Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge no longer carries federal recreational lands passes. Nearby recreation sites to obtain passes includes Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge in La Crosse, WI and Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. For more information on passes and where to obtain them click on the link below.

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 There are two Hunting Zones on the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, the North Zone and the South Zone. 

South Zone: On Refuge land south of the main channel of the Trempealeau River and south of State Highway 35/54, a Refuge Permit is required for all hunting activities. Additional special conditions apply for permitted hunting in the South Zone. Please refer to the information below for season dates, special conditions and application instructions for permitted hunting opportunities. 

2019 Gun Permits and Information  

Dates: November 23, 2019 through December 1, 2019
Hunters may apply to hunt on the refuge during the Wisconsin Nine-Day firearms season (November 23rd, 2019 through December 1st, 2019). Hunters may download a Nine-Day Gun Deer Hunt Application and send the completed application with a $10 processing fee to the refuge. Applications will be placed in a random drawing. Special regulations apply. Read all application information carefully. Only permitted hunters for the gun hunt will be allowed to hunt. The application deadline is 4:00 pm on September 20, 2019.

• Gun Deer Hunt Application - 2019

When deer hunting on Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge we encourage deer hunters to use lead free (lead-free) ammunition. Ammunition containing lead can break apart leaving dangerous pieces of lead in the gut piles and carcasses of deer. Eagles and other wildlife eat these remains and can become very sick or even die. It only takes a small amount of lead to make an eagle sick, do your part by making the switch to lead free ammunition. To learn more, visit http://huntingwithnonlead.org/ [link to non-toxic page https://www.fws.gov/midwest/refuges/leadfree.html ]

2019 Early Archery Permits and Information

Dates: September 14 through November 17, 2019
For the third year, the refuge is opening up archery hunting during the regular state archery season, starting September 14, 2019. The season dates for the refuge early archery hunt is September 14th through November 17th, 2019. Hunters may download an early archery permit application and send the completed application with a $10 processing fee to the refuge. Applications will be placed in a random drawing and selected hunters will be notified. Only selected archery hunters will be permitted to hunt on the refuge. Special regulations apply. Read all information on the permit and fact sheets carefully. The application deadline is 4:00 pm on August 31, 2019.

• Early Archery Application - 2019

2019-20 Late Archery Permits and Information

Dates: December 2, 2019 through January 5, 2020 
The season dates for the refuge late archery is December 2, 2019 through January 5, 2020. Late archery permit applications will be available beginning November 18th, 2019 and may be obtained in person at the refuge office or submitted via mail. The deadline to apply for a permit is December 18, 2019. Late archery hunters should complete and submit an application with a $10 processing fee to the refuge. Special regulations apply. Read all information on the permit and fact sheets carefully. The application deadline is 4:00 pm December 18, 2019.

• Late Archery Application - 2019   

2019 Waterfowl Hunt Information 

Each year the refuge offers waterfowl hunting opportunities for persons with disabilities. To participate in this special Refuge hunt, all applicants must have a Wisconsin Class A or C Disabled Hunting Permit, a current Wisconsin issued hunting license, current year State and Federal Duck Stamps, and a completed Migratory Bird Hunt Application. This hunt is limited to 14 participants.

Interested hunters may contact Trempealeau NWR for more information or to request an application by calling Stephanie Edeler 608/539-2311, x. 6 (TTY users may call via the Wisconsin State Relay Service at 1-800-947-3529) or emailing at stephanie_edeler@fws.gov. To request an application by mail, write to: Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, W28488 Refuge Road, Trempealeau, WI 54661.

The special refuge weekend hunt for persons with disabilities will be Saturday and Sunday, October 19 and 20, 2019. For hunters with disabilities, please use the Hunter Application to participate in the refuge hunt. For volunteer assistants wishing to assist hunters, please use the Hunter Assistant Application to participate. All hunters and volunteer assistants are required to fill out a new application every year to be considered for the special hunt.

Download hunter applications and then mail them to Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, W28488 Refuge Road, Trempealeau, WI 54661. If you are unable to join us for the weekend hunt, we also offer a full week of weekday hunts starting Monday, October 21 through Friday, October 25. Applications are required for all disabled hunting opportunities on the refuge.

Please don't hesitate to call if you have any questions about the waterfowl hunt for person with disabilities. Call 608-539-2311, x. 6 for more information.

• Waterfowl Hunter Application - 2019
• Waterfowl Hunter Assistant Application - 2019

2020-21 Trapping

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge offers trapping units for muskrat and beaver during the Wisconsin trapping seasons. Bidding for the units take place during a trapping auction in late September or early October annually. 2020 bidding will take place Wednesday evening, September 30th, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the refuge Outdoor Wonders Learning Center building, located next to the refuge office. There are twelve muskrat units and four beaver units available for bid. Trappers must show a current Wisconsin state trapping license (paper copy) when registering to bid. Bids will start at $40.00 per unit. Trappers must be present at the auction to bid. Payment for units is due at the close of the auction.

Muskrat units are also available for both Youth (18 years of age and younger) and Senior Citizen (65 years of age and older), free of charge. If you would like to enter in the drawing for these units, you must be present for bidding and provide a current Wisconsin trapping license and proof of age.