Wisconsin Deer Season Dates 2026
Wisconsin’s deer year is built around the nine-day gun season the Saturday before Thanksgiving, with archery and crossbow open from mid-September into January. Dates below come from the Wisconsin DNR deer page.
When does deer season start in Wisconsin?
In Wisconsin, the 2026–27 deer season starts with Archery and crossbow on Sept 12, 2026. The regular firearms opener is Nov 21, 2026. Every season, with its zone notes and agency source, is in the table below.
Wisconsin season table
| Season | Dates | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery and crossbow | Sept 12, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 | Runs to Jan 31, 2027 in metro subunits and select Farmland counties. | Agency |
| Gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities | Oct 3–11, 2026 | Enrolled properties; eligible hunters only. | Agency |
| Youth deer hunt | Oct 10–11, 2026 | Statewide youth weekend. | Agency |
| Nine-day gun | Nov 21–29, 2026 | Regular firearms opener is Saturday, Nov 21. | Agency |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 30 – Dec 9, 2026 | Starts the day after the nine-day gun season closes. | Agency |
| Statewide antlerless-only | Dec 10–13, 2026 | Antlerless deer only. | Agency |
| Antlerless-only holiday hunt | Dec 24, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027 | Select DMUs only. | Agency |
Dates checked Oct 10, 2026 against: Wisconsin DNR — Deer hunting; Wisconsin DNR — 2026 Northern/Southern shooting-hours charts. Confirm with the agency for zone/county rules, bag limits and license requirements before you hunt.
Open right now
As of Oct 13, 2026, these are open (some only in certain zones or for certain hunters — see the notes):
- Archery and crossbow (through Jan 3, 2027)
Next to open: Nine-day gun on Nov 21, 2026.
What sets Wisconsin’s calendar apart
Wisconsin sets antlerless quotas by deer management unit (DMU) inside four big zones — Northern Forest, Central Forest, Central Farmland and Southern Farmland — plus metro subunits around the larger cities. Your DMU decides how many antlerless tags you can fill and whether the December holiday hunt is open where you sit.
- Nine-day gun, Nov 21–29. Opens the Saturday before Thanksgiving, as it has for generations.
- Archery and crossbow together, Sept 12 to Jan 3 — or to Jan 31 in metro subunits and select Farmland counties.
- Muzzleloader right after, Nov 30–Dec 9, then a four-day statewide antlerless-only hunt Dec 10–13.
- Holiday hunt, Dec 24–Jan 1, antlerless-only in select DMUs.
- October youth and disability hunts. Youth deer hunt Oct 10–11; gun hunt for hunters with disabilities Oct 3–11 on enrolled properties.
Legal hunting hours in Wisconsin
Wisconsin deer shooting hours are set by the Wisconsin DNR’s sunrise/sunset charts by zone: pick the 2026 Northern or Southern chart and add the minutes shown for your zone on the DNR map (Wisconsin DNR — 2026 Northern/Southern shooting-hours charts). We don’t publish a calculated Wisconsin time — read it off the chart.
For today’s sit, check the Wisconsin deer movement today page or enter your ZIP below.
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FAQ
When is the 2026 Wisconsin nine-day gun deer season?
Wisconsin's nine-day gun deer season runs Nov 21–29, 2026, according to the Wisconsin DNR.
How are deer shooting hours set in Wisconsin?
They are set by the Wisconsin DNR's sunrise/sunset charts by zone. Use the 2026 Northern or Southern chart and the zone adjustment on the DNR map.
When does Wisconsin bow season end?
Archery and crossbow run Sept 12, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 statewide, and to Jan 31, 2027 in metro subunits and select Farmland counties.