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Dane County Parks

Archery Permit Lottery

September 4, 2024 – all archery permits for 2024 have been SOLD. The next lottery will begin in July 2025. Thank you for your interest in the Archery Permit Lottery.

Dane County Parks offers an Archery Permit Lottery Program to award a Limited Access Archery Permit to hunt deer and turkey in select county parks. The lottery includes an online application process and computer-generated random lottery drawing to select permit winners. The program began in 2001 and has expanded to include a majority of the county park properties. Archers have an opportunity for a unique quality recreational experience while helping to manage deer and turkey numbers.

There are specific rules that apply to this program. Please read through these rules before applying for a permit.  Note, if you applied last year and were not selected for a permit you will have increased odds of being selected for the upcoming year.

 

Application Information

All permits will be mailed out once lottery winners are chosen and applicants purchase their permit online. There is no office pickup.

  • Applications for the 2024 Limited Access Archery Permits will be accepted online from Monday, July 8, 2024 through Monday, August 12, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Late applications will not be accepted.
  • A nonrefundable $3.00 application fee will be charged for all applications submitted. The cost of the Access Permit is an additional $14.00 to successful applicants. These costs cover administration of the program.
  • Winners will be notified via email which will include a link to purchase the permit for the property won. Once purchased, a plastic permit will be mailed; this must be carried and visibly displayed (on person) by the permit holder while hunting or en route to site.
  • Only one application per person will be allowed for the fall archer permit. Applicants with multiple applications will be disqualified from participating in the lottery.
  • Applicants must be 16 years old and older. The application process registers you for an opportunity to be drawn for an “access-only” permit for one (1) of the eligible Dane County Park properties. All valid Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR) deer harvest tags and/or fall turkey permits are still required in order to harvest a deer or turkey. Applicants can select up to three (3) properties in the order of preference where they would be willing to receive a permit. Only one application per person may be submitted and only one permit per person will be awarded if selected in the lottery drawing. If selected, applicants will be awarded their first available property choice. If an applicant is found to have applied more than once, then that applicant will forfeit their privilege to participate in the program and forfeit all current and future applications.
  • Youth 15 years old and younger are welcome to accompany and hunt under the guidance of a limited access permit holder.
  • Generally, there are more applicants then permits available. See the statistics tab for more information.
  • Hunters (and any accompanying youths) applying for this permit must purchase all necessary WI DNR licenses and permits and strictly follow all WI DNR hunting rules for the Management Area in which they will archery hunt. The Dane County Parks Limited Access Permit is valid for the archery/crossbow season including the extended archery deer seasons within the Dane County Management Zone in which the hunting will take place. Visit WI DNR’s website for more information.

How to Apply

September 4, 2024 – all archery permits for 2024 have been SOLD. The next lottery will begin in July 2025. Thank you for your interest in the Archery Permit Lottery.

Lottery Dates

Applications
Applications for the 2024 Limited Access Archery Permits will be accepted online from Monday, July 8, 2024 through Monday, August 12, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Late applications will not be accepted.
 

First Drawing
The first drawing will be Tuesday, August 13, 2024. Successful applicants will be notified via email. Access permits must be purchased online (winners will be sent information via email) by 4:00 p.m. by Monday, August 26, 2024, or will be forfeited and entered into a second drawing. All permits will be mailed out once lottery winners are chosen and applicants purchase their permit online. There is no office pickup.


Second Drawing (if required)
A second drawing will occur on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 for any permits which are unclaimed after the deadline. All applicants who did not receive a permit in the first drawing will automatically be entered into the second drawing. Successful applicants will be notified via email. Second Drawing permits must be purchased online (winners will be sent information via email) by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, or will be forfeited. All permits will be mailed out once lottery winners are chosen and applicants purchase their permit online. There is no office pickup.

Remaining permits (if any) will be available for purchase on a first-come first-served basis by calling the Parks Office at (608) 224-3730 on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 starting at 8:00 a.m. Permits must be purchased online (winners will be sent information via email). Remaining properties and # of available permits will be posted on the Archery Hunting webpage for you to review before calling. All permits will be mailed out once lottery winners are chosen and applicants purchase their permit online. There is no office pickup.

