The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced that the 2026 bear hunting season will open Wednesday, Sept. 9, and run through Oct. 13. Over 34,000 people applied for one of 15,245 bear licenses available, with an additional 106,000 purchasing preference points to improve their chances in future lotteries.
Specific hunting regulations vary by management zone. In zones A, B and D, hunters may use dogs beginning Sept. 16, with the aid of bait Sept. 9-15 and bait only from Oct. 7-13. In zones C, E and F, dogs are not permitted, and hunters may use bait and other legal methods throughout the season.
Wisconsin's resident bear population is estimated at around 24,000 animals, covering more than half the state, primarily in the forested regions of northern and central Wisconsin. Regulated public hunting is the primary tool used to keep bear numbers in balance with available habitat.
All bears taken must be registered with the DNR by 5 p.m. the day after recovery, and hunters must submit two upper premolar teeth to support ongoing research and monitoring of the bear population.