Wisconsin Hunting Laws

White-tailed deer, Black bear, Elk (limited draw), Wild turkey.

Deer, bear and elk require bullets/arrows/bolts of expanding single-projectile design; turkey is hunted with shot shells, bows or crossbows.

Upland game birds and small game

Ring-necked pheasant, Ruffed grouse, Bobwhite quail, Gray (Hungarian) partridge, Sharp-tailed grouse (no 2026 season), Crow, Gray squirrel, Fox squirrel, Cottontail rabbit, Snowshoe hare.

Small game license; pheasant stamp for pheasant.

Migratory game birds

Ducks and mergansers, Canada goose, Snow, blue and Ross's geese, Brant, Greater white-fronted goose, American coot, Common gallinule, Virginia rail, Sora, Wilson's snipe, American woodcock, Mourning dove.

Federal frameworks; HIP required; non-toxic shot for waterfowl, snipe, rails, coot, gallinule.

Furbearers (hunting)

Raccoon, Red fox, Gray fox, Coyote, Bobcat (permit).

Fisher, otter, beaver, mink and muskrat are trapping-only species (trapping regulations).

Unprotected species

Opossum, Porcupine, Skunk, Weasel, Woodchuck, Chukar partridge, Coturnix quail, English (house) sparrow, Eurasian collared dove, European starling, Any wild animal not specified in NR 10.

No closed season, bag or possession limit; hunting or trapping license required; pigeons and feral hogs are not regulated as wild animals by DNR. Eurasian collared dove is listed in NR 10.04 (not in the pamphlet list).

Protected in Wisconsin: no season, no shot

9 listings from the regulations and NR 10.02. The pamphlet and the code word the list a little differently, so both are shown.

Cougar, badger, jackrabbit, moose, flying squirrel, wolf

Hunting prohibited (regulations list).

Cougar, Canada lynx, badger, moose, wolverine, flying squirrel

Protected wild animals under NR 10.02(1) (as amended eff. Nov. 1, 2025); also endangered/threatened species in NR 27, albino/white deer, all wild birds without a season, timber rattlesnake (except emergencies), gophersnakes, central ratsnakes, racers, Blanding's turtles, and any animal with a closed season or limit.

Gray wolf

Federally endangered since Feb. 10, 2022; no hunting/trapping; may not be shot except for an immediate threat to human safety.

Albino and all-white deer

May not be harvested or possessed without written DNR authorization.

Bear cubs and adult bears with cubs; bears in dens

Illegal to kill a cub or any bear accompanied by cubs; no hunting/molesting bears in dens; no hunting bears at dumps/landfills.

Spruce grouse

State-threatened; no harvest.

Grackles, red-winged blackbirds, cowbirds

Protected; may be killed only on private land when causing damage or a health nuisance (non-toxic shot).

Sandhill crane

No hunting season (all wild birds protected unless a season is prescribed).

Canada lynx

Federally threatened; distinguish from bobcat by all-black tail tip.

Spruce grouse (state-threatened) occur in the northern two tiers of counties; no harvest permitted.

Wisconsin weapons by season

Deer, bear and elk need single expanding projectiles. Turkey hunters use shot, a bow or a crossbow, never a rifle, and nobody under 18 may hunt with a handgun.

