Bowfishing in Wisconsin gives you a hands-on, active way to get on the water and pursue fish that conventional rod-and-reel anglers often overlook. The state’s rivers, flowages, and inland lakes hold large populations of rough fish that make ideal targets, and the Wisconsin DNR has built a regulatory framework that keeps the sport accessible while protecting game fish populations.
Before you string your bow and head to the water, you need to understand exactly what the law allows. Bowfishing in Wisconsin comes with specific rules on species, equipment, seasons, access, and even time of day — and getting any of those wrong can cost you a citation. This guide walks you through every key regulation so you can fish confidently and legally.
Is Bowfishing Legal in Wisconsin
Yes, bowfishing is legal in Wisconsin. The practice is formally recognized under Wisconsin state law and is regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The department may not promulgate or enforce a rule that prohibits a person from taking rough fish or catfish with a bow and arrow or a crossbow. That statutory protection means bowfishing for the right species is a guaranteed right in Wisconsin, not just a permitted activity.
That said, the law does give the DNR authority to set limits around the sport. This does not prohibit the department from promulgating or enforcing a rule that establishes bag or length limits, season dates, zones, or any other limitations applicable to rough fish or catfish if the rule is consistent with the purposes of this chapter.
Wisconsin also has a specific statute — Wis. Stat. § 29.405 — that governs fishing with a bow and arrow or crossbow. It spells out what equipment you must use, what you must do with harvested fish, and what is prohibited. Understanding that statute is the foundation for staying legal on the water.
Pro Tip: Always carry a printed or digital copy of the current Wisconsin Spearing, Netting and Bait Harvest Regulations when you go bowfishing. The DNR updates these each license year, and specific waterbody rules can differ from statewide defaults.
What Fish Can You Bowfish for in Wisconsin
Wisconsin divides fish into two broad categories for bowfishing purposes: rough fish and game fish. The rules differ significantly between them, so knowing which category your target falls into is essential.
Rough Fish (Primary Bowfishing Targets)
“Rough fish” includes suckers not listed as endangered or threatened, common carp, Asian carp, goldfish, freshwater drum, burbot, bowfin, garfish, sea lamprey, alewife, gizzard shad, rainbow smelt, and mooneye. You can bowfish for rough fish like carp, gar, suckers, and buffalo year-round. These species are abundant across Wisconsin’s waterways and have no closed season in most waters, making them the backbone of the state’s bowfishing scene.
Catfish (Special Category)
Channel and flathead catfish and bullheads can be harvested with a bow or crossbow during the open season for spearing rough fish (so in most cases, continuously), except in waters with an existing closed season or fish refuge. Channel and flathead catfish may be harvested by bowfishing or by hand. See the Guide to Wisconsin Spearing, Netting and Bait Harvest Regulations, 2025–2026 for current harvest regulations.
Game Fish (Restricted)
Some game fish can also be taken by bow during their open seasons, but restrictions apply. In waters with a specific hook and line season or minimum length limit, those restrictions would apply for bowfishing as well. This means that if a waterbody has a minimum length limit for walleye under hook-and-line rules, you must observe that same minimum if you attempt to take walleye by bow during its open season.
Important Note: Protected, threatened, or endangered fish species may never be taken by bow. Check the Wisconsin DNR’s current threatened and endangered species list before targeting any unfamiliar species.
You should also be aware that it is prohibited to release or return any rough fish or catfish taken with a bow and arrow or crossbow, whether dead or alive, to the waters of this state. Once you shoot a rough fish or catfish, you are legally required to keep it — you cannot practice catch-and-release with bowfishing in Wisconsin.
| Fish Category | Bowfishing Allowed? | Season | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rough fish (carp, gar, suckers, drum, bowfin, etc.) | Yes | Year-round in most waters | No size or bag limit in most cases; cannot be released back |
| Channel catfish, flathead catfish, bullheads | Yes | Coincides with rough fish spearing season | Closed season and fish refuges excepted |
| Game fish (walleye, bass, pike, etc.) | Limited | During open hook-and-line season only | Same length and bag limits as hook-and-line apply |
| Threatened or endangered species | No | No open season | Never legal to take |
Bowfishing License Requirements in Wisconsin
Wisconsin does not issue a separate or special bowfishing license. Instead, bowfishing falls under the standard fishing license framework, but there are important nuances depending on your age and residency status.
