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White-tailed Deer Hunting in Wisconsin
Wisconsin deer season opens with archery and crossbow on Sep 12, 2026, and the nine-day gun hunt runs Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026, starting the Saturday before Thanksgiving. In one place: the deer calendar, limits, licenses, legal weapons and public land.
Photo: Tom Shockey (CC BY 2.0)
Muzzleloader week follows (Nov 30 to Dec 9, 2026), then the statewide four-day antlerless-only hunt (Dec 10 to Dec 13, 2026) and, in 48 farmland units, the antlerless-only Holiday Hunt from Dec 24 to Jan 1, 2027. The bag is set by harvest authorizations: a gun buck and a bow buck come with the licenses, and antlerless tags are tied to one deer management unit and one land type, with 272,720 bonus authorizations offered for 2026. The DNR Deer Harvest Report counts 346,003 deer for 2025, 166,452 antlered and 179,551 antlerless, and 187,911 of them fell during the nine-day gun season.
The DNR summary for whitetails
- Methods and dates: Archery/crossbow Sept. 12-Jan. 3 (to Jan. 31 in metro and extended units); youth/disabled gun Oct. 10-11; gun Nov. 21-29; muzzleloader Nov. 30-Dec. 9; antlerless-only Dec. 10-13; Holiday Hunt Dec. 24-Jan. 1 in select Farmland counties.
- Limit in short: One buck per buck authorization (gun buck statewide; bow buck per weapon license) plus antlerless deer per DMU/land-type authorization; 1-5 free Farmland antlerless authorizations per license; bonus $12/$20.
- Remarks: Four zones and ~70 DMUs; register via GameReg by 5 p.m. next day; baiting banned in 60 counties; CWD testing voluntary and free.
DNR regulations page, checked October 19, 2026.
GearHeading out for deer season? Deer gear checklist →
White-tailed Deer calendar, fall 2026 to spring 2027
9 dated rows for whitetails from the DNR Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations; the strip shows them on one axis from September to June.
| Season | Applies in | How | From | Through | Days | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery and crossbow | Statewide | Bow (archery license) or crossbow (crossbow license); upgrade ($3) needed to use both | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | 114 | |
| Gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities | Participating sponsored properties only | Any legal firearm | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | 9 | |
| Youth and disabled gun deer hunt | Statewide (all DMUs except state parks and non-quota units, per youth hunt page) | Any legal firearm (gun deer license); bow/crossbow with archer/crossbow license | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | 2 | |
| Gun deer (9-day) | Statewide | All weapon types | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 9 | |
| Metro sub-unit gun | Metro sub-units | All weapon types | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | 19 | |
| Muzzleloader | Statewide | Muzzleloader only (projectile loaded only from the muzzle; black powder revolvers not legal) | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | 10 | |
| Statewide antlerless-only (December 4-day hunt) | Statewide | All weapon types | Dec 10, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | 4 | |
| Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt | Select Farmland Zone counties only | All weapon types | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | 9 | |
| Extended archery and crossbow | Metro sub-units and Farmland counties with extended archery | Bow or crossbow | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | 28 |
White-tailed Deer row notes
- No bucks may be harvested during the statewide antlerless-only hunt (Dec. 10-13) or in DMUs holding the antlerless-only Holiday Hunt (Dec. 24-Jan. 1). Archery/crossbow hunters must wear blaze orange/pink during any open firearm deer season.
- Class A, C or D disabled permit holders or Class B (issued >1 year, shoot-from-stationary-vehicle) holders with a gun deer license and a sponsor; contact a sponsor before Sept. 15.
- Open to hunters 15 and younger with a gun deer license and to holders of a valid Class A, B (issued >1 year), C or D disabled permit. New for 2026: the youth hunt is also open to certain disabled permit holders. Youth must be accompanied by a parent/guardian; one adult may accompany no more than two youths. Adults may not hunt deer with firearms during the youth hunt.
- Bag: one buck per gun buck harvest authorization plus antlerless deer per valid antlerless authorization.
- Metro sub-unit gun dates Nov. 21-Dec. 9.
- Only antlerless deer may be harvested (bow/crossbow hunters included).
- Only antlerless deer may be harvested; counties holding the Holiday Hunt have no open buck season on these dates regardless of weapon type.
- Archery/crossbow season closes Jan. 31, 2027 in metro sub-units and in DMUs with an extended archery/crossbow season (counties shown on the 2026 Holiday Hunt and Extended Archery map).
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations and the season dates page, checked October 19, 2026.
White-tailed Deer take, and what to buy
Bag limits first, then the paperwork for whitetails.
White-tailed deer
One buck per unused buck harvest authorization (gun buck authorization valid statewide with any legal weapon; bow buck authorization weapon-specific) and one antlerless deer per unused antlerless authorization valid for the zone, DMU and land type (public-access or private). Junior antlerless authorizations valid statewide. Archery/crossbow upgrade holders get one bow buck total. Buck = at least one antler 3 in. or longer.
Paperwork for whitetails
| What to buy | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Gun deer license | $24.00 | $200.00 |
| Archer license | $24.00 | $200.00 |
| Crossbow license | $24.00 | $200.00 |
| Archer/crossbow upgrade | $3.00 | $3.00 |
| Bonus antlerless authorization | $12.00 | $20.00 |
DNR regulations, Go Wild resident list and nonresident list, checked October 19, 2026. Wisconsin hunting license guide.
White-tailed Deer management zones
Antlerless tags are issued by unit and land type, so the unit you hunt decides how many does you can take.
| Deer zone | DMU count | Antlerless goal | Bonus offered | Farmland freebies | 2025 firearm | 2026 prelim. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Forest | 26 | 21,990 | 96,855 | None | 29,248 | 4,159 |
| Central Forest | 6 | 4,425 | 10,825 | None | 3,374 | 385 |
| Central Farmland | 40 | 199,640 | 114,550 | 1 to 5 | 147,869 | 20,015 |
| Southern Farmland | 20 | 78,950 | 46,615 | 1 to 4 | 50,789 | 4,787 |
Holiday Hunt units
48 farmland units, 42 of them with extended archery to Jan. 31: Adams, Barron, Brown, Burnett, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood
Metro sub-units
Brown County, Chippewa County, Douglas County Superior, Eau Claire County, Kenosha County, La Crosse County, Manitowoc County, Pierce County, Racine County, Rock County, Sheboygan County, St. Croix County, Dane County and Waukesha County.
The one closed unit
DMU 116 offers no bonus authorizations (CDAC recommendation). DMU 116 page
quota and permit availability, bonus availability, 2025 deer harvest report, 2026 harvest to date, checked October 19, 2026.
Wisconsin deer harvest
The 2025 Deer Harvest Report puts the total at 346,003; the Deer Metrics chart reads slightly differently, so each is labelled.
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 165,984 | 179,223 | 345,207 |
| 2024 | 161,641 | 164,907 | 326,548 |
| 2023 | 148,582 | 152,069 | 300,651 |
| 2022 | 163,806 | 176,476 | 340,282 |
| 2021 | 152,234 | 155,612 | 307,846 |
| 2020 | 157,735 | 181,104 | 338,839 |
| 2019 | 137,876 | 152,337 | 290,213 |
| 2018 | 160,075 | 175,168 | 335,243 |
Deer by season, 2025
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 25,959 | 16,159 | 42,118 |
| Crossbow | 43,037 | 27,421 | 70,458 |
| Youth | 4,392 | 4,117 | 8,509 |
| Disabled | 138 | 379 | 517 |
| Learn to Hunt | 14 | 28 | 42 |
| Gun (9-day) | 86,851 | 101,060 | 187,911 |
| Muzzleloader | 5,597 | 6,508 | 12,105 |
| December antlerless | 40 | 10,651 | 10,691 |
| Holiday Hunt | 28 | 11,477 | 11,505 |
| Extended archery | 138 | 644 | 782 |
| Extended crossbow | 258 | 1,107 | 1,365 |
| Total | 166,452 | 179,551 | 346,003 |
Early 2026 registrations (preliminary)
Harvest data: Deer Metrics harvest history, 2025 deer harvest report, 2026 harvest to date. Figures as the DNR labels them, checked October 19, 2026.
Harvest leaders and public ground for whitetails
Public ground for whitetails: 289 properties, largest first. Property rules on each page.
| Property | Type | Counties | Size, 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 |
| Flambeau River State Forest | State Forest | Sawyer, Rusk, Price | 89,772 |
The rest of the deer list, by acreage
Rusk County Forest · Oneida County Forest · Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge · Black River State Forest · Meadow Valley Wildlife Area · Kettle Moraine State Forest · Eau Claire County Forest · Brule River State 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 · Navarino Wildlife Area · 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 · Buena Vista Wildlife Area · Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest · Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area · Sandhill Wildlife Area · Waterloo Wildlife Area · Upper Wolf River Fishery Area · Kimberly Clark Wildlife Area · Kickapoo Valley Reserve · St. Croix Wetland Management District · Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area · Monroe County Forest
Best deer ground by the numbers
- Marathon12,041 deer
- Waupaca10,740 deer
- Shawano9,880 deer
- Vernon9,561 deer
- Dunn9,118 deer
- Clark8,849 deer
- Waushara8,678 deer
- Portage8,384 deer
- Monroe8,137 deer
- Polk8,091 deer
Best numbered units, 2025
- DMU 1103,544 deer
- DMU 1083,490 deer
- DMU 1263,288 deer
- DMU 1153,013 deer
- DMU 1092,681 deer
- DMU 1192,516 deer
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.
Legal requirements for whitetails
The deer rules below come from the registration, hours, orange and baiting pages of the regulations.
Check it in
By 5 p.m. the day after recovery; online, phone or in-person stations; confirmation number begins with W.
Daily hours
Whitetails share the deer, bear, elk and small game hours, sunrise minus 30 minutes to sunset plus 20.
Blaze orange or pink
The orange rule is not species-based: during any firearm deer season, deer hunters need 50% blaze orange or pink above the waist. Overlap this season: 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).
Hunting over bait
Check the county first: deer bait is banned in 60 counties, and allowed in small amounts in 12.
Sunday status
Sundays are open for whitetails like any other day of the season.
Testing for CWD
Voluntary, free statewide; kiosks 24/7, cooperating processors/taxidermists, at-home lymph node kits, DNR appointments; results typically within 2 weeks via Go Wild or the CWD results page. DNR especially wants samples from the 2026 Fall Priority Areas.
CWD-positive deer earn a replacement authorization (statewide buck for antlered; same-unit either-sex for antlerless), valid rest of season and next season.
Buck authorizations
Issued with gun deer license; any DMU statewide; any legal weapon during any firearm deer season, except in DMUs holding an antlerless-only hunt. Issued with archery or crossbow license; any DMU statewide; bow or crossbow per license; not during antlerless-only hunts.
Junior antlerless
Issued to hunters 17 and younger with each gun or archery license; valid any DMU statewide, any open season with the authorized weapon; may be filled only by the holder.
Quartering and transport
Deer may be quartered to remove from the field; only one quartered deer stored/transported at a time before registration; non-edible parts may be left in the field (new 2026). Carcass movement rules on the DNR carcass page; check other states' import rules.
Venison advisories
DHS PFAS advisory for deer within 5 miles of the Town of Stella (Oneida County): no more than one meal per month of venison and do not eat liver; DNR also notes an advisory near the city/town of Marinette.
Legal light for the deer dates
| Date | Segment | North (Zone A) | South (Zone A) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 10, 2026 | Statewide antlerless-only (December 4-day hunt) opens | 6:50 a.m. to 4:26 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| Dec 9, 2026 | Metro sub-unit gun closes | 6:49 a.m. to 4:26 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery and crossbow closes | 7:01 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer (9-day) opens | 6:28 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Gun deer (9-day) closes | 6:38 a.m. to 4:28 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 6:39 a.m. to 4:28 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth and disabled gun deer hunt opens | 6:30 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. |
| Oct 11, 2026 | Gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities closes | 6:31 a.m. to 6:31 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 6:34 p.m. |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities opens | 6:21 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery and crossbow 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.
White-tailed Deer weapon rules
Read the weapons rows with the season table: the legal method depends on the segment.
| Season | Legal weapons | Off limits |
|---|---|---|
| Archery and crossbow deer season | Bow and arrow under archery license; crossbow under crossbow license (upgrade for both); broadhead arrows/bolts of expanding design. | Crossbow on an archery license or bow on a crossbow license without the upgrade. |
| Gun deer, metro gun, youth/disabled, antlerless-only and Holiday hunts | Any legal firearm or airgun with single-projectile expanding bullets; bows and crossbows may be used under a gun license during firearm seasons. | Non-expanding or multiple-projectile loads for deer; rifles under 26 in. overall/16 in. barrel or shotguns under 26 in./18 in. barrel without federal license. |
| Muzzleloader-only deer season | Muzzleloaders firing a projectile loaded only from the muzzle. | Black powder revolvers (cylinder-loaded). |
| Firearm deer seasons (handguns) | Handguns for hunters 18 and older (concealed carry requires license). | Handguns (including muzzleloading handguns) for hunters under 18. |
White-tailed Deer: what the methods pages say
Group deer hunting
Firearm seasons only; party members within sight/voice may fill another member's authorization; not for bow/crossbow; junior antlerless authorizations only by the holder.
Deer baiting and feeding
Banned in 60 counties (Oct. 2026); elsewhere 2 gallons per 40 acres with placement/timing/content rules (see regs.baiting).
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.