Season or topic	Legal	Not legal	Source
General (all hunting)	Rifle, shotgun, handgun (18+), muzzleloader, airgun, bow and arrow, crossbow (min. 100 lb draw), falconry.	Fully automatic weapons; shotguns larger than 10 gauge for migratory birds; tracer/incendiary/explosive/poison projectiles; shot larger than T (buckshot allowed for furbearers, F for migratory birds); laser sights (except Class C permit); suppressors without federal license; aircraft/drones; felons may not possess firearms.	source
Archery and crossbow deer season	Bow and arrow under archery license; crossbow under crossbow license (upgrade for both); broadhead arrows/bolts of expanding design.	Crossbow on an archery license or bow on a crossbow license without the upgrade.	source
Gun deer, metro gun, youth/disabled, antlerless-only and Holiday hunts	Any legal firearm or airgun with single-projectile expanding bullets; bows and crossbows may be used under a gun license during firearm seasons.	Non-expanding or multiple-projectile loads for deer; rifles under 26 in. overall/16 in. barrel or shotguns under 26 in./18 in. barrel without federal license.	source
Muzzleloader-only deer season	Muzzleloaders firing a projectile loaded only from the muzzle.	Black powder revolvers (cylinder-loaded).	source
Bear	Firearms, bows, crossbows with expanding single projectiles; bait (all zones) and dogs (A, B, D only, max 6 per pack, tattooed or collared).	Dogs in Zones C, E, F; hunting in dens or dumps.	source
Elk	Any weapon legal for deer: vertical bows, crossbows, muzzleloaders, centerfire handguns and rifles.	Baiting; group hunting (only the licensee may shoot).	source
Wild turkey	Shotgun or muzzle-loading shotgun with multi-projectile shot shells, bow and arrow, crossbow; non-toxic shot on NWRs and WPAs.	Rifles/handguns; recorded or electronic calls (exceptions for certain disabled and deaf hunters); live or electronic decoys; dogs in spring; bait.	source
Migratory game birds	Shotgun fired from the shoulder (max 3 shells, plugged), bow, crossbow, falconry; non-toxic shot BB, BBB, T, F or smaller.	Lead/toxic shot for ducks, geese, snipe, rails, coot, gallinule (and dove on DNR land); rifles, handguns, traps, nets; sink boxes; moving motorboats; electronic calls; live decoys; more than 200 ft decoy spread from cover; bait.	source
Upland birds and small game	Shotgun (game birds: multi-projectile shells only), rifle/handgun for small game mammals, airgun, bow, crossbow, falconry.	Single projectiles for game birds; lead shot on WPAs; baiting small game.	source
Furbearers (hunting) and unprotected species	Firearms (buckshot allowed), airguns, bows, crossbows; lights at point of kill on foot for coyote, fox, raccoon and unprotected species.	Shining while possessing a weapon; night hunting for bobcat; baiting coyote or bobcat.	source
Firearm deer seasons (handguns)	Handguns for hunters 18 and older (concealed carry requires license).	Handguns (including muzzleloading handguns) for hunters under 18.	source

Blaze orange or fluorescent pink

Wisconsin counts fluorescent pink the same as blaze orange. Bowhunters wear it too whenever a firearm deer season is open.

When and where a firearm deer season is in progress, it is illegal to hunt any game except waterfowl unless at least 50% of outer clothing above the waist is blaze orange or fluorescent pink; any head covering worn must be at least 50% blaze orange or fluorescent pink. Camo-blaze is legal if 50%+ orange/pink; DNR recommends 100% solid.

Required during

All hunting (except waterfowl) during any open firearm deer season (youth/disabled hunt Oct. 10-11, gun Nov. 21-29, metro gun to Dec. 9, muzzleloader Nov. 30-Dec. 9, antlerless-only Dec. 10-13, Holiday Hunt Dec. 24-Jan. 1 where open)
Archery and crossbow deer hunters during any open firearm deer season
Elk hunters only during an active statewide firearm season

Exempt

Waterfowl hunters
Legal night hunting (e.g., raccoon) from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise
Unprotected species hunters 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise

Ground blinds on DNR land

On DNR-managed land, ground blinds used during any open firearm deer season or special deer hunt must display at least 144 sq in of solid blaze orange or fluorescent pink visible from all directions (waterfowl blinds and blinds built entirely of dead on-site vegetation exempt).

Sources: blaze orange; DNR land rules, confirmed October 19, 2026.

The 24 Wisconsin method and conduct rules, by topic

Grouped by topic. Each card is the rule in short form, linked to the regulations page or statute it came from.

Firearms, vehicles and roads

Firearm transport

Firearms (except handguns) unloaded inside any vehicle and on moving vehicles; may be loaded on (not inside) a stationary vehicle; crossbows uncocked/unloaded in or on moving vehicles; all firearms/bows/crossbows unloaded in a motorboat with motor running. Shooting from an unhitched wagon allowed.

Shooting from vehicles

No loading (except handguns) or discharging firearms/airguns from vehicles except Class A/B disabled permit holders.

Roads

No hunting within 50 ft of a roadway's center; no shooting from or across a highway or within 50 ft of center (exceptions for disabled permits and small game/turkey with fine shot from dirt/gravel roads).

Buildings

No firearm discharge within 100 yards of an occupied building on land not owned by the hunter (including public lands/waters) without permission of the owner/occupant (airguns excluded).

Lights, drones and electronics

Shining

No shining wild animals while possessing a weapon; no shining 10 p.m.-7 a.m. Sept. 15-Dec. 31 regardless; local ordinances may add limits.

Drones/aircraft

Illegal to hunt with the aid of aircraft including drones (penalty Wis. Stat. 29.971(7)).

Electronic calls and decoys

No recorded/electronic calls for turkey or migratory birds; no live/electronic turkey decoys; waterfowl decoys not more than 200 ft from cover, not out more than 1 hour before or 20 minutes after shooting hours, not unattended in water.

Bait, dogs and group hunting

Deer baiting and feeding

Banned in 60 counties (Oct. 2026); elsewhere 2 gallons per 40 acres with placement/timing/content rules.

Bear baiting

April 15 to end of season, 10 gallons max, enclosed and covered with natural material, no animal products except liquid scent and cheese.

