Wisconsin hunting
Public hunting land in Wisconsin
Caliber maps 568 public hunting areas in Wisconsin, with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources's license fees, hunter education rules and official links in one place. Find the closest land to you on a list or a map, free.
Wisconsin · 568 areas
Chequamegon National Forest
National forest · 863,436 acres
Nicolet National Forest
National forest · 663,213 acres
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife And Fish Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 105,369 acres
Necedah National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 87,972 acres
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 43,922 acres
Largest areas shown. Caliber sorts all 568 by distance from you.
- 552
- State wildlife areas
- 3
- National forests
- 1
- BLM land
- 12
- National wildlife refuges
Wisconsin hunting licenses and rules
- Wildlife agency
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Phone
- 1-888-936-7463
- Resident license
- $18 — Resident Small Game hunting license (annual); deer, turkey, etc. are separate licenses
- Nonresident license
- $90 — Nonresident Small Game hunting license (annual); big game licenses extra
- Hunter education
- Required to buy any hunting license if born on or after Jan 1, 1973; mentorship hunting and armed-forces basic training are exempt.
Fees and rules as published by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, checked Oct 31, 2026. They change, so confirm on the agency's site. This isn't legal advice.
Official links
- Hunting licenses
- Season dates
- Regulations
- Public hunting lands
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website
Practicing for hunter ed?
Caliber has unofficial hunter education practice questions with explanations.
Try sample questions →Largest public hunting areas in Wisconsin
The 12 biggest of 568 areas. Caliber has every one, with a map, and sorts them by distance from you.
| Area | Type | Acres | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chequamegon National Forest | National forest | 863,436 | Open |
| Nicolet National Forest | National forest | 663,213 | Open |
| Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife And Fish Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 105,369 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Necedah National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 87,972 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Horicon National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 43,922 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Mead Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 31,977 | Open |
| Crex Meadows Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 29,764 | Open |
| Navarino Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 14,497 | Open |
| Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 13,876 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Fish Lake Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 13,536 | Open |
| Tiffany Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 13,371 | Open |
| Hay Creek-Hoffman Lake Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 13,324 | Open |
State wildlife areas · 552
Run for wildlife and, usually, hunting. Many need a state license plus a land-use permit or have their own season dates, draw hunts or weapon limits.
National forests · 3
Hunting is generally allowed under state hunting laws, except near developed sites and where posted. Some areas close for fire or wildlife.
BLM land · 1
Hunting is generally allowed under state hunting laws. BLM land is often scattered between private parcels, so legal access can be the hard part.
National wildlife refuges · 12
Refuges allow hunting only where and when each refuge opens it, often with its own permit and rules. Check the refuge's hunt page before you go.
Wisconsin hunting FAQ
Where can I find public hunting land in Wisconsin?
Caliber lists 568 public hunting areas in Wisconsin: 552 state wildlife areas, 3 national forests, 1 blm land, 12 national wildlife refuges. Open Caliber, enter your ZIP and see the closest areas on a list or a map. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also publishes its own public hunting land information on its website.
How much is a hunting license in Wisconsin?
As published by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (checked Oct 31, 2026): resident, $18 — Resident Small Game hunting license (annual); deer, turkey, etc. are separate licenses; nonresident, $90 — Nonresident Small Game hunting license (annual); big game licenses extra. Fees change, so confirm on the agency's licensing page before you buy.
Do I need hunter education to hunt in Wisconsin?
Required to buy any hunting license if born on or after Jan 1, 1973; mentorship hunting and armed-forces basic training are exempt. Check Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for exemptions and current rules.
When is hunting season in Wisconsin?
Seasons vary by species, zone and year, so Caliber links to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources's official season-date page instead of listing dates. Always check current regulations before you hunt.
Find Wisconsin hunting land near you
All 568 Wisconsin areas on a list or a map, sorted by distance, plus a free bullet drop calculator and DOPE book. Free on iPhone.
Free download · Optional Caliber Pro upgrade · iPhone and iPad
Public hunting land in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
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Area data: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1, public domain. Access as recorded in PAD-US. Always check current regulations, seasons and access rules with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the managing agency before you hunt.
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- Public hunting land in Wisconsin
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