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Hunting

Hunting

Game species are found across the county, and hunting opportunities abound in Ashland County.  Large expanses of remote public lands give the adventurous room to roam.  The large acreage and lower density of hunters make for ideal conditions.

White-tail deer are the most popular game species.  Bow hunters can find areas to hunt where they seldom see other hunters.  Bear hunters have always looked to Ashland County to find hunting opportunities.  Public land allows dog hunters and baiters to find areas to pursue bear.  Bear seasons start in early September.  Ruffed grouse are a popular target.  Bird densities will vary across the county.  Grouse hunters typically harvest occasional woodcock.  In addition, other small game species include gray squirrel and snowshoe hare.  Waterfowl hunters can find good hunting spots especially early in the season. Predator hunting is typically practiced by only a few hardy individuals.  Coyote and red fox are the usual game, although some bobcats are also hunted in Ashland County.

Trapping

Water and dry land are the two categories of trapping in Ashland County.  Ashland County has an abundance of beaver.  Along with beaver ponds, you usually have otter and mink.  Muskrat populations vary considerably depending on the type of wetland.  Dry land trapping opportunities are plentiful with all the public land in Ashland County.  Coyotes are found throughout the county.  Red fox and raccoon are becoming more abundant.  Bobcat trapping is regulated by the limited number of tags issued and a few are trapped every year in Ashland County.  Fishers are the newest Wisconsin furbearers available to trappers.  The fisher population in the county seems to have stabilized.

Hunter Walking Trails

Ashland County is proud of the numerous Hunter Walking Trails found throughout the County Forest and Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.  These trails are closed to all motorized vehicles.  The trails are maintained and mowed for easier walking and navigation.  Sportsman’s Maps are available showing the Hunter Walking Trails in Ashland County.

Hunting Guides:

SEASONS:

Wisconsin’s 2026 deer and major hunting season dates are available directly on the Wisconsin DNR Season Dates page. [1]

Major 2026 Deer Hunting Dates

  • Archery and Crossbow: Sept. 12, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 (Extends to Jan. 31, 2027, in metro subunits and select farmland counties).
  • Gun Deer for Hunters with Disabilities: Oct. 3 – 11, 2026.
  • Youth and Disabled Gun Deer Hunt: Oct. 10 – 11, 2026.
  • Regular Gun Deer: Nov. 21 – 29, 2026 (Metro subunits run Nov. 21 – Dec. 9, 2026).
  • Muzzleloader: Nov. 30 – Dec. 9, 2026.
  • Statewide Antlerless-Only Hunt: Dec. 10 – 13, 2026.
  • Antlerless-Only Holiday Hunt: Dec. 24, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027 (Select farmland counties). [1, 2]

BEAR

The application deadline for bear permits is always Dec. 10, the year before the season.

2026 Seasons
Note: Bear Management Zones [PDF]
Zones A, B, D: where dogs are permitted
Sept. 9-15
  • with the aid of bait and all other legal methods not using dogs.
Sept. 16-Oct. 6
  • with the aid of dogs, the aid of bait and all other legal methods.
Oct. 7-13
  • with the aid of dogs only, no other methods.
Zones C, E, F: where dogs are not permitted
Sept. 9-Oct. 13
  • with the aid of bait and all other legal methods not using dogs.

MIGRATORY BIRDS

2026 Seasons
Early Teal* Sept. 1-9
Early Goose Sept. 1 – 15
Rail (Virginia, Sora) Sept. 1 – Nov. 9
Snipe Sept. 1 – Nov. 9
Common Gallinule Sept. 1 – Nov. 9
Mourning Dove Sept. 1 – Nov. 29
Youth Waterfowl Sept. 19-20
Woodcock Sept. 19 – Nov. 2
Northern Duck Zone Sept. 26 – Nov. 24
Southern Duck Zone Oct. 3-11 and Oct. 17-Dec. 6
Open Water Duck Zone Oct. 17-Dec. 15
Coot *Same as duck season for each zone
Northern Goose Zone Sept. 16-Dec. 16
Southern Goose Zone Sept. 16-Oct. 11, Oct. 17-Dec. 6 and Dec. 19-Jan 2, 2027
Mississippi Goose Zone Oct. 3-Oct. 11 and Oct. 17-January 5, 2027

WILD TURKEY

The application deadline for spring turkey harvest authorizations is always Dec. 10.

2026 Seasons
2026 Spring Turkey Youth Hunt April 11 – 12
Spring 2026
Period A April 15 – 21
Period B April 22 – 28
Period C April 29- May 5
Period D May 6–12
Period E May 13– 19
Period F May 20 – 26
Fall 2026 Statewide Sept. 12 – Jan. 3, 2027

 

SMALL GAME

2026 Seasons
Cottontail rabbit Northern zone Sept. 12 – Feb. 28, 2027
Southern zone Oct. 17 (9 a.m.) – Feb. 28, 2027
Milwaukee County Year-round
Squirrels (gray and fox) Statewide Sept. 12 – Feb. 28, 2027

OTHER GAME BIRDS

2026 Seasons
Pheasant Statewide Oct. 17 (9 a.m.) – Jan. 3, 2027
Ruffed grouse Zone A Sept. 12 – Jan. 3, 2027
Zone B Oct. 17 – Dec. 8
Crow Statewide Nov. 21 – March 24, 2027
Hungarian partridge Statewide (closed in Clark, Marathon, and Taylor counties) Oct. 17 (9 a.m.) – Jan. 3, 2027
Sharp-tailed grouse Zone-specific permits No Season 2026
Bobwhite quail Statewide Oct. 17 (9 a.m.) – Dec. 9

FURBEARERS

The application deadline for bobcat and fisher permits is always Aug. 1. An otter application is no longer required for the season.

2026 Seasons
Wolf Hunting
Hunting with the aid of dogs
Trapping
Coyote Hunting Year-round
Trapping Oct. 17 – Feb. 15, 2027
Fox (red and gray) Hunting and Trapping Oct. 17 – Feb. 15. 2027
Beaver See beaver trapping seasons.
Mink See mink trapping seasons.
Muskrat See muskrat trapping seasons.
Bobcat Hunting and Trapping Period 1: Oct. 17 – Dec. 25
Period 2: Dec. 26 – Jan. 31, 2027
Fisher See fisher trapping seasons.
Otter See otter trapping seasons.
Raccoon Hunting and Trapping Resident: Oct. 17 – Feb. 15, 2027
Nonresident: Oct. 31 – Feb. 15, 2027