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Small game and upland birds · 2026-27
Hungarian Partridge Hunting in Wisconsin
Gray (Hungarian) partridge season runs from 9 a.m. Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, three birds a day. Dates, limits, land and rules for gray partridge, all from the DNR Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations.
Photo: USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0)
Clark, Marathon and Taylor counties are closed to partridge hunting. The season shares opening morning with pheasant, quail and the southern cottontail zone. 4 public properties list Hungarian partridge by name; the rest of the list below is pheasant ground, marked as a broader match.
Hungarian Partridge summary from the DNR
- Legal methods and dates: Oct. 17 (9 a.m.)-Jan. 3; closed in Clark, Marathon and Taylor counties.
- Bag: 3 daily.
DNR regulations page, checked October 19, 2026.
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Hungarian Partridge seasons by zone and method
Each bar is one partridge segment; the table gives the zone, legal method and a live status for every row.
| Segment | Zone | Methods | Opening | Closing | Days | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hungarian partridge | Statewide except Clark, Marathon and Taylor counties (closed) | Shotgun, bow, crossbow, falconry | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | 79 |
Small print on the partridge dates
- Opens 9 a.m. Oct. 17; daily bag 3.
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations and the season dates page, checked October 19, 2026.
Hungarian Partridge bag limits and licenses
These partridge limits are statewide unless a property sets its own rules.
Gray (Hungarian) partridge
3 daily; possession 3x daily.
Hungarian Partridge license costs
| Product | Res. | Nonres. |
|---|---|---|
| Small game license | $18.00 | $90.00 |
DNR regulations, Go Wild resident list and nonresident list, checked October 19, 2026. Wisconsin hunting license guide.
Hungarian Partridge zones in Wisconsin
One statewide season with three counties carved out.
Closed counties: Clark, Marathon, Taylor.
small game regulations, checked October 19, 2026.
Hungarian Partridge ground: harvest leaders and public land
Listed: 136 properties with pheasant on their game list, a broader match for gray partridge.
| Public area | Kind | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle Moraine State Forest | State Forest | Sheboygan, Waukesha, Fond du Lac… | 55,890 |
| Lower Wisconsin State Riverway | State Riverway / Wild River / Scenic Waters Area | Grant, Iowa, Crawford… | 47,603 |
| Horicon National Wildlife Refuge | National Wildlife Refuge | Dodge, Fond du Lac | 22,000 |
| Navarino Wildlife Area | State Wildlife Area | Shawano, Waupaca | 14,518 |
| Leopold Wetland Management District | Wetland Management District | Columbia, Winnebago, Dane… | 13,500 |
| Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program Lands 13,458 ac | Voluntary Public Access Program | Rock, Sauk, Marathon… | 13,458 |
| White River Marsh Wildlife Area 12,692 ac | State Wildlife Area | Green Lake, Marquette | 12,692 |
| Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area | State Wildlife Area | Dodge | 11,172 |
| Glacial Habitat Restoration Areas | State Habitat Area | Fond du Lac, Winnebago | 9,514 |
| Waterloo Wildlife Area | State Wildlife Area | Dodge, Jefferson | 9,306 |
| Kickapoo Valley Reserve | State/Tribal Reserve | Vernon | 8,569 |
| St. Croix Wetland Management District 7,980 ac | Wetland Management District | St. Croix, Polk, Dunn | 7,980 |
| Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area 7,641 ac | State Wildlife Area | Green Lake, Marquette | 7,641 |
| Killsnake Wildlife Area | State Wildlife Area | Calumet, Manitowoc | 7,002 |
| Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge | National Wildlife Refuge | Trempealeau, Buffalo | 6,446 |
Smaller partridge properties
Eldorado Wildlife Area · McMillan Marsh Wildlife Area · Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area · Pine Island Wildlife Area · Kickapoo River Wildlife Area – Wauzeka Unit · Brillion Wildlife Area · Richard Bong State Recreation Area · Yellowstone Wildlife Area · Dunnville Wildlife Area · Vernon Wildlife Area · Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area · Collins Marsh Wildlife Area · Princes Point Wildlife Area · Muddy Creek Wildlife Area · French Creek Wildlife Area · Wildcat Mountain State Park · Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resource Area · Peter Helland Wildlife Area · Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area · Jefferson Marsh Wildlife Area · Loon Lake Wildlife Area · DNR Statewide Wildlife Habitat Program Lands · Lima Marsh-Storrs Lake Wildlife Area · Brooklyn Wildlife Area · Cylon Wildlife Area · C.D. Besadny Fish and Wildlife Area · Lake Mills Wildlife Area · Jackson Marsh Wildlife Area · Goose Lake Wildlife Area · Mud Lake Wildlife Area · Rome Pond Wildlife Area · Tom Lawin Wildlife Area · Mud Lake Wildlife Area · Mullet Creek Wildlife Area · Blackhawk Lake Wildlife Area · Scuppernong River Habitat Area · Albany Wildlife Area · Mack Wildlife Area · Paradise Valley Wildlife Area · Glacial Habitat Restoration Areas · Deansville Wildlife Area · Kickapoo River Wildlife Area – Bell Center Unit · Tichigan Wildlife Area · Paradise Marsh Wildlife Area · New Munster 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.
