Searching laws, bag limits, license charges, and different details about upland chook looking in America’s Dairyland.
Iconic. Legendary. Unbelievable. These adjectives precisely describe upland chook looking in Wisconsin. The Badger State is thought for wholesome ruffed grouse populations, considerable American woodcock breeding grounds, and the conservation of at-risk upland species like better prairie chickens and sharp-tailed grouse. The truth is, Wisconsin has some unimaginable conservation information to share this yr on that entrance: the state is internet hosting a sharp-tailed grouse looking season for the primary time since 2018.
READ: Firebirds of the Northwest Sands: Sharp-tailed Grouse of Wisconsin
“Wisconsin has had a protracted historical past with sharp-tailed grouse,” acknowledged the Wisconsin Division of Pure Assets (WDNR) in a press launch. “Starting within the Nineteen Nineties, state biologists seen a gentle decline in inhabitants numbers. Fragmentation and lack of their core habitat (pine barrens) are believed to be the first causes of the decline.”
Due to the low inhabitants numbers, beginning in 2019, the Sharp-tailed Grouse Advisory Committee really helpful ending the hunt. The committee, which consists of biologists, federal company workers, and conservation teams, critiques lek surveys, nesting success, habitat situations, and climate every year. “Based mostly on the inhabitants response we’ve been seeing, the metrics…steered the inhabitants was giant sufficient once more for a restricted hunt,” mentioned Bob Hanson, a WDNR wildlife biologist and key committee member.
For the final six years, the inhabitants has been too small to permit looking. However this fall, hunters awarded a allow through a draw system might be allowed to shoot one sharptail.
The reopening of the sharptail season is a conservation win. This open season wouldn’t be doable with out the devoted efforts of land managers, wildlife biologists, conservation organizations, and sharptail fans. “[The reopening] culminates years of intensive habitat work within the Northwest Sands area,” mentioned the WDNR.
Whether or not you’re one of many lucky few to attract a coveted sharptail tag (otherwise you’re simply chasing ruffies and woodcock), right here’s what you must learn about Wisconsin’s 2025–2026 upland chook looking seasons and laws.
Wisconsin Upland Chook And Small Recreation Season Dates And Limits
Obtain Wisconsin’s looking laws for the 2025-2026 seasons right here.
These dates had been final up to date on August 19, 2025 and will not replicate any modifications since that date. For essentially the most up-to-date data, go to the WDNR web site.
Ruffed Grouse
Ruffed grouse are the preferred chook species to hunt in Wisconsin. Top-of-the-line areas to hunt for ruffed grouse is Worth County. Worth County and its 300,000 acres of looking land is thought to many because the “Ruffed Grouse Capital of the World.” In fact, there are different locations to hunt ruffed grouse in Wisconsin. Nevertheless, it’s price visiting Worth County if you happen to’re looking birds in Wisconsin.
LISTEN: Wisconsin Ruffed Grouse Specialist Alaina Roth on the Undertaking Upland Podcast
Wisconsin’s ruffed grouse season is split into two zones. Zone A, protecting the northern and western parts of the state (west of U.S. Freeway 151), runs from September 13, 2025, via January 4, 2026, with a every day bag restrict of 5 birds and a possession restrict of 15. Zone B, within the southeastern nook of the state, opens later and has extra restrictive limits: from October 18 via December 8, 2025, hunters might take two birds every day with a possession restrict of six.
American Woodcock
Wisconsin’s American woodcock season runs from September 20 via November 3, 2025, with a every day bag restrict of three birds and a possession restrict of 9. As a result of they’re ruled by federal migratory chook legal guidelines, hunters should additionally full a Harvest Data Program (HIP) survey.
In response to the Wisconsin Chook Conservation Initiative, the state’s woodcock populations have declined by about 1.8 p.c yearly for the reason that late Nineteen Sixties, a pattern tied to the lack of younger forest habitat. The state has seen a 40 p.c discount in aspen-birch forest sorts between 1936 and 1996, significantly in central Wisconsin, limiting the aspen and alder cowl woodcock require. Regardless of these declines, robust populations stay within the Chequamegon-Nicolet Nationwide Forest, Northern Highland State Forest, Black River State Forest, Necedah Nationwide Wildlife Refuge, and lots of northern county forests.
Ring-Necked Pheasant
Pheasant looking has been a part of Wisconsin custom for the reason that chook was first launched within the late 1800s. Whereas numbers peaked within the early twentieth century, modifications in agriculture and land use have decreased habitat, and right now pheasants are most typical within the west-central and southeastern areas of the state.
The WDNR repeatedly shares birds on public lands. The company plans to launch over 75,000 birds throughout 80 properties this yr. Take a look at the WDNR web site for launch websites and different data.
The 2025 pheasant season runs from October 18 (9 a.m.) via January 4, 2026, with a every day bag restrict of 1 rooster on opening weekend, then two roosters every day for the remainder of the season. Possession restrict is 4 birds. An extra payment of $10 is required for a pheasant stamp.
Particular midday closure areas apply to sure state wildlife areas from October via November 3; view the complete checklist of the properties that shut early right here. Moreover, after October 19, every day taking pictures hours shut at 2 p.m. for all species at Richard Bong State Recreation Space, with exceptions for waterfowl and archery deer looking.
Mourning Dove Searching in Wisconsin
Mourning doves are certainly one of Wisconsin’s most accessible upland sport birds. The 2025 season runs from September 1 via November 29, with a every day bag restrict of 15 birds and a possession restrict of 45. A Harvest Data Program (HIP) registration is required, and hunters should use non-toxic shot on WDNR-managed lands.
