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DNR South Central Region
Dodge County Hunting
A DNR-sourced guide to Dodge County in south-central Wisconsin: 2026-27 seasons, 1 DMU with their quotas, registered deer by year, county and state land, towns and the shops that serve hunters.
Photo: IIP Photo Archive (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Juneau is the seat of Dodge County, a 876 square mile county in the DNR South Central Region. 88,635 people call it home, per the 2024 Census estimate (-0.8% against 2020). Deer management here is Southern Farmland Zone throughout (1 unit). Its nearest DNR service center is DNR Waukesha Service Center in Waukesha, 37 miles from the county centre. Public hunting runs through 17 listed properties; the largest by acreage is Horicon National Wildlife Refuge.
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.
Antlerless quota and bonus tags in Dodge County
The DNR set a combined 2026 antlerless quota of 4,500 for the 1 unit that cover Dodge County; units that cross into other counties count in full. In the Farmland part of Dodge 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge | Southern Farmland | 4,500 | 200 | 2,500 | 200 / 2,500 | 2 |
Holiday deer hunt
A nine-day antlerless-only Holiday Hunt (Dec 24, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027) is part of the Dodge County calendar. Archers keep going after Jan. 3: the extended season runs Jan 4 to Jan 31, 2027.
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.
Dodge County deer numbers since 1960
In 2025, Dodge County hunters registered 2,707 bucks and 2,770 antlerless deer, 5,477 in all. Harvest peaked in 2007 at 6,827; 2015 brought 4,916.
| Season | Buck | Antlerless | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,707 | 2,770 | 5,477 |
| 2024 | 2,741 | 2,497 | 5,238 |
| 2023 | 2,377 | 2,175 | 4,552 |
| 2022 | 2,275 | 2,162 | 4,437 |
| 2021 | 2,039 | 2,084 | 4,123 |
| 2020 | 2,265 | 2,400 | 4,665 |
| 2019 | 1,879 | 2,072 | 3,951 |
| 2018 | 2,067 | 2,122 | 4,189 |
| 2017 | 2,013 | 2,158 | 4,171 |
| 2016 | 2,116 | 2,395 | 4,511 |
2026 season to date, preliminary
| Unit | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge | 205 | 241 | 446 |
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 Dodge County
CWD is present in Dodge County. The DNR has sampled 3,380 wild deer there since 1999 and 25 tested positive. Last CWD year: 215 tested, 8 positive. The baiting and feeding ban covers Dodge County, as it does 59 other counties. All donated deer from the county need a CWD test.
| CWD year | Samples | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 20 | 1 |
| 2025 | 215 | 8 |
| 2024 | 169 | 4 |
| 2023 | 136 | 4 |
| 2022 | 113 | 3 |
| 2021 | 123 | 0 |
| 2020 | 169 | 1 |
| 2019 | 168 | 0 |
| 2018 | 217 | 3 |
| 2017 | 166 | 1 |
| 2016 | 13 | 0 |
| 2015 | 7 | 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 Dodge County
Bears in Dodge County
Bear zone F covers Dodge County; no hounds may be used. The DNR county table shows no bears registered in Dodge 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, Dodge 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 Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area, Shaw Marsh Wildlife Area and Sinnissippi Public Hunting Ground, 5,340 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 Dodge County
Here are all 17 properties with public hunting ground in Dodge County, largest first. 30 acres of open Managed Forest Law land in Dodge County allow hunting on foot by anyone. VPA-HIP (2) and THAP (1) leases open extra private acres in Dodge County.
- State wildlife areas, 5 listedHoricon Marsh Wildlife Area (11,172 acres), Waterloo Wildlife Area (9,306 acres*), Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area (5,758 acres*), Shaw Marsh Wildlife Area (918 acres), Sinnissippi Public Hunting Ground (300 acres)
- 1 national wildlife refugeHoricon National Wildlife Refuge (22,000 acres*)
- State natural areas (4)Chub and Mud Lake Riverine Marsh State Natural Area (1,987 acres), Waterloo Prairie State Natural Area (221 acres*), Waterloo Quartzite Outcrops State Natural Area (47 acres), Chub Lake Oak Savanna State Natural Area (21 acres)
- State habitat area (1 here)Glacial Habitat Restoration Areas (1,774 acres*)
- Waterfowl production areas: 4Trenton Waterfowl Production Area (514 acres), Robbins Shorebird Waterfowl Production Area (132 acres), Stenaas Waterfowl Production Area (85 acres), Pieper Waterfowl Production Area (81 acres)
- 2 state fishery areasBeaver Dam Lake Fishery Area (Remnant) (83 acres), Fox Lake Fishery Area
Multi-county units and DNR groupings that also reach the county: DNR Statewide Habitat Areas (unnamed parcels), DNR Gift Lands, DNR Scattered Wildlife Lands, Leopold Wetland Management District.
