Wisconsin Mixed Bag: Winnebago system sturgeon spearing season license deadline is Oct. 31

Madison — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reminds all spearers interested in harvesting a lake sturgeon from the Lake Winnebago system during the 2026 sturgeon-spearing season to purchase their licenses before Oct. 31.

There are an unlimited number of licenses available for Lake Winnebago, and residents and nonresidents may buy licenses through the DNR’s Go Wild system or at any license sales location.

The 2026 sturgeon spearing season will open Feb. 14, 2026, and will run for a maximum of 16 days or until any of the harvest caps are met. More information can be found on the DNR’s website.

Most Trapping Seasons Opened Oct. 18

Madison — The first trapping seasons of the fall opened Saturday, Oct. 18. Additional seasons for other species and zones will continue to open throughout the fall. Trappers may double-check season dates and trapping regulations on the DNR website to ensure they have all required licenses before heading out.

All first-time trappers must complete a trapper education course unless trapping under the youth supervised option, mentored trapping program or other exemptions. These courses, taught by experienced trappers, cover basic trapping skills, regulations, safety and trapper ethics. For those just starting out, the DNR offers programs for beginners, such as the women’s and youth trap camp.

Coyote, fox, fisher (both zones), muskrat and mink (north zone), resident raccoon and the first bobcat trapping season opened Oct. 18. The beaver trapping season in zones A, B and C open Nov. 1, with Zone D (Mississippi River) opening Dec. 8. Remaining muskrat and mink zones open Oct. 25 (Central Zone), Nov. 1 (Southern Zone) and Nov. 10 (Mississippi River Zone). The otter season opens Nov. 1 in both zones. The second bobcat season opens Dec. 26. The nonresident raccoon season opens Nov. 1.

MORE COVERAGE FROM WISCONSIN OUTDOOR NEWS:

Great Lakes commercial fishermen bring differing updates to Wisconsin DNR and Natural Resources Board

$200 federal tax on firearm suppressors goes away Jan. 1

Four thoughts on spring habitat work to benefit fish and wildlife

Archers Pay More than $47.7 Million in Federal Excise Tax on New Products in 2025

New Ulm, Minn. — The Archery Trade Association reports that recent federal excise tax collections (FET) for archery products, as tallied by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), for the quarter ending Sept. 30, reached $10,636,988, bringing the fiscal year-to-date total to $47,710,826. These funds include:

• Bows, quivers, broadheads – $8,699,008 this quarter; $39,059,701 year-to-date;

• Arrow shafts: $1,937,980 this quarter; $8,651,125 year-to-date.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has reported that the 2026 per arrow shaft tax rate is $0.65.

The FET is a 10% to 11% tax manufacturers pay on the first sale of firearms, ammunition, and some archery equipment. The tax is part of the 1937 Wildlife Restoration Act, more commonly called the Pittman-Robertson Act. Archery equipment was added to the FET in 1972. Since then, bows, arrows and all equipment attached to a bow to shoot archery are subject to the FET.

The IRS collects that tax and sends the money to the USFWS to distribute to state wildlife agencies based on hunting license sales for habitat restoration, hunter education, wildlife research, public-access programs and other conservation projects.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis Confirmed in Marathon County Colt

Madison — The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) confirmed that a 5-month-old colt in Marathon County has tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). It is the state’s first confirmed case of the disease in a horse this year. In 2024, DATCP documented 10 cases of eastern equine encephalitis in horses.

EEE and west Nile virus (WNV) can cause inflammation of the brain. Symptoms of EEE in horses include altered mentation, impaired vision, head pressing, circling, inability to swallow, lack of coordination, seizures and death. Affected horses are often found down and unable to rise. EEE is fatal in most horses showing signs of illness. Horse owners should contact their veterinarian if they observe any of these signs.

EEE and WNV are not contagious between horses and do not pass between horses and humans. Mosquitoes carry the virus from infected birds. The only route of transmission is from a mosquito bite. The infections confirm there are mosquitoes infected with EEE in the state that can transmit the virus to people and animals.  Because these viruses follow mosquito populations, the threat is highest from middle to late summer until the first frost. Horse owners may speak with a veterinarian about vaccinations.