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Wildlife refuge · South Central region
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge for Wisconsin hunters
A hunter's summary of Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge and Fond du Lac counties: zones and quota, rules, CWD numbers and local help.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Horicon National Wildlife Refuge
Parking, trailheads and gates near Horicon National Wildlife Refuge
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Student & Visitor ParkingParking · 5.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.1 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Horicon NWR: record card
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge: a national wildlife refuge with a hunt program, located in Dodge and Fond du Lac counties. Region on record: the DNR South Central Region. The Fish and Wildlife Service writes the rules on the ground. The 22,000 acres on record put it 3rd of the 7 refuges we list. Base town: Burnett, some 6 miles away.
From the source page (USFWS refuge page ("the 22,000-acre Horicon National Wildlife Refuge")); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Horicon National Wildlife Refuge
Horicon NWR deer unit, quota and game zones
The deer unit is Dodge and Fond du Lac, in the Southern Farmland and Central Farmland zones. The 2026 antlerless quota for those units is 4,500 and 3,500. For black bear this is Zone F, with no hound hunting; 764 permits for 2026. Turkey hunting falls under Zone 2, which had 51,056 spring permits in 2025. The DNR counts Dodge and Fond du Lac counties among its CWD-affected counties. Dodge and Fond du Lac counties sits under the DNR deer baiting and feeding ban.
The deer unit around Horicon NWR
| DMU | Deer zone | Antlerless quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Free tags per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge | Southern Farmland | 4,500 | 200 | 2,500 | 2 |
| Fond du Lac | Central Farmland | 3,500 | 1,158 | 1,486 | 2 |
Bear, turkey and bird zones at Horicon NWR
| Zone | Rule | Numbers | Extra | 2025 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear F | Bait only | 50 target, 764 permits | 1 point | 27 bears in 2025 |
| Wild turkey 2 | 51,056 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 11,024 gobblers | 2,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse zone B | Oct 17–Dec 8 | 2 a day | ||
| Ducks | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Geese | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| Wolf zone 6 | Closed | Federally endangered |
Zones from the DNR zone layers as recorded in lands.json; quotas and bonus tags from the 2026 antlerless quota table; bear figures from the 2026 bear drawing summary and 2025 bear harvest; turkey from the 2025 spring turkey report; CWD and baiting lists from the DNR. Checked October 19, 2026.
Rules on the ground at Horicon NWR
Entry terms for Horicon NWR
Open for deer, bear, turkey, small game and upland birds under state seasons. No waterfowl hunting except the annual mentored Learn to Hunt duck hunt and the state woodcock season. Nontoxic shot required; bear hunting with dogs prohibited; remove all stands, blinds and equipment daily; ground blinds in gun deer season must show 144 sq in of blaze orange/pink. Trapping only by permit through the annual DNR/USFWS trapping auction (Oct. 14, 2026).
Wisconsin rules that follow you to Horicon NWR
During any firearm deer season, everyone hunting except waterfowlers wears blaze orange or fluorescent pink on at least half the clothing above the waist, and on half of any cap. GameReg registration is due by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Horicon NWR: licenses and tags
Go Wild carries every license. For antlerless deer on public ground, use a public-access tag for the right DMU.
Access from the source page; closures from the DNR closed and restricted areas layer; stocking and dove fields from the DNR upland bird layers; rules from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations; prices from Go Wild. Checked October 19, 2026.
Game and bag limits at Horicon NWR
Whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, pheasants, Hungarian partridge, ruffed grouse, woodcock, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes, per the property record.
White-tailed deer
Black bear
Wild turkey
Pheasant
Hungarian partridge
Ruffed grouse
Woodcock
Small game
Furbearers
Other legal game follows the Dodge County season table below.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Every Horicon NWR 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/disabled gun 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 | December antlerless 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 draw | 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 | North of Hwy. 64 | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 1 | South of Hwy. 64 | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 2 | North of Hwy. 64 | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 2 | South of Hwy. 64 | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Unprotected species | Unprotected species | 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.
Horicon NWR described by the Fish and Wildlife Service
Quoted as published; nothing here is our wording.
Northern two-thirds of Horicon Marsh (Dodge and Fond du Lac counties); the southern third is the DNR Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area, where waterfowl hunting is allowed.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Harvest numbers for the country around Horicon NWR
2025 in Dodge County: 2,707 bucks, 2,770 antlerless, 5,477 in all. Range since 2016: 3,951 to 5,477 deer a year. Early 2026 registrations (archery, crossbow, youth hunt): Dodge 446. The DNR sampled 215 deer from Dodge County in 2025; 8 had CWD. 25 positives overall, from 3,380 deer. Figures are for the whole county unit, not Horicon NWR alone; the DNR does not report harvest by property.
