Nov 22-30
| 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. Learn more on the DEER HUNTING page. 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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Dec 1-10
| 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 tags. Learn more on the DEER HUNTING page. NOTE: 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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December 11-14
| 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
| DNR Service Centers and the DNR Call Center will be closed in observance of the holiday.
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Dec 24 - Jan 1, 2026
| 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. - 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, 2026
| HOLIDAY - DNR offices and DNR Call Center closed
| DNR Service Centers and the DNR Call Center will be closed in observance of the holiday.
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Jan 5-31
| Extended Archery Deer Season (select deer management units only)
| The regular archery season closes on January X, but there is an extention to the archery/crossbow season for select units across the state. Hunters are allowed to use their archery or crossbow licenses and any unused harvest authorizations to hunt in those select units. SELECT HERE for the map of participating extended archery units. |
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Jan 17-18
| Free Fishing Weekend
| Both residents and nonresidents may fish in Wisconsin waters without a license or trout stamp during these two days.
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Feb 14
| Sturgeon Spearing season begins
| Sturgeon Spearing season begins on Lakes Winnebago, Poygan, Winnecone & Butte des Morts. The season will conclude in 16 days or until any of the pre-determined harvest caps are reached for each lake.
Note: The deadline to purchase a Winnebago Sturgeon Spearing license was October 31, 20XX. There is no purchase deadline for the Upriver sturgeon spearing license (if awarded a permit).
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March 1
| 2026 Licenses go on sale
| The 2026 licenses go on sale March 1, one month before the new license year starts on April 1. A 2026 license is valid immediately after purchase. NOTE: The 2025 licenses are still valid until March 31, 2026.
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Early March
| Farmland antlerless harvest authorizations are not yet issued with deer license
| Purchasing a 2026 deer license early in the year will include the license and one buck harvest authorization. The Farmland antlerless permits are not yet issued with a deer license but will be available sometime in Mid-summer. Customers may redeem those antlerless permits later for free either online or at a DNR Service Center. They may also select and obtain them from a license agent for a $2 processing fee.
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