Wisconsin DNR opens 2026 elk season applications March 1. Increased quotas, longer season and new options for hunters statewide.
3-Things To Know
- Applications for Wisconsin’s 2026 elk hunt open March 1 and close May 31
- Central Elk Management Zone quota increases to six bull and six antlerless elk
- 2026 season runs Oct. 17 through Dec. 13 with a single continuous season structure
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced that the application period for Wisconsin’s 2026 elk hunt opens Sunday, March 1, and runs through Sunday, May 31.
According to the DNR, applicants and selected hunters will see expanded opportunities again in 2026, including increased license availability and a longer hunting season.
“The application period for Wisconsin’s 2026 elk hunt will open Sunday, March 1, and close on Sunday, May 31.”
Increased Elk Quotas In 2026
For the third consecutive year, the Central Elk Management Zone will see additional opportunities for hunters.
The 2026 quota for the Central Elk Management Zone is six bull elk and six antlerless elk. That is up from four bull and five antlerless elk in 2025.
“The 2026 elk quota for the Central Elk Management Zone is six bull elk and six antlerless elk, up from a quota of four bull and five antlerless in 2025.”
The Northern Elk Management Zone quota will be eight bull elk, subject to a 50 percent declaration by Ojibwe tribes.
Application Details
During the open application period, hunters may submit one bull elk license application and or one antlerless elk license application separately. Applicants can apply to any unit grouping with an associated quota for that authorization type.
Bull licenses will be drawn first, followed by antlerless licenses.
The DNR also reminds hunters that only one resident elk hunting license can be issued or transferred to a person in their lifetime, regardless of authorization type.
Selected applicants will be notified in early June.
One Continuous Season In 2026
Another major change for 2026 is the shift to a single continuous hunting season.
“In 2026, there will be one continuous hunting season, opening Saturday, Oct. 17, and continuing through Sunday, Dec. 13, eliminating the split-season structure that was in effect from 2018-2025.”
The DNR says this change offers hunters greater flexibility and more opportunity in the field.
Costs And Conservation Funding
Wisconsin residents can apply online through the Go Wild license portal or in person at a license sales agent. The application fee is $10 for each drawing, bull or antlerless, and is limited to one application per person per authorization type.
Of each $10 application fee, $7 goes directly toward elk management, monitoring and research. The funds also support habitat improvements that benefit elk and other wildlife.
If selected, an elk hunting license costs $49.
Before receiving a license, all selected hunters must complete a Wisconsin elk hunter education course covering elk history, regulations, biology, behavior and scouting techniques.
For more information, hunters can visit the DNR’s Elk Hunting webpage.
Fore more information on forecasts for the hunt, check our Forecast Page.
