Wisconsin DNR Sales Locations for Fishing License Buyers

Q: How do I find a Wisconsin fishing license seller near me?

Open Wisconsin DNR’s map directory, select License Sales Agent under fishing, hunting and recreation, then search your city, ZIP code or current area.

Wisconsin in-person license help

Find an Authorized Fishing License Seller Without Wasting a Trip

Wisconsin has more than 700 authorized sales agents, including participating sporting-goods stores, bait shops and other retailers. Fishing licenses are also available at open Wisconsin DNR service centers and online through Go Wild.

This guide shows how to find an active location, what information to take, which office types serve walk-in customers and what to check before leaving the counter.

Find a sales location See what to bring

Official map Search active license agents near you

Before driving Call the store and confirm license-counter hours

Quick answer

Where Can You Buy a Wisconsin Fishing License in Person?

You can purchase most Wisconsin fishing licenses and stamps from an authorized DNR license sales agent or an open Wisconsin DNR service center. Wisconsin reports more than 700 authorized sales agents statewide.

Private agents can include participating bait and tackle shops, sporting-goods stores and other retailers that use Wisconsin’s Go Wild point-of-sale system.

Do not assume every DNR building has a public sales counter. Some locations are field offices open only by appointment, while designated service centers provide walk-in customer service during posted counter hours.

Best practice: use Wisconsin DNR’s active-agent map, then telephone the chosen business before driving. Store hours and license-counter availability can differ.

Official locator steps

How to Find a Wisconsin DNR Fishing License Sales Location

Use Wisconsin DNR’s map directory to find active agents and service centers. Avoid relying only on an old search-engine listing because businesses can close, move or stop selling licenses.

Open the Wisconsin DNR map directory.
Use the official “Choose a Map” page linked below.
Scroll to Fishing, Hunting, Recreation.
Look for the tool named “License Sales Agent.”
Open the sales-agent map.
Allow location access if you want the map to start near your current position.
Search your city, ZIP code or area.
Zoom in and select the most convenient active agent or DNR service center.
Read the location details.
Record the business name, address and any available contact information.
Call before travelling.
Confirm that the business still processes Wisconsin fishing-license transactions and ask when the counter closes.
Take the required customer information.
Bring identification and your DNR customer number when available.

Open the official Wisconsin DNR map directory

Why use this page: the Wisconsin DNR map directory provides the official License Sales Agent tool for locating active agents and service centers.

After opening: scroll to “Fishing, hunting, recreation,” select “License Sales Agent,” then search near your city or ZIP code.

Find a Wisconsin license sales agent

Map troubleshooting: if the interactive map does not load, update the browser, disable strict content blocking for the government map or call Wisconsin DNR at 1-888-936-7463 for help finding an agent.

Choose the right route

Authorized Agent, DNR Service Center or Go Wild?

Authorized sales agent

Best for a convenient in-person purchase from a participating local business using the Go Wild sales terminal.

DNR service center

Best when you need in-person DNR customer service, an eligible free reprint or help with a more complicated account issue.

Go Wild online

Best when you want to purchase independently at any time without travelling to a store.

Purchase route	Main advantage	Possible limitation	Best action
Authorized private agent	Many convenient local options	Counter hours and trained staff availability may vary	Call the business first
DNR service center	Direct help from DNR customer-service staff	Limited weekday counter hours	Confirm the office is a service center
Go Wild online	Available 24 hours a day	Requires internet access and customer-account setup	Print or save accepted proof after purchase
DNR field office	May contain DNR staff by appointment	Not a regular public walk-in license counter	Use an agent or service center instead

Fastest backup: if a nearby retailer’s terminal is unavailable, purchase through Go Wild or search the official map for another active agent.

Prepare before entering the store

What to Bring to a Wisconsin Fishing License Sales Agent

Taking complete customer information helps the agent locate the correct Go Wild record and prevents a license from being issued under a duplicate or incorrect profile.

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Existing Wisconsin customer

DNR customer ID number, if known
Current valid identification
Full legal name and date of birth
Current address
Details of the license you need

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New customer

Full legal name
Date of birth
Residential and mailing address
Height, weight, eye and hair color
Required government identification details

Wisconsin DNR states that customer-account setup can require a Social Security number for citizens who have been issued one. A person who is not a U.S. citizen and has never received a Social Security number may use qualifying visa or passport information.

A Wisconsin resident age 18 or older generally needs a current valid Wisconsin driver’s-license number connected to the account. Customers without one should contact Wisconsin DNR for setup assistance.

