no baiting ban. Where bait is legal, the cap is 2 gallons per 40 acres (or per parcel under 40 acres). Deer donated from here need no CWD test.
| Year | Sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 6 | 0 |
| 2025 | 70 | 0 |
| 2024 | 54 | 0 |
| 2023 | 82 | 0 |
| 2022 | 126 | 0 |
| 2021 | 119 | 0 |
| 2020 | 163 | 0 |
| 2019 | 36 | 0 |
| 2018 | 13 | 0 |
| 2017 | 12 | 0 |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 |
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.
Brown County bear, turkey and upland zones
Bear numbers
For bears, Brown County is zone F. Hounds are not permitted. Brown County does not appear in the 2024 or 2025 bear county tables.
| Zone | Target 2026 | Permits | Fewest points | Applicants | 2025 harvest | Hounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone F | 50 | 764 | 1 | 764 | 27 | No |
Turkeys in Brown County
Zone 2 sets the turkey authorizations in Brown County; 2025 is the most recent year with published levels. Spring 2025 brought 51,056 authorizations to zone 2.
| Turkey zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Success rate | Harvest 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2 | 51,022 | 51,028 | 51,030 | 51,065 | 51,056 | 22% | 11,024 |
Zones for birds and rabbits
Zone A grouse dates: Sep 12, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. Look for stocked roosters at Holland Wildlife Area; the 2026 plan totals 120 birds. Out on the big lake, the Open Water zone begins 500 feet off the mainland shore.
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 Brown County map
6 listed properties reach into Brown County; acres for properties that cross a county line are the whole property. The 2026 MFL report lists 158 acres open to public hunting in Brown County.
- State wildlife areas: 3Green Bay West Shores Wildlife Area (10,031 ac*), Holland Wildlife Area (536 ac), Suamico River State Habitat Area (12 ac)
- State trail: 1Mountain-Bay State Trail (1,070 ac*)
- State natural areas in the county (2)Holland Red Maple Swamp State Natural Area (206 ac), Red Banks Alvar State Natural Area (115 ac)
Multi-county properties here: DNR Statewide Habitat Areas (unnamed parcels), DNR Statewide Wildlife Habitat Program Lands, DNR Stream Bank Protection Program Lands.
Over the county line: Little Suamico State Habitat Area (17 miles, 11 ac), C.D. Besadny Fish and Wildlife Area (18 miles, 2,749 ac), Charles Pond State Natural Area (20 miles, 94 ac), Brillion Wildlife Area (23 miles, 4,898 ac), Two Creeks Waterfowl Production Area (24 miles, 136 ac).
Skip Heritage Hill State Park and Lost Dauphin State Park; DNR lists no hunting there.
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 Brown County
Brown County sits in the Central Farmland deer zone. These 46 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 | Metro sub-unit gun | Metro sub-unit: Green Bay | 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: Brown | 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 A | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| 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 | Northern cottontail zone | 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 | Northern Duck Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 1) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck | Open Water Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 15, 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 | Northern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Dec 16, 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.
Brown County towns, plus bordering counties
Towns for Brown County hunters, starting with the courthouse town.
- Green Bayseat of county · 106,311 people · 1,849 mapped public acres nearby
- Howard21,961 people · 2,028 mapped public acres nearby
Brown County touches 7 other Wisconsin counties.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Brown 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 | 5:55 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:39 a.m. to 6:21 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 6:24 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:00 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:28 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:40 a.m. to 4:28 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 6:59 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:01 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:46 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 A offset of 0 minutes for longitude 88.00 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Can you burn in Brown County?
Today's Brown 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): Brown County is 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).
- Public land fires: DNR-managed lands (NR 45.07): no fire on the ground and no burning refuse except in designated fireplaces or fire rings.
Brown County: where to shoot
Inside the county line: 7 ranges, from rod and gun clubs to public map ranges and archery lanes.
rifle, trap, skeet, shotgun on file
trap, skeet, sporting clays, shotgun on file
archery, 3D archery on file
archery, 3D archery on file
archery, 3D archery, rifle, trap, handgun on file
| Range | Location | Firearms and archery | Access rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunters Park Game Farm & Sporting Clays · sporting clays course | Brillion | sporting clays/5-stand/shotgun/trap/skeet | Access not stated |
Upcoming in Brown County
| Date and match | Category | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026: Outdoorsman Gun Show | Gun show | Full details |
| Jan 22-23, 2027: 4rd Annual St. John the Baptist Archery Tournament | NASP | Full details |
| Feb 12-13, 2027: De Pere Redbirds Hunters Edge | NASP | Full details |
| Feb 20, 2027: 10th Annual West De Pere Phantoms Top Knock Tournament | NASP | Full details |
| Mar 6, 2027: Denmark Vikings Archery Tournament | NASP | Full details |
| Mar 7, 2027: Fort Oneida Muzzle Loaders Annual Gun Show | Gun show | Full details |
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
Brown 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.
Brown County, dinners, hunts and trials
On file here: 1 upcoming event (NWTF banquet).
Dates ahead
| When | Event | Location | Tickets or entry | Posted at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 2027 | Pulaski Area Turkey Chasers NWTF Banquet / NWTF banquet | Pulaski Brown Co. | Event details | Source |
Brown County: short answers
How do I register a turkey from Brown 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 Brown County?
Green Bay West Shores Wildlife Area, 10,031 acres.
Do I register geese shot in Brown County?
No. Wisconsin has had no state goose registration since 2017; HIP certification is required.
Do I need blaze orange in Brown 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 Brown County?
Yes, try Hujet Custom Butchering, Haen Meat Packing/The Meat Block and Marchant's Meats & Sausage first.
Is there a Holiday Hunt in Brown County?
Yes, Dec 24, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027, antlerless only.
Which deer management units cover Brown County?
Brown and Brown County Metro Sub-Unit, per the DNR county-to-unit list.
Are bonus antlerless tags left for Brown County?
Brown: 199 public, 748 private and Brown County Metro Sub-Unit: 75 public, 150 private as of Oct. 19, 2026.
How many deer were registered in Brown County in 2025?
3,627: 1,656 bucks and 1,971 antlerless.
What happens if my Brown 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 Brown 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); Tom Shockey (CC BY 2.0); Anne Marie Peterson from Madison, WI, US (CC BY-SA 2.0); Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA (CC BY 2.0); greenebriar (Public domain); Susan Young (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Chris Bowman (CC BY 2.0); Joe K Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0).