Important Timely News
Retired Rick
Aug 26, 2026
Piping Plovers Observed Nesting On Wisconsin Point For The First Time In 49 Years
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announces that a pair of piping plovers (Charadrius melodus), migratory shorebirds that are endangered in the Great Lakes region, was observed nesting this summer on Wisconsin Point in Superior for the first time in 49 years. The St. Louis River estuary historically supported breeding populations of piping plovers, but nesting had not been documented in the estuary since 1977.
The pair nested on an isolated stretch of sand and cobble that was built as part of a collaborative habitat recovery project for the species. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wisconsin DNR, St. Louis River Alliance (SLRA) and U.S. EPA, with funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, invested $4.5 million into the creation and maintenance of this site as part of the St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC). AOCs are sites on the Great Lakes with significant environmental damage that were designated by the U.S. and Canada in 1987 as needing special attention to restore.
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Retired Rick
Aug 17, 2026
DNR Seeking Volunteers And Landowners To Teach Hunters Of All Experience Levels
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking volunteers to teach hunters of all experience levels practical hunting skills. Volunteer opportunities are available in all parts of the state.
Becoming a volunteer instructor is a great way to shape the future of hunting in Wisconsin, get hands-on teaching experience, work closely with DNR staff and engage with your local community.
In addition to hunter education classes, the DNR and its contracted partners (Becoming an Outdoors Woman, National Deer Association, Pass It On Outdoor Mentors, Pheasants Forever and Raised at Full Draw) offer additional instruction and continuing education to hunters of all experience levels. We are seeking volunteers to coordinate and instruct programs that teach hands-on skills to help participants gain the experience and confidence needed to hunt independently.
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Retired Rick
Aug 14, 2026
2026 Bonus Antlerless Deer Harvest Authorizations Available For Purchase Aug. 17
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that bonus antlerless harvest authorizations for the 2026 gun deer season will be available for purchase online through the Go Wild license portal and at license sales locations starting at 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026.
An online queuing system will be used to manage volume in Go Wild. All users entering the site between 9:45 a.m. and 10 a.m. will be randomly assigned a number and staged in a virtual queue. Users will be arranged randomly regardless of the actual time they enter the system. There is no advantage for customers who enter the site before 9:45 a.m. Users who log on after 10 a.m. will be added to the end of the existing queue in the order of arrival.
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Retired Rick
Aug 10, 2026
Avoid Ash Trees When Placing Deer Stands
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters to avoid placing deer stands in or near ash trees as they start scouting properties ahead of the coming deer hunting season.
Most ash trees in the southern two-thirds of Wisconsin are dead or dying due to the emerald ash borer, and infestations in the northern part of the state are rapidly expanding. Emerald ash borer has been confirmed in all 72 Wisconsin counties, and unreported infestations are also likely to be present.
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Retired Rick
Jul 30, 2026
Eligible Hunters: Sign Up For Fall Gun Deer Hunt For Hunters With Disabilities By Sept. 15
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds eligible disabled hunters hoping to participate in the 2026 gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities to contact and confirm their hunting location with a hunt sponsor before Sept. 15, 2026.
Sponsors have enrolled nearly 70,000 acres of land across 47 counties for this year's hunt taking place Oct. 3-11, 2026. To participate in the 2026 hunt, hunters should contact sponsors directly. Some properties can accommodate more hunters than others, so hunters are advised to contact potential sponsors as early as possible to determine availability.
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Retired Rick
Jul 27, 2026
Applications For 2027 Upriver Lakes Sturgeon Spearing Season Due Aug. 1
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds spearers that the deadline to apply for an Upriver Lakes tag or purchase a preference point is Aug. 1, 2026 for the upcoming 2027 sturgeon spearing season.
Within the Winnebago System, the Upriver Lakes are shallower than Lake Winnebago. Due to this, water clarity is not as much of a concern to spearers during the season, resulting in higher success rates. To ensure lake sturgeon are not overharvested in this area, only 500 license holders are selected annually to spear on lakes Poygan, Winneconne or Butte des Morts.
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Retired Rick
Jul 27, 2026
DNR Announces 2025 Warden Of The Year
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that Lt. Jonathan Kaiser was named the 2025 Warden of the Year.
Known among the DNR Division of Public Safety and Resource Protections conservation wardens as the go-to dependable teammate, Lt. Kaiser has spent his entire career perfecting the community policing model, and his performance is second to none.128436
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Retired Rick
Jul 22, 2026
DNR Releases Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting Regulations And Fall Hunting And Trapping Forecasts
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today released both the hunting regulations (fall 2026-spring 2027) and the 2026 fall forecast series. Together, these resources contain most of the information that hunters will need to participate in hunting game species. The fall forecasts also include hunting and trapping outlooks for a variety of popular game species.
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Retired Rick
Jul 15, 2026
Special Wisconsin NRB Meeting July 23
The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) will convene for a special virtual meeting at 8 a.m. on Thursday, July 23, 2026. The Board will act on items 1 and 2 as listed on the agenda.
The public is encouraged to watch the July meeting on the DNRs YouTube channel.
During the July meeting, the Board will be considering:
Request that the Board authorize a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Emergency Board Order NH-10-26 (E) and Board Order NH-11-26, for proposed rules affecting ch. NR 12, related to wolf depredation claims
The complete July NRB meeting agenda is available on the DNR website.
In addition to being encouraged to watch the upcoming meeting, there are opportunities for the public to testify and to submit written comments about issues that come before the NRB. More information regarding public participation at Board meetings is available on the DNR website.
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Retired Rick
Jul 15, 2026
Sharp-Tailed Grouse Hunting Season Closed For 2026
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that the sharp-tailed grouse hunting season will be closed for 2026. Permits and applications will not be available or accepted this year.
Each year, the Sharp-tailed Grouse Advisory Committee, consisting of government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, tribal interests and conservation groups, uses a variety of population metrics to make a recommendation about a potential hunting season. They use several metrics, including the spring lek surveys, nesting success, winter survivability and habitat data.
Each of the four previous years have indicated an increase in the sharp-tailed grouse population; however, the committee evaluated the 2026 data and recommended to not hold a hunting season.
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