Fort McCoy Recreational Access & Permits Portal 🌲
This is the official portal for Fort McCoy recreational activity management, including permit acquisition, daily check-in/check-out, and training area and lake OPEN/CLOSED status updates.

Outdoor Recreation & Wildlife at Fort McCoy 🌲
Fort McCoy encompasses 60,000 acres of prime natural habitat dedicated to sustainable wildlife management and public outdoor recreation.

🎯 Hunting & Training Area Access
Fort McCoy manages 45,648 acres across 82 training areas designated for regulated hunting. Wildlife biologists actively collect harvest and biological data across these zones to monitor herd health and support long-term population sustainability.

🎣 Outdoor Opportunities & Eligibility
Permitted activities include hunting, fishing, and trapping. Access is open to the following authorized groups:

⚠️ Mandatory Licensing & Permits
Important Requirement: All participants must obtain and carry both a valid Fort McCoy Permit and the required State of Wisconsin License prior to participating in any hunting, fishing, or trapping activities on the installation.

Permit Purchasing Locations & Methods 🎫
Fort McCoy permits and access passes can be obtained either online or in person 

Purchasing Options Details & Instructions Accepted Payment
Online (iSportsman)

Through official Fort MCCoy iSportsman Portal https://ftmccoy.isportsman.net. Users must create an account to acquire the mandatory Annual Access Pass and purchase activity-specific permits (hunting, fishing, trapping)

 Debit & Credit Cards
In-Person   (Fort McCoy Permit Sales Office)

Location: Building 2168, South 8th Ave, Fort McCoy, WI.

Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM (Closed weekends and holidays).

Note: Visitors must obtain an access pass at the Visitor Control Center (Bldg 35) to enter the Cantonment Area.  REAL ID REQUIRED.

 Cash, Debit, & Credit Cards (No checks or money orders)

📌 State Licensing Notice
Fort McCoy permits cannot be purchased through the Wisconsin DNR Go Wild system. Conversely, required State of Wisconsin licenses and stamps must be purchased separately through the WDNR Go Wild online portal or via authorized state license vendors. 

📲 How to Access iSportsman
The iSportsman system is the required portal for daily check-in/check-out and area availability updates.

Platform Channel Best For
Web & Mobile Broswer (Recommended) Fort McCoy iSportsman Portal  https://ftmccoy.isportsman.net Full account management, purchasing permits, status checks, and activity check-in/out.
Telephone  1-866-277-1597 Direct check-in/out and checking OPEN AREA status via phone. Must use your iSportsman permit number and PIN to check-in/out over phone.

ACCESS TO FORT MCCOY TRAINING AREAS FOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Access to the Fort McCoyTraining Areas and Lakes is generally open to everyone for recreation as long as the area is OPEN located under OPEN AREAS (Game Line). If participating in a hunting, trapping, or fishing activity, you must possess the Fort McCoy and State of Wisconsin hunting/trapping/fishing permits and stamps. If participating in a Non-Hunting/Non-Fishing Activity you must obtain the current Access Pass through your iSportsman account. Make sure that you meet the installations access requirements.  

  1. Fort McCoy Recreational Access Pass and current  Fort McCoy and State of Wisconsin Hunting/Fishing /Trapping Licenses
  2. Recreationists 18 years of age and older must have a government-issued photo I.D. (e.g., military I.D., driver's license) on their person while engaged in any recreational activity on the installation.
  3. Vehicle Activity Information Card (disaplyed in windshield when on Fort McCoy)
  4. Check OPEN AREA status (Game Line) with Fort McCoy map to verify Training Area/Lake is OPEN.
  5. Required to CHECKIN to your recreational activity when on Fort McCoy (except for anglers)

Fort McCoy is and foremost a military installation.  Access is controlled (if accessing Cantonment Area) and is subject to change based on the security needs of the installation. 

Licensed motor vehicles are limited to operation on paved roads, gravel roads, maintained dirt roads, and trails for the purpose of accessing areas and lakes specific to facilitate that recreational activity. ​

ACCESS TO CANTONMENT AREA

All visitors entering the Fort McCoy Cantonment Area must obtain a visitor’s pass at theVisitor Control Center (Bldg 35). Individuals's are required to have a REAL ID to access the Cantonment Area.
After business hours, visitor passes must be obtained at the Main Gate or Gate 20.  Visitor passes are issued at building 35 to people who do not have valid military ID cards or Common Access Cards. Each adult occupant of a vehicle must have a REAL ID and will be cleared through National Crime Information Center Interstate Identification Index (NCIC-III).  Visitor Control Operations is open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, excluding federal holidays. After regular operation hours, visitors can be issued a pass at the Main Gate or Gate 20. People and vehicles are subject to search upon entering and while on military property. Unauthorized entry is punishable by Paragraph 18 U.S. Code 1382. 
All motorists entering or operating a motor vehicle at Fort McCoy must be prepared to show proof of vehicle insurance, driver's license, and vehicle registration when requesting visitor passes or when asked to show such documentation by law-enforcement personnel.
Questions related to visitor passes should be directed to the Fort McCoy Physical Security Division at (502) 898-2266.

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ALLOWED ON FORT MCCOY

To hunt, fish, or trap on Fort McCoy also requires the appropriate Fort McCoy hunting, fishing, or trapping permit, and the appropriate State of Wisconsin license(s) and stamp(s).  The requirement for an Annual Access Pass and Fort McCoy Fishing Permit is waived for anglers during the WDNR Free Fishing weekends in January and June. 