Dodge County unit harvest
| Season | Bucks | Does and fawns | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
CWD samples, Dodge County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 20 | 1 |
| 2025 | 215 | 8 |
| 2024 | 169 | 4 |
| 2023 | 136 | 4 |
| 2022 | 113 | 3 |
| 2021 | 123 | 0 |
Deer from DNR Deer Metrics harvest history and the 2026 harvest to date; CWD from the DNR CWD summary; bears from the DNR bear harvest reports. Checked October 19, 2026.
Bed, fuel and a butcher near Horicon NWR
Where to sleep, where to buy shells, where to drop off a deer.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burnett | Dodge | 5.8 mi | — | 34,595 |
| Kekoskee | Dodge | 6.1 mi | 880 | 36,301 |
| Theresa | Dodge | 10 mi | 1,280 | 21,226 |
| Juneau | Dodge | 12 mi | 2,699 | 15,892 |
Season and zone pages by county: Dodge County, Fond du Lac County.
Who processes a deer from Horicon NWR
Where to ask about Horicon NWR
Licenses and questions for Dodge County go through the DNR Waukesha Service Center.
Towns and populations from the Census 2024 estimates; public acres within 10 miles from the land layers; businesses from store locators and listings (license-only agents left out); offices from DNR, USFS and USFWS pages. Checked October 19, 2026. Call ahead.
Horicon NWR and nearby public ground
Horicon NWR at the big pin; the nearest 10 public places around it. Combined, 22,452 acres are on record.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stenaas | WPA | 85 | 4.3 mi | southwest |
| Pieper | WPA | 81 | 4.7 mi | southwest |
| Horicon Marsh | Wildlife area | 11,172 | 5.6 mi | south |
| Breakneck | WPA | 233 | 5.6 mi | northeast |
| Oakfield | WPA | 430 | 6.0 mi | north |
| Trenton | WPA | 514 | 6.5 mi | west |
| Waterfowl Production Area 3 | WPA | 80 | 7.4 mi | north |
| Oakfield Ledge | State natural area | 211 | 7.9 mi | northeast |
| Robbins Shorebird | WPA | 132 | 9.6 mi | west |
| Glacial Habitat Restoration Areas (Fond du Lac, Winnebago County) | Habitat area | 9,514 | 11 mi | northwest |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (FWS National Realty FWSInterest_Simplified_Authoritative (centroid of Wisconsin portion) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Shooting-hour table for Horicon NWR
Two tables cover the state, one for the Northern Area and one for the Southern Area, each for Zone A. West of 88 degrees you add 4 minutes per degree of longitude.
| Date | Why it matters | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, 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 88.65 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge: nearest ranges
The DNR-map range closest to Horicon National Wildlife Refuge is Izaak Walton League/ A.D. Sutherland Chapter (19 miles). Club ranges within 30 miles are included.
rifle, handgun on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
trap, sporting clays, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Before-the-trip answers for Horicon NWR
When does orange apply at Horicon NWR?
Pink counts the same as orange: 50% above the waist in firearm deer seasons.
Does a Horicon NWR deer go into GameReg?
By 5 p.m. the following day, through GameReg; bears also go to a station or online the same way.
What paperwork does Horicon NWR need?
Gun deer ($24), archer ($24) or small game ($18) for residents; nonresident gun deer is $200.
Which public land sits closest to Horicon NWR?
Stenaas Waterfowl Production Area (4 miles), Pieper Waterfowl Production Area (5 miles) and Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area (6 miles), each with a page here.
Is Horicon NWR DNR, county or federal ground?
The Fish and Wildlife Service treats it as a national wildlife refuge with a hunt program.
Is Horicon NWR a big property?
22,000 acres in the source data.
Which town works as a base for Horicon NWR?
Dodge and Fond du Lac counties; Burnett, the nearest town we cover, is 6 miles away.
Which species does the record give for Horicon NWR?
Whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, pheasants, Hungarian partridge, ruffed grouse, woodcock, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes, plus any other season open in the county.
What deer tags work on Horicon NWR?
It is in Dodge and Fond du Lac (Southern Farmland and Central Farmland). This year the antlerless quota is 4,500 and 3,500.
How hard is a bear permit for Horicon NWR?
Zone F; hounds may not be used there.
Which zone do I apply for to hunt turkeys at Horicon NWR?
Zone 2. Success in 2025 was 22%.
Which goose zone is Horicon NWR in?
Ducks follow the Southern zone, Canada geese the Southern zone. Opening day for Southern Zone ducks is Oct 3.
Can I bait deer at Horicon NWR?
No bait or feed in Dodge and Fond du Lac counties. The county list for CWD includes Dodge and Fond du Lac counties.
Signing off on Horicon NWR
Gates, refuges and open areas at Horicon NWR are the manager's call; confirm them before opening day.
Sources for this page: USFWS: hunting · USFWS: horicon · USFWS: trapping · eCFR: section 32.68 · FWS realty layer; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 (Public domain).