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Wisconsin migratory birds
Goose Hunting in Wisconsin
Goose season opens statewide with the early Canada goose hunt, Sep 1 to Sep 15, 2026, five Canada geese a day; the regular season follows in three zones. Goose season rows, bags, equipment rules and mapped land below.
Photo: Birding for Climate (Public domain)
The Northern Zone runs straight from Sep 16 to Dec 16, 2026; the Southern Zone has three splits ending with a holiday portion, Dec 19 to Jan 2, 2027, when the Canada goose bag rises to five; the Mississippi River Zone runs Oct 3 to Oct 11, 2026 and Oct 17 to Jan 5, 2027. Regular season bags are three Canada geese, 20 white geese (snow, blue and Ross's), one brant and one greater white-fronted goose a day. The DNR survey estimate for 2025 is 35,133 Canada geese in the early season and 124,482 in the regular season; the method changed in 2025, so it does not compare with older figures.
Goose in brief
- Dates and methods: Early Sept. 1-15; North Sept. 16-Dec. 16; South three splits to Jan. 2; Mississippi Oct. 3-Jan. 5.
- Limit: Early 5 Canada/20 white; regular 3 Canada (5 in Southern holiday portion), 20 white, 1 brant, 1 white-front.
- More: Early and regular goose permits ($3 each).
DNR regulations page, checked October 19, 2026.
GearHeading out for duck and goose season? Duck and goose gear checklist →
Wisconsin goose season dates, 2026-27
Geese: 7 segments this license year, each day count taking in the first and last day.
| Season | Area | Method | Begins | Ends | Days | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular goose (geese) | Northern Goose Zone | Shotgun (non-toxic), bow, crossbow, falconry | Sep 16, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | 92 | |
| Regular goose (split 1) (geese) | Southern Goose Zone | Shotgun (non-toxic), bow, crossbow, falconry | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | 26 | |
| Regular goose (split 1) (geese) | Mississippi River Zone | Shotgun (non-toxic), bow, crossbow, falconry | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | 9 | |
| Regular goose (split 2) (geese) | Southern Goose Zone | Shotgun (non-toxic), bow, crossbow, falconry | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | 51 | |
| Regular goose (split 2) (geese) | Mississippi River Zone | Shotgun (non-toxic), bow, crossbow, falconry | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 5, 2027 | 81 | |
| Regular goose (holiday split) (geese) | Southern Goose Zone | Shotgun (non-toxic), bow, crossbow, falconry | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 2, 2027 | 15 | |
| Early Canada goose | Statewide | Shotgun (non-toxic), bow, crossbow, falconry | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | 15 | |
| Falconry | By goose zone | Falconry | By zone |
Notes printed with the goose rows
- 3 Canada geese, 20 white geese, 1 brant, 1 greater white-fronted goose daily; regular goose permit required for Canada geese.
- 5 Canada geese daily during the holiday portion.
- Daily bag 5 Canada geese, 20 snow/blue/Ross's; early goose permit required.
- Same as the regular goose season dates for the zone.
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations and the season dates page, checked October 19, 2026.
Bag and license rules for geese
The limits a warden checks for geese, and the licenses that make them legal.
Canada goose (early season)
5 Canada geese, 20 snow, blue or Ross's geese daily.
Geese (regular season)
3 Canada geese daily (Southern Zone holiday portion Dec. 19-Jan. 2: 5); 20 white geese (snow/blue and Ross's); 1 brant; 1 greater white-fronted goose.
Migratory game birds (possession rule)
Possession limit 3 times the daily bag; no more than the daily bag while in transit between harvest site and abode.
Licenses for geese
| Item | Wisconsin resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Small game license | $18.00 | $90.00 |
| HIP certification | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Wisconsin waterfowl stamp | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Federal duck stamp | Federal stamp price | Federal stamp price |
| Early goose permit | $3.00 | $3.00 |
| Regular goose permit | $3.00 | $3.00 |
DNR regulations, Go Wild resident list and nonresident list, checked October 19, 2026. Wisconsin hunting license guide.
Wisconsin goose zones and units
Pick the zone first, then read its splits.
Northern Goose Zone
39 counties wholly or partly
Southern Goose Zone
43 counties wholly or partly
Mississippi River Zone
Contains no whole counties; runs from Grant County north to Pierce County and includes areas west of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks to the state line.
Early Canada goose season (Sept. 1-15) is statewide. Northern and Southern zones are divided by U.S. Highways 10 and 41.
Canada goose hunting zones, checked October 19, 2026.
DNR goose harvest data
Goose numbers come from the DNR survey.
Harvest data: Canada goose harvest 2025. Figures as the DNR labels them, checked October 19, 2026.
Wisconsin places for geese
183 public properties list waterfowl, most of them state wildlife areas; the largest is Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
| Public land | Type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest | National Forest | Ashland, Bayfield, Florence… | 1,526,925 |
| Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge 80,794 ac | National Wildlife Refuge | La Crosse, Grant, Crawford… | 80,794 |
| Black River State Forest | State Forest | Jackson, Clark | 68,861 |
| Meadow Valley Wildlife Area | State Wildlife Area | Juneau, Monroe, Wood… | 58,071 |
| Brule River State Forest | State Forest | Douglas | 47,314 |
| Fort McCoy | Military Installation | Monroe | 45,648 |
| Necedah National Wildlife Refuge | National Wildlife Refuge | Juneau | 45,000 |
| Apostle Islands National Lakeshore | National Lakeshore | Ashland, Bayfield | 42,863 |
| George W. Mead Wildlife Area 32,624 ac | State Wildlife Area | Marathon, Portage, Wood | 32,624 |
| Crex Meadows Wildlife Area | State Wildlife Area | Burnett | 29,800 |
| Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway 20,195 ac | National Scenic Riverway | Burnett, Washburn, Polk… | 20,195 |
| Wood County Wildlife Area | State Wildlife Area | Wood | 19,240 |
| Navarino Wildlife Area | State Wildlife Area | Shawano, Waupaca | 14,518 |
| Hay Creek-Hoffman Lake Wildlife Area 14,489 ac | State Wildlife Area | Iron, Ashland | 14,489 |
| Tiffany Wildlife Area | State Wildlife Area | Buffalo, Pepin | 14,004 |
Further goose options
Fish Lake Wildlife Area · Leopold Wetland Management District · Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program Lands · White River Marsh Wildlife Area · Buena Vista Wildlife Area · Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest · Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area · Glacial Habitat Restoration Areas · Waterloo Wildlife Area · Upper Wolf River Fishery Area · St. Croix Wetland Management District · Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area · Killsnake Wildlife Area · Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge · Eldorado Wildlife Area · Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area · Pine Island Wildlife Area · Kickapoo River Wildlife Area – Wauzeka Unit · Amsterdam Sloughs Wildlife Area · Dike 17 Wildlife Area · Brillion Wildlife Area · Richard Bong State Recreation Area · Dunnville Wildlife Area · Vernon Wildlife Area · Powell Marsh Wildlife Area · Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area · Collins Marsh Wildlife Area · Buckhorn State Park · Princes Point Wildlife Area · Muddy Creek Wildlife Area · French Creek Wildlife Area · Peter Helland Wildlife Area · Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area · Paul J. Olson Wildlife Area · Jefferson Marsh Wildlife Area · Thunder Lake Wildlife Area · Loon Lake Wildlife Area · Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area – La Sage Unit · Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area · Lima Marsh-Storrs Lake Wildlife Area · Brooklyn Wildlife Area · Cylon Wildlife Area · C.D. Besadny Fish and Wildlife Area · New Wood Wildlife Area · Lake Mills Wildlife Area
Properties and their game lists from DNR property pages, the DNR managed lands layer and federal managers, retrieved 2026-10-19. Wisconsin public land directory · County guides.
Wisconsin rules for geese: registration, hours, orange
These cards cover what happens before and after the shot for geese.
Report your harvest
There is no registration for geese. HIP certification, free with the license, is what the DNR requires.
Legal light
Wisconsin times geese with its migratory bird table: open 30 minutes before sunrise, closed at sunset.
Blaze orange and pink
Waterfowl hunters are the one group exempt from Wisconsin's blaze orange rule, so geese may be hunted in camouflage even during the gun deer season.
Feed and bait
Bait rules for geese are the migratory bird rules: no bait, and 10 days after removal before an area is legal again.
Sunday hunting
Geese may be hunted on Sundays in Wisconsin.
Goose permits
An early goose permit ($3.00) and a regular goose permit ($3.00) are bought, not drawn; each covers Canada geese for its season.
