Hunting in Wisconsin: Online Resources and Mobile Apps to Enhance the Field Experience

The Internet and mobile phone applications can add a lot to a hunter’s experience in the field. In Wisconsin, the state Department of Natural Resources, which regulates hunting, offers several services on its website that can help hunters more effectively plan for a fun and satisfying trip.

From season and permit information to finding private lands for hunting, the information online at is very valuable to new or veteran hunters:

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Season Dates and Application Deadlines – Online Version
Hunting and trapping seasons are listed by species, along with application dates for permit lottery drawings if applicable.

2015 Wisconsin Hunting + Trapping Seasons – PDF Printable Version
This 2-page printable list of hunting and trapping seasons is organized by species.

Required Documents for Hunting and Trapping
Many animals require stamps and/or permits in addition to a license for legal hunting. This handy table clearly shows just what’s needed, listed by animal. It is organized by small game, furbearers, game birds, migratory game birds, and other (including big game like bear and deer).

This table also lists which species are subject to lottery drawings and the deadlines for lottery applications.

Private Forest Lands Open for Public Recreation – Online Maps + Mobile App
Hunters interested in private lands can find them with a helpful online mapping application.

Commercial mobile applications for telephones and tablets are a newer way to help hunters find the information they need to plan and execute a successful hunting trip.

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Pocket Ranger, The official commercial mobile app for Wisconsin hunters is the Pocket Ranger, which provides your state’s hunting zone maps and season open and close dates. It is available for Apple and Android devices. It can be found on iTunes and the Google Play store.

Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited offers commercial phone apps for android and smartphones that feature sunrise /sunset calculators, migration information, and DU news. They also include a free waterfowler journal that helps a hunter track their harvest, record hunt details, and collect photos. There’s also a version that supports Windows 8 tablets.

Game and Fish Magazine recommended numerous hunting apps in 2014. Among these were:

Hunter Predictor
Hunter Predictor is an app for deer, turkey and waterfowl hunting purposes. It uses a mix of GPS and weather information to suggest the best times and places to hunt.

iHunt Journal
The app iHunt Journal tracks your harvest, weather conditions, and other data about each hunting trip.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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