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2026-27 · Central Farmland
Shawano County Hunting
Registered deer since 1960, CWD sampling since 2015, bear and turkey figures, wildlife areas and county forest acres, and the season dates that reach Shawano County this fall and next spring.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Shawano County spans 893 square miles in northeast Wisconsin, governed from Shawano. The Census Vintage 2024 estimate is 41,299 residents (+1.0% since 2020). The Central Farmland Zone takes in the entire county, carved into 1 unit. The closest DNR counter is the DNR Green Bay Service Center in Green Bay. Shawano County touches 4 state wildlife areas, 6 state natural areas and 2 other public properties.
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.
Shawano County: units, quotas, Holiday Hunt
Natural Resources Board quotas for 2026 total 12,000 antlerless deer in the units listed here. Farmland hunters get 3 antlerless tags included with each license for this county's Farmland unit, tied to public or private land. Remaining bonus authorizations stay on sale at $12 for residents and $20 for visitors until the unit sells out.
| DMU | Zone | Quota 2026 | Public bonus | Private bonus | Unsold Oct 19 | Farmland tags per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawano | Central Farmland | 12,000 | 1,000 | 5,500 | 984 / 5,490 | 3 |
Holiday season
Shawano County holds the Holiday Hunt, Dec 24, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027, antlerless deer only. The bow and crossbow season stretches to Jan. 31 here (Jan 4 to Jan 31, 2027).
Gun season
Gun deer opens the Saturday before Thanksgiving: Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026. Muzzleloader follows Nov 30 to Dec 9, 2026, then four antlerless-only days 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.
Shawano County registered deer by year
Hunters registered 9,880 deer in the Shawano unit in 2025: 4,879 bucks and 5,001 antlerless. That is 6% below the 2015 figure of 10,486; the best year since 1960 was 2004 at 16,430.
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,879 | 5,001 | 9,880 |
| 2024 | 4,812 | 4,590 | 9,402 |
| 2023 | 4,128 | 4,515 | 8,643 |
| 2022 | 4,642 | 5,698 | 10,340 |
| 2021 | 4,550 | 5,327 | 9,877 |
| 2020 | 4,279 | 6,308 | 10,587 |
| 2019 | 4,162 | 6,137 | 10,299 |
| 2018 | 4,592 | 6,306 | 10,898 |
| 2017 | 4,874 | 6,133 | 11,007 |
| 2016 | 4,748 | 6,560 | 11,308 |
This fall so far (preliminary)
| Unit | Antlered | Antlerless | So far |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shawano | 460 | 468 | 928 |
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.
Shawano County CWD sampling and bait rules
Chronic wasting disease has turned up in Shawano County: 13 positive wild deer out of 4,475 sampled through Oct. 18, 2026. Sampling in CWD year 2025 reached 457 deer, with 6 positives. Hunters in Shawano County may not bait deer; the county is on the DNR ban map. Adult deer given to the program must be tested.
| CWD year | Tested | CWD found |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 53 | 0 |
| 2025 | 457 | 6 |
| 2024 | 351 | 3 |
| 2023 | 336 | 2 |
| 2022 | 350 | 1 |
| 2021 | 369 | 0 |
| 2020 | 373 | 1 |
| 2019 | 281 | 0 |
| 2018 | 247 | 0 |
| 2017 | 228 | 0 |
| 2016 | 33 | 0 |
| 2015 | 12 | 0 |
CWD across Wisconsin · Feeding rules
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.
Other game in Shawano County
Bear zone and harvest
The DNR bear map puts Shawano County in zone C (67%) and F (33%); hounds are prohibited. Shawano County ranked 23rd for bears in 2025 with 64 registered.
| Bear zone | 2026 goal | Winners | Low points | Applicants | Taken 2025 | Hounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone C | 875 | 4,465 | 2 | 7,605 | 661 | No |
| Zone F | 50 | 764 | 1 | 764 | 27 | No |
| Year | Bears | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 64 | 40 | 24 |
| 2024 | 85 | 46 | 39 |
Gobblers
Spring gobbler hunting here uses zone 3 (76%), 2 (21%) and 5 (3%) authorizations, by period A through F. Zone 3/2/5 carried 118,676 spring authorizations in 2025.
| Zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 success | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | 52,304 | 52,068 | 52,808 | 53,441 | 55,612 | 22% | 12,324 |
| Zone 2 | 51,022 | 51,028 | 51,030 | 51,065 | 51,056 | 22% | 11,024 |
| Zone 5 | 11,999 | 12,000 | 11,998 | 12,010 | 12,008 | 20% | 2,446 |
Ducks, geese, grouse, rabbits
Grouse hunters here follow Zone A: Sep 12, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. Public pheasant hunting gets 160 stocked birds in Shawano County this fall, per the DNR plan.
Bear zone map and dates · Turkey zones 1 to 7
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.
Shawano County: state, county and federal land
12 public properties in Shawano County are pinned on the map, with 5 more just over the line. Open MFL acreage in Shawano County: 1,126, per the 2026 DNR report. The DNR leases 1 private property here for public access (1 VPA-HIP, 0 THAP).
