Two Types of Hunting Opportunities

The Wisconsin Damage and Abatement Claims Program (WDACP) provides two types of hunting opportunities:

1. Hunting access during the open season.
   
2. Agricultural deer damage shooting permit program.

Hunting Access During Open Seasons

Farmers enrolled in either one of the two programs must provide hunting access to the public for the species they are enrolled for (generally deer) during the regular open hunting season(s) for that species.

Farmers have two options for providing access to hunters during the open seasons:

• Managed Access: The farmer can limit access to 2 hunters per 40 acres of land suitable for hunting. (The county damage specialist determines the amount of land suitable for hunting. Open fields are not considered land suitable for hunting). All hunters must ask permission of the farmer prior to hunting and must sign in on the farmer's log book. This is the most common option chosen by farmers.
• Open Access: Any number of hunters may hunt on the farmer's land during the open season. All hunters must notify the farmer of their intent to hunt on the farmer's land.

Download the complete list of farmers enrolled in the WDACP in the following counties: Adams, Buffalo, Calumet, Clark, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond Du Lac, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Outagamie, Portage, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waushara, and Winnebago. Farmer List (PDF, 611KB)

Download the complete list of farmers enrolled in the WDACP in the following counties: Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Pepin, Pierce, Price, Rusk, Taylor, Vilas and Washburn. Farmer List (PDF, 139KB)

For a list of farmers enrolled in the WDACP in all other counties, contact the county official in the county or counties you are interested in hunting in.

Agricultural Deer Damage Shooting Permit Program

Farmers who receive agricultural deer damage shooting permits have the option to provide some of their tags to hunters who would like to help them shoot antlerless deer only that are damaging their crops. Again, farmers are not required to allow hunters to use their damage tags. The permits are valid both inside and outside of the regular hunting seasons.

Download the current statewide list of farmers who have received deer damage shooting permits (PDF, 211KB).

Regulations

Regulations you should know for hunting on lands enrolled in the damage program.

Commonly Asked Questions

Answers to commonly asked questions about agricultural damage shooting permits for deer.

Remember . . .

During the regular season - Farmers must allow a certain number of hunters access to their property to hunt.

Outside of the regular season - Farmers may allow you to help them fill their damage tags.

Please be courteous to farmers! Call ahead to plan your hunt, and please refrain from calling them after 8 p.m.

For more information on this topic, send mail to: Wildlife Damage Biologist

Questions for Wildlife Management