MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) this week released the 2024 fish stocking numbers for inland waterbodies and the Great Lakes.
The DNR raises millions of yearling and fingerling fish to stock into Wisconsin waters every year. Over 5 million fish were stocked in 2024, which helped fulfill the quotas submitted by county fisheries biologists.
Stocking helps boost natural fish populations where natural reproduction can no longer support the fishery, maintain or restore existing fisheries and support recreational fishing opportunities. Stocking is also used to evaluate management actions or fish culture techniques.
DNR biologists analyze data collected from present and past surveys to determine which species and quantity should be stocked, along with other factors such as:
● Public input received during the development of species-specific management plans
● Experimental fisheries management strategies
● Specific watershed goals to restore self-sustaining fish populations, maintain existing fisheries or create recreational ones
DNR fish crews stocked fish in inland waters, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and their tributaries across the state in 2024.
The following summaries provide total fish stocked by species in Wisconsin waters in 2024:
Inland Waters
● 231,685 brook trout
● 288,290 brown trout
● 10,945 lake sturgeon
● 86,552 lake trout
● 59,112 muskellunge
● 243,588 rainbow trout
● 1,195,570 walleye
Lake Michigan
● 50,184 brook trout
● 475,045 brown trout
● 1,361,857 chinook salmon
● 517,166 coho salmon
● 1,139 lake sturgeon
● 15,495 muskellunge
● 446,150 rainbow trout
Lake Superior
● 199,885 brown trout
● 60,732 lake trout
● 54,743 splake
This data does not include the stocking of newly hatched fry, fish stocked by private fish farms under a stocking permit, fish stocked by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or fish stocked by our tribal partners.
Visit the DNR’s Fish Stocking database to view stocking data from previous years or specific waters.
2025 hunting and trapping forecasts
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) this week released the 2025 fall forecast series, detailing the hunting outlook for a variety of popular game species.
These forecasts outline what hunters and trappers across the state can expect while pursuing their favorite game species. In addition to information about specific game species, they also include helpful reminders about public land access opportunities, game registration requirements and season dates.
Although these forecasts are merely intended to give predictions of the upcoming hunting and trapping seasons, they are based on a thorough analysis of available species data. These data sources include federal and local species surveys, the findings of DNR research projects, weather patterns and the on-the-ground information we receive from our advisory committees and staff.
Hunters and trappers can explore the fall forecasts for species they are interested in:
● 2025 Fall Deer Hunting Forecast
● 2025 Fall Upland Game Bird Forecast
● 2025 Fall Migratory Bird Hunting Forecast
● 2025 Fall Bear Hunting Forecast
● 2025 Fall Furbearer Hunting And Trapping Forecast
For more resources and information about many of Wisconsin’s most popular game species, visit the DNR’s Hunting webpage.
DNR accepting grant applications to build hunting community
MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting applications for the Hunter Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation (R3) Grant Program.
The Hunter R3 Grant supports projects that promote awareness, understanding and participation in safe, ethical hunting and hunting-related outdoor skills for anyone who wants to learn. These skills offer individuals a unique connection with nature and wildlife and foster confidence and comfort in wild places.
Past grant recipient projects included archery range upgrades for urban after-school clubs, start-up costs for scholastic clay target teams and 4-H shooting sports programs, support for hunting-related expos focusing on recruiting new or underserved audiences, Learn to Hunt programs and the purchase of outdoor wheelchairs and other equipment for public use.
A total grant pool of $75,000 is available. Individual grant awards are typically limited to $25,000. These cost-sharing funds can be awarded to individuals or community-based organizations, Wisconsin tribes, universities and schools.
The grant is a sub-award of federal Pittman-Robertson Act funds and is administered as a reimbursement program.
The deadline to submit grant applications is 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 15, 2025. Applicants should plan to start projects approximately one year from the application deadline.
Learn more and apply on the DNR’s Hunter R3 Grant Program webpage.