Feeding deer statute
Wis. Stat. 29.336: DNR must ban deer feeding in counties with a CWD/TB positive (36 months) or within 10 miles of one (24 months); limited viewing-feeding allowed elsewhere near residences.
MFL/FCL/VPA lands
Stands and blinds removed daily; no tree damage; no vehicles or trail cameras without landowner permission; public-access antlerless authorizations required.
Shooting from vehicles
No loading (except handguns) or discharging firearms/airguns from vehicles except Class A/B disabled permit holders.
Wisconsin hunting regulations weapons and methods pages, Wis. Stat. ch. 29 and NR 10, checked October 19, 2026.
White-tailed Deer questions, answered from the regulations
When is the 2026 Wisconsin gun deer opener?
Saturday, Nov 21, 2026. The nine-day gun season closes Nov 29, 2026; metro sub-units keep a gun season open to Dec 9, 2026.
Do Wisconsin deer licenses come with antlerless tags?
1-5 included with each archery/crossbow and/or gun license depending on the selected Farmland DMU; specific to DMU and land type (public-access or private); any weapon/season with correct license. Forest units get no free antlerless tag; buy bonus authorizations there.
What is the Holiday Hunt in Wisconsin?
An antlerless-only hunt, Dec 24, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027, held in select Farmland Zone units on the recommendation of their County Deer Advisory Councils. No buck may be taken in those counties on those dates, whatever the weapon.
Which deer units have extended archery to January 31?
Every metro sub-unit and 42 farmland units that pair it with the Holiday Hunt, read from the DNR season structure map: archery and crossbow stay open Jan 4 to Jan 31, 2027.
Is CWD testing required for Wisconsin deer?
Not required but recommended; free via self-service kiosks (head with 5 in. of neck), cooperating processors/taxidermists, at-home lymph node kits, or DNR appointments; results ~2 weeks; register first, then sample (online CWD form in Go Wild). Priority areas for 2026 on the DNR map.
Can a hunter shoot a deer for someone else in Wisconsin?
During firearm deer seasons a member of a group party (2+ licensed hunters within sight or voice contact, each with a firearm/airgun) may kill a deer for another member; not for bow/crossbow hunters; junior antlerless authorizations only by holder; no phones/radios to establish contact; mentors may not fill mentee authorizations.
Who can hunt the October youth deer weekend?
Oct 10 to Oct 11, 2026: Open to hunters 15 and younger with a gun deer license and to holders of a valid Class A, B (issued >1 year), C or D disabled permit. New for 2026: the youth hunt is also open to certain disabled permit holders. Youth must be accompanied by a parent/guardian; one adult may accompany no more than two youths. Adults may not hunt deer with firearms during the youth hunt.
What is the legal equipment list for whitetails?
Archery and crossbow deer season: Bow and arrow under archery license; crossbow under crossbow license (upgrade for both); broadhead arrows/bolts of expanding design.
Is Sunday a legal day for whitetails?
Sundays are open for whitetails like any other day of the season.
What bag limit does Wisconsin put on whitetails?
One buck per unused buck harvest authorization (gun buck authorization valid statewide with any legal weapon; bow buck authorization weapon-specific) and one antlerless deer per unused antlerless authorization valid for the zone, DMU and land type (public-access or private). Junior antlerless authorizations valid statewide. Archery/crossbow upgrade holders get one bow buck total. Buck = at least one antler 3 in. or longer.
How long is the Wisconsin deer season in 2026-27?
The deer dates are archery and crossbow Sep 12, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027; gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities Oct 3 to Oct 11, 2026 (Participating sponsored properties only); youth and disabled gun deer hunt Oct 10 to Oct 11, 2026; gun deer (9-day) Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026; metro sub-unit gun Nov 21 to Dec 9, 2026 (Metro sub-units). Remaining deer segments are in the table.
Is there state land open for whitetails?
289 properties in the land records qualify; the largest are Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Managed Forest Law Open Lands and Douglas County Forest.
What paperwork covers whitetails in Wisconsin?
Deer hunters need (resident price): Gun deer license ($24.00); Archer license ($24.00); Crossbow license ($24.00); Archer/crossbow upgrade ($3.00).
Is blaze orange or pink required for whitetails in Wisconsin?
The orange rule is not species-based: during any firearm deer season, deer hunters need 50% blaze orange or pink above the waist. Overlap this season: 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).
What hours does the DNR table give for whitetails?
Whitetails share the deer, bear, elk and small game hours, sunrise minus 30 minutes to sunset plus 20.
Before the deer trip
The DNR regulations are the final word on whitetails; this page was checked against them on October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Larry Lamsa (CC BY 2.0); Joe K Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0).