Small Game Hunting


Announcements

  • Permits are available online for camping, gathering, ricing, deer, bear, small game, turkey, and migratory bird hunting during and ~ 2 weeks prior to their opening dates. If you already have a NAGFA account set up, you can issue your own permits. Detailed instructions for issuing permits online can be found here. If you have not previously been issued an off-reservation permit, you will need to contact your registration station or conservation law enforcement office to set up an account.
  • Updated Treaty Hunting Regulation Summary for the 1837 and 1842 Ceded Territories in Wisconsin and Minnesota is available here.
  • Updated Model Off-Reservation Conservation Code for the 1837 and 1842 Ceded Territories in Wisconsin is available here.
  • Commission Order No. 2024-03 Tribal Gathering on State Lands - Wisconsin 1837 and 1842 Ceded Territory is available here.
  • Hand harvest, handheld nets, and electronic calls are not permissible methods of migratory bird harvest in 2024. GLIFWC staff continue to work with US Fish and Wildlife Service to implement a longer term agreement to allow tribal members to utilize these hunting methods in future seasons.
  • The Swan Season is currently OPEN
    Swan season will close if 50 trumpeter swans are harvested. See migratory bird harvest regulations for more information.
    • Trumpeter Swan Harvest to Date: 6

How To Get Off-Reservation Treaty Harvest Permits

Off-reservation treaty harvest permits are required for hunting, trapping, fishing, and gathering activities in the ceded territories. Permits can be obtained at your tribal registration station or conservation office. A tribal ID from one of GLIFWC’s member tribes is required to be issued a permit for off-reservation treaty hunting, trapping, fishing or gathering in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Permits are also available online for some activities after establishing an online account at a tribal registration station or conservation office.

Where Can I Exercise My Treaty Rights?

In general, off-reservation treaty rights may be exercised on publicly accessible lands within the ceded territory. An interactive map of the ceded territory can be accessed here:

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Useful PDF Documents:

Tagging and Registration

SPECIES TAGGING REQUIREMENTS REGISTRATION
ELK You must have a carcass tag in your possession to hunt elk. Attach the carcass tag immediatley upon harvest. Elk must be registered in person at a tribal registration station or by a GLIFWC warden by 5 pm on the day after harvest.
DEER You must have a deer or bear stamp on your hunting license to hunt deer or bear. A carcass tag is not required, however, if you leave a carcass unattended in the field, attach a tag to the carcass with your NAGFA ID and Stamp#. Registration can be via phone, online, or in person at a tribal registration station or by a GLIFWC warden. Deadlines: in-person, by 5 pm on the third working day after harvest; phone/online/GLIFWC warden, by 5 pm the day after harvest. A registration tag is not required, however, if you leave the carcass with a third party, attach a tag to the carcass with your NAGFA ID, Stamp# and Harvest Report#.
BEAR
BOBCAT You must have a carcass tag in your possession to harvest bobcat, otter, fisher, and marten. Attach the carcass tag immediatley upon harvest.
CITES tags are required for bobcat and otter if the pelts will be sold. CITES tags can be obtained from a GLIFWC warden.
Bobcat, otter, fisher, and marten must be registered in person at a tribal registration station or by a GLIFWC warden by 5 pm on the third working day after harvest.
OTTER
FISHER
MARTEN
TURKEY You must have a turkey stamp on your hunting license to hunt turkey. Turkey must be registered by 5 pm on the third working day after harvest. Registration can be via phone, online, or in person at a tribal registration station or by a GLIFWC warden.
SWAN You must have a swan stamp on your hunting license to hunt swans. All swans must be registered in person by presenting a fully feathered carcass to a tribal registration station or GLIFWC warden within 48 hours of harvest.
CRANE You must have a sandhill crane stamp on your hunting license to hunt sandhill cranes. Cranes must be registered within 48 hours of harvest. Registration can be via phone, online, or in person at a tribal registration station or by a GLIFWC warden.
  • Phone Registration: 844-234-5439

Shooting Hours

Local sunrise and sunset times can be determined here.


SPECIES SHOOTING HOURS
START END
Bear 30 minutes before sunrise 20 minutes after sunset
Deer
Elk
Bobcat
Beaver
Bobwhite Quail
Hungarian Partridge
Pheasant
Ruffed Grouse
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Turkey Spring: sunset; Fall: 20 minutes after sunset
Coyote 24 hours per day*

*During the Wisconsin regular firearm deer season:

30 minutes before sunrise - 20 minutes after sunset
Cottontail Rabbit
Raccoon
Red Fox
Gray Fox
Red, Gray, Fox Squirrel
Snowshoe Hare
Unprotected Species
Night Hunting Deer 1 hour after sunset 1 hour before sunrise

Local sunrise and sunset times can be determined here.


SPECIES SHOOTING HOURS
START END
Bear 30 minutes before sunrise 30 minutes after sunset
Deer
Badger
Bobcat
Beaver
Bobwhite Quail
Coyote
Cottontail Rabbit
Hungarian Partridge
Mink
Muskrat
Pheasant
Red, Gray, Fox Squirrel
Ruffed Grouse
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Snowshoe Hare
Turkey
Raccoon 24 hours per day*

*During the Minnesota regular firearm deer season:

30 minutes before sunrise - 30 minutes after sunset
Red Fox
Gray Fox
Unprotected Species
Night Hunting Deer 30 minutes after sunset 30 minutes before sunrise
Night Hunting Bear

Local sunrise and sunset times can be determined here.


AREA SHOOTING HOURS
START END
1837/1842 Ceded Territory 30 minutes before sunrise 30 minutes after sunset
1836 Ceded Territory
1837/1842 Ceded Territory HAND HARVEST METHODS 24 hours per day

SPECIES SEASON DATES
START END
Badger Closed
Bobcat October 1 March 31
Beaver Year Round
Bobwhite Quail Day after Labor Day March 31
Coyote Year Round
Cottontail
Hungarian Partridge Day after Labor Day March 31
Mink No Hunting
Muskrat
Otter October 1 March 31 (hunting) April 30 (trapping)
Pheasant Day after Labor Day March 31
Raccoon
Red Fox
Gray Fox
Red, Gray, Fox Squirrels Year Round
Ruffed Grouse Day after Labor Day March 31
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Snowshoe Hare Year Round
Turkey - Spring Wednesday nearest April 13 June 2
Turkey - Fall day after labor day December 31
Unprotected Species Year Round


SPECIES SEASON DATES
START END
Badger Day after Labor Day March 1
Bobcat October 1 March 31
Beaver Year Round
Bobwhite Quail Day after Labor Day March 31
Coyote Year Round
Cottontail Year Round
Hungarian Partridge Day after Labor Day March 31
Mink October 1 March 31
Muskrat October 1 March 31
Pheasant Day after Labor Day December 31
Raccoon Year Round
Red Fox Year Round
Gray Fox Day after Labor Day March 31
Red, Gray, Fox Squirrels Year Round
Ruffed Grouse Day after Labor Day March 31
Sharp-tailed Grouse Day after Labor Day January 31
Snowshoe Hare Year Round
Turkey - Spring Saturday nearest April 11 + 44 days or end of state season, whichever is longest
Turkey - Fall day after labor day December 31
Unprotected Species Year Round



CITES tags are required for bobcat if the pelt will be sold. CITES tags can be obtained from a GLIFWC warden.