June 7-8
| FREE Fun Weekend
| 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. SELECT HERE for more info.
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July 4
| HOLIDAY - 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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August 1 
| Application deadline for Bobcat, fisher, 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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August 18-21
| Antlerless Bonus Harvest Authorizations go on sale at 10am.
| 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 a deer license before or during the bonus sale.
Monday, August 18 at 10am - Northern and Central Forest Zones only
Tuesday, August 19 at 10am - Central Farmland Zone only
Wednesday, August 20 at 10am - Southern Farmland Zone only
Thursday, August 21 at 10am - all zones can now be purchased
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Sept 1-15
| Early Goose Season - Statewide
| Hunters must purchase a $3 Early Goose permit in addition to Small Game license 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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Sept 1
| HOLIDAY - 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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| Sept 3 | Bear Season opens
| The Class A Bear Carcass Tag will only show up for 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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Sept 13
| 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 $3 crossbow upgrade). SELECT HERE for more info on reduced rate licenses. |
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Sept 20-21
| Youth Waterfowl Hunt
| Youth Waterfowl Hunt Open to hunters age 15 and under. The small game license requirement is waived during this special 2-day hunt. Participants will still need HIP certification, as well as a Statewide Regular Goose permit if they wish to hunt geese. Note: Hunters under 16 years old do not require a State or Federal waterfowl stamp. SELECT HERE to see a guide to Waterfowl licensing, or visit the Waterfowl Hunting training page for more information.
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September 27
| Duck Season opens in Northern Zone
| Participants will need a small game license and HIP certification, as well as an early and/or exterior Goose permit if they wish to hunt geese. Note: Hunters under 16 years old do not require a State or Federal waterfowl stamp. SELECT HERE to see a guide to Waterfowl licensing. Visit the Waterfowl Hunting training page for more info. |
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October 4
| Duck Season opens in Southern Zone
| Participants will need a small game license and HIP certification, as well as an early and/or exterior Goose permit if they wish to hunt geese. Note: Hunters under 16 years old do not require a State or Federal waterfowl stamp. SELECT HERE to see a guide to Waterfowl licensing. Visit the Waterfowl Hunting training page for more info. |
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October 11-12
| 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 4-12
| 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 18
| 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 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
| 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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