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West-central Wisconsin
Jackson County Hunting
What the DNR sets for Jackson County: deer zone and units, antlerless quota and Farmland tags, baiting status, bear zone E/C, turkey zone 1/3, plus harvest history and public ground.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The Census measures Jackson County at 988 square miles of land; Black River Falls is the county seat. About 21,027 people lived there in 2024, 0.5% fewer than the 2020 base. DNR zone maps put it at 52% Central Farmland and 48% Central Forest. Licenses and questions go to the DNR La Crosse Service Center (La Crosse), about 43 miles away. The land list holds 40 properties with ground in Jackson County, led by Jackson County Forest at 122,685 acres.
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.
2026-27 deer units for Jackson County
Across the 2 quota units touching Jackson County, the 2026 antlerless quotas add to 5,450 deer (whole units, not just the county share). Each archery, crossbow or gun license that names a Farmland unit here comes with 2 free antlerless authorizations, good only in that unit and on the land type you pick. Forest units (DMU 203) include no free antlerless tags; antlerless hunting there runs on bonus authorizations. Bonus tags: $12 resident, $20 nonresident, first come first served at one per day.
| Unit | Zone | 2026 antlerless quota | Bonus, public | Bonus, private | Left Oct 19 (pub/priv) | Free Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 203 | Central Forest | 450 | 1,125 | 750 | 0 / 268 | — |
| Jackson Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 5,000 | 0 | 1,500 | 0 / 1,481 | 2 |
Dec. 24 hunt
The antlerless-only Holiday Hunt runs Dec 24, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027 in Jackson County (Central Farmland part only); no bucks may be taken with any weapon on those days. Extended archery and crossbow dates: Jan 4 to Jan 31, 2027.
Gun deer opener
The nine-day gun deer season runs Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026, followed by muzzleloader Nov 30 to Dec 9, 2026 and the statewide 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.
Deer harvest in Jackson County
Deer Metrics shows 4,911 deer for the Jackson unit in 2025, 1.4% of the state total of 345,207. Compared with 2015 (5,639 deer), 2025 was -13%, and the record year on file is 2000 (16,254). The county-named unit lost its forest acres to DMU 203 in 2025, so the latest bar is smaller ground.
| Season | Buck | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,333 | 2,578 | 4,911 |
| 2024 | 2,940 | 2,780 | 5,720 |
| 2023 | 2,884 | 2,403 | 5,287 |
| 2022 | 3,230 | 3,020 | 6,250 |
| 2021 | 3,143 | 2,533 | 5,676 |
| 2020 | 3,198 | 3,018 | 6,216 |
| 2019 | 2,710 | 2,406 | 5,116 |
| 2018 | 3,013 | 2,760 | 5,773 |
| 2017 | 3,091 | 2,668 | 5,759 |
| 2016 | 3,032 | 2,454 | 5,486 |
Forest units: 2025 deer
| Unit | Buck | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 203 | 765 | 402 | 1,167 |
Preliminary 2026 registrations
| DNR row | Bucks | Antlerless | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 203 | 41 | 38 | 79 |
| Jackson | 179 | 215 | 394 |
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.
Jackson County chronic wasting disease results
Jackson County is one of the 51 counties with at least one CWD-positive wild deer (4 positives, 3,127 tests to date). 1 of 198 deer sampled in CWD year 2025 tested positive. Baiting deer is illegal in Jackson County, and so is feeding them, under the CWD-related ban. Donated adults need a CWD test.
| Year | Deer sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 19 | 0 |
| 2025 | 198 | 1 |
| 2024 | 213 | 1 |
| 2023 | 225 | 2 |
| 2022 | 204 | 0 |
| 2021 | 186 | 0 |
| 2020 | 163 | 0 |
| 2019 | 183 | 0 |
| 2018 | 219 | 0 |
| 2017 | 155 | 0 |
| 2016 | 108 | 0 |
| 2015 | 11 | 0 |
CWD rules and kiosks · Which counties ban bait
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.
