Armed Forces hunting privileges

Overview

License rates

Residents

Any resident in active service with the Armed Forces, who presents their military I.D. and leave papers is eligible for a free Small Game & Fishing License (state stamps included). All other hunting, trapping or fishing licenses can be purchased at resident rates.

Active service, means full time employment as a member of the armed services and does not include annual summer training by members of the national guard or reserves.

Any resident Purple Heart recipient who exhibits proof at a DNR Service Center of having received a Purple Heart medal is eligible to purchase a Conservation Patron license for $10. More details including acceptable documentation available on Veteran's page.

Nonresidents

A hunting, fishing and trapping license can be purchased at the resident rate by a nonresident who is:

• a member of the Wisconsin National Guard
• an active member of the Armed Forces stationed in Wisconsin
• a member of a Reserve Unit of the Armed Forces located in Wisconsin
• a current member of the Armed Forces or current member of a Reserve Unit of the Armed Forces stationed out of state who was a resident at the time he or she entered active service

Any nonresident Purple Heart recipient who exhibits proof at a DNR Service Center of having received a Purple Heart medal is eligible to purchase a nonresident Conservation Patron license for $161 and other hunting, trapping, and fishing approvals at resident rates. More details, including acceptable documentation available on the Veteran's page.

Hunter safety

Anyone who presents their military I.D. or other proof they've completed basic training in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves or National Guard may purchase a hunting license without the need to possess a hunter safety certificate or accomplishment.

Deferral

Any U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard member who is serving on active duty unable to exercise his or her privilege to fish, hunt or trap as permitted by the permit/harvest authorization/license due to his or her service on active duty (includes members of a reserve unit when serving on active duty for the U.S. Armed Forces) may defer a permit, harvest authorization or license issued under a random or preference selection system. This deferral can be used for any of the following permits, harvest authorizations or licenses:

1. Bobcat hunting or trapping permit
2. Otter trapping permit
3. Fisher trapping permit
4. Spring Turkey hunting harvest authorization
5. Sharp-trailed grouse hunting permit
6. Class A Bear license
7. Elk hunting license
8. Upriver Sturgeon Spearing license

Deer hunting

Deer hunting

Purchasing a unit-specific antlerless harvest authorization ("bonus" harvest authorization)

Any resident in active service with the Armed Forces stationed outside Wisconsin and who presents their military I.D. and leave papers may purchase one bonus antlerless deer harvest authorization for any ONE unit with a quota, even if the unit is sold out.

Qualifications for harvesting deer statewide

Qualified active duty Armed Forces members may use their Gun Buck Deer harvest authorization and one Farmland (Zone 2) Antlerless Deer harvest authorization statewide, with some limitations (see below for specifics relating to use of buck and anterless harvest authorizations). The qualified active duty Armed Forces member must meet one of the following requirements:

• is a resident who is an active member of the Armed Forces* stationed outside of Wisconsin who is back in Wisconsin on furlough or leave; or
• is a nonresident who is an active member of the Armed Forces* stationed outside of Wisconsin, who is back in Wisconsin on furlough or leave, BUT ONLY IF they were a resident at the time they entered active service.

*Active U.S. Armed Forces members also includes any person who is a member of a unit incorporated into the Armed Forces, such as an activated National Guard unit serving under the direction of a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Bucks

Qualified active duty Armed Forces members may use their Gun Buck Deer harvest authorization during any firearm deer season to harvest a buck with any legal weapon for that firearm season, including antlerless-only deer seasons.

Antlerless deer

Qualified active duty Armed Forces members may use one Farmland (Zone 2) Antlerless Deer harvest authorization in units outside of the Farmland Zones to harvest an antlerless deer, including buck-only units, but only under the authority of a gun deer license and only during a season open to hunting deer with firearms; harvest authorization is land-type specific (public access or private).

Turkey hunting

Turkey hunting

Any resident in active service with the U.S. Armed Forces stationed outside Wisconsin, and who presents their military I.D. and leave papers, may obtain a spring turkey harvest authorization for any zone and time period, without the need to go through the normal application and drawing process.

To obtain a turkey harvest authorization, contact DNR Customer Service at 1-888-936-7463.

Sturgeon spearing

Sturgeon spearing

Any resident in active service with the U.S. Armed Forces stationed outside Wisconsin, who presents their military I.D. and leave papers, may purchase a sturgeon spearing license after the October 31 deadline, through the end of the open season for spearing sturgeon.

For more information, contact DNR Customer Service at 1-888-936-7463.

Bear

Bear

Residents and nonresident Active Duty Armed Forces who exhibit proof of active service are eligible to receive a one-time transfer of a Class A Bear license.

Visit awarded harvest authorization transfers for details.

Elk

Elk

Nonresidents who exhibit proof they meet one of the conditions below may submit an elk hunting application:

• a member of the Wisconsin National Guard
• an active member of the Armed Forces stationed in Wisconsin
• a member of a Reserve Unit of the Armed Forces located in Wisconsin
• a current member of the Armed Forces or current member of a Reserve Unit of the Armed Forces stationed out of state who was a resident at the time he or she entered active service

Customers meeting these qualifications must contact DNR Customer Service at 1-888-936-7463 to have an eligibility posted to their account. Once the eligibility has been posted to your account, you may purchase your elk application online or at any of our more than 1,000 license agents. Please allow processing time prior to the May 31st elk application deadline.

Definitions

Definitions

Federal 22 CFR § 130.3 defines Armed Forces as any of the following:

• The US Army
• The US Navy
• The US Marine Corps
• The US Air Force
• The US Space Force
• The US Coast Guard
• The Maritime service, including merchant marine

Statutory references

• 29.164 (3m) Turkey Harvest Authorization
• 29.173 (2) Deer of Either Sex
• 29.177 (7) Antlerless Permit in Regular Unit (previously hunter's choice)
• 29.183 Deferral of approvals
• 29.192 (4c) Goose harvest authorization
• 29.194 Free Fishing & Small Game, Eligibility for licenses as a resident if resident at time entering service
• 29.569 Sturgeon Spearing License Purchase
• 29.593 Hunter Safety