Home › Wisconsin › Towns › Kenosha
Kenosha County, DNR Southeast
Hunting around Kenosha, Wisconsin
Public land measured from Kenosha, the Kenosha County deer units with their 2026 antlerless quota and bonus tags, bear and turkey zones, CWD and baiting rules, harvest, and the shops and processors closest to town.
Photo: Photo of Kenosha County: Weathered patchwork barn and silo behind ripening corn in Kenosha County. newagecrap (CC BY 2.0)
Kenosha is the county seat of Kenosha County, which the DNR runs from its Southeast Region. Its 2024 population estimate is 99,578. A 10-mile ring around Kenosha takes in roughly 703 mapped public acres across 2 properties. At the top of the distance list is Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural 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.
Where Kenosha hunters go on public land
Sorted by the closest boundary, then by centre-point distance. Open any property page for its own rules, closed areas and season notes.
568 acres make Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area the largest nearby property. 1 DNR wildlife or habitat area reach inside 10 miles, the nearest being George Lake State Habitat Area. Look at Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area, a natural area in the ring. The DNR plans to stock pheasants on Richard Bong State Recreation Area (9,460 birds, 2026).
| Name | Owner type | Nearest edge | Point, miles | Size (ac) | Hunted for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area southeast | Natural area | 3.6 mi | 5.6 mi SE | 568 | – |
| George Lake State Habitat Area southwest | Wildlife area | 7.9 mi | 8.5 mi SW | 161 | – |
| Hooker Lake Marsh Fishery Area west | Fishery area | 10+ mi | 12 mi W | 46 | – |
| Paddock Lake State Habitat Area west | Wildlife area | 10+ mi | 12 mi W | 5 | – |
| Richard Bong State Recreation Area west | Recreation area | 10+ mi | 14 mi W | 4,691 | pheasant, waterfowl |
| Silver Lake Marsh Fishery Area west | Fishery area | 10+ mi | 14 mi W | 35 | – |
| Dover Wildlife Area northwest | Wildlife area | 10+ mi | 15 mi NW | 89 | deer, turkey, waterfowl |
| Camp Lake Fishery Area west | Fishery area | 10+ mi | 15 mi W | 227 | – |
| Eagle Lake Fishery Area northwest | Fishery area | 10+ mi | 15 mi NW | 97 | pheasant, furbearers |
| Peat Lake State Habitat Area southwest | Wildlife area | 10+ mi | 15 mi SW | 480 | – |
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 Kenosha. Checked October 19, 2026. Statewide public land map.
Kenosha County bear and turkey zones near Kenosha
What a Kenosha hunter applies for: the bear zone and its odds, the turkey zone and recent success.
Kenosha County falls in Bear Zone F; Class A bear licenses are drawn by preference point. No hound hunting for bear in this county’s zones. Turkey Zone 2 applies here, with 11,024 spring birds registered zone-wide in 2025. Spring 2027 runs from Apr 21, 2027 (Period A) to Jun 1, 2027 (Period F).
| Bear zone | Part of county | With hounds | Target | Permits | Points to draw | 2025 bears |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Zone F | 100% | Not allowed | 50 | 764 | 1 | 27 |
| Turkey zone | County share | Spring permits | Success rate | Spring birds | Fall birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Kenosha: DMU, bonus tags and harvest
The unit you pick at purchase decides your free Farmland tags and which bonus tags you can buy. Kenosha County units are listed here.
All of Kenosha County lies in the Southern Farmland deer zone. In Kenosha, a license includes 1 Farmland antlerless authorization; pick public-access or private land when you choose the unit. Antlerless goals for 2026 add up to 300 in the Kenosha County units. Inside the Milwaukee metro sub-unit, firearm deer hunting continues Nov 21 to Dec 9, 2026.
| Unit | Zone | Antlerless quota | Bonus authorizations (pub / priv) | Listed Oct 19 | Free tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha | Southern Farmland | 300 | 100 / 265 | 100 / 265 | 1 |
| Kenosha metro sub-unit | Southern Farmland | – | 150 / 150 | 150 / 150 | 1 |
Kenosha County is on the DNR baiting and feeding ban list. Since 1999 the DNR has tested 1,320 wild deer from Kenosha County for CWD, with 7 positive. In the 2025 CWD year, 35 were sampled and 1 tested positive.
In 2025, 510 deer were registered from the Kenosha County unit. Over 2016-2025 the unit averaged 404 deer a year. 2026 to date, preliminary and before the gun opener: Kenosha 26 and Kenosha metro sub-unit 14.
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.
Agency offices near Kenosha
DNR service centers sell licenses and answer hunting questions at the counter, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. The one closest to Kenosha is listed first.