Jackson County: bears, gobblers and birds
Black bear
Black bear hunting here falls under zone E (53%) and C (47%), drawn by preference points, with no dogs. Bear registrations in Jackson County: 47 in 2025, 110 the year before.
| Zone | Target | Drawn 2026 | Points | Applied | 2025 state harvest | Dogs allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone E | 185 | 2,628 | 1 | 2,628 | 128 | No |
| Zone C | 875 | 4,465 | 2 | 7,605 | 661 | No |
| Season | Harvest | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 47 | 25 | 22 |
| 2024 | 110 | 48 | 62 |
Turkey authorizations
The DNR turkey map places Jackson County in zone 1 (83%) and 3 (16%). Levels below are 2025, the latest published. 2025 spring authorization total for zone 1/3: 120,186.
| Turkey zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Success 2025 | Birds 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | 61,121 | 60,523 | 62,058 | 62,329 | 64,574 | 21% | 13,813 |
| Zone 3 | 52,304 | 52,068 | 52,808 | 53,441 | 55,612 | 22% | 12,324 |
Elk zone
Jackson County is elk country in the Central Elk Management Zone; the 2026 season runs one stretch, Oct 17 to Dec 13, 2026, under a quota of 6 bull and 6 antlerless. The 2025 hunt there took 9 elk.
| Group | Quota |
|---|---|
| E (Units 8, 11, 14) | 2 bull, 3 antlerless licenses |
| F (Unit 10) | 2 bull licenses |
| G (Units 9, 12, 13) | 2 bull, 3 antlerless licenses |
Small game and birds
Ruffed grouse Zone A runs Sep 12, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 with a daily bag of 5. 3 properties in Jackson County are on the 2026 pheasant stocking list.
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.
Jackson County public properties with acreage
Jackson County counts 40 public properties open to hunting; posted refuges and closed parcels inside them still apply. Jackson County is one of 30 counties with a county forest, 122,685 acres as of July 2021. MFL open lands, private forests the public may hunt, cover 6,568 acres here. Leased private land adds more: 1 VPA-HIP property and 5 THAP turkey leases in Jackson County.
- County forest (1 here)Jackson County Forest (122,685 ac)
- State forest in the county (1)Black River State Forest (68,861 ac*)
- State wildlife areas (6 here)Meadow Valley Wildlife Area (58,071 ac*), Dike 17 Wildlife Area (5,000 ac), North Bend Bottoms Wildlife Area (1,684 ac*), South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area (1,107 ac), Morgan Marsh Wildlife Area (192 ac), West Taylor Wildlife Area (178 ac)
- State natural areas: 19Komensky Barrens State Natural Area (1,831 ac), Upper Black River State Natural Area (1,533 ac), Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area (1,052 ac), Washburn Marsh State Natural Area (604 ac), Black River Savanna State Natural Area (566 ac), East Fork of the Black River State Natural Area (513 ac*), Jay Creek Pine Forest State Natural Area (441 ac), Ketchum Creek Pines State Natural Area (424 ac), Wildcat Ridge State Natural Area (379 ac), Half Moon Bottoms State Natural Area (202 ac), Milllston Ridge Barrens State Natural Area (193 ac), Sand Creek Pines State Natural Area (159 ac*), Buffalo River Trail Prairies State Natural Area (153 ac*), Waazija Haci State Natural Area (142 ac), Robinson Creek Pines State Natural Area (126 ac), Bauer-Brockway Barrens State Natural Area (120 ac), Castle Mound Pine Forest State Natural Area (115 ac), Catfish Eddy Terraces State Natural Area (75 ac), North Bend Wet Prairie State Natural Area (33 ac)
- State fishery areas in the county (11)Buffalo River Fishery Area (1,578 ac*), Halls (Stockwell) Creek Fishery Area (814 ac), Northfield Lakes (Beaver Creek) Fish Rearing Station (575 ac), Tank Creek Fishery Area (503 ac), Trump Coulee Fish Rearing Station (424 ac), North Branch Trempealeau River Fishery Area (306 ac), S Branch Trempealeau River Fishery Area (Remnant) (180 ac), Halfmoon Lake Fishery Area (126 ac), Smith Pond Fishery Area (96 ac), Washington Coulee Fishery Area (92 ac*), Albion Fish Rearing Station (63 ac)
- State habitat area (1)Sand Creek (683 ac*)
- State trail (1 here)Buffalo River State Trail (450 ac*)
Larger units with ground here: DNR Statewide Habitat Areas (unnamed parcels), DNR Statewide Wildlife Habitat Program Lands, DNR Scattered Wildlife Lands.
Beyond the line: Arbutus Oaks State Natural Area (9 miles, 214 ac).
Skip Rem-Allen Creek; DNR lists no hunting there.
Every public property · County forest list · About MFL open land · About VPA-HIP · Turkey access leases
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.
Every Jackson County season on one table
Private and public land share these dates. A state park, refuge or Fort McCoy can close sooner, so read the property page before you go.
| Animal | Segment | Scope | Starts | Ends | Open 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: Jackson (Central Farmland) | 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/C | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Elk | Elk (archery, crossbow and firearm) | Central Elk Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 1/3 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 1/3 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 1/3 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 1/3 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 1/3 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 1/3 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 1/3 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 1/3 | 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 | 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.
Towns of Jackson County, then its neighbours
Public acres beside each Jackson County town are a GIS total for a 10-mile circle, not a DNR figure.
- Black River Fallscourthouse town · 3,563 inhabitants · 59,992 public acres within 10 miles
- Hatfield89,996 public acres within 10 miles
- Merrillan549 inhabitants · 64,264 public acres within 10 miles
- Millston115,461 public acres within 10 miles
- Mission101,157 public acres within 10 miles
- Sand Pillow102,555 public acres within 10 miles
Jackson County borders 7 Wisconsin counties.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Hunting hours for Jackson County
Big game and small game hunters get 20 minutes after sunset in Wisconsin, not 30. Waterfowl and spring gobbler hunters quit at sunset.
| When | Event | North | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 90.80 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Before you burn in Jackson County
Jackson County status today: open the Wisconsin county list.
- 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): Jackson County is not on this list.
- Who declares bans: 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.
Jackson County gun ranges and clubs
Jackson County holds 3 listed ranges; none appears on the DNR public range map.
trap, shotgun on file
trap, sporting clays, 5-stand, rifle, handgun on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
The closest DNR-map range is Sherwood Shooting Range, 23 miles off in Clark County.
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
Butchers, mounts and stores near Jackson County
Wisconsin publishes no list of licensed taxidermists or guides, so those rows come from DNR CWD partners and directories.
DNR counters and field offices
Weekday counter hours at DNR service centers run 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Processors nearby
Taxidermy shops
Guides nearby
Sporting goods
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.
Jackson County hunters often ask
Does extended archery apply in Jackson County?
Yes, to Jan 31, 2027.
Is there elk hunting in Jackson County?
Yes, by drawing, in the Central Zone.
Does Jackson County have more than one deer unit?
Yes: DMU 203 and Jackson Central Farmland.
Where do I see the bonus tags left in Jackson County?
On the DNR bonus availability page; this page shows the counts as of Oct. 19, 2026.
What was the best deer year in Jackson County?
2000, with 16,254 deer registered.
Is CWD testing free for deer from Jackson County?
Yes. DNR testing is voluntary and free statewide, at kiosks, cooperating businesses or with a home kit.
Can I hunt over a food plot in Jackson County?
Yes. Standing crops and food plots are legal, but you may not plant one on DNR land.
Can I hunt bears with hounds in Jackson County?
No; hounds are not allowed in this zone.
Can turkeys be hunted in the fall in Jackson County?
Yes: Sep 12, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, using a fall authorization for the zone.
Where should I start on public land in Jackson County?
Try the biggest first: Jackson County Forest, Black River State Forest and Meadow Valley Wildlife Area.
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.
Heading to Jackson County
Every date here is for the 2026-27 Wisconsin seasons; check the DNR site again before the trip.
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: Aaron Volkening (CC BY 2.0); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); Aaron Volkening (CC BY 2.0); Aaron Volkening (CC BY 2.0); Aaron Volkening (CC BY 2.0); aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0); aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0); aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0); aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0).