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Wisconsin small game and upland birds
Snowshoe Hare Hunting in Wisconsin
Snowshoe hares have no closed season and no bag limit in Wisconsin. Below: every 2026-27 segment, the limits, licenses, zones, harvest, public land and DNR rules for snowshoe hares.
Photo: USDA Forest Service Eastern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
A small game license is still required, and every other small game rule, from shooting hours to blaze orange during deer seasons, still applies. Licensed raccoon and rabbit dog trials and training are the only exception to the spring dog closure in the north. Dogs may not pursue wild animals from May 1 to June 30 north of the highways on the DNR dog-training map.
Hare season summary
- Season shape: Year-round.
- Bag summary: Unlimited.
- Also: Small game license required.
DNR regulations page, checked October 19, 2026.
GearHeading out for small game season? Small game gear checklist →
Snowshoe Hare open days in Wisconsin
The regulations list snowshoe hares without open and close dates.
| Hunt | Zone or area | Weapon or method | Start | End | Days | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snowshoe hare | Statewide | Any legal small game method | All year | Year-round |
Conditions the DNR prints for snowshoe hares
- Year-round open season, unlimited bag; small game license required.
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations and the season dates page, checked October 19, 2026.
What the DNR allows for snowshoe hares
The cards quote the regulations on snowshoe hares; the table below them is what you buy in Go Wild.
Snowshoe hare
Unlimited.
Go Wild products for snowshoe hares
| License or permit | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Small game license | $18.00 | $90.00 |
DNR regulations, Go Wild resident list and nonresident list, checked October 19, 2026. Wisconsin hunting license guide.
Where to hunt snowshoe hares in Wisconsin
For snowshoe hares the list covers properties whose game includes small game; the property page has the final word.
| Name | Land type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest | National Forest | Ashland, Bayfield, Florence… | 1,526,925 |
| Managed Forest Law Open Lands 883,583 ac | Private Forest Land Open to Public | Adams, Ashland, Barron… | 883,583 |
| Douglas County Forest | County Forest | Douglas | 281,853 |
| Marinette County Forest | County Forest | Marinette | 229,978 |
| Bayfield County Forest | County Forest | Bayfield | 175,557 |
| Iron County Forest | County Forest | Iron | 175,343 |
| Washburn County Forest | County Forest | Washburn | 150,196 |
| Clark County Forest | County Forest | Clark | 134,742 |
| Langlade County Forest | County Forest | Langlade | 130,717 |
| Jackson County Forest | County Forest | Jackson | 122,685 |
| Sawyer County Forest | County Forest | Sawyer | 115,196 |
| Burnett County Forest | County Forest | Burnett | 111,516 |
| Lincoln County Forest | County Forest | Lincoln | 100,843 |
| Price County Forest | County Forest | Price | 92,294 |
| Rusk County Forest | County Forest | Rusk | 89,284 |
190 more properties for snowshoe hares
Oneida County Forest · Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge · Black River State Forest · Meadow Valley Wildlife Area · Eau Claire County Forest · Fort McCoy · Necedah National Wildlife Refuge · Oconto County Forest · Apostle Islands National Lakeshore · Vilas County Forest · Ashland County Forest · Wood County Forest · Florence County Forest · Chippewa County Forest · Marathon County Forest · Crex Meadows Wildlife Area · Horicon National Wildlife Refuge · Governor Knowles State Forest · Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway · Juneau County Forest · Taylor County Forest · Polk County Forest · Barron County Forest · Forest County Forest · Hay Creek-Hoffman Lake Wildlife Area · Tiffany Wildlife Area · Fish Lake Wildlife Area · Leopold Wetland Management District · Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program Lands · White River Marsh Wildlife Area · Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest · Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area · Waterloo Wildlife Area · Upper Wolf River Fishery Area · Kickapoo Valley Reserve · St. Croix Wetland Management District · Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area · Monroe County Forest · Killsnake Wildlife Area · Mecan River Fishery Area · Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge · Dewey Marsh Wildlife Area · Pine Island Wildlife Area · Kickapoo River Wildlife Area – Wauzeka Unit · Governor Dodge State Park
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.
Snowshoe Hare field rules
Everything here comes from the 2026-27 regulations and applies statewide unless a property says otherwise.
Registering
Snowshoe hares are not on the GameReg list.
Hunting hours
Shooting time for snowshoe hares comes from the DNR Zone A tables: open 30 minutes before sunrise, close 20 minutes past sunset, then add 0 to 20 minutes by longitude.
Hunter orange
Hunting snowshoe hares while a gun deer season runs means 50% blaze orange or pink above the waist, and on half of any head covering. None of the hare rows overlap a gun deer season.
Baiting
Wisconsin does not allow bait for snowshoe hares or any other small game.
Weekends
Wisconsin has no Sunday hunting restriction, so the hare dates run straight through every weekend.
Dog restriction
Dogs may not hunt or pursue free-roaming wild animals May 1-June 30 north of the highways shown on the DNR map, except raccoon/rabbit dog trials/training under license.
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.
Equipment the DNR allows for snowshoe hares
The DNR lists legal equipment by season and group; these rows cover snowshoe hares.
| Applies to | Legal equipment | Prohibited |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
DNR method rules for snowshoe hares
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.
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.
Trail cameras on DNR land
Allowed where hunting is allowed with owner name/address or customer ID on the outside; no damage.
Wisconsin hunting regulations weapons and methods pages, Wis. Stat. ch. 29 and NR 10, checked October 19, 2026.
Quick answers on Wisconsin snowshoe hares
Is there a season on snowshoe hares in Wisconsin?
Hares are open all year with no limit; you need a small game license.
Can I run dogs on hares in the spring?
Dogs may not hunt or pursue free-roaming wild animals May 1-June 30 north of the highways shown on the DNR map, except raccoon/rabbit dog trials/training under license.
What firearms and bows are allowed for snowshoe hares?
Upland birds and small game: Shotgun (game birds: multi-projectile shells only), rifle/handgun for small game mammals, airgun, bow, crossbow, falconry.
Is there a closed season on snowshoe hares in Wisconsin?
Open all year, with the license and rules on this page.
How is the hare bag set in Wisconsin?
Unlimited.
Do snowshoe hares need a stamp or permit on top of the license?
For snowshoe hares, resident prices: Small game license ($18.00).
How many Wisconsin properties list snowshoe hares as game?
The list has 205; by acreage, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Managed Forest Law Open Lands and Douglas County Forest come first. Many name a broader category, not the species.
Do shooting hours apply to snowshoe hares?
Shooting time for snowshoe hares comes from the DNR Zone A tables: open 30 minutes before sunrise, close 20 minutes past sunset, then add 0 to 20 minutes by longitude.
How does the Wisconsin blaze orange law apply to snowshoe hares?
Hunting snowshoe hares while a gun deer season runs means 50% blaze orange or pink above the waist, and on half of any head covering. None of the hare rows overlap a gun deer season.
Is it legal to bait snowshoe hares in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin does not allow bait for snowshoe hares or any other small game.
Does GameReg cover snowshoe hares?
Snowshoe hares are not on the GameReg list.
Do Wisconsin hare dates include Sundays?
Wisconsin has no Sunday hunting restriction, so the hare dates run straight through every weekend.
Wrapping up snowshoe hares
A state park, refuge, tribal land or Fort McCoy can add its own rules on top of the statewide hare rules here.
Other photos on this page: btrentler (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); ZionNPS (CC BY 2.0); YellowstoneNPS (Public Domain Mark 1.0).