Dogs

No dogs for deer or elk; dogs allowed for small game, birds, furbearers, bear, migratory birds, unprotected species and fall turkey; leashed blood-tracking dogs allowed for wounded game if trackers carry no weapon; May 1-June 30 no pursuit north of the mapped highways; dogs on DNR land leashed (8 ft) April 15-July 31 except designated areas.

Bear dog training

July 1-Aug. 31 statewide on public land or private land with permission; also during the A/B/D dog season.

Group deer hunting

Firearm seasons only; party members within sight/voice may fill another member's authorization; not for bow/crossbow; junior antlerless authorizations only by the holder.

Feeding deer statute

Wis. Stat. 29.336: DNR must ban deer feeding in counties with a CWD/TB positive (36 months) or within 10 miles of one (24 months); limited viewing-feeding allowed elsewhere near residences.

Stands, blinds and cameras

Stands and blinds on DNR land

No tree damage (no screw-in steps, no cutting lanes); north of Hwy 64 overnight placement Sept. 1, 2026-Jan. 31, 2027 (max 2 portable devices per hunter per county; state parks 7 days before/after a season); south of Hwy 64 removed daily; ID required on unattended stands; ground blinds 144 sq in orange/pink in firearm deer seasons.

Waterfowl blinds on state property

Not before 7 days prior to the season or left more than 7 days after; must carry owner name, address and customer ID in 1 in. letters to occupy.

Trail cameras on DNR land

Allowed where hunting is allowed with owner name/address or customer ID on the outside; no damage.

MFL/FCL/VPA lands

Stands and blinds removed daily; no tree damage; no vehicles or trail cameras without landowner permission; public-access antlerless authorizations required.

State parks

Hunt only in areas open on the property map; not within 100 yards of designated use areas; firearm/airgun prohibited in bow-only areas; access 6 a.m. (or 1 hr before shooting hours) to 11 p.m.; vehicle sticker required.

After the shot

Taking of game

Kill game immediately and count it; no possessing game of another afield unless accompanied; retrieve all game; no gifting afield; proof (registration number, name/address) to possess another's game.

Migratory bird transport and tagging

Head or one fully feathered wing attached in transit to the permanent abode; birds left with another person tagged with signature, address, number by species and dates; possession 3x daily bag.

Sale of game

Deer heads, skins (not spotted) and antlers (not velvet) may be sold when separated; squirrel tails/skins/skulls; rabbit/hare carcasses and skins in season; furbearer pelts any time; bobcat pelts only with DNR tag and seal; unprotected species parts.

Conduct and land

Interference with hunting

Wis. Stat. 29.083 prohibits interfering with lawful hunting, fishing or trapping (harassing animals, obstructing hunters, disturbing stands, blinds or bait).

Tribal and federal land

Tribal permission needed on tribal land; federal refuges, WPAs, national forests and NPS units have additional rules; Fort McCoy requires its own permits.

Blaze orange/pink

Baiting and feeding by county CWD

50% of outer clothing above the waist (and 50% of any head covering) blaze orange or fluorescent pink during firearm deer seasons, all hunters except waterfowl.

Wisconsin baiting, Sundays and GameReg

Deer baiting and feeding are banned in 60 counties under Wis. Stat. 29.336, which ties each ban to a CWD or TB positive. Bear bait is legal statewide from April 15 within the 10-gallon rule.

Topic	Rule
Deer, where allowed	Up to 2 gallons per contiguous parcel under 40 acres, or 2 gallons per 40 acres; baiting sites at least 100 yards apart; no hunting within 100 yards of more than 2 gallons on the same parcel; not within 50 yards of a public trail, road or campsite or 100 yards of a 45+ mph roadway; no feeding sites known to be used by bear or elk.
Deer, timing	No baiting during the closed deer season; bait may be placed from midnight the day before the archery opener and must stop at the close of all deer seasons. Area must be free of unlawful bait 10 consecutive days before hunting.
Deer, what you may use	No animal parts/byproducts (honey, bones, fish, meat, solid fat), no automatic/mechanical/gravity feeders, no bait in or containing processed materials (scents excepted).
Scents	Scents to attract by odor allowed statewide if not accessible for consumption; more than 2 oz removed daily.
Food plots	Hunting over standing crops/food plots legal; establishing food plots on DNR land prohibited.
Bear	Bait April 15 through the last day of the bear season; max 10 gallons per site; enclosed in a hollow log, hole or stump capped with natural material inaccessible to deer; no animal parts/byproducts (liquid scents and cheese allowed), no processed containers (wood bottom allowed), no feeders; not within 50 yards of a trail/road/campsite or 100 yards of a 45+ mph road; minimize chocolate. No license needed to bait bear.
Turkey	Illegal to bait turkeys; hunting over standing crops and food plots legal.
Small game	Illegal to bait any small game (including coyote and bobcat) for hunting.
Elk	Illegal to feed elk or hunt elk over bait.
Migratory birds	Illegal to hunt waterfowl, coots or doves over bait (area baited for 10 days after removal); normal agricultural crops legal; doves may be hunted over manipulated crops/food plots without added grain.

