The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting applications through July 1 for the 2026 Learn to Hunt Deer program at Sandhill Wildlife Area.
Sandhill Wildlife Area’s Learn-to-Hunt workshops combine classroom instruction and outdoor training with a mentored deer hunt on thousands of acres of intensively managed wildlife habitat. This unique opportunity will provide eligible hunters an educational experience while achieving deer management objectives within the 9,150-acre property.
Both the youth and adult workshops will cover:
Deer biology and management
Hunting rules and regulations
Ethical hunter behavior
Basic firearm safety and practice sighting and firing a hunting rifle
“Even with the mid-March blizzard, the winter of 2025-26 was the twelfth consecutive mild winter, according to the Winter Severity Index at Sandhill. April rains have also sped the green-up by about a week (compared to last year), leading to favorable predictions of fawn recruitment,” said Darren Ladwig, DNR wildlife biologist at Sandhill. “All this leads to great predicted hunting opportunities, so don’t miss out.”
The program is open to young hunters (aged 12-15) and adults (age 16+) without previous experience hunting deer with a firearm. A chaperone must accompany all hunters. Registration fees for the program are waived this year because private donations were made as a memorial for Nicholas Jongebloed.
“The family of Nicholas Jongebloed has generously sponsored this year’s Learn to Hunt in his memory, as he was an avid supporter of the program,” Ladwig said.
In-person workshop dates for this year are Aug. 19, 21 and 22. All participants (and accompanying mentors) are required to attend one of the workshops. The program will culminate with a two-day hunt on Nov. 7-8, 2026 at Sandhill Wildlife Area (near Babcock in Wood County). All participants must complete a hunter education course before the hunt.
Apply for the 2026 Sandhill Learn To Hunt using our online application. The application deadline is July 1, 2026.
For further information, contact Darren Ladwig, DNR wildlife biologist, at 715-498-2338 or by email at Darren.Ladwig@wisconsin.gov.
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