2025 Elk Hunting Season Begins Today

Saturday, October 18th, 2025 -- 7:34 AM

The Wisconsin DNR celebrates the start of the 2025 elk hunting season today.

This is Wisconsin's eighth elk hunting season since the reintroduction of elk in the state, and the first year with antlerless harvest opportunities. The 13 hunters participating in the state-administered hunt were randomly selected from a pool of more than 26,000 applicants. There were 17,737 applications to hunt in the Clam Lake Elk Range and 8,452 applications for the Black River Elk Range for this season.  The DNR's elk management program is driven by the revenue received from hunter application fees, which contribute directly to the future of the state's elk population. For each $10 application fee, $7 goes directly toward elk management, habitat restoration and research.

The 2026 elk hunt application period for Wisconsin residents is expected to open with the new license year on March 1 and run through May 31, 2026.  For more information on elk in Wisconsin, visit the DNR's Elk webpage.

The 2025 pheasant season opens today as well and runs through Sunday, Jan. 4.  Hunters are encouraged to wear blaze orange or pink while pheasant hunting to increase visibility for other hunters and outdoor recreators.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.