Hook and line, spearing, bowfishing (bow and arrow, crossbow), minnow trapping, or taking fish by hand requires a fishing license, unless the person is a resident and otherwise exempted from purchasing a license (i.e., under 16 years old or residents born before Jan. 1, 1927).
This is a critical distinction for younger anglers: nonresidents under the age of 16 do not need a license to fish with hook and line but do need a license to spear, bowfish, net, trap, or take fish by hand. If you are bringing a nonresident youth along for a bowfishing trip, they need a valid Wisconsin fishing license regardless of age.
For nonresident families, there is a cost-saving option: nonresidents under the age of 18 who have a parent that is a Wisconsin resident may obtain a fishing license at the resident fee.
As of the 2025–2026 license year, Wisconsin resident fishing license fees include the following options, per the Wisconsin Fishing Guide:
- Annual Fishing License — $20, valid from April 1 through March 31 of the following year. This is the standard license for most Wisconsin anglers.
- Husband/Wife Combination — $30, covering both spouses on a single license.
- Conservation Patron License — $165, a bundled package that includes your fishing license, small game, deer, turkey, pheasant stamp, trout stamp, Great Lakes stamp, and more.
Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources manages all hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation licenses through the GoWild online portal at gowild.wi.gov. If you prefer buying in person, over 1,400 authorized agents across the state sell licenses — bait shops, sporting goods stores, Walmart locations, Fleet Farm, and many gas stations in fishing country.
Pro Tip: Purchase your license through the GoWild portal before your trip. You can access it digitally on your phone, which counts as a valid license on most Wisconsin waters.
Wisconsin also designates one weekend each year as Free Fishing Weekend. Each year, the Wisconsin DNR designates one weekend — usually the first full weekend in June — as Free Fishing Weekend. During this two-day event, no fishing license or inland trout/salmon stamp is required for any angler, resident or non-resident. Remember that even during Free Fishing Weekend, all other fishing regulations remain in effect. Bag limits, size limits, catch-and-release rules, and closed seasons must be followed.
If you are curious about other Wisconsin animal-related laws, you may also want to review roadkill laws in Wisconsin or beekeeping laws in Wisconsin for a broader picture of how the state regulates wildlife interactions.
Legal Bowfishing Equipment in Wisconsin
Wisconsin law is precise about what equipment is and is not permitted for bowfishing. Using the wrong gear — even accidentally — can turn a legal outing into a violation.
Required Equipment Standards
Under Wisconsin Statute § 29.405, you may take rough fish or catfish with a bow and arrow or take rough fish or catfish with a bolt from a crossbow only if the arrow or bolt is equipped with a metal barbed tip and is attached to the bow or crossbow with a tethered line that allows for retrieval of the arrow or bolt and the fish. Both requirements — the metal barbed tip and the tethered retrieval line — are mandatory, not optional.
This means standard field-point or broadhead hunting arrows are not legal for bowfishing in Wisconsin. You must use purpose-built bowfishing arrows with a metal barb and an attached line.
Bows and Crossbows
Both traditional bows and crossbows are explicitly legal for bowfishing in Wisconsin. The bow/crossbow season coincides with the rough fish spearing season in most cases. Compound bows, recurve bows, and longbows are all acceptable as long as your arrows meet the barbed-tip and tethered-line requirement.
What Is Prohibited
Several items and actions are specifically forbidden under Wisconsin bowfishing law:
- Arrows or bolts without a metal barbed tip
- Arrows or bolts not attached to a retrieval line
- Releasing or returning any rough fish or catfish taken with a bow and arrow or crossbow, whether dead or alive, to the waters of this state
- Leaving any rough fish or catfish taken with a bow and arrow or crossbow, whether dead or alive, on the ice or banks of any waters of this state
That last point is important: you cannot simply leave your harvested fish on the bank. Any person who takes rough fish or catfish with a bow and arrow or crossbow in any waters of this state shall remove the fish from those waters and use or dispose of the fish in an appropriate manner as determined by the department.
