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Small game and upland birds in Wisconsin
Ring-necked Pheasant Hunting in Wisconsin
Pheasant season opens at 9 a.m. on Oct 17, 2026 and runs to Jan 3, 2027. 2026-27 pheasant dates, limits and public properties in Wisconsin.
Photo: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0)
The bag is one rooster a day on opening weekend and two roosters a day after that, with a possession limit of three times the daily bag. Hens are legal only on 9 hen-and-rooster areas, and 21 wildlife areas close to pheasant hunting at noon on weekdays from opening day through Nov. 3. A pheasant stamp goes with the small game license, and the DNR has cut its stocking goal from 75,000 to 65,000 birds on state land for 2026, with the last birds out on Nov. 19.
Ring-necked Pheasant, the short version
- How and when: Oct. 17 (9 a.m.)-Jan. 3; shotgun, bow, crossbow, falconry.
- Take: 1 rooster daily opening weekend, then 2 roosters; hens on hen-and-rooster areas.
- Worth knowing: Pheasant stamp; about 65,000 stocked birds in 2026 on state properties; noon closures on 21 wildlife areas.
DNR regulations page, checked October 19, 2026.
GearHeading out for small game season? Small game gear checklist →
Every 2026-27 pheasant segment in Wisconsin
From the first pheasant opener to the last close there are 1 segment; the dashed line marks today.
| Segment | Where | Legal method | First day | Last day | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pheasant | Statewide | Shotgun, bow, crossbow, falconry (multi-projectile shot shells) | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | 79 |
What the DNR attaches to the pheasant dates
- Opens 9 a.m. Oct. 17. One rooster daily on opening weekend, two roosters daily thereafter; hen-and-rooster areas allow hens. Pheasant stamp required. Noon weekday closure on 21 listed wildlife areas October-Nov. 3.
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations and the season dates page, checked October 19, 2026.
Wisconsin limits on pheasants
Pheasant bag and possession rules as printed, followed by the Go Wild prices.
Ring-necked pheasant
One rooster daily on opening weekend, two roosters daily thereafter; hen-and-rooster areas: one pheasant (either sex) daily first Sat./Sun., two daily thereafter. Possession 3x daily.
Ring-necked Pheasant licenses and stamps
| Approval | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Small game license | $18.00 | $90.00 |
| Pheasant stamp | $10.00 | $10.00 |
DNR regulations, Go Wild resident list and nonresident list, checked October 19, 2026. Wisconsin hunting license guide.
Ring-necked Pheasant zones, quotas and lines
Noon closures run from the opener to Nov. 3.
Weekday noon properties
- Allenton WA (Washington)
- Brooklyn WA (Dane, Green)
- C.D. "Buzz" Besadny Fish and WA (Kewaunee)
- Dunnville WA (Dunn)
- Eldorado Marsh WA (Fond du Lac)
- Goose Lake WA (Dane)
- Grand River WA (Green Lake, Marquette)
- Holland WA (Brown)
- Horicon Marsh WA (Dodge)
- Jackson Marsh WA (Washington)
- Killsnake WA (Calumet, Manitowoc)
- Mazomanie Unit, Lower Wisconsin State Riverway (Dane)
- Mud Lake WA (Dodge)
- Mud Lake WA (Columbia)
- New Munster WA (Kenosha)
- Nichols Creek WA (Sheboygan)
- Pine Island WA (Columbia, Sauk)
- Theresa WA (Dodge, Washington)
- Tichigan WA (Racine)
- Vernon WA (Waukesha)
- White River WA (Green Lake, Marquette)
Where hens are legal
- Avoca Unit, Lower Wisconsin State Riverway (Iowa)
- Boscobel Unit, Lower Wisconsin State Riverway (Grant)
- C.D. "Buzz" Besadny Fish and WA (Kewaunee)
- Tom Lawin WA (Chippewa)
- Vernon WA (Waukesha)
- Southern Unit/Scuppernong, Kettle Moraine State Forest (Waukesha)
- Kickapoo Valley Reserve (Vernon)
- Richard Bong State Recreation Area
- Sand Creek Fishery Area (Monroe)
Stocking goal reduced from 75,000 to 65,000 birds on state-owned properties (82 properties under the prior goal); stocking ends Nov. 19, 2026 with no late-December stocking. Property-specific stocking via apps.dnr.wi.gov/pheasantstocking and FFLIGHT.
pheasant hunting, checked October 19, 2026.
Mapped public land for pheasants
The map pins the 136 properties that list pheasant; the table starts with the 15 largest.
| Area | Type | 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 |
Ring-necked Pheasant: the remaining 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.
Ring-necked Pheasant field rules from the DNR
Registration, shooting hours, blaze orange, bait and the other DNR rules that apply to pheasants.
After the shot
The DNR registration list (deer, bear, elk, turkey, bobcat, fisher, otter) does not include pheasants.
When to hunt
For pheasants the day opens half an hour before sunrise and closes 20 minutes after sunset, not 30. The opener begins at 9 a.m.
Orange and pink
Blaze orange or pink covering half the clothing above the waist is required for pheasants during every firearm deer season. Those days overlap the pheasant season during 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
The small game baiting ban applies to pheasants.