Ban counties: Adams, Barron, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood.

Allowed, with the limits above: Ashland, Bayfield, Brown, Burnett, Door, Douglas, Iron, Kewaunee, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor. Without additional detections the baiting and feeding ban in Washburn County will expire on Nov. 9, 2026; no other county is scheduled to have a ban removed during the 2026 deer seasons.

Sunday hunting

No Sunday hunting restriction appears in the 2026-27 Wisconsin Hunting Regulations or in Wis. Stat. ch. 29 / NR 10 as read; seasons run on consecutive days including Sundays (e.g., the Youth Deer Hunt is Saturday-Sunday Oct. 10-11, 2026). No Sunday statute is cited because none was found.

Registration

Register through GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after recovery (online gamereg.wi.gov, phone 1-844-426-3734, or in-person stations with a phone/computer). 10-character confirmation number beginning with "W" (format W12-345-6789).

Ban counties were read from the DNR baiting and feeding map. Sources: baiting rules; ban map; season structure; Wis. Stat. ch. 29, confirmed October 19, 2026.

The 21 no-discharge counties on state land

In these mostly southern and eastern counties, posted state land is for hunting in season, not for sighting in or plinking; use a range.

No firearm/airgun discharge within posted state-owned lands in these counties (and on state recreation areas, state natural areas and rail-grade state trails) except while hunting in season, at an established range, or training/trialing dogs under license.

Brown, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Winnebago.

Roads

Buildings

No firearm discharge within 100 yards of an occupied building on land not owned by the hunter (including public lands/waters) without permission of the owner/occupant (airguns excluded).

State parks

Sources: state land rules; roads and buildings, confirmed October 19, 2026.

Wisconsin hunting penalties and fines

Most violations are forfeitures up to $1,000. Deer, bear and elk cases carry criminal fines, jail and three- to five-year revocations, and the DNR can sue for the value of each animal.

General hunting violations

Forfeiture of not more than $1,000 for violations relating to hunting, taking, transporting or possessing game (29.971(3)) or with no other penalty (29.971(4)).

Hunting without an approval

Forfeiture up to $1,000 plus a natural resources restitution surcharge equal to the license fee (29.971(2), 29.989).

Deer: closed season, no approval, shining, aircraft, snares, illegal carcass

Fine $1,000-$2,000 and/or up to 6 months jail; mandatory 3-year revocation of all approvals (29.971(11)).

Bear without Class A license or untagged/closed season

First offense $1,000-$2,000 and/or 6 months; subsequent up to $10,000 and/or 9 months; 3-year revocation of hunting approvals (29.971(11m)); den entry harming a bear up to $10,000 and/or 9 months (11p).

Elk without license / untagged / closed season

First offense $1,000-$15,000 and/or 6 months; subsequent up to $20,000 and/or 1 year; 5-year revocation of hunting and trapping approvals; other elk violations forfeiture up to $5,000 (29.971(11g)).

Moose

Unlawfully hunting a moose: forfeiture $1,000-$2,000 and revocation of all hunting approvals for 3-5 years (29.971(3m)).

Aircraft/drone hunting

29.307(1) violation: fine up to $1,000 first, $2,000 subsequent, or 90 days, plus mandatory 3-year revocation (29.971(7)).

Registration and tags

Registration violations and improper carcass tag use: forfeiture up to $1,000 each (29.971(9), (9m)).

Hunter harassment

29.083(2)(a) violation: forfeiture up to $500; repeat within 5 years up to $1,000/90 days, or $10,000/9 months for 3rd+ (29.971(11r)).

Revocation and reckless firearm use

Courts may revoke approvals up to 3 years for any violation; mandatory revocation when reckless/negligent firearm, airgun or bow handling causes death or bodily harm (29.971(12)).

Civil damages (minimum per animal)

DNR may sue for damages: elk $2,000; endangered species $875; moose, fisher, prairie chicken, sandhill crane $262.50; deer, bear, wild turkey, swan $175; bobcat, fox, wolf, beaver, otter $87.50; coyote, raccoon, mink $43.75; grouse, ducks, geese, coot, brant $26.25; pheasant, partridge, quail, rail, snipe, woodcock $17.50; muskrat, rabbit, squirrel $8.75 (29.977).

Wildlife violator compact surcharge