Doves could be discovered throughout the state in grain fields, weed patches, gravel areas, and close to water sources, making scouting a key issue for achievement. Wisconsin biologists additionally take part in a nationwide dove banding program, with a purpose of banding round 850 birds yearly. Hunters who harvest a banded dove are requested to report it to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Chook Banding Lab.
For hunters seeking to goal managed fields, the Wisconsin DNR’s Fields & Forest Lands Interactive Gamebird Searching Software (FFLIGHT) supplies maps of dove administration areas, in addition to properties stocked with pheasants and habitat for grouse and woodcock. Simply word that it’s unlawful to hunt something apart from mourning doves on fields managed particularly for doves.
Searching Bobwhite Quail in Wisconsin
As soon as considerable throughout the southern and central components of the state, bobwhite quail in Wisconsin have steadily declined over the past century because of habitat loss, agricultural modifications, and harsh winters. The Wisconsin All-Chook Conservation Plan famous that in current many years, hunters harvested fewer than 8,000 birds yearly. By 2015, nevertheless, Quail Without end estimated that harvest had dropped to simply over 1,000 birds. At the moment, remnant populations are concentrated in southwestern Wisconsin, with smaller scattered pockets in central and southeastern areas.
READ: Midwestern Bobwhite Quail Conservation: The Time for Motion is Now
Wisconsin’s 2025 quail season runs from October 18 (9 a.m.) via December 10, with a every day bag restrict of 5 birds and a possession restrict of 15. Hunters ought to concentrate on areas with a mixture of grassland, farmland, and woody cowl, particularly previous fields, hedgerows, and oak openings.
Different Small Recreation Searching Alternatives in Wisconsin
Along with the ever-popular upland chook species like ruffed grouse and woodcock, Wisconsin affords a wide range of different small sport looking alternatives. Bold hunters can chase snipe, rails, gallinules, and Huns. Snipe season runs from September 1 via November 9, 2025, with a every day bag restrict of eight birds. Virginia rail and sora season can be open from September 1 via November 9, 2025, with a every day bag restrict of 25 birds. Gallinule season runs throughout the identical dates, with a every day bag restrict of 15 birds. The Hungarian partridge season opens October 18 at 9 a.m. and continues via January 4, 2026, although looking is closed in Clark, Marathon, and Taylor counties.
Hunters can even pursue cottontail rabbits, snowshoe hares, and squirrels throughout a lot of the state. Cottontail rabbit looking is split into two zones: the Northern Zone is open from September 13, 2025, via February 28, 2026, whereas the Southern Zone runs from October 18 (9 a.m.), 2025, via February 28, 2026. The every day bag restrict is three rabbits, with a possession restrict of 9. Snowshoe hare season is open year-round with no bag restrict, although a small sport license is required. For grey and fox squirrels, the season runs statewide from September 13, 2025, via February 28, 2026, with a every day bag restrict of 5 and a possession restrict of 15.
Wisconsin Upland Chook And Small Recreation Searching License Charges
These charges had been final up to date on August 19, 2025 and will not replicate any modifications since that date. For essentially the most up-to-date data, go to the WDNR web site.
Wisconsin Blaze Orange Clothes Necessities
The Wisconsin DNR states that when and the place a firearm deer season is in progress, it’s unlawful to hunt sport in addition to waterfowl until not less than 50 p.c of the hunter’s outer clothes above the waist is coloured blaze orange or fluorescent pink. A hat or different head protecting, if worn, have to be not less than 50 p.c blaze orange or fluorescent pink. Undertaking Upland recommends that you simply at all times put on blaze orange whereas looking.
Wisconsin Searching Canine Coaching Rules
The WDNR permits canine coaching on state lands designated as Class I and Class II canine coaching grounds. The distinction between the courses is that Class I grounds are open all yr and trainers can use equines, and Class II grounds permit canine coaching however have particular laws. For instance, most Class II areas are closed to guard nesting birds from April 15 to July 31 every year. A map of Wisconsin’s canine coaching areas is accessible right here, and you’ll view the checklist of canine coaching areas by county right here.
If you’re coaching with captive-bred quail, grey partridge, chukar, red-legged partridge, or pheasant, you will want a canine coaching license. Be taught extra about Wisconsin’s canine coaching license and fill out the appliance for one right here.
Be aware that the northern third of Wisconsin has canine coaching restrictions to guard breeding, nesting, and brooding wild birds. The restricted space is the portion of the state north of the next highways (a map can be out there within the 2025 looking laws):
Freeway 8 east to U.S. Freeway 53
U.S. Freeway 53 southeast to Freeway 64
Freeway 64 east to Freeway 13
Freeway 13 south Marathon County to Freeway 29
Freeway 29 east to U.S. Freeway 22
U.S. Freeway 22 east to Lake Michigan
Inside this zone, canine might not pursue or prepare on wild birds from Might 1 via June 30, apart from raccoon and rabbit canine trials carried out underneath a WDNR coaching license.
Wisconsin Conservation Organizations
Pheasants Without end
Quail Without end
Wisconsin Sharp-tailed Grouse Society
Ruffed Grouse Society
North American Grouse Partnership
The Worldwide Crane Basis
Wisconsin Prairie Hen Undertaking
The put up Upland Chook Searching in Wisconsin for Ruffed Grouse, Woodcock, Pheasant, Dove, and Different Small Recreation appeared first on Undertaking Upland.