Common Mistake: Some bowfishers assume they can release live rough fish or leave carp on the bank. Wisconsin law prohibits both. You must remove all harvested fish and dispose of them properly — composting, burying, or using them as fertilizer are all common legal options.
Lighting Equipment
Artificial lights for night bowfishing are not prohibited under Wisconsin’s general bowfishing rules, and underwater or boat-mounted lights are commonly used. However, specific waterways may have local restrictions, so always verify rules for your target water with the DNR before using lighting equipment at night.
Where You Can and Cannot Bowfish in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s extensive water network — over 15,000 lakes, 84,000 miles of rivers and streams, and borders two of the Great Lakes — gives bowfishers enormous opportunities. However, access rules and location-specific restrictions matter just as much as species rules.
Public Waters and Access
Navigable waters are public in Wisconsin. If a waterbody is legally navigable, the water itself and the land below the ordinary high-water mark are public trust resources. This means you can wade, boat, and fish there — even if the shoreline is privately owned.
That said, getting to the water matters. You cannot cross private land to reach public water without permission. Use designated public access sites, boat launches, or bridges. Trespassing to access a bowfishing spot is a separate legal violation from any fishing regulation.
Popular Bowfishing Waters
Lakes such as Lake Winnebago, Castle Rock Lake, and Lake Wisconsin are known for their diverse fish populations, making them ideal for bowfishing enthusiasts. Wisconsin’s rivers, including the Wisconsin River, the Mississippi River, and the Wolf River, offer excellent bowfishing opportunities.
Boundary Waters Rules
If you bowfish on waters that border neighboring states, additional restrictions apply. Channel and flathead catfish and bullheads may be taken by bow, crossbow, or by hand only on the Wisconsin side of the waters and only if the season is open for spearing rough fish. For reciprocity, that means Minnesota, Iowa, and Michigan licensed anglers could go into Wisconsin waters and take catfish by these methods, but Wisconsin anglers could not go into the other state’s waters and use these methods, even though they can hook-and-line fish under the reciprocity rules.
Waters Where Bowfishing Is Restricted or Prohibited
- Fish refuges and designated fish sanctuaries — bowfishing is not permitted in areas where a closed season exists
- Waters with specific hook-and-line closed seasons — those closures apply to bowfishing as well
- Within 200 feet of fishways, locks, or dams on the Mississippi River — it is illegal to fish using any method other than hook and line within 200 feet of any fishway, lock, or dam on the Mississippi River
- Certain tributary streams during specific seasonal windows (see the Night Bowfishing section below for details)
For waters you are unfamiliar with, use the Wisconsin DNR Fishing Regulations lookup tool to check waterbody-specific rules before you go. You may also find it helpful to review other Wisconsin wildlife regulations to understand the broader legal landscape for outdoor activities in the state.
Night Bowfishing Rules in Wisconsin
Night bowfishing is one of the most productive ways to target carp and other rough fish in Wisconsin, since many species move into shallow water after dark. Wisconsin does not have a blanket statewide ban on night bowfishing, but there are important time-based restrictions that apply in certain areas.
General Night Bowfishing
On most inland lakes and rivers, bowfishing for rough fish after dark is permitted. The best time for bowfishing in Wisconsin typically falls between late spring and early fall when fish are more active and visible. This is the prime spawning season for many species, making them easier to locate and target. Night sessions during this window can be especially effective.
Bowfishing at night can be an exciting and challenging experience. Consider investing in high-powered LED lights to illuminate the water and improve visibility.
