2024 Wisconsin Hunting And Trapping Seasons

For many in Wisconsin, fall means hunting season. Find open dates for deer, furbearers, small game, bear and turkey here. For game birds and migratory birds, see Page 27. Plus, check out more great hunting coverage in this issue!

Get your license at gowild.wi.gov and always consult the complete Wisconsin Hunting Regulations for the latest on dates and rules before heading out. You’ll find them and much more about hunting in Wisconsin on the DNR's Hunting webpage.

Deer

Archery and crossbow: Sept. 14–Jan. 5 (No bucks may be harvested during the antlerless-only hunts identified below.)

Extended archery and crossbow: Sept. 14–Jan. 31 (For metro sub-units and counties with extended archery seasons; see map at dnr.wi.gov/tiny/3051)

Gun hunt for hunters with disabilities: Oct. 5–13 (Not a statewide season; for more information, visit the DNR's Deer Hunting for Hunters with Disabilities webpage.)

Youth deer hunt: Oct. 5–6

Gun: Nov. 23–Dec. 1

Muzzleloader: Dec. 2–11

Four-day antlerless-only hunt: Dec. 12–15

Antlerless-only holiday hunt: Dec. 24–Jan. 1 (Open only in select Farmland/Zone 2 counties)

Furbearers

Coyote

• Hunting: year-round

• Trapping: Oct. 19–Feb. 15

Fox (red and gray)

• Hunting and trapping: Oct. 19–Feb. 15

Beaver (trapping only)

• Zone A (northwest): Nov. 2–April 30

• Zone B (northeast): Nov. 2–April 30

• Zone C (south): Nov. 2–March 31

• Zone D (Mississippi River): Dec. 2–March 15

Mink and muskrat (trapping only)

• Northern zone: Oct. 19–April 15

• Central zone: Oct. 26–March 22

• Southern zone: Nov. 2–March 15

• Mississippi River zone: Nov. 11–March 9

Bobcat (hunting and trapping)

• Period 1: Oct. 19–Dec. 25

• Period 2: Dec. 26–Jan. 31

Fisher (trapping only)

• North and South zones: Oct. 19–Jan. 5

Otter (trapping only)

• North zone: Nov. 2–April 30

• South zone: Nov. 2–March 31

Raccoon (hunting and trapping)

• Resident: Oct. 19–Feb. 15

• Nonresident: Nov. 2–Feb. 15

Small Game

Cottontail rabbit

• Northern zone: Sept. 14–Feb. 28

• Southern zone: Oct. 19 (9 a.m.)–Feb. 28

• Milwaukee County: year-round

Squirrels (gray and fox)

• Statewide: Sept. 14–Feb. 28

Bear

Check out the map of black bear management zones

Zones A, B, D (where dogs are permitted)

• With the aid of bait and with all other legal methods not using dogs: Sept. 4–10

• With the assistance of dogs, with the help of bait and with all other legal methods: Sept. 11–Oct. 1

• With the help of dogs only: Oct. 2–8

Zones C, E, F (where dogs are not permitted)

• With the help of bait and with all other legal methods not using dogs: Sept. 4–Oct. 8

Turkey

Check out the map of wild turkey management zones

Statewide: Sept. 14–Nov. 22

Zones 1–5: Nov. 23–Jan. 5

NOTE: Hunting protected species like badgers, jackrabbits, flying squirrels and moose is prohibited. Elk hunting (bull only) is limited to the handful of licenses previously awarded by drawing — don’t mistakenly shoot elk when deer hunting!