Mississippi River Zone
Contains no whole counties; runs from Grant County north to Pierce County and includes areas west of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks to the state line.
Horicon
No Horicon zone appears in the 2026-27 regulations or the DNR goose zone description.
First and last light, goose season
| Date | Day | Northern Area, Zone A | Southern Area, Zone A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 16, 2026 | Regular goose closes | 6:55 a.m. to 4:07 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. |
| Dec 19, 2026 | Regular goose (holiday split) opens | 6:57 a.m. to 4:08 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 4:16 p.m. |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Regular goose (split 2) closes | 6:46 a.m. to 4:06 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 4:14 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Regular goose (holiday split) closes | 7:01 a.m. to 4:18 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:25 p.m. |
| Jan 5, 2027 | Regular goose (split 2) closes | 7:01 a.m. to 4:21 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:28 p.m. |
| Oct 11, 2026 | Regular goose (split 1) closes | 6:31 a.m. to 6:11 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 6:14 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Regular goose (split 2) opens | 6:39 a.m. to 6:01 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 6:04 p.m. |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Regular goose (split 1) opens | 6:21 a.m. to 6:26 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:28 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Early Canada goose opens | 5:41 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. | 5:45 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. |
| Sep 16, 2026 | Regular goose opens | 6:00 a.m. to 6:59 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 6:59 p.m. |
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations: registration, blaze orange, baiting, shooting hours tables, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours by county · Wisconsin hunting laws.
Goose weapon rules
From the weapons and methods pages of the regulations, the rows that apply to geese.
| Season | Permitted | Not permitted |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Rules on how geese are taken in Wisconsin
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.
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.
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.
Wisconsin hunting regulations weapons and methods pages, Wis. Stat. ch. 29 and NR 10, checked October 19, 2026.
Goose: questions from hunters
Do I need a goose permit in Wisconsin?
Yes for Canada geese: the early permit for September and the regular permit after that, $3.00 each. Both are sold in Go Wild.
Is there still a Horicon goose zone?
No Horicon zone appears in the 2026-27 regulations or the DNR goose zone description.
When is the late goose season in southern Wisconsin?
The Southern Zone holiday portion runs Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 2, 2027, five Canada geese a day.
Which public properties in Wisconsin list geese?
Start with Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge and Black River State Forest, the biggest of 183.
What must I buy before going after geese in Wisconsin?
The goose list, resident: Small game license ($18.00); HIP certification ($0.00); Wisconsin waterfowl stamp ($12.00); Early goose permit ($3.00).
When must goose hunters wear blaze orange?
Waterfowl hunters are the one group exempt from Wisconsin's blaze orange rule, so geese may be hunted in camouflage even during the gun deer season.
When does legal shooting time start and end for geese?
Wisconsin times geese with its migratory bird table: open 30 minutes before sunrise, closed at sunset.
How do I report geese in Wisconsin?
There is no registration for geese. HIP certification, free with the license, is what the DNR requires.
Are bait sites allowed for geese?
Bait rules for geese are the migratory bird rules: no bait, and 10 days after removal before an area is legal again.
What may a goose hunter carry afield?
Migratory game birds: Shotgun fired from the shoulder (max 3 shells, plugged), bow, crossbow, falconry; non-toxic shot BB, BBB, T, F or smaller.
Does the goose season run on Sundays in Wisconsin?
Geese may be hunted on Sundays in Wisconsin.
Is the take of geese capped in Wisconsin?
5 Canada geese, 20 snow, blue or Ross's geese daily. 3 Canada geese daily (Southern Zone holiday portion Dec. 19-Jan. 2: 5); 20 white geese (snow/blue and Ross's); 1 brant; 1 greater white-fronted goose.
Which dates are set for geese this license year?
Geese run regular goose Sep 16 to Dec 16, 2026 (Northern Goose Zone); regular goose (split 1) Sep 16 to Oct 11, 2026 (Southern Goose Zone); regular goose (split 1) Oct 3 to Oct 11, 2026 (Mississippi River Zone); regular goose (split 2) Oct 17 to Dec 6, 2026 (Southern Goose Zone); regular goose (split 2) Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 5, 2027 (Mississippi River Zone). More goose rows, zone by zone, appear in the table.
Goose checklist
For geese on public ground, read the property page as well as the statewide rules.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); Reiner Ehlers (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).