ALLOWABLE NON-HUNTING/NON-FISHING ACTIVITIES (ISPORTSMAN ANNUAL ACCESS PASS REQUIRED)

Collecting of items is limited to amounts for personal use and consumption. Collection for sale or commercial use is strictly forbidden.

If an activity is not listed, contact the Permit Sales Office for approval (502) 898-3337.

Recreationists must check-in before recreating and check-out at the end of the day. Everyone will have to check into a specific Zone (1,2, or 3).  Verify that the specific training area/lake you are entering is OPEN.  
If you want to change zones, you will have to check-out of the first zone and check-in again to the new zone. 

OBTAINING A FORT MCCOY ACCESS PASS/PERMITS

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AVAILABLE PERMITS.

Fort McCoy hunting, fishing, and trapping permits, and annual access passes, are available through this Fort McCoy iSportsman website once you have established a user account. The iSportsman Annual Access Pass is free when you login to your iSportsman account. A debit card or credit card is required for online permit purchases. Permits may also be purchased at the Permit Sales Office (PSO). The PSO can accept cash, debit cards or credit cards for permit purchases. Checks or money orders are NOT accepted. The Fort McCoy Natural Resources Permit Sales Office, 2168 South 8th Avenue, is open Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 
The appropriate State of Wisconsin licenses, permits, and stamps can be purchased through the WDNR GoWild online system or at any authorized WDNR GoWild vendor throughout Wisconsin.

  1. "REGISTER" to create an account. Once you have an iSportsman account, go to "ACQUIRE PERMITS".
  2. Find the permit(s) or application you wish to acquire and "ADD TO CART"
  3. Complete additional questions and select I Agree to the Acknowledgement.
  4. Select SAVE. By selecting SAVE, you item will be saved to your shopping cart.
  5. Once you have added the items you wish to acquire, select "VIEW CART & CHECK OUT"
  6. Verify the items you selected are correct and select "CHECKOUT". Follow all payment prompts (use of credit or debit card).
  7. "CONFIRM" your order, option to "PRINT PERMITS", and "RETURN TO HOME"

Note - Permit Applications: When applying for a quota hunt permit, your permit application will be entered into the drawing after you Confirm your order/checkout. Drawing results will usually take place the week after the application deadline date and drawing results will be posted to your iSportsman account under the Lottery tab.  If you were drawn for a quota hunt permit, go to "Acquire Permits", locate your awarded permit and "Add To Cart" and proceed with the process of purchasing your permit.

ACTIVITY CHECKIN/CHECKOUT - Applies to ALL Recreational Activities Except for Fishing

All hunting, trapping permit holders and non-hunting/fishing recreational participants, while actively participating in hunting, trapping, scouting, or non-hunting/fishing recreational activities, are required to check-in/check-out daily by

Participants and permit holders are required to select one of the designated zones 1-3 (see appendices C, D, G, and H for maps of zones) in which they intend to enter. Only one zone can be selected at a time. Participants and permit holders may change zones by checking-out of the initial zone they checked-in for, and then checking-in for the next zone they will be entering.

All participants must ensure that the training area(s) and/or lake(s) they plan to occupy within the zone are designated as open on the Area Status/Game Line. See specific hunting or trapping season for harvest registration and reporting procedures.

CHECKIN

  1. Select "CHECK-IN" on the home page or if still logged into your iSportsman account or select Checkin.
  2. Select your primary "ACTIVITY". (e.g. Scouting, Non-hunting/Non-fishing, Trapping, Small Game, Turkey, Gun-Deer)
  3. Acknowledge the required check-out time.
  4. Select the ZONE (1, 2,3, or 4 (Small Arms Impact Area)  you wish to recreate in. Refer to your map for zone information. Before entering a training area/lake, verify that it is open on the Area Status page. If changing zones, you much checkout out of one zone to checkin to another.
  5. Enter additional Guests or Participants.  Guests are automatically Checkedout when you checkout., however, additional participants will need to CHECKOUT separately.
  6. "CONFIRM CHECK-IN".  You are now checked-in for the activity and zone you selected. 

Make sure to place your Activity Information Card in the windshield of your vehicle while recreating. 

Reminder, if calling iSportsman to CHECKIN/CHECKOUT call 866-277-1597 and use your iSportsman permit number and 4-digit PIN number to login.

CHECKOUT

When you are finished for the day, or wish to move to another zone, you must "CHECK-OUT"

LOGIN to your account
Select "CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT"
The page will show you where you are currently checked-in.  Select "CHECK-OUT"

  1. If you were hunting you will be asked "DID YOU CATCH OR COLLECT ANY HARVEST?"
  2. If you did not, select "NO", then "CONFIRM CHECK-OUT"
  3. If you harvested game, please select "YES".  The site will prompt you to select the game you harvested.  Other information may be requested for white-tailed deer and turkey.
  4. Once you have completed entering harvested game, select "CONFIRM CHECK-OUT"

Checkout completed.

 

 

Contact Information

Fort McCoy Natural Resource Branch & Permit Sales Office Hours
Open Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Closed weekends and holidays)
Building 2168
(502) 898 - 3337

Email Fort McCoy Permit Sales Office: usarmy.mccoy.id-wh.mbx.dpw-permit-sales@army.mil