DNR Milwaukee Service Center, 31 mi north
From the DNR office locations and field locations pages and the federal office pages listed in services.json, checked October 19, 2026.
Kenosha processors, taxidermists and hunting shops
Wisconsin keeps no public list of taxidermist or guide permit holders, so those rows come from DNR CWD partners and directory listings. Call before you drive. Bunzel's Meat Market is a DNR deer donation processor.
| Kind | 15 mi | 35 mi | Closest listing | In |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer cutting | 0 | 1 | Bunzel's Meat Market 34 mi north | Milwaukee |
| Taxidermists | 3 | 12 | Animal Art Taxidermy 0.8 mi south | Kenosha |
| Hunting shops | 21 | 82 | Dick's Sporting Goods at town north | Kenosha |
Deer cutting
Taxidermists
Hunting 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.
Kenosha: season calendar
Deer dates are statewide in Wisconsin; bear, turkey, grouse, cottontail and waterfowl dates follow zone lines, so only the rows for Kenosha are listed.
| Species | Season | Where it applies | Opens | Closes | 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: Milwaukee | 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 | Extended archery and crossbow | Metro sub-unit | 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 B | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 | |
| 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 | 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 (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 (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.
Kenosha, nearby hunting events
Retrieved October 19, 2026. 4 upcoming events sit within about 30 miles, covering DU dinner, NWTF banquet and WWA fundraiser.
On the calendar
| Held | What | Miles away | Where | Register | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2, 2026 | South Suburban Dinner – Waterford / DU dinner | 21 | The Cotton Exchange Waterford Racine Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
| Feb 18, 2027 | 5th Annual Cabin Fever Winter Bash / WWA fundraiser | 29 | Matty's Bar & Grille New Berlin Waukesha Co. | Event details | Source |
| Mar 19, 2027 | Burlington Boss Toms NWTF Banquet / NWTF banquet | 21 | Waterford Racine Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Kettle Moraine Chapter NWTF Banquet / NWTF banquet | 29 | New Berlin Waukesha Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
Kenosha gun ranges
Three ranges closest to Kenosha, with the access rule on each.
handgun, rifle on file
rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
archery, 3D archery on file
Nearest public map range: Lakeview Rod & Gun Club, 24 miles.
Straight-line miles from the town center; ranges checked October 19, 2026.
Shooting hours at Kenosha
The DNR tables are worked out for Zone A in the east; Kenosha lies in longitude Zone A, so add 0 minutes to each table time.
| Date | Why it matters | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 87.88 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Kenosha hunting FAQ
Can I still buy a bonus antlerless tag near Kenosha?
Bonus authorizations for Kenosha: 100 public and 265 private at the start. Left on October 19: 100 public, 265 private. Buy them in Go Wild or at a license agent, one a day.
What deer unit is Kenosha County?
The county’s units are Kenosha and Kenosha metro sub-unit. Antlerless quota, 2026: 300.
Which of the six bear zones holds Kenosha?
Kenosha County is in Bear Zone F. Expect to need 1 points, based on 2026.
Can I bait deer near Kenosha?
DNR results list 7 positives for Kenosha County. Baiting and feeding deer are banned there.
What dates is the firearm deer season near Kenosha?
The nine-day gun deer season runs Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026. Muzzleloader runs Nov 30 to Dec 9, 2026; the four-day antlerless hunt is Dec 10 to Dec 13, 2026.
How many spring turkey tags does the zone near Kenosha get?
Kenosha County is Zone 2 for turkeys. 2025: 51,056 authorizations, 22% success.
Which shop closest to Kenosha will process a whitetail?
Shortest haul: Bunzel's Meat Market, 34 miles. 1 are on file within 35 miles.
What time can I shoot on opening day near Kenosha?
For Nov 21, 2026, start at 6:28 a.m. and stop at 4:34 p.m. under the Northern Area table; the Southern Area table reads 6:23 a.m. to 4:40 p.m.
Can I buy a deer license in Kenosha?
Use Go Wild online, or a license agent counter. Closest agent: Walmart Kenosha 1167. The DNR Milwaukee Service Center counter is 31 miles away.
Who does deer mounts for Kenosha hunters?
Drive 1 mile to Animal Art Taxidermy. 12 taxidermy listings fall within 35 miles.
How soon must a deer be registered in Wisconsin?
Deer go through GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
What public hunting land is closest to Kenosha?
Closest is Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area, whose boundary is 4 miles away. The next-closest property is George Lake State Habitat Area.
Answers drawn from the sources listed in each section above, checked October 19, 2026.
Kenosha trip checklist
Before leaving Kenosha, confirm your unit, your Farmland or bonus tags and the property’s closed areas.
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); USFWS Mountain-Prairie (CC BY 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); Don Henise (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain).