Hunting Regulations

General Firearm and Bow Restrictions

• NO hunting license necessary
• 50% or more blaze orange required while hunting (must have blaze orange hat)
• Maximum shell size of 2 3/4"

It is illegal to:

• Possess or use any firearm for hunting if you are a felon or have been prohibited from possessing a firearm under Wisconsin law. A hunting license does not authorize the purchaser the ability to possess a firearm for hunting. Most hunting licenses allow the choice of hunting with a firearm, air rifle, or bow & arrow. Unless otherwise prohibited, a felon can generally hunt legally with an air rifle or bow & arrow only.

• Hunt with a fully automatic firearm.

• Discharge a firearm at or towards power and utility lines and any related equipment.

• Hunt with any means other than a gun discharged from the shoulder, a legal handgun, or a bow and arrow. Certain individuals may qualify to use a crossbow.

• Possess a rifle with a barrel length of less than 16 inches.

• Possess a rifle with an overall length of less than 26 inches.

• Possess a rifle larger than .22 caliber rimfire or any .22 caliber centerfire or larger during the gun deer season in shotgun only deer hunting areas unless it is unloaded and enclosed within a carrying case.

• Hunt any Game Bird, Wild Turkey or Migratory Game Bird with a rifle.

Arms Transportation

It is illegal to:

• Possess, place or transport in or on any vehicle, whether moving or stationary, any firearm, bow or crossbow unless the firearm is unloaded and completely enclosed within a carrying case (see page 3 for definition) with no portion of the firearm visible and the bow or crossbow is unstrung or enclosed within a carrying case.

• Qualified disabled persons with the authority to shoot from a stationary vehicle must have all firearms unloaded and encased and any bows must be unstrung or encased while the vehicle is in motion.

• Possess, place or transport in or on any motor driven boat while the motor is running, any firearm, bow or crossbow unless the firearm is unloaded (see below) and bow or crossbow is unstrung or completely enclosed within a carrying case. Exception: Possession of a strung, uncased bow in a boat while using a motor is legal for bowfishing only. See Fishing Regulations for additional restrictions.

Unloaded means any of the following:

1. Having no shell or cartridge in the chamber of a firearm or in the magazine, clip, or cylinder attached to a firearm.

2. Having the cap removed from a percussion muzzleloading firearm.

3. Having the flashpan cleaned of powder from a flint lock muzzleloading firearm.

4. Having the powder and projectile removed from the barrel of an electronic ignition system muzzleloader.

Dogs

• Dogs are considered private property and are protected by law. Owners may be held responsible for damage caused by their dogs while hunting or for dogs running at large.