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Brown County, Wisconsin
Hunting around Green Bay, Wisconsin
Hunting out of Green Bay, Wisconsin: land inside a 10-mile ring, Brown County deer, bear and turkey rules, season table, shooting light and the DNR counter nearest town.
Photo: Taken at Collins Marsh Wildlife Area, 29 mi out of Green Bay. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Green Bay holds the Brown County offices and serves as a base for northeast Wisconsin hunting. About 106,311 residents live here (2024 estimate). Within 10 miles of the town point the DNR, county and federal maps add up to about 1,849 acres of public hunting land on 4 listed properties. Nearest on the list: Green Bay West Shores Wildlife Area, whose boundary is 4 miles away.
Town point, land area and population from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; public acreage and boundary distances within 10 miles are a GIS measure over the DNR managed lands layer, county forest, USFS, USFWS, NPS and DoD boundaries. Checked October 19, 2026.
Public ground by distance from Green Bay
Distances are straight lines from the Census point for Green Bay; on town and county roads the drive runs longer.
For room to roam, Green Bay West Shores Wildlife Area offers 10,031 acres within the ring. State wildlife and habitat areas inside 10 miles: Green Bay West Shores Wildlife Area and Suamico River State Habitat Area. Smaller DNR natural areas (1) dot the 10-mile ring. Stocked pheasant ground nearby: Holland Wildlife Area and C.D. Besadny Fish and Wildlife Area.
| Public land | Type | Boundary | Centre | Acres | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay West Shores Wildlife Area north | Wildlife area | 3.7 mi | 28 mi N | 10,031 | – |
| Mountain-Bay State Trail west | State trail | 4.9 mi | 63 mi W | 1,070 | – |
| Suamico River State Habitat Area north | Wildlife area | 8.1 mi | 8.2 mi N | 12 | – |
| Red Banks Alvar State Natural Area northeast | Natural area | 8.2 mi | 8.9 mi NE | 115 | – |
| Little Suamico State Habitat Area north | Wildlife area | past 10 mi | 14 mi N | 11 | – |
| Holland Wildlife Area south | Wildlife area | past 10 mi | 16 mi S | 536 | deer, turkey, pheasant |
| Holland Red Maple Swamp State Natural Area south | Natural area | past 10 mi | 16 mi S | 206 | – |
| Charles Pond State Natural Area north | Natural area | past 10 mi | 17 mi N | 94 | – |
| C.D. Besadny Fish and Wildlife Area east | Wildlife area | past 10 mi | 18 mi E | 2,749 | deer, waterfowl, pheasant |
| Pensaukee River State Habitat Area north | Wildlife area | past 10 mi | 21 mi N | 16 | – |
Lands, acreage and species from DNR property pages and federal hunting pages; boundary distances inside 10 miles from places.json (DNR managed lands, county forest, USFS, USFWS, NPS and DoD layers); centre distances are straight lines from the Census point for Green Bay. Checked October 19, 2026. Statewide public land map.
Antlerless tags and CWD around Green Bay
Antlerless tags in Wisconsin belong to a DMU and a land type. These are the units covering Brown County.
Deer hunters here work the Central Farmland Zone. Each deer license bought for the Brown unit comes with 2 free Farmland antlerless tags, tied to public or private land. 2026 antlerless quota: 2,700 deer across 1 unit touching Brown County. Hunters inside the Green Bay metro sub-unit get gun dates of Nov 21 to Dec 9, 2026. The Holiday Hunt (Dec 24, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027) is open in Brown County. Extended archery keeps bows legal in Brown County until Jan 31, 2027.
| DMU | Zone | Quota, 2026 | Starting bonus (public / private) | Remaining Oct 19 | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | Central Farmland | 2,700 | 200 / 750 | 199 / 748 | 2 |
| Brown metro sub-unit | Central Farmland | – | 75 / 150 | 75 / 150 | 2 |
Deer bait is legal in Brown County within the DNR quantity and placement rules. CWD tally for Brown County since 1999: 0 of 968. 70 deer were tested in CWD year 2025, of which 0 were positive.
Deer Metrics shows 1,656 bucks and 1,971 antlerless registered in Brown for 2025. The ten-year average (2016-2025) is 3,007, and 2025 places 40th of the county units. As of October 19, preliminary 2026 totals read 190 for Brown and 192 for Brown metro sub-unit.
Units and zones from counties.json and the DNR 2026 antlerless quota and permit table; bonus counts listed on the DNR bonus availability page on October 19; Holiday Hunt and extended archery from the DNR 2026 map; CWD from the DNR CWD county summary; baiting from the DNR baiting page; harvest from DNR Deer Metrics and the preliminary 2026 harvest page. Checked October 19, 2026.
Brown County season rows for Green Bay
20 species and 46 segments reach Green Bay. The last column compares each one with today.
| Quarry | Season | Zone | From | To | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery and crossbow | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth and disabled gun deer hunt | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun deer (9-day) | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Metro sub-unit gun | Metro sub-unit: Green Bay | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Statewide antlerless-only (December 4-day hunt) | Statewide | Dec 10, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt | Holiday Hunt: Brown | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Extended archery and crossbow | Extended archery | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone F | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 2 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 2 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 2 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 2 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 2 | May 26, 2027 | Jun 1, 2027 | |
| Ruffed Grouse | Ruffed grouse | Grouse Zone A | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Pheasant | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite Quail | Bobwhite quail | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Hungarian partridge | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | Squirrel | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Cottontail rabbit | Northern cottontail zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Cottontail rabbit | Southern cottontail zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe Hare | Snowshoe hare | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| American Crow | Crow | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Mar 24, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Youth waterfowl hunt | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck | Northern Duck Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 1) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck | Open Water Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 2) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose | Northern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 1) | Southern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 2) | Southern Goose Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (holiday split) | Southern Goose Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 2, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon (resident) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon (nonresident) | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red and gray fox | Fox (red and gray) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Coyote (hunting) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 1 (hunting and trapping) | Northern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 1 (hunting and trapping) | Southern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 2 (hunting and trapping) | Northern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 2 (hunting and trapping) | Southern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Unprotected species | Unprotected species (opossum, skunk, weasel, woodchuck, porcupine, starling, English sparrow, chukar, coturnix quail, etc.) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 hunting regulations and season dates, checked October 19, 2026.
Green Bay hunting businesses, nearest first
Closest first, in straight-line miles from Green Bay. Processors come from the DNR deer donation list, DNR CWD sampling stations and directory listings that name deer or game. Deer donation: Haen Meat Packing/The Meat Block, 24 mi away.
| Service | Within 15 mi | Within 35 mi | Nearest | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processors | 1 | 7 | Hujet Custom Butchering 9.0 mi northeast | New Franken |
| Mount makers | 10 | 38 | Melchior's Taxidermy 0.4 mi southeast | Green Bay |
| Hunting preserves | 0 | 4 | Maverick Hunting 15 mi northwest | Pulaski |
| Gun, bow and outdoor shops | 22 | 62 | Bertrand's Sporting Goods 1.6 mi west | Green Bay |
Processors
Mount makers
Hunting preserves
Gun, bow and outdoor shops
Processors from the DNR deer donation list, DNR CWD sampling stations and Yellow Pages; shops from the DNR license sales locations (license-only agents left out) and Yellow Pages; guides and preserves from Yellow Pages. Checked October 19, 2026; hours were not checked.
Bear and gobbler rules near Green Bay
Zone, harvest target, permits and points needed for bear, then the spring turkey zone and its 2025 figures.
Green Bay sits in Bear Zone F, which drew 764 applicants for 2026. Bear hunting here is by bait or still-hunting; hounds are not allowed. Green Bay turkey hunters draw for Zone 2; 2025 success there was 22%. Gobbler periods open Apr 21, 2027 and close Jun 1, 2027.
| Zone | Area share | Hounds | 2026 goal | Class A drawn | Preference points | Harvest 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Zone F | 100% | Not allowed | 50 | 764 | 1 | 27 |
| Zone | Of county | Authorizations (2025) | Success (2025) | Birds, spring 2025 | Birds, fall 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey Zone 2 | 100% | 51,056 | 22% | 11,024 | 1,145 |
Bear zones from counties.json (DNR layer) and the DNR bear drawing summary; bear harvest from the DNR 2025 bear harvest report; turkey from the DNR spring turkey report. Checked October 19, 2026.
Green Bay first and last legal light
Deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey: 30 minutes before sunrise until 20 minutes after sunset. Ducks, geese, doves and spring turkey: same start, done at sunset.
| Day | Reason | Northern table | Southern table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery, fall turkey and grouse opener | 5:55 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:39 a.m. to 6:21 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 6:24 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:00 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:28 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:40 a.m. to 4:28 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 6:59 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:01 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
Deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey table times from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources shooting hours tables, plus the Zone A offset of 0 minutes for longitude 87.99 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
DNR offices serving Green Bay
Questions about rules or tags near Green Bay? The DNR service center counter is the place to ask.
DNR Green Bay Service Center, 6.0 mi northwest
DNR Sturgeon Bay Field Office, 36 mi northeast
DNR Peshtigo Field Office, 39 mi north
From the DNR office locations and field locations pages and the federal office pages listed in services.json, checked October 19, 2026.
Upcoming hunting dates near Green Bay
Inside roughly 30 straight-line miles: 5 upcoming events (DU dinner, NWTF banquet and WWA fundraiser). Retrieved October 19, 2026.
Dates ahead
| Held | What | How far | Where | Register | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 2026 | Fox River Valley Ducks Unlimited Banquet / DU dinner | 22 | Van Abel's of Hollandtown Kaukauna Outagamie Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
| Feb 25, 2027 | 42nd Annual Appleton Valley Chapter Banquet / WWA fundraiser | 23 | Romy’s Nitingale Black Creek Outagamie Co. | Event details | Source |
| Mar 13, 2027 | Winnebago Strutters NWTF Banquet / NWTF banquet | 26 | Appleton Outagamie Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
| May 25, 2027 | Grand Chute Gobblers NWTF Banquet / NWTF banquet | 26 | Appleton Outagamie Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
| May 26, 2027 | Pulaski Area Turkey Chasers NWTF Banquet / NWTF banquet | 16 | Pulaski Brown Co. | Event details | Source |
Green Bay gun ranges
Three ranges closest to Green Bay, with the access rule on each.
archery, 3D archery on file
trap, skeet, sporting clays, shotgun on file
Straight-line miles from the town center; ranges checked October 19, 2026.
Hunting out of Green Bay, common questions
How big is the public land base around Green Bay?
Some 1,849 acres, by the GIS measure. 4 properties have a boundary inside the ring.
Which deer zone and unit is Green Bay in?
Brown and Brown metro sub-unit. The 2026 quota there is 2,700 antlerless deer.
Where do Green Bay hunters get extra antlerless tags?
The 2026 sale opened with 200 public-land tags for Brown. The October 19 list showed 199 public and 748 private remaining. Bonus tags sell through Go Wild, one per person per day.
Do CWD and baiting rules apply in Brown County?
The county’s running CWD total is 0 positive of 968 tested. Baiting is legal within the 2-gallon limit.
How do I apply for a bear license near Green Bay?
Bear licenses for this area are Zone F licenses. Minimum points, Zone F, 2026: 1.
How do spring gobbler hunters fare near Green Bay?
Green Bay is in Turkey Zone 2. Zone 2 had 51,056 spring authorizations and 22% success in 2025.
When can I rifle hunt deer around Green Bay?
From Nov 21, 2026 through Nov 29, 2026. After it come muzzleloader (Nov 30 to Dec 9, 2026) and the December antlerless hunt (Dec 10 to Dec 13, 2026). Plus the Holiday Hunt from Dec 24, 2026.
What are the opening-day hunting hours at Green Bay?
Deer hours run 30 minutes before sunrise to 20 minutes after sunset, which on the opener means 6:28 a.m.-4:34 p.m. (northern table), or 6:23 a.m.-4:40 p.m. (southern table).
Who cuts and wraps venison for Green Bay hunters?
Hujet Custom Butchering is closest, at 9 miles. Count of processors within 35 miles of town: 7.
Where is the nearest taxidermist to Green Bay?
The list puts Melchior's Taxidermy closest. 10 within 15 miles, 38 within 35.
How do Green Bay hunters buy licenses and tags?
Online in Go Wild, or at any DNR license agent. Smokeys On The Bay LLC (1.4 mi) is the closest agent. The DNR Green Bay Service Center is 6 miles from town.
Is there a deer registration station near Green Bay?
Online or phone through GameReg, before 5 p.m. the following day.
Answers drawn from the sources listed in each section above, checked October 19, 2026.
Last checks in Green Bay
Distances on this page are straight lines from Green Bay. State, county and federal properties each add rules of their own, so open the property page and the 2026-27 DNR regulations first.
Other photos on this page: royal_broil (CC BY-SA 2.0); Anne Marie Peterson from Madison, WI, US (CC BY-SA 2.0); Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA (CC BY 2.0); Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (CC BY-SA 2.0); DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0); Juliana Chong (CC BY 2.0); Greg Gilbert (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain-Prairie (CC BY 2.0).