Licensing

License Requirements

On this page...

Residency Requirement

In order to purchase a Wisconsin resident license, customers are required to provide proof of Wisconsin residency. Section 29.001(69) of the Wisconsin Statutes defines residency:

"Resident" means a person who has maintained his or her place of permanent abode in this state for a period of 30 days immediately preceding his or her application for an approval. Domiciliary intent is required to establish that a person is maintaining his or her place of permanent abode in this state. Mere ownership of property is not sufficient to establish domiciliary intent. Evidence of domiciliary intent includes, without limitation, the location where the person votes, pays personal income taxes or obtains a driver's license.

To purchase a resident license over the Internet, you are required to provide your DNR Customer Number, a valid Wisconsin Driver's License Number, or a Wisconsin Department of Transportation Identification Card Number.

Back to Top

Social Security Numbers

Federal mandates adopted in 1996 and corresponding changes in state law in 1998 require the collection of social security numbers for hunting and fishing licenses. This law change was the result of new federal rules governing child support enforcement efforts.

Every first-time customer will be required to provide his or her social security number to purchase a license or approval. Once the Social Security Number is entered into the system, the customer will be assigned a DNR Customer Number that will appear on every license document and receipt. Social Security Numbers are not printed on license documents. Any subsequent purchases will allow customers to purchase their licenses or approvals using their DNR Customer Number, avoiding the collection of social security number ever again.

The law that enacted the collection of Social Security Numbers is specific in restricting how this number is shared. It explicitly states that the Department of Natural Resources can only provide this number to the Bureau of Child Support at the Department of Children and Families.

Providing fraudulent information in applying for a hunting or fishing license puts the applicant at risk of having privileges revoked and subject to receiving other penalties and fines.

Back to Top

Customer Numbers

Every customer will be assigned a unique DNR Customer Number the first time they purchase a license or approval through the Automated License Issuance System. The number assigned to you will be used year after year. Having your customer ID number in the state's licensing system will expedite future purchases by making your computerized record quick and easy to find. Additionally, using your assigned DNR Customer Number when applying for licenses in the future will eliminate the need for you to provide your social security number.

Hunter Certification Requirement

Wisconsin law requires that anyone born after January 1, 1973, must complete a certified Hunter Safety Education course before they can purchase a hunting license. Wisconsin's automated license system is designed to recognize when verification of Hunter Education Certification is required based on the customer’s birth date. Customers are required to provide the Safety Certificate Number and the state of issuance at the time of purchase.

Bow Hunter Certification Requirement

Archery hunters may satisfy the hunter education requirement with proof of completing a Bow Hunter Safety Education class.

Trapping

Under Wisconsin law, an approval authorizing trapping can only be issued if the customer meets one of the following requirements:

  • Possesses a valid trapper education certificate of accomplishment from Wisconsin or another state; or
  • Previously purchased a license which authorized trapping prior to 1992; or
  • Actively engages in farming per Wisconsin Statute 102.04(3)*

    *Chapter 102.04(3) As used in this chapter "farming" means the operation of farm premises owned or rented by the operator. "Farm premises" means areas used for operations herein set forth, but does not include other areas, greenhouses or other similar structures unless used principally for the production of food and farm plants. "Farmer" means any person engaged in farming as defined. Operation of farm premises shall be deemed to be the planting and cultivating of the soil thereof; the raising and harvesting of agricultural, horticultural or arboricultural crops thereon; the raising, breeding, tending, training and management of livestock, bees, poultry, fur-bearing animals, wildlife or aquatic life, or their products, thereon; the processing, drying, packing, packaging, freezing, grading, storing, delivering to storage, to market or to a carrier for transportation to market, distributing directly to consumers or marketing any of the above-named commodities, substantially all of which have been planted or produced thereon; the clearing of such premises and the salvaging of timber and management and use of wood lots thereon; but not including logging, lumbering or wood cutting operations unless conducted as an accessory to other farming operations; the managing, conserving, improving and maintaining of such premises or the tools, equipment and improvements thereon and the exchange of labor, services or the exchange or use of equipment with other farmers in pursuing such activities.

Back to Top

Request to withhold personal identifiers

Wisconsin law requires the DNR to allow individuals who provide personally identifiable information the option to declare that their personal identifiers* may not be disclosed on lists of 10 or more names that are furnished to another person.

You will be asked during your sales transaction if you would you like your name removed from customer lists that DNR provides to third parties under Open Records Law. [s. 23.45, Wis. Stats.].

For example, DNR will occasionally receive requests for a list of all archery hunters in Wisconsin. A customer who responded "yes" to the question above would not be included in the list of archery hunters.

*Personal identifiers include: name, telephone number, street address, post office box number or 9-digit extended zip code. Social security numbers are not considered public records available for inspection, and they will not be included on any lists of information DNR provides to requesters under the open records law.

Back to Top

HIP Certification

Federal law requires that anyone hunting migratory game birds (ducks, geese, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules [moorhens], and coots) in Wisconsin will be required to first obtain Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration. The requirement to be HIP registered is not unique to Wisconsin.

Who must be HIP certified?

Everyone who hunts migratory game birds in Wisconsin must be HIP registered. This includes all resident and nonresident annual license holders, Senior Citizen Recreation Card holders, first year hunter safety graduates and members of the armed forces home on leave.

Why must I be HIP certified?

Wildlife biologists and hunters know that wildlife populations fluctuate annually. Changes in habitat and weather play important roles in these fluctuations. Some say that hunting is causing the decline in hunted wildlife populations. We know that regulated hunting does not cause unintentional declines in a game species population, but we need to better assess and document the role of harvest on future populations. Inadequate information regarding species populations and the impact of hunting has been cited in legal challenges to hunting seasons in some states.

Past migratory bird harvest surveys were unable to provide the desired information. For example, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service annually conducted a voluntary survey of hunters who purchased federal duck stamps, but a low response rate resulted in inadequate information. Harvest information on other migratory game bird species such as woodcock and snipe is even less precise.

How do I become HIP certified?

As a migratory game bird hunter in Wisconsin you will have the opportunity to become HIP registered when you apply for your annual hunting license. The process is simple! You will be asked "Do you intend to hunt migratory birds in Wisconsin this year?" If you answer "yes", you will be asked a few questions about your last year's harvest. Once you answer all the questions -- you are HIP certified. If you answer "no" to that question, you are not registered and it would be illegal for you to hunt any species of migratory game bird in Wisconsin that year.

If you obtained your hunting license and indicated you did not want to be HIP certified and then later in the season decide you do want to hunt migratory game birds in Wisconsin, you can easily become certified by stopping at any DNR office where you will be able to make that change.

What happens after I am certified?

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will randomly select a sample of HIP certified duck hunters, woodcock hunters, snipe hunters, etc. and ask them to participate in a harvest survey. Those selected will be asked to record daily hunting and harvest information in a small diary provided to them. Then they will return the diary immediately following the season. In future years, DNR researchers may contact hunters on a random basis. You may be asked your opinion about certain aspects of hunting season regulations. The information you provide will help the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the DNR better manage our great migratory game bird resources.

Last Revised: Wednesday May 06 2009