Sunday rule
Nothing in Wisconsin law closes Sundays to pheasants.
2026 stocking
Stocking goal reduced from 75,000 to 65,000 birds on state-owned properties (82 properties under the prior goal); stocking ends Nov. 19, 2026 with no late-December stocking. Property-specific stocking via apps.dnr.wi.gov/pheasantstocking and FFLIGHT.
Noon weekday closures
Pheasant hours close at noon on weekdays October-Nov. 3 on these properties. Allenton WA (Washington), Brooklyn WA (Dane, Green), C.D. "Buzz" Besadny Fish and WA (Kewaunee), Dunnville WA (Dunn), Eldorado Marsh WA (Fond du Lac), Goose Lake WA (Dane), Grand River WA (Green Lake, Marquette), Holland WA (Brown), Horicon Marsh WA (Dodge), Jackson Marsh WA (Washington), Killsnake WA (Calumet, Manitowoc), Mazomanie Unit, Lower Wisconsin State Riverway (Dane), Mud Lake WA (Dodge), Mud Lake WA (Columbia), New Munster WA (Kenosha), Nichols Creek WA (Sheboygan), Pine Island WA (Columbia, Sauk), Theresa WA (Dodge, Washington), Tichigan WA (Racine), Vernon WA (Waukesha) and White River WA (Green Lake, Marquette).
Hen-and-rooster areas
Avoca Unit, Lower Wisconsin State Riverway (Iowa), Boscobel Unit, Lower Wisconsin State Riverway (Grant), C.D. "Buzz" Besadny Fish and WA (Kewaunee), Tom Lawin WA (Chippewa), Vernon WA (Waukesha), Southern Unit/Scuppernong, Kettle Moraine State Forest (Waukesha), Kickapoo Valley Reserve (Vernon), Richard Bong State Recreation Area and Sand Creek Fishery Area (Monroe).
Ring-necked Pheasant shooting times
| Date | What happens | Northern table | Southern table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 3, 2027 | Pheasant closes | 7:01 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant 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.
Firearms, bows and loads for pheasants
Weapon rules change with the season, so match the row to the pheasant segment you hunt.
| Season | Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Wisconsin methods rules for pheasants
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.
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.
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).
Wisconsin hunting regulations weapons and methods pages, Wis. Stat. ch. 29 and NR 10, checked October 19, 2026.
Ring-necked Pheasant questions and answers
Can I shoot hen pheasants in Wisconsin?
Only on the hen-and-rooster areas: Avoca Unit, Lower Wisconsin State Riverway (Iowa), Boscobel Unit, Lower Wisconsin State Riverway (Grant), C.D. "Buzz" Besadny Fish and WA (Kewaunee), Tom Lawin WA (Chippewa), Vernon WA (Waukesha), Southern Unit/Scuppernong, Kettle Moraine State Forest (Waukesha), Kickapoo Valley Reserve (Vernon), Richard Bong State Recreation Area and Sand Creek Fishery Area (Monroe). Elsewhere the bag is roosters only.
What time does pheasant season open in Wisconsin?
9 a.m. on opening day, Oct 17, 2026. After opening day the normal small game shooting hours apply, except on the noon-closure properties.
Do I need a pheasant stamp?
Yes, along with a small game license. The stamp is $10.00 for residents and nonresidents alike.
Where is public ground for pheasants in Wisconsin?
136 properties, among them Kettle Moraine State Forest, Lower Wisconsin State Riverway and Horicon National Wildlife Refuge.
Which approvals does a pheasant hunter carry?
Resident approvals for pheasants: Small game license ($18.00); Pheasant stamp ($10.00).
Which days call for orange when hunting pheasants?
Blaze orange or pink covering half the clothing above the waist is required for pheasants during every firearm deer season. Those days overlap the pheasant season during 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).
How early may pheasant hunters start shooting?
For pheasants the day opens half an hour before sunrise and closes 20 minutes after sunset, not 30. The opener begins at 9 a.m.
What happens after I take pheasant in Wisconsin?
The DNR registration list (deer, bear, elk, turkey, bobcat, fisher, otter) does not include pheasants.
Can feed be used to hunt pheasants?
The small game baiting ban applies to pheasants.
Can a rifle be used on pheasants in Wisconsin?
Upland birds and small game: Shotgun (game birds: multi-projectile shells only), rifle/handgun for small game mammals, airgun, bow, crossbow, falconry.
Can pheasant hunters go out on a Sunday in Wisconsin?
Nothing in Wisconsin law closes Sundays to pheasants.
Is there a daily or season cap on pheasants?
One rooster daily on opening weekend, two roosters daily thereafter; hen-and-rooster areas: one pheasant (either sex) daily first Sat./Sun., two daily thereafter. Possession 3x daily.
What is the 2026-27 calendar for pheasants in Wisconsin?
Pheasants: pheasant Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027.
Ring-necked Pheasant: final checks
Pair this pheasant guide with the property page for the wildlife area or forest you plan to hunt; closures and refuges are listed there.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); ilouque (CC BY 2.0); btrentler (CC BY 2.0); Cindy Sue Causey (CC BY 2.0).