April 24-30
| Turkey Hunting Time Period B
| Turkey hunters need a turkey license, stamp and harvest authorization. The turkey license and stamp is included in a Patron license. SELECT HERE to visit the Turkey page for more info.
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May 1-7
| Turkey Hunting Time Period C
| Turkey hunters need a turkey license, stamp and harvest authorization. The turkey license and stamp is included in a Patron license. SELECT HERE to visit the Turkey page for more info.
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May 4
| Open Water Fishing Season opens.
| The first Saturday in May is the opener for general open water fishing season. Hook and line fishing for many fish species on many Wisconsin waters begins on that day. However, to better manage Wisconsin fisheries, season dates are often specific to the species of fish as well as the water body. Customers should check their regulations.
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May 8-14
| Turkey Hunting Time Period D
| Turkey hunters need a turkey license, stamp and harvest authorization. The turkey license and stamp is included in a Patron license. SELECT HERE to visit the Turkey page for more info.
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May 15-21
| Turkey Hunting Time Period E
| Turkey hunters need a turkey license, stamp and harvest authorization. The turkey license and stamp is included in a Patron license. SELECT HERE to visit the Turkey page for more info.
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May 22-28
| Turkey Hunting Time Period F
| Turkey hunters need a turkey license, stamp and harvest authorization. The turkey license and stamp is included in a Patron license. SELECT HERE to visit the Turkey page for more info.
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May 31
| Application deadline for Elk
| Customers have until 11:59pm on May 31 to apply. The application product will be removed from GoWild after that. SELECT HERE to visit the Permit Applications page for sales instructions.
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June 1-2
| FREE Fun Weekend 2024
| FREE Fishing - No fishing license or stamps are needed to fish Wisconsin waters for both residents and nonresidents. All other fishing regulations still apply. FREE State Park admittance - All state park vehicle admission sticker fees on all DNR-owned properties are waived. FREE State Trail use - All state trail pass fees on all DNR-owned state trails are waived and cooperatively-run state trails also may waive fees. FREE ATV/UTV riding on public trails - ATV registration and trail pass fees are waived. |
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July 1
| Federal Duck Stamp available
| You will provide a temporary receipt for the customer while the stamp will be sent via US Mail. Youth under 16 do not need state or Federal waterfowl stamps. IMPORTANT: Voids can only be done same day since the stamp is mailed out the next day. SELECT HERE for more info.
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July 4
| DNR Service Centers closed
| DNR Service Centers will be closed in observance of Independence Day. The DNR Call Center remains open
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July 5
| ACH sweep notice | The DNR fiscal year ends on June 30. The final week of sales for this time is June 25-July 1. As a result, the ACH sweep on your account will be "split" into two separate sweeps, both occuring on July 5. Add these two sweeps together to determine the full amount.
- Sales from Jun 25 – Jun 30 will sweep on July 5
- Sales from July 1 will sweep on July 5
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August 1
| Application deadline for Bobcat, fisher, otter, sharp-tailed grouse, and upriver sturgeon
| Customers have until 11:59pm on August 1 to apply. The application products will be removed from GoWild after that. Those who applied earlier in the year can make changes to the unit they selected until the August 1 deadline. Customers can make the change online or by calling the DNR Call Center at 1-888-936-7463. SELECT HERE to visit the Permit Applications page.
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Mid August
| Check your supply of regulations
| Items to consider for order: Deer, Waterfowl and Trapping. SELECT HERE for details on how to order.
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August TBD
| Antlerless Bonus Harvest Authorizations
| Bonus antlerless harvest authorization sales are spread out in three seperate days which are zone specific. Sales for each day begin at 10am. There is a limit of one harvest authorization per customer, per day until units are sold out. Customer must purchase their deer license before or during the bonus sale.
Sales schedule coming soon!
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September 1-15
| Early Goose Season - Statewide
| Hunter purchases $3 early goose tag in addition to small game and HIP survey. Federal & State duck stamps are required only for hunters age 16 or over. SELECT HERE to see the Migratory Bird license guide.
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September 2
| DNR Service Centers closed
| DNR Service Centers will be closed in observance of the Labor Day holiday. The DNR Call Center remains open from 7am-10pm.
