Wisconsin anglers have until Oct. 31 to purchase their sturgeon licenses for one of the state’s most unique winter traditions.
3 Things To Know
- DEADLINE APPROACHING: Lake Winnebago sturgeon spearing licenses must be purchased by Oct. 31, with limited exceptions.
- SEASON OPENS FEB. 13: The 2027 season will last up to 16 days or until harvest caps are reached.
- CONSERVATION CONNECTION: License revenue supports management of the Winnebago System’s lake sturgeon population.
OSHKOSH, Wis. — The countdown is on for Wisconsin’s 2027 sturgeon spearing season, and anyone hoping to harvest one of Lake Winnebago’s prehistoric giants has an important deadline approaching.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is reminding spearers that Oct. 31, 2026, is the deadline to purchase a license for the upcoming season, which opens Feb. 13, 2027.
Unlike many other fishing opportunities, Lake Winnebago sturgeon spearing licenses are available in unlimited numbers, meaning there’s no lottery required to participate on the lake.
Both Wisconsin residents and nonresidents can purchase licenses through the state’s Go Wild licensing system or at authorized license sales locations.
Who Can Participate?
Spearers must be at least 12 years old to participate.
There are two exceptions to the Oct. 31 purchase deadline:
- Military personnel who are home on leave during the spearing season.
- Young people who turn 12 between Nov. 1, 2026, and the final day of the 2027 season.
The rules are different for the Upriver Lakes, which include lakes Poygan, Butte des Morts and Winneconne.
That fishery operates under a preference point and lottery system, with participation limited to 500 permitted spearers.
Successful applicants for the 2027 Upriver Lakes season have already been notified and have until the start of the season to purchase their licenses. Those selected for an Upriver Lakes tag cannot also purchase a Lake Winnebago tag.
When Does the 2027 Season Begin?
The 2027 sturgeon spearing season opens Saturday, Feb. 13, and can continue for a maximum of 16 days.
However, the season may end earlier if any of the predetermined harvest caps are reached.
Sturgeon spearing is a longstanding Wisconsin winter tradition, drawing participants onto the frozen Winnebago System each February.
Supporting a Healthy Sturgeon Population
Revenue from license sales helps fund the DNR’s ongoing lake sturgeon management efforts throughout the Winnebago System.
Those efforts help maintain one of the world’s healthiest lake sturgeon populations while supporting a carefully managed harvest.
The DNR has also released its annual reports covering the 2026 spearing and spawning seasons.
This year’s reports include details about how the sturgeon population responded to extreme flooding during the spring spawning season.
Both reports are available online:
Don’t Miss the Deadline
For anyone planning to participate in the 2027 Lake Winnebago season, the most important date right now isn’t in February. It’s Oct. 31.
Licenses can be purchased through Go Wild, and additional information about regulations, harvest caps and the upcoming season is available on the DNR’s Winnebago System Sturgeon Spearing webpage.
Key Dates to Remember:
- Oct. 31, 2026: Lake Winnebago license purchase deadline.
- Feb. 13, 2027: Sturgeon spearing season opens.
- 16 days: Maximum season length, subject to harvest caps.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Oct. 19, 2026.
