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DNR regulations 2026-27
Gray and Fox Squirrel Hunting in Wisconsin
Gray and fox squirrel season runs Sep 12, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027, 170 days, opening the same day as archery deer and fall turkey. The whole 2026-27 squirrel year, opener to close, from the DNR tables.
Photo: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0)
The daily bag is five squirrels of either species combined, and possession is three times that. Rifles and handguns are legal for squirrels, along with shotguns, airguns, bows and crossbows. Flying squirrels are protected and may not be taken.
What the regulations say about squirrels
- Methods: Sept. 12-Feb. 28, 2027.
- Bag in short: 5 daily.
DNR regulations page, checked October 19, 2026.
GearHeading out for small game season? Small game gear checklist →
Wisconsin squirrel season dates, 2026-27
The 2026-27 squirrel calendar, 1 row in all, read straight from the DNR season tables.
| Season | Zone | Method | Opens | Closes | Days | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squirrel | Statewide | Any legal small game method | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 170 |
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations and the season dates page, checked October 19, 2026.
Gray and Fox Squirrel limits and license costs for 2026-27
Limits for squirrels in the DNR's own words, then every license, stamp and permit with resident and nonresident prices.
Gray and fox squirrel
5 daily; possession 3x daily.
Small game (possession rule)
Possession limit three times the daily bag limit.
What a squirrel hunter buys
| License | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Small game license | $18.00 | $90.00 |
DNR regulations, Go Wild resident list and nonresident list, checked October 19, 2026. Wisconsin hunting license guide.
Gray and Fox Squirrel hunting areas
Property game lists use broad groups, so these are the 205 properties that list small game; few or none name squirrels by itself. Read each property page before you go.
| Property | Kind | Counties | 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 |
Additional squirrel properties
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.
Gray and Fox Squirrel regulations beyond the bag
Field rules for squirrels, checked against the regulations on October 19, 2026.
GameReg
GameReg registration is not listed for squirrels; it covers deer, bear, elk, turkey, bobcat, fisher and otter.
Hours
Wisconsin gives squirrels the big game and small game window: 30 minutes before sunrise until 20 minutes after sunset.
Wearing orange
Whenever a firearm deer season is open, anyone hunting squirrels must have at least 50% of the outer clothing above the waist, and half of any hat, in blaze orange or fluorescent pink. For squirrels that means youth and disabled gun deer hunt (Oct 10 to Oct 11), 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).
Baiting law
Squirrels may not be hunted over bait; the small game rule allows no exceptions.
Hunting on Sunday
Seasons for squirrels include Sundays; the state sets no weekday limit.
When shooting starts and stops for squirrels
| Day | Season moment | North, Zone A | South, Zone A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 28, 2027 | Squirrel closes | 6:01 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Squirrel opens | 5:55 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 7:26 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 weapons for squirrels in Wisconsin
Legal and prohibited equipment for squirrels, with the method rules beside it.
| Season or group | Legal | Not legal |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Gray and Fox Squirrel method rules from NR 10
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.
Buildings
No firearm discharge within 100 yards of an occupied building on land not owned by the hunter (including public lands/waters) without permission of the owner/occupant (airguns excluded).
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.
Wisconsin squirrel questions answered
Can I shoot flying squirrels in Wisconsin?
No. Flying squirrels are on the protected list.
Can landowners hunt squirrels without a license?
License needed to hunt deer, bear, turkey, game birds, migratory birds and bobcat even on own land. Owner/occupant and family may hunt or trap beaver, fox, coyote, raccoon, woodchuck, rabbit and squirrel year-round on their land without license (subject to all other rules except seasons) and unprotected species causing damage.
Is there a harvest report for squirrels?
GameReg registration is not listed for squirrels; it covers deer, bear, elk, turkey, bobcat, fisher and otter.
Is there any Sunday closure for squirrels?
Seasons for squirrels include Sundays; the state sets no weekday limit.
Which weapons are legal for squirrels in Wisconsin?
Upland birds and small game: Shotgun (game birds: multi-projectile shells only), rifle/handgun for small game mammals, airgun, bow, crossbow, falconry.
When do Wisconsin squirrels come into season in 2026-27?
For squirrels: squirrel Sep 12, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027.
What does the DNR let a hunter keep of squirrels?
5 daily; possession 3x daily. Possession limit three times the daily bag limit.
How much do the licenses for squirrels cost?
Buy, as it applies to squirrels: Small game license ($18.00).
Can squirrels be hunted on DNR or county forest land?
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Managed Forest Law Open Lands and Douglas County Forest lead a list of 205. Most of them list a broader game group rather than the species itself.
Is there a sunset rule for squirrels in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin gives squirrels the big game and small game window: 30 minutes before sunrise until 20 minutes after sunset.
Do squirrel hunters wear blaze pink or orange?
Whenever a firearm deer season is open, anyone hunting squirrels must have at least 50% of the outer clothing above the waist, and half of any hat, in blaze orange or fluorescent pink. For squirrels that means youth and disabled gun deer hunt (Oct 10 to Oct 11), 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 do the DNR bait rules treat squirrels?
Squirrels may not be hunted over bait; the small game rule allows no exceptions.
Heading out after squirrels
Dates and limits here match the DNR regulations as checked on October 19, 2026; the DNR can change them, so check the regulations page before a squirrel hunt.
Other photos on this page: mbarrison (CC BY-SA 2.0); GlacierNPS (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); paparutzi (CC BY 2.0).