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September 4
| Bear Season opens
| The Class A Bear Carcass Tag will only show up for 2018 bear drawing permit winners. Find it under the Hunt/Trap Tab. Once the tag is selected, the bear license will be available as an add-on. SELECT HERE for more detailed information on the bear hunting page.
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September 14
| Archery Deer, Crossbow Deer, and Fall Turkey seasons open
| Hunters who wish to hunt with both traditional bow and crossbow will need both the Archery Deer and Crossbow Deer licenses. They can purchase one of them at regular price and purchase the "upgrade' to use the other weapon for an additional $3. No additional carcass tags are issued with an upgrade license.
Note: There is a new buyer Archery, but no new buyer Crossbow. There is a special product for those who qualify for the new buyer Archery. It allows them to purchase both licenses for $8 total ($5 for the New Buyer Archery plus the $3 crossbow upgrade). SELECT HERE for more info on reduced rate licenses |
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October 5-6
| Youth Deer Hunt
| Youth purchase one gun deer license which is good for all gun seasons. Any unfilled harvest authorizations after the 2-day hunt may be used during the remaining gun deer hunts.
* Non-Resident Youth purchase a JR Nonresident Sports license - includes gun deer, small game and fishing. * If a Non-resident youth plans to Archery hunt, their only option is to purchase a JR Nonresident Patron license - which includes archery & gun deer, small game, fishing and more. |
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October 5-13
| Disabled Gun Deer Hunt
| To participate, hunters must purchase a regular Gun Deer License. There is no special disabled deer hunting license for this hunt. Instead, hunters must obtain a free disability hunting permit from DNR, and carry it with their deer license when hunting. The hunt is statewide, but only on sponsered properties throughout the state. Hunters should go online at dnr.wi.gov to see the properties available to hunt. |
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October 19
| Pheasant Season opens
| All hunters will need a small game license and pheasant stamp to hunt pheasants statewide.
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October 31
| Deadline to purchase Lake Winnebago Sturgeon Spearing License
| SELECT HERE for instructions how to sell it. This deadline does not apply to persons who win in the drawing for an Upriver Sturgeon tag.
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Nov 23 - Dec 1
| 9-Day Gun Deer Season
| Hunters require a Gun Deer License, which includes a statewide buck harvest authorization and the option for free farmland (zone 2) antlerless harvest authorizations. Licenses may be sold during the season. Note: Under the Lessor Weapon law, a hunter may hunt with a bow or crossbow under the authority of a gun deer license, but only during a deer firearm season. |
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November 28
| DNR Service Centers closed
| DNR Service Centers will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. The DNR Call Center remains open from 7am-10pm.
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December 2-11
| Muzzleloader Deer Season
| Gun hunting is allowed with a muzzloader only during this season. There is no special muzzleloader deer license. Hunters will need a regular gun deer license and may use their unused gun buck tag, or any unused antlerless harvest authorizations. Archery and crossbow hunting are still allowed and proceed as normal during this season. |
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December 10
| Deadline for spring turkey and bear applications
| The deadline to purchase is 11:59pm on Dec 10. The application products will be removed from Go Wild after that time. If an application does not show for a customer before the deadline, they may have already purchased it earlier in the year. Check their active products and points to confirm.
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Dec 12-15
| Statewide Antlerless Deer Hunt
| A statewide antlerless only deer hunt for all weapon types. Hunters will need a regular gun deer license and may use any unused antlerless harvest authorizations. Archery and crossbow hunting is allowed during this season, but is also limited to antlerless only during these four days
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December 24-25
| DNR offices and DNR Call Center closed
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Dec 24 - Jan 1, 2025
| Antlerless only Holiday Deer Hunt
| An antlerless only deer hunt in participating counties. Hunters may use any unused antlerless harvest authorization that is assigned to one of these counties, or may purchase bonus harvest authorizations for those counties, if still available.
SELECT HERE for the map of participating counties.
Hunting in one of the participating counties: Both gun and archery hunting are allowed, and only antlerless deer may be taken by all weapons. Hunting outside the participating counties: Gun hunting not allowed. Archery hunting resumes as normal with both buck and antlerless. |
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Dec 31 - Jan 1, 2025
| DNR offices and DNR Call Center closed
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