Restricted Night Periods on Tributary Streams
A key exception applies to certain tributary streams. According to eRegulations (citing Wisconsin DNR rules), it is prohibited to take rough fish and catfish by any method from Sept. 15 through Dec. 31 in Lake Michigan tributaries, major Green Bay tributaries and all other tributary streams and ditches to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. This nighttime restriction is designed to protect spawning fish in tributary systems during the fall and winter period.
If you plan to bowfish in tributary streams that drain into Lake Michigan or Green Bay between September 15 and December 31, you must complete your session before one-half hour after sunset and cannot resume until one-half hour before sunrise.
Key Insight: The nighttime restriction on tributary streams applies to all methods of taking rough fish and catfish — not just bowfishing. It is not a bowfishing-specific rule, but it absolutely affects where and when you can bowfish during fall and early winter.
Lighting and Boat Safety at Night
When bowfishing from a boat at night, Wisconsin boating laws require proper navigation lights. A wearable personal flotation device must also be available for each person on board. A wearable personal flotation device of the correct size for the intended wearer must be available for each person in a boat. Additional boating information is contained in Wisconsin Boating Regulations available online or by calling 608-266-2141.
Saltwater Bowfishing Rules in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is an inland state with no ocean coastline, so there are no saltwater bowfishing rules that apply within Wisconsin’s borders. The state does not border any saltwater body, and Wisconsin’s DNR does not regulate any saltwater fishery.
Wisconsin’s relevant large water bodies are freshwater: Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, both Great Lakes, are governed by Wisconsin’s standard freshwater fishing regulations along with interstate and federal agreements. Bowfishing on Lake Michigan and Lake Superior falls under the same rough fish and catfish rules that apply to inland waters, with additional boundary water considerations where Wisconsin shares jurisdiction with neighboring states.
If you are planning a bowfishing trip that involves traveling to a coastal state after fishing Wisconsin, be aware that saltwater bowfishing regulations vary significantly by state. Some coastal states require separate saltwater fishing licenses, species endorsements, or have specific gear restrictions that differ from Wisconsin’s framework entirely.
Important Note: Even though the Great Lakes are not saltwater, certain areas of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior have special regulations regarding tributary streams and seasonal restrictions. Always check the Wisconsin DNR’s current fishing regulations for the specific water you plan to bowfish.
For those interested in how Wisconsin compares to other states on animal and wildlife-related laws, the site also covers topics like exotic pet laws across the United States, feral cat laws in Wisconsin, and pet import laws in Wisconsin.
Key Takeaways for Bowfishing in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a bowfisher-friendly state with strong legal protections for the sport. The DNR cannot ban bowfishing for rough fish and catfish outright, and the state’s extensive waterways give you enormous options for where to go. But staying legal requires attention to several specific rules that catch new bowfishers off guard.
Here is a quick summary of the most important points to keep in mind:
- Bowfishing is legal and explicitly protected under Wisconsin law for rough fish and catfish
- Rough fish — including carp, gar, suckers, drum, bowfin, and others — can be taken year-round in most waters
- Catfish and bullheads are legal during the rough fish spearing open season, with exceptions for closed waters
- Game fish can only be taken by bow during their open hook-and-line seasons, and the same size and bag limits apply
- Your arrow or bolt must have a metal barbed tip and a tethered retrieval line — no exceptions
- All harvested rough fish and catfish must be removed from the water and properly disposed of — you cannot release them or leave them on the bank
- A standard Wisconsin fishing license covers bowfishing; no special permit is required
- Resident anglers under 16 are exempt from the license requirement; nonresident youth under 16 are not
- Night bowfishing is generally permitted but is restricted in Lake Michigan and Green Bay tributaries from September 15 through December 31 after one-half hour past sunset
- Boundary waters rules restrict catfish bowfishing to the Wisconsin side only
- Wisconsin has no saltwater bowfishing rules; the Great Lakes are governed by freshwater regulations
Always verify the specific rules for your target waterbody through the Wisconsin DNR fishing regulations page before each outing. Regulations can vary by county, specific lake, or tributary, and the DNR updates its guidance each license year. When in doubt, a quick call to your local DNR office will get you a definitive answer.