(WFRV) – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced the return of Sharp-Tailed Grouse hunting season for the first time since 2018.
A press release from the DNR says the season will run from October 18th through November 9th, 2025, with a limited entry lottery application period open from June 30th to August 1st.
Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR
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The decision follows years of dedicated conservation work in the Northwest Sands region, where efforts to restore and reconnect pine barrens habitat have led to a steady increase in the Sharp-Tailed Grouse population.
The DNR says hunting was suspended in the 2018 season due to declining grouse numbers and habitat fragmentation. Since then, the Sharp-Tailed Grouse Advisory Committee, made up of DNR biologists, federal agencies, and conservation groups, has monitored key indicators like lek surveys, nesting success, and habitat health.
Hunters who have accumulated preference points from previous years can use them when applying for the fall lottery.
For more details on the season and application process, visit the DNR’s Sharp-Tailed Grouse Hunting webpage.
