Wisconsin · Deer · 2026–27 Edition
Wisconsin Deer Season 2026–27: Dates, Zones & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons by method
| Method | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Archery & Crossbow | Statewide | Sep 12 – Jan 3 |
| Archery & Crossbow — extended | Metro sub-units & marked Farmland Zone DMUs (DMU list not printed as text — see DNR's Deer Season Structure map) | Sep 12 – Jan 31 |
| Gun (disability hunt) | Statewide | Oct 3 – Oct 11 |
| Youth gun | Statewide | Oct 10 – Oct 11 |
| Gun (9-day firearm) | Statewide | Nov 21 – Nov 29 |
| Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 30 – Dec 9 |
| Antlerless-only | Statewide | Dec 10 – Dec 13 |
| Antlerless holiday hunt | Select DMUs marked on the Deer Season Structure map (Metro sub-units & designated Farmland Zone DMUs) | Dec 24 – Jan 1 |
02 — Bag limits
| Statewide | Set by carcass tag and Deer Management Unit — see WI DNR deer regulations |
|---|
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 12, 2026) 06:04 — 19:33
Rule: 30 minutes before sunrise to 20 minutes AFTER sunset — Wisconsin's closing margin is 20 minutes, not the half hour most states use. DNR's own 2026 shooting-hours tables (Northern and Southern Area, identical wording) state '30 minutes before sunrise to 20 minutes after sunset for Zone A'. Outside Zone A, add that zone's published offset in minutes to both the opening and closing time.. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Wisconsin sun times for any other date.
04 — License
A Wisconsin hunting license and deer permit are required. Costs, age rules and where to buy are on our license page below.
Wisconsin hunting license cost & deer permits →
Where to hunt public land in Wisconsin — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — Scouting gear
Scouting a property before Wisconsin's opener usually means glassing terrain and running a trail camera through the summer and early fall.
- Hunting binoculars on Amazon →
- Trail cameras on Amazon →
- Trail camera SD cards — class, capacity & format explained →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These are category links, not a single named pick — we run no product tests of our own.
06 — FAQ
When does deer season start in Wisconsin?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is September 12, 2026 — Archery & Crossbow, statewide. Other weapons and zones start later — see the table above.
When does deer season end in Wisconsin?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is January 31, 2027. Individual methods and zones close on their own dates.
When does bow season start for deer in Wisconsin?
Archery & Crossbow opens September 12, 2026 (Statewide). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
When does rifle season start for deer in Wisconsin?
Gun (disability hunt) opens October 3, 2026 (Statewide). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
When does muzzleloader season start for deer in Wisconsin?
Muzzleloader opens November 30, 2026 (Statewide). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
How many deer can you shoot in Wisconsin?
2026–27 bag limits: Statewide — Set by carcass tag and Deer Management Unit — see WI DNR deer regulations. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting deer in Wisconsin?
On opening day (September 12, 2026) legal light runs 06:04 to 19:33. The rule is: 30 minutes before sunrise to 20 minutes AFTER sunset — Wisconsin's closing margin is 20 minutes, not the half hour most states use. DNR's own 2026 shooting-hours tables (Northern and Southern Area, identical wording) state '30 minutes before sunrise to 20 minutes after sunset for Zone A'. Outside Zone A, add that zone's published offset in minutes to both the opening and closing time. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Wisconsin sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt deer on my own land in Wisconsin without a license?
Wisconsin's exemption covers only a specific species list — beaver, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, woodchucks, rabbits, and squirrels — for the owner or occupant and their family on their own land. Deer, turkey, bear, and waterfowl aren't included, and the exempt species can't be taken in the 24 hours before firearm deer season opens.
Verified · Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · Last verified 2026-08-16
Publisher's note. Dates as published by the Wisconsin DNR for the 2026 seasons, cross-checked against the '2026 Deer Management Units and Season Structure' map (gowildagent.wi.gov). PREVIOUSLY THIS FILE'S seasonCloses STOPPED AT JAN. 3, 2027, WHICH UNDERSTATED THE STATE: the Extended Archery/Crossbow season, which the DNR page mentions but the old methods table never carried as its own row, actually runs to Jan. 31, 2027 in Metro sub-units and marked Farmland Zone DMUs. It is now its own row and sets the state's real closing date. WHICH SPECIFIC DMUs QUALIFY IS NOT PRINTED AS TEXT ANYWHERE IN DNR'S MATERIAL — the Season Structure document is a color-coded map (Metro sub-unit vs. Holiday-Hunt-only vs. Holiday-Hunt-plus-Extended-Archery are three different map colors), not a text list, and DNR's own guidance is to 'see regulations for detailed [Metro sub-unit] boundaries'. Confirm your own DMU against that map before assuming either the standard Jan. 3 close or the extended Jan. 31 close applies to you. Tags/bag are set by Deer Management Unit — see WI DNR.