Buck walking through the prairie

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge is nestled along the Mississippi River in western Wisconsin. The 6,446-acre refuge lies within the Mississippi Flyway. The picturesque drive along the Great River Road National Scenic Byway entices travelers along the way. The refuge is an isolated backwater, cut off from the Mississippi and Trempealeau Rivers by dikes.

The refuge includes two hunting zones, the North Zone and the South Zone. A refuge permit is required for all hunting activities in the South Zone and special conditions apply. In the North Zone, refuge land is open to public hunting, and a refuge permit is not required for hunting activities. 

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge Public Use Regulations Brochure and Map
For more information on this map call (608) 539-2311 or visit us at Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge at W28488 Refuge Road Trempealeau, WI 54661-7246.
 

2025 Deer Early Archery Hunt Permits and Information

Dates: September 13 - November 21, 2025
The season dates for the refuge early archery hunt are September 13 through November 21, 2025. Hunters may download an early archery permit application or pick up at the Refuge Office and send the completed application, signed permit, and a $10 processing fee to the refuge. Office hours are Wednesday-Friday 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. Applications can be mailed or placed in the brown mail drop box located in the Contact Station/Office parking area. Mailing Address: Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, W28488 Refuge Road, Trempealeau, WI 54661. Applications will be placed in a random drawing and selected hunters will be notified. Only selected bow hunters will be permitted to hunt in the refuge. Special regulations apply. Please read all information on the permit and fact sheets carefully. Applications for the refuge early archery season must be received or postmarked by close of business by August 29, 2025. The drawing will be held on September 5.

2025 Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge Early Archery Fact Sheet and Application Instructions

2025 Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge Early Archery Application

Form 3-1383-G General Special Use Permit_Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge_EAD_2025

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge - Harvest Report Form


2025 Deer Gun Hunt Permits and Information  

Dates: November 22, 2025 - November 30, 2025
Hunters may apply to hunt on the refuge during the Wisconsin Nine-Day firearms season (November 22, 2025 - November 30, 2025). Hunters may download a Nine-Day Gun Deer Hunt Application or pick up at the Refuge Office and send the completed application, signed permit, and a $10 processing fee to the refuge. Office hours are Wednesday-Friday 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. Applications can be mailed, handed in at the front desk during office hours or placed in the brown mail drop box located in the Contact Station/Office parking area. Mailing Address: Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, W28488 Refuge Road, Trempealeau, WI 54661. 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. Applications for the refuge gun hunt season must be received or postmarked by September 12, 2025.

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, please do your part by making the switch to lead free ammunition.

2025 Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge Gun Hunt Fact Sheet and Application Instructions

2025 Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge Gun Hunt Application

Form 3-1383-G General Special Use Permit - Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge_GD_2025

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge - Harvest Report Form


2025 Waterfowl Hunt for Persons With Disabilities

Dates: Saturday October 18 鈥� Friday October 24, 2025.
This year Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge will offer the opportunity to hunt the River Bottoms tract from Saturday October 18 鈥� Friday October 24, 2025.  This portion of the Refuge will be closed to other public use and hunters will be provided with a code to access the property.  There will be an accessible porta-potty stationed for daily use and a warming shelter to get out of the weather, if needed.

To participate in this special refuge hunt, all applicants must have a Wisconsin Class A or C Disabled Hunting Permit, a current Wisconsin issued small game license, 2025 State & Federal Duck Stamps, and a completed application.  This hunt is limited to 14 participants. If more than 14 applications are received by the deadline (October 3, 2025), a random drawing will be held.

Hunters and assistants may download the application package or pick up at the Refuge Office. Please send the completed application and signed permit to the refuge or you can drop it at the office during office hours Wednesday-Friday 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. Applications can be mailed, handed in at the front desk during office hours or placed in the brown mail drop box located in the Contact Station/Office parking area during after hours. Mailing Address: Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, W28488 Refuge Road, Trempealeau, WI 54661.

2025 Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge - Waterfowl Hunt - Fact Sheet and Application Instructions - Hunter Packet

2025 Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge - Waterfowl Hunt - Fact Sheet and Application Instructions - Assistant Packet

Interested hunters or assistants may contact Dana M. Schelling for more details or questions at 608-539-2311 x2 or email [email protected] (TTY users may call via the Wisconsin State Relay Service at 1-800-947-3529). To request an application by mail, write to Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, W28488 Refuge Road, Trempealeau, Wisconsin 54661.


2025-26 Late Archery Permits and Information

Dates: December 1, 2025 - January 4, 2026. 
Applications for late archery season will be available online and in office in mid-November. 

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge - Harvest Report Form