The following is a list of upcoming events, seasons, and important dates related to your Go Wild license sales. Dates are subject to change. Please check this calendar regularly for updates.
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 1
| ACH sweep notice
| Due to the final week of the calendar year, the ACH sweep on your account will be "split" into two separate sweeps, both occuring on January 9. Add these two sweeps together for the full amount.
- Sales from Dec 30-31 will have a separate sweep on Jan 9
- Sales from Jan 1-5 will have a separate sweep on Jan 9
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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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