Privacy tip: provide sensitive identification details only to Wisconsin DNR, official Go Wild or an authorized in-person sales agent using the state system.

Payment check: ask the selected retailer which payment methods it accepts. A private store’s payment policy may differ from another sales agent or DNR service center.

At the sales counter

How an In-Person Fishing License Purchase Works

Tell the agent who will use the license.
The license must be issued to the actual angler, not automatically to the person making payment.
Provide the customer record information.
Give the DNR customer number or the identifying details needed to find the correct profile.
State residency, age and trip length.
These details affect available products and pricing.
Name the target species and fishing water.
Tell the agent if the trip involves inland trout, Great Lakes salmon/trout or sturgeon.
Review the product on the screen or receipt.
Check that the license duration, stamp, customer and dates are correct.
Pay only after verifying the selection.
Wisconsin DNR products are generally non-refundable.
Keep the issued document.
Protect the license or approval printout and carry the required form of proof while fishing.

Do not ask only for “a fishing license”: tell the agent whether you are a resident, nonresident, first-time buyer, one-day visitor, senior, junior, trout angler or Great Lakes salmon customer.

Product routing

Which Fishing Products Can You Request?

Most standard fishing licenses and stamps are available through Go Wild, authorized sales locations and DNR service centers unless Wisconsin DNR marks a product as having a special purchase method.

Your fishing situation	Product to ask about	Important detail
Resident fishing regularly	Resident annual fishing license	Standard current fee is $20
Nonresident fishing regularly	Nonresident annual fishing license	Standard current fee is $55
One-day fishing trip	Resident or nonresident one-day license	Species stamps may still be additional
Eligible new or returning angler	First-time buyer annual license	The system determines discount eligibility
Fishing inland trout water	Base license plus Inland Trout Stamp when required	The stamp is normally an added privilege
Great Lakes salmon or trout fishing	Base license plus Great Lake stamp, or included package	Compare the Two-Day Great Lakes license
Resident age 16–17	Resident junior fishing license	Current standard fee is $7
Resident age 65+	Resident senior fishing license	Current standard fee is $7
Certain disability, veteran or military eligibility	Special reduced-fee fishing product	May require documents and an in-person transaction

Product-selection tip: if the agent is unsure which stamp applies, pause the transaction and check the exact waterbody and species with Wisconsin DNR before paying.

Direct DNR assistance

Wisconsin DNR Service Centers With Public Counters

Wisconsin DNR states that listed service counters are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Holiday, emergency or temporary facility changes may affect access, so verify current status before travelling.

Service center	Official street address	Telephone
Eau Claire	1300 W Clairemont, Eau Claire, WI 54701	715-839-3700
Fitchburg	3911 Fish Hatchery Road, Fitchburg, WI 53711	608-275-3266
Green Bay	2984 Shawano Avenue, Green Bay, WI 54313-6727	920-662-5100
Janesville	2514 Morse Street, Janesville, WI 53545	608-743-4800
La Crosse	3550 Mormon Coulee Road, La Crosse, WI 54601	608-785-9000
Madison	101 S Webster Street, Madison, WI 53703	608-266-2621
Milwaukee	1027 W St. Paul Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53233	414-263-8500
Oshkosh	625 E County Road Y, Suite 700, Oshkosh, WI 54901-9731	920-424-3050
Rhinelander	107 Sutliff Avenue, Rhinelander, WI 54501	715-365-8900
Spooner	810 W Maple Street, Spooner, WI 54801	715-635-2101
Waukesha	141 NW Barstow, Room 180, Waukesha, WI 53188	262-574-2100
Wausau	225051 Rib Mountain Drive, Wausau, WI 54401	715-359-4522
Woodruff	8770 County J, Woodruff, WI 54568	715-356-5211

Verify current service center hours and status

Why use this page: Wisconsin DNR maintains the official service-center list with public-counter hours, addresses and telephone numbers.

After opening: find your chosen office, check for construction or temporary notices and call before beginning a long trip.

Check DNR service center locations

Service center versus local agent: you do not normally need to drive to a DNR service center for a standard fishing license. An active authorized agent may be much closer.

Important office distinction

Do Not Confuse a DNR Field Office With a Service Center

Wisconsin DNR field offices contain agency workspaces but are generally open to the public only by appointment. They are not the same as service centers with regular public customer-service counters.

Wisconsin DNR specifically reminded customers in 2026 that the following northern locations are field offices rather than regular walk-in service centers: