Sandhill Wildlife Area’s expansive Gallagher Marsh has ideal conditions for trapping furbearers.Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting applications for a special trapping season within Sandhill State Wildlife Area. The deadline to apply for the 2025-2026 trapping season is Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.

This unique opportunity will provide selected trappers a high-quality trapping experience while helping the DNR achieve its furbearer management goals on the 9,150-acre property.

Successful trappers will be required to attend a two-hour workshop at Sandhill State Wildlife Area to review information about season objectives, vehicle use regulations and data collection instructions. Trapping permits will be issued during the workshop.

Sandhill State Wildlife Area lies within the bed of ancient Glacial Lake Wisconsin – an expansive region of flat, marshy land interspersed with forests covering parts of seven counties in central Wisconsin. The property features low, sandy uplands of oak, aspen and jack pine forests, large marshes and many flowages. Conditions are ideal for furbearers, making this a desirable trapping location.

More information, including the application, is available on the DNR’s Sandhill Outdoor Skills Center webpage.

• https://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/california-deer-season-is-in-full-swing?fbclid=IwY2xjawMUTSBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHjp2PXOqtA5IaFcHwZ6Zo1NDU4HCs0xvy9zbq5Qx6KShUKTYUII7wQ3bl0qe_aem_wlrEqP2xxmxtB_22jTepeQ
• August 19, 2025

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) celebrated the kickoff of deer season with the Zone A General Season opener Aug. 9, 2025. Most other hunting zones across the state will open in September and October, providing ample opportunity for deer hunters statewide.

Detailed information about the specific zones and their opening dates can be found in CDFW’s approved 2025 deer seasons by zone (PDF)(opens in new tab).

Hunters looking to purchase deer tags should act promptly, as tag availability varies by zone. A current list of available deer tags (PDF)(opens in new tab) can be found online. Tags can be purchased through CDFW’s automated license and data system(opens in new tab), or in person at a designated license agent(opens in new tab). CDFW urges all hunters to familiarize themselves with regulations and to follow them carefully to support sustainable wildlife management and conservation efforts.

As a reminder, it is the responsibility of the hunter to ensure deer tags are properly affixed to the animal and validated before transporting harvested game. Tags can be validated by authorized individuals, including CDFW employees, firefighters, public notaries, peace officers, meat processors, USDA Forest Service staff and other designated state, federal and local agents. Validation is mandatory, the only exception is while the animal is being transported directly to the nearest authorized tag validator.

In response to recent detections of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the state, the California Fish and Game Commission has adopted regulations that define a CWD management zone as any deer hunt zone, or county, where CWD has been detected or is within 5 miles of a CWD detection. The regulations also provide the director authority to designate, based on management goals and feasibility, CWD management zones as mandatory sampling or mandatory sampling and handling zones.

For the 2025 hunting season, all hunters who harvest deer within hunt zones D7, X9a, X9b and X9c must have their animal sampled for CWD. All deer specialty hunts that occur within these deer hunt zones are included in the mandatory sampling. Please note that CWD testing is currently delayed. Hunters should continue to submit CWD samples. Testing hunter-harvests is vital to managing this disease and hunters continue to play a key role in CWD surveillance and management. For more information on CWD and how to get your harvest sampled for CWD testing, visit https://wildlife.ca.gov/CWD.