Hunting seasons continue and are upcoming in Wisconsin.

Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt told WTKM that safety should be a priority.

"Always know where your gun is aimed. Look at your target and beyond. When you are preparing to shoot, always be sure of what is behind it in case you miss. There is a risk that you will hit something else."   

Wisconsin’s elk hunting season got underway Saturday, October 17, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Hunters registered 4,275 black bears during the Wisconsin bear hunting season this year, according to preliminary data from the Department of Natural Resources.

The registration total was about 3% higher than the kill goal and came during a season when the state issued a record-high 15,245 bear hunting licenses.

The 2026 Wisconsin bear season ran from September 9 to October 13.

Wisconsin has a strong black bear population estimated at 24,457 bears in fall 2026, according to the DNR.

The bear population has its highest densities in northern Wisconsin but the range has been expanding for decades, part of a national trend for the species.

The DNR attempts to manage the state’s bear population with an “adaptive management plan” that relies heavily on regulated hunting. The agency’s goals include reducing crop damage and minimizing conflicts with humans.

Bear hunting in Wisconsin continues to draw strong and growing interest. More than 146,000 people applied for a bear hunting license or preference point for the 2026 season, a record-high number of applicants, according to the DNR.