The DNR rulebook for gray partridge
Before going after gray partridge, check these registration, hour and bait rules.
Registration
Registration rules in the regulations do not name gray partridge.
Shooting hours
The legal day for gray partridge ends 20 minutes after sunset; it starts 30 minutes before sunrise. The first day of the season starts at 9 a.m. sharp.
Orange rule
Pink counts the same as orange. During firearm deer seasons, half of what a partridge hunter wears above the waist must be one or the other. Watch gun deer (9-day) (Nov 21 to Nov 29), metro sub-unit gun (Nov 21 to Dec 9), muzzleloader (Nov 30 to Dec 9), statewide antlerless-only (December 4-day hunt) (Dec 10 to Dec 13) and antlerless-only Holiday Hunt (Dec 24 to Jan 1).
Bait rules
Baiting small game for hunting is illegal in Wisconsin, and the rule names coyote and bobcat; it covers gray partridge as well.
Sundays
No Sunday closure appears in the regulations, statutes or NR 10 for gray partridge.
Hungarian Partridge hours on key days
| Day | Opener or close | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 3, 2027 | Hungarian partridge closes | 7:01 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Hungarian partridge opens | 6:39 a.m. to 6:21 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 6:24 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.
Legal equipment and methods for gray partridge
Allowed and banned equipment for gray partridge, side by side.
| Group | What is legal | What is not |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Method limits on gray partridge
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).
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.
Interference with hunting
Wis. Stat. 29.083 prohibits interfering with lawful hunting, fishing or trapping (harassing animals, obstructing hunters, disturbing stands, blinds or bait).
Wisconsin hunting regulations weapons and methods pages, Wis. Stat. ch. 29 and NR 10, checked October 19, 2026.
Common Wisconsin partridge questions
Where is partridge hunting closed in Wisconsin?
In Clark, Marathon and Taylor counties. The rest of the state is open on the statewide dates.
Does the 50% blaze rule cover gray partridge?
Pink counts the same as orange. During firearm deer seasons, half of what a partridge hunter wears above the waist must be one or the other. Watch gun deer (9-day) (Nov 21 to Nov 29), metro sub-unit gun (Nov 21 to Dec 9), muzzleloader (Nov 30 to Dec 9), statewide antlerless-only (December 4-day hunt) (Dec 10 to Dec 13) and antlerless-only Holiday Hunt (Dec 24 to Jan 1).
May gray partridge be hunted near feed?
Baiting small game for hunting is illegal in Wisconsin, and the rule names coyote and bobcat; it covers gray partridge as well.
Do I have to register gray partridge in Wisconsin?
Registration rules in the regulations do not name gray partridge.
Does Wisconsin close Sunday hunting for gray partridge?
No Sunday closure appears in the regulations, statutes or NR 10 for gray partridge.
Which guns, bows and loads work for gray partridge?
Upland birds and small game: Shotgun (game birds: multi-projectile shells only), rifle/handgun for small game mammals, airgun, bow, crossbow, falconry.
When is the opener for gray partridge under the DNR 2026-27 rules?
The DNR sets gray partridge at hungarian partridge Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027.
How many gray partridge may go in the bag under DNR rules?
3 daily; possession 3x daily.
Which Go Wild licenses cover gray partridge?
Required or relevant, at resident prices: Small game license ($18.00).
Which wildlife areas and forests carry gray partridge?
136 public properties, including Kettle Moraine State Forest, Lower Wisconsin State Riverway and Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. The wider list is matched by a game category.
How long after sunset can gray partridge be taken?
The legal day for gray partridge ends 20 minutes after sunset; it starts 30 minutes before sunrise. The first day of the season starts at 9 a.m. sharp.
Final notes on gray partridge
Before the partridge trip, confirm your license, the property rules and the blaze orange rule for the dates you hunt.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain-Prairie (CC BY 2.0); ilouque (CC BY 2.0); bgautrea (CC BY-SA 2.0); DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0).