Wisconsin Non-Resident Hunting License 2026: 9-Day Gun Season, Deer Costs & CWD Rules

Wisconsin for Non-Resident Hunters

Wisconsin is a Midwest deer hunting institution. The November 9-Day Gun Deer Season is the most-participated deer hunting event in the country — over 600,000 hunters take to the woods statewide. For non-residents, Wisconsin offers:

• No draw required for standard deer licenses — OTC purchase anytime
• Long archery season — September through January
• Crossbow for all hunters during archery season, no age restriction
• Abundant public land — 1.5+ million acres of state forests, WMAs, and county forests
• Multiple species — deer, turkey, black bear, waterfowl, pheasant, grouse in one trip

The key complication: CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) is widespread in Wisconsin, and non-residents must understand transport restrictions before bringing deer home.

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Non-Resident License Costs 2026

Total NR gun deer hunt: $90 (small game) + $200 (gun deer) + $2 (surcharge) = $292 Total NR archery deer hunt: $90 + $200 (archery) + $2 = $292 Total NR turkey hunt: $90 + $65 = $155

Purchase at gowild.wi.gov.

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Season Dates 2026

[DATA UNVERIFIED] — Confirm at dnr.wisconsin.gov

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CWD: What Non-Residents Must Know

Chronic Wasting Disease is a serious and widespread issue in Wisconsin. Non-residents transporting deer out of state face strict restrictions:

What You CAN Transport Out of CWD Zones

• Boned-out meat (no bones attached)
• Cleaned skull plates with antlers (no tissue)
• Caped hides without head attached
• Finished taxidermy mounts

What You CANNOT Transport Out of CWD Zones

• Whole carcass
• Head with brain matter
• Spinal column
• Any tissue that could harbor prions

Before your hunt: Check the current CWD zone map at dnr.wisconsin.gov. Zones change annually based on new detections. Many southern and central Wisconsin counties are in active CWD zones.

Mandatory Registration

All harvested deer must be registered within 24 hours through GoWild or by phone (888-936-7463). Telecheck is required statewide for all deer.

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Antlerless Tags (ADHAs)

The NR gun deer or archery license covers one antlered deer. To harvest antlerless deer, you must purchase Antlerless Deer Harvest Authorizations (ADHAs) for your specific Deer Management Unit (DMU):

• Cost varies by DMU (typically $12–$20 per tag)
• Availability varies — some DMUs have unlimited ADHAs, others are sold out early
• Purchase through GoWild when available

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Top Public Land Areas

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (north) — 1.5M acres; excellent deer, grouse, and turkey. Less hunting pressure outside of the 9-day gun season.

Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest — 236,000 acres in Vilas/Oneida counties; prime northwoods deer habitat.

Meadow Valley Wildlife Area (central) — 64,000 acres in Juneau/Wood counties; high deer density with mix of agriculture and forest.

Driftless Area WMAs (southwest) — Crawford, Vernon, Richland counties; trophy buck potential in steep, wooded terrain. Note: overlaps with active CWD zones.

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Hunter Education

Required for anyone born on or after January 1, 1973. Wisconsin accepts certificates from all other states. The Mentored Hunting Program is available for youth under 10. Complete online at hunter-ed.com/wisconsin.

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Bear Hunting for Non-Residents

Wisconsin's black bear population is concentrated in the northern third of the state. Non-resident bear tags are available through a preference point draw system — expect a wait of 4–8+ years to draw depending on the zone.

• NR bear tag: $251 (verify current fee)
• Application deadline: Typically early December for the following fall season
• Baiting is legal — Wisconsin is one of the most popular states for bear-over-bait hunting
• Season: September through October in most zones

For non-residents who don't want to wait years to draw, consider booking a guided bear hunt — some outfitters hold landowner tags or can facilitate access.

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The Driftless Area: Trophy Buck Country

Southwest Wisconsin's Driftless Area (Buffalo, Crawford, Vernon, Richland, Grant counties) is one of the most talked-about trophy whitetail regions in the Midwest. The steep, unglaciated coulee terrain creates:

• Natural deer refuges in steep timber draws that are difficult to access
• Excellent food sources — mix of agriculture and mast-producing hardwood ridges
• Lower hunter density compared to flat-terrain counties during gun season
• Record-class bucks — multiple Boone & Crockett entries come from this region annually

The catch: The Driftless Area overlaps heavily with CWD zones. Non-residents must follow strict carcass transport rules when leaving these counties. Plan to bone out your deer at a local processor before heading home.

Public Land in the Driftless Area

• Kickapoo Valley Reserve (Vernon County) — 8,600 acres of rugged terrain
• Rush Creek State Natural Area — Walk-in access with minimal development
• Lower Wisconsin State Riverway — Scattered parcels along the Wisconsin River
• County forest land — Crawford and Vernon counties have huntable county forest blocks

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Turkey Hunting for Non-Residents

Wisconsin has a healthy wild turkey population and offers excellent spring hunting:

• NR spring turkey license: $65 (plus $90 small game base)
• Zone system: Wisconsin divides turkey hunting into multiple zones with specific season periods
• Draw: Spring turkey permits are allocated by zone and period — apply through GoWild
• Success rates: Vary by zone; Zone 1 (southwest) historically has the highest turkey density

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Meat Processing and Transport

For non-residents, getting your deer home from Wisconsin requires planning:

In CWD zones (most of southern/central WI):

1. Take your deer to a local processor ASAP after harvest
2. Have the processor bone out the meat and package it for transport
3. Keep cleaned skull plates with antlers (no tissue attached)
4. Do NOT transport whole carcass, head with brain, or spinal column out of CWD zones

Processors: Budget $80–130 for standard processing. During the 9-Day Gun Season, every processor is busy — call ahead and drop off early. Some processors offer vacuum-sealed packaging and shipping for non-residents (expect an additional $50–100 for shipping).

CWD testing: Free testing is available at many registration stations during gun season. Submit a lymph node sample — results typically available within 2 weeks online at dnr.wisconsin.gov.

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Trip Planning for Non-Residents

Best timing:

• 9-Day Gun Season (Nov 21–29): The quintessential Wisconsin experience. Expect crowds, orange everywhere, and a cultural phenomenon unlike any other state. Plan lodging months in advance.
• Archery (Sept–Jan): Far less pressure. October pre-rut and November rut offer world-class archery whitetail hunting with minimal competition.
• Muzzleloader (Nov 30–Dec 9): Immediately follows gun season. Reduced pressure, colder weather, and deer that have survived the gauntlet.

Lodging: Northern Wisconsin cabins and resorts cater to hunters. Budget $60–100/night for motels; $100–200/night for cabins. The Driftless Area has fewer lodging options — book early.

Getting there: Milwaukee, Madison, and Minneapolis airports provide access. Northern Wisconsin is a 3–5 hour drive from MSP or MKE. The Driftless Area is accessible from La Crosse (LSE airport) or Madison (MSN).

Weather: November 9-Day Gun Season averages 25–40°F with wind, rain, and possible snow. Northern Wisconsin can see sub-zero wind chills. Layer heavily and bring hand/toe warmers.

Blaze orange: Wisconsin requires a blaze orange hat AND outer garment (vest, jacket, or coat) visible from all directions during any firearms deer season. This applies to all hunters in the field, including archery hunters during concurrent firearms seasons.