- State wildlife areas (4)Navarino Wildlife Area (14,518 acres*), Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resource Area (3,580 acres*), Cowyard Rips State Habitat Area (43 acres), Shawano Lake State Habitat Area (19 acres)
- 6 state natural areasNavarino Cedar Swamp State Natural Area (449 acres), Navarino Sedge Meadow State Natural Area (330 acres), Kroenke Lake State Natural Area (147 acres), Jung Hemlock-Beech Forest State Natural Area (79 acres), Wolf River Bottoms State Natural Area (50 acres), Highway K Woods State Natural Area (32 acres)
- State trail (1)Mountain-Bay State Trail (1,070 acres*)
- State fishery area, 1 listedShawano Lake Fishery Area (118 acres)
Also covering part of the county: DNR Statewide Wildlife Habitat Program Lands, DNR Statewide Fisheries Program Lands, DNR Gift Lands.
Just outside the county: Doty Creek Fishery Area (Remnant) (12 miles, 93 acres), S Br Pigeon River Fishery Area (Remnant) (15 miles, 76 acres), Deer Creek Tamarack Bog State Natural Area (15 miles, 293 acres), Deer Creek Wildlife Area (15 miles, 1,488 acres), Tellock's Hill Woods State Natural Area (17 miles, 52 acres).
Skip North Branch Embarrass River Fishery Area; DNR lists no hunting there.
Public land index · MFL lands · VPA-HIP
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.
Shawano County: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 38 season segments apply to Shawano County.
| Species | Hunt type | Zone or unit | Opening | Closing | 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: Shawano | 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 3/2/5 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 3/2/5 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 3/2/5 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 3/2/5 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 3/2/5 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 3/2/5 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 3/2/5 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 3/2/5 | 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose | Northern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| 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.
Shawano County base towns and next-door counties
Population figures for Shawano County towns are Census 2024 estimates; unincorporated places have none.
- Shawanocounty seat · 9,635 residents · 13,022 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Bonduel1,401 residents · 14,001 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Navarino22,743 acres of public land in 10 miles
Neighbouring Wisconsin counties: 8.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Shawano County first and last legal light
Wisconsin prints its shooting hours as tables. For deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey the day runs from 30 minutes before sunrise to 20 minutes after sunset; migratory birds and spring turkey stop at sunset.
| Date | Season moment | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 88.76 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Before you burn in Shawano County
The Wisconsin burn ban page shows Shawano 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): Shawano 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).
- Warming fires: DNR-managed lands (NR 45.07): no fire on the ground and no burning refuse except in designated fireplaces or fire rings.
Shawano County: where to shoot
Shawano County holds 2 listed ranges; none appears on the DNR public range map.
trap, sporting clays, shotgun on file
trap, shotgun on file
J & H Hunt Club in Outagamie County is the nearest public map range, about 16 miles.
Upcoming in Shawano County
| When, name | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 15-16, 2027: Wittenberg Gun Show | Gun show | Event page |
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
After the shot in Shawano County
Distances are straight-line miles from the middle of Shawano County; call before you drive.
Offices for licenses and questions
Field offices are appointment only; service center counters open 8:30-4 on weekdays.
Getting a deer processed
For a mount
Guides and game farms
Gear shops
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.
Banquets, trials and hunts in Shawano County
On file here: 1 upcoming event (DU dinner).
Coming up
| Date | Event | Where | Sign up | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 12, 2026 | Shawano Area Ducks Unlimited Dinner / DU dinner | The Woodland Supper Club Gresham Shawano Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
Shawano County FAQ
What deer zone is Shawano County in?
The Central Farmland Zone, covered by 1 unit: Shawano.
What late deer seasons does Shawano County have?
Holiday Hunt and extended archery.
How many antlerless deer were taken in Shawano County?
5,001 in 2025, out of 9,880 in all.
What is the 2026 antlerless quota in Shawano County?
12,000 across 1 unit, counting each unit whole.
Can bears be baited in Shawano County?
Bear baiting has its own rules: April 15 to the end of bear season, 10 gallons per site, in a hollow log or stump.
Do I need to test a donated deer from Shawano County?
Yes for adult deer.
How successful are turkey hunters in Shawano County?
Zone 3 spring success was 22% in 2025.
How many bears were taken in Shawano County?
64 in 2025.
Can I register a deer by phone in Shawano County?
Yes: 1-844-426-3734 (844-GAME-REG), by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
What does Shawano County offer in public hunting land?
The land list has 12 properties here and 1,126 open MFL acres.
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.
Shawano County: before the opener
Bonus antlerless tags sell out in some units; buy early on Go Wild.
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); Jim, the Photographer (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); Social Geek (CC BY 2.0); Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren (CC BY 2.0); paparutzi (CC BY 2.0); btrentler (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain-Prairie (CC BY 2.0); Harlequeen (CC BY 2.0).