2024 Archery Hunting Statistics

826 Applications Processed
213 Permits Claimed
153 1st Choice
40 2nd Choice
20 3rd Choice

2023 Archery Hunting Statistics

641 Applications Processed
204 Permits Claimed
141 1st Choice
43 2nd Choice
20 3rd Choice

2022 Archery Hunting Statistics

621 Applications Processed
206 Permits Claimed
153 1st Choice
31 2nd Choice
22 3rd Choice

2021 Archery Hunting Statistics

586 Applications Processed
204 Permits Claimed
152 1st Choice
38 2nd Choice
13 3rd Choice
1 4th Choice

2020 Archery Hunting Statistics

554 Applications Processed
194 Permits Claimed
148 1st Choice
31 2nd Choice
15 3rd Choice

2019 Archery Hunting Statistics

474 Applications Processed
186 Permits Claimed
140 1st Choice
27 2nd Choice
19 3rd Choice

2018 Archery Hunting Statistics

399 Applications Processed
179 Permits Claimed
143 1st Choice
22 2nd Choice
14 3rd Choice

2017 Archery Hunting Statistics

422 Applications Processed
184 Permits Claimed
136 1st Choice
31 2nd Choice
17 3rd Choice

2016 Archery Hunting Statistics

416 Applications Processed
182 Permits Claimed
136 1st Choice
24 2nd Choice
22 3rd Choice

2015 Archery Hunting Statistics

434 Applications Processed
172 Permits Claimed
125 1st Choice
34 2nd Choice
13 3rd Choice

2014 Archery Hunting Statistics

434 Applications Processed
174 Permits Claimed
129 1st Choice
26 2nd Choice
17 3rd Choice
2 4th Choice

2013 Archery Hunting Statistics

416 Applications Processed
174 Permits Claimed
115 1st Choice
35 2nd Choice
12 3rd Choice
5 4th Choice
2 5th Choice
1 6th Choice
1 7th Choice
2 9th Choice

2012 Archery Hunting Statistics

364 Applications Processed
177 Winners
146 1st Choice
17 2nd Choice
9 3rd Choice
3 4th Choice
0 5th Choice
0 6th Choice
0 7th Choice
1 8th Choice
0 9th Choice
1 10th Choice

Limited Access Archery Permit Rules:

  • Only one application per person is allowed. Applicants with multiple applications will be disqualified from participating in the lottery.
  • Limited Access Archery Permits are only valid for one property and one hunter 16 years or older (and accompanying youth) and are not transferable to another person or property.
  • Youth participation is encouraged; one youth, 15 years of age or less, may accompany and hunt with a parent or guardian possessing a valid permit.
  • Limited Access Archery Permits are applicable for fall archery/crossbow deer and turkey only (no spring turkey).
  • Limited Access Archery Permits are valid for the current year’s deer and turkey season dates including any extended archery deer seasons applicable to the property based on the WI DNR’s Management Zones.
  • Hunters, and accompanying youth, must comply with all Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR) deer and turkey hunting regulations and possess all required WI DNR Licenses/Stamps/Harvest Authorizations valid for the season, period and zone/unit being hunted. Visit Wisconsin DNR’s website for more information.
  • Hunters must carry and visibly display (on person) the Limited Access Archery Permit while hunting or walking to hunting site.
  • No hunting within 100 feet of "Closed Area" (strictly enforced). Closed Areas include: all trails, buildings, play areas, campsites, parking lots, mowed/maintained areas and private property boundary. Hunting may take place adjacent to non-harvested agricultural fields or in harvested agricultural field if the location is at least 100 feet from a closed area that the public may be using.
  • To access open hunting areas, use public access points or an adjacent property with the owner’s permission.
  • All access beyond suggested access points is restricted to foot travel only. A non-motorized cart may be used to transport harvested deer.
  • Hunters requiring accessibility accommodations may contact the Parks Office.
  • Harvested deer or turkeys may be cleaned (gutted) within the park property but all entrails must be at least 100 feet from a closed area. No deer carcass may be deposited on County Property or within a park trash receptacle.
  • Tracking Deer and Turkey:
    • Do not enter any private property without the permission of the owner.
    • If tracking after dark, the Dane County Sheriff’s Department must be notified at (608) 255-2345.
  • Target practice or shooting is prohibited unless within a designated archery range.
  • Removal of trees or native vegetation is prohibited. You may lightly prune for shooting lanes and to access trees.
  • Portable tree stands and/or ground blinds are allowed but must be removed at the end of the day and be identified with a visible label containing the hunters contact information. Any structure left overnight is a violation and may be removed by park staff as abandoned property.
  • Please note:  some properties may be utilized by a Learn to Hunt archery program prior to the regular archery season.
Any violation of County Park rules and/or any past or present violation of WI DNR hunting rules may be subject to the forfeiture of current and future Dane County Permits along with possible county ordinance citation.

Non-hunting park patrons have the right to utilize the entire park on and off trails. Hunters must use care and be safety-conscious at all times. County parklands are open for dog walking. Dog owners are required to have their dogs under control and leashed unless they are within a designated off-leash Dog Park. Hunters MAY encounter dogs off-leash. If you encounter rule violations or become aware of an issue, please contact the Dane County Parks Office at (608) 224-3730 or dane-parks@danecounty.gov.