Next door: Breakneck Waterfowl Production Area (16 miles, 233 acres), Oakfield Waterfowl Production Area (17 miles, 430 acres).
Statewide land list · MFL hunting rules · VPA-HIP map · THAP program
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.
Dodge 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 Dodge 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 | 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: Dodge | 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.
Dodge County seat, towns and border counties
The 6 towns below have their own page, with the county seat first.
- Juneauseat · 2,699 townspeople · 15,892 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Burnett34,595 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Iron Ridge918 townspeople · 13,354 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Kekoskee880 townspeople · 36,301 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Reeseville761 townspeople · 9,164 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Theresa1,280 townspeople · 21,226 public acres in a 10-mile circle
Dodge County meets 7 in-state counties.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Dodge County shooting time on key dates
At Dodge 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 88.70 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Before you burn in Dodge County
See the Wisconsin county list for Dodge County today.
- Burn permit: 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): Dodge 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).
- 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.
Dodge County: where to shoot
Dodge County holds 9 listed ranges; none appears on the DNR public range map.
archery, 3D archery on file
archery, 3D archery on file
trap, archery, shotgun on file
trap, air gun, shotgun on file
trap, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, shotgun on file
rifle, handgun, shotgun, trap, skeet on file
| Name and kind | Town | Guns and bows | Getting in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell Rod and Gun Club · rod and gun club | Reeseville | Members only | |
| Mayville Gun Club · rod and gun club | Mayville | trap/sporting clays/rifle/handgun/smallbore rimfire/archery/muzzleloader/shotgun | Members only |
| Midwestern Shooters Supply · indoor range | Lomira | handgun/smallbore rimfire/archery | Access not stated |
The closest DNR-map range is Milford Hills Hunt Club, 21 miles off in Jefferson County.
County shoot dates
| Date, shoot | Format | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 28, 2026: Fall League will run from -. at Beaver Dam Conservationists | Club match | Listing |
| Apr 30-May 1, 2027: Beaver Dam Gun and Outdoors Show | Gun show | Listing |
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
Dodge County: processing, mounts and gear
Where Dodge 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.
Dodge County on the Wisconsin events calendar
Retrieved October 19, 2026: 1 upcoming event, covering DU dinner.
Next dates
| Held | What | Where | Register | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 2026 | Horicon Marsh (Waupun) Dinner / DU dinner | The Rock Golf Club Waupun Dodge Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
Dodge County, answered
Can I use a feeder for deer in Dodge County?
No. Automatic and gravity feeders are never legal for deer bait in Wisconsin.
How many deer were tested for CWD in Dodge County in 2025?
215 in CWD year 2025, 8 positive.
How many turkey permits does Dodge 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 Dodge County bear tag?
Zone F 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 Dodge County?
Most DNR-owned SNAs are open; 4 are listed here. Check each page for closures.
Which processor should I call first in Dodge County?
Pernat Haase Meats, the nearest listing; call ahead in season.
Do duck hunters in Dodge County need orange?
No. Waterfowl hunters are exempt.
What DMU should I pick for Dodge County on Go Wild?
The unit where you will hunt: Dodge. Farmland tags and bonus tags are unit specific.
Can I shoot a buck during the Holiday Hunt in Dodge 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.
Dodge 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: Dori (CC BY-SA 3.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); NaturesFan1226 (CC BY 3.0); wonder_al (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); chumlee10 (CC BY-SA 2.0); davidwilson1949 (CC BY 2.0); NaturesFan1226 (CC BY 3.0); iculori (CC BY 2.0).