Wisconsin Hunting Laws

What makes land legally posted in Wisconsin?

Land is posted with signs at least 11 inches square, in at least 2 conspicuous places for every 40 acres, giving notice and the name of the person posting followed by 'owner' or 'occupant'. Alternatively, paint-type markings at least one foot long with the words 'private land' and the owner's name in contrasting color, in 2 conspicuous places per 40 acres. Posting is not required to prosecute entry onto enclosed, cultivated or undeveloped land without consent.

Notice can also be given personally, orally or in writing.

Source: Wis. Stat. § 943.13(2)(am) · official source

Does Wisconsin have a purple paint law?

Wisconsin does not recognize purple paint marks. Its alternative to signs is a marking at least one foot long that spells out 'private land' and the owner's name in a contrasting color, in 2 conspicuous places per 40 acres.

Source: Wis. Stat. § 943.13(2)(am)2. · official source

Do you need written permission to hunt private land in Wisconsin?

No. Wisconsin requires the owner's or occupant's express or implied consent to enter enclosed, cultivated or undeveloped land, but does not require it to be written. An owner can limit consent to a specific purpose, and going beyond it is trespass.

Source: Wis. Stat. § 943.13(1m), (1s), (3m) · official source

What is the penalty for hunting trespass in Wisconsin?

Trespass to land, including entering undeveloped land without consent or staying after being told to leave, is a Class B forfeiture (a civil fine of up to $1,000). Posting look-alike signs on someone else's land without permission is a Class C forfeiture.

Source: Wis. Stat. § 943.13 · official source

How close to a house can you hunt in Wisconsin?

While on someone else's land, you may not fire a gun within 100 yards of any building used for human occupancy on another person's land without the express permission of the building's owner or occupant (a Class A misdemeanor). No one may hunt within 1,700 feet of a hospital, sanatorium or school grounds where signs designate the area.

Tents, vehicles and similar portable units are not buildings. Local governments may limit bow and crossbow hunting to no closer than 100 yards from a building on another's land (§ 29.038(3)(b)).

Source: Wis. Stat. § 941.20(1)(d); § 29.301(1) · official source

Can you hunt from or near a road in Wisconsin?

You may not fire a gun or airgun, or shoot a bow or crossbow, from or across a highway or within 50 feet of the center of a roadway. Shooting from or in a vehicle and carrying a loaded long gun (or cocked crossbow / nocked bow) in a vehicle are also prohibited, with exceptions for qualifying disabled hunters.

Forfeiture up to $100.

Source: Wis. Stat. § 167.31(2) · official source

What are legal shooting hours in Wisconsin?

Deer (gun and bow), bear, elk, small game and wolf: 30 minutes before sunrise through 20 minutes after sunset. DNR publishes exact zone-by-zone times in the annual regulations.

Migratory birds close at sunset; pheasant opener starts at 9:00 a.m.

Source: Wis. Admin. Code NR 10.06(5) · official source

What are the blaze orange requirements in Wisconsin?

Where a gun deer season is open, anyone hunting any game except waterfowl during that season must have at least 50% of each article of outer clothing above the waist, including the hat, in blaze orange or fluorescent pink.

Does not apply to authorized hunting between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise. Forfeiture up to $10.

Source: Wis. Stat. § 29.301(2) · official source

Is night hunting legal in Wisconsin?

Using a light to shine deer, elk or bear while hunting them or while holding a weapon is prohibited, as is shining any wild animal while hunting or armed. Shining wild animals at all is banned from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., September 15 through December 31. A flashlight or gun-mounted light is allowed at the point of kill when hunting raccoon, fox, coyote or other unprotected animals on foot.

Source: Wis. Stat. § 29.314 · official source

Do you need a hunting license to hunt your own land in Wisconsin?

Partly. Owners or occupants and their family members may hunt or trap beaver, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, woodchucks, rabbits and squirrels on their own land without a license, except during the 24 hours before the gun deer opener and for coyotes where closed during gun deer season. A license is still required for deer, turkey and other game.

Source: Wis. Stat. § 29.337 · official source

Who needs hunter education in Wisconsin?

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1973 must have a hunter education certificate to buy a hunting license. The mentored hunting program lets a licensed hunter without the course hunt within arm's reach of a mentor who is 18 or older and holds a license and (if born after 1972) a certificate; one mentee per mentor.

Bow hunter education alone qualifies only for archer or crossbow licenses. Completing basic military training also satisfies the requirement. Under 12 cannot hunt alone; ages 12-13 must be accompanied.

Source: Wis. Stat. §§ 29.593, 29.592 · official source

Is Sunday hunting legal in Wisconsin?

Yes. Wisconsin law does not restrict hunting on Sundays.

Source: Wis. Stat. ch. 29; Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 10 (no Sunday restriction) · official source

Is it legal to bait deer in Wisconsin?

Deer baiting is legal only outside counties where it has been banned for chronic wasting disease or bovine TB. Where allowed during deer season, you may use no more than 2 gallons per site, with sites at least 100 yards apart, no more than 2 gallons per 40 acres, and no animal parts.

Check DNR's current list of counties closed to baiting and feeding. Bear baiting allows up to 10 gallons per site.

Source: Wis. Stat. § 29.336; Wis. Admin. Code NR 10.07(2m) · official source

Can you use a crossbow during archery season in Wisconsin?

Yes. Anyone with a crossbow license may hunt deer during a crossbow deer season that runs alongside the archery season, from the Saturday nearest September 15 into January. A deer license also allows crossbow use during gun seasons.

Crossbow license covers all game except bear, elk and turkey, which need their own licenses.

Source: Wis. Stat. § 29.172; Wis. Admin. Code NR 10.01(3)(ep) · official source

Can you use a drone to scout or recover game in Wisconsin?

No person may hunt any animal with the aid of an aircraft, including using one to spot, group or drive animals for hunters. Using a drone to harass or interfere with lawful hunters is also prohibited.

§ 29.307 says 'aircraft' and does not name drones. Drones are named in § 29.083 (interference) and allowed for remote trap checking (NR 10.13).

Source: Wis. Stat. §§ 29.307, 29.083(2)(a)8. · official source

Is a landowner liable if someone gets hurt hunting on their land in Wisconsin?

Landowners owe no duty to keep property safe for, or warn, people hunting or doing other recreational activities, and are not liable for injuries to them. Exceptions: malicious acts or malicious failure to warn of a known unsafe condition, and owners who collect more than $2,000 a year in payments for recreational use.

Source: Wis. Stat. § 895.52 · official source