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Barron County Hunting
What the DNR sets for Barron County: deer zone and units, antlerless quota and Farmland tags, baiting status, bear zone D, turkey zone 4/6, plus harvest history and public ground.
Photo: Joshua Mayer (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The Census measures Barron County at 863 square miles of land; Barron is the county seat. About 46,810 people lived there in 2024, 0.2% more than the 2020 base. Every acre falls in the Central Farmland Zone; 1 DMU cover it. Licenses and questions go to the DNR Spooner Service Center (Spooner), about 27 miles away. The land list holds 25 properties with ground in Barron County, led by Barron County Forest at 16,305 acres.
Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates (population), DNR region from the DNR staff pages, deer zones from the DNR deer zone layer, service centers from DNR office locations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Barron County
2026-27 deer units for Barron County
Across the 1 quota unit touching Barron County, the 2026 antlerless quotas add to 4,500 deer (whole units, not just the county share). Each archery, crossbow or gun license that names a Farmland unit here comes with 2 free antlerless authorizations, good only in that unit and on the land type you pick. Bonus tags: $12 resident, $20 nonresident, first come first served at one per day.
| Unit | Zone | 2026 antlerless quota | Bonus, public | Bonus, private | Left Oct 19 (pub/priv) | Free Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barron | Central Farmland | 4,500 | 1,000 | 3,500 | 987 / 3,479 | 2 |
Dec. 24 hunt
The antlerless-only Holiday Hunt runs Dec 24, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027 in Barron County; no bucks may be taken with any weapon on those days.
Gun deer opener
The nine-day gun deer season runs Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026, followed by muzzleloader Nov 30 to Dec 9, 2026 and the statewide antlerless-only hunt Dec 10 to Dec 13, 2026.
Quotas and initial bonus counts from the DNR 2026 antlerless quota and initial permit availability (approved June 24, 2026); unsold counts and free Farmland tags from the bonus availability page as of Oct. 19, 2026; Holiday Hunt and extended archery from the 2026 season map; dates from the deer regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Deer harvest in Barron County
Deer Metrics shows 6,376 deer for the Barron unit in 2025, 1.8% of the state total of 345,207. Compared with 2015 (6,371 deer), 2025 was +0%, and the record year on file is 2000 (10,195).
| Season | Buck | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,247 | 3,129 | 6,376 |
| 2024 | 2,810 | 2,979 | 5,789 |
| 2023 | 2,394 | 3,063 | 5,457 |
| 2022 | 3,070 | 4,028 | 7,098 |
| 2021 | 2,667 | 3,520 | 6,187 |
| 2020 | 2,847 | 4,076 | 6,923 |
| 2019 | 2,363 | 3,329 | 5,692 |
| 2018 | 2,743 | 4,103 | 6,846 |
| 2017 | 2,978 | 3,589 | 6,567 |
| 2016 | 2,765 | 2,171 | 4,936 |
Preliminary 2026 registrations
| DNR row | Bucks | Antlerless | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barron | 320 | 356 | 676 |
DNR Deer Metrics harvest history (registered deer, all seasons and weapons; values read from the DNR chart), 2025 forest DMU figures from the same source, and the DNR 2026 total harvest to date (preliminary). Checked October 19, 2026.
Barron County chronic wasting disease results
CWD has not been detected in wild deer from Barron County across 2,338 samples. Baiting deer is illegal in Barron County, and so is feeding them, under the CWD-related ban. Donation rule: no test needed.
| Year | Deer sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 37 | 0 |
| 2025 | 155 | 0 |
| 2024 | 119 | 0 |
| 2023 | 136 | 0 |
| 2022 | 106 | 0 |
| 2021 | 119 | 0 |
| 2020 | 145 | 0 |
| 2019 | 179 | 0 |
| 2018 | 77 | 0 |
| 2017 | 85 | 0 |
| 2016 | 61 | 0 |
| 2015 | 13 | 0 |
CWD rules and kiosks · Which counties ban bait
CWD sampling from the DNR CWD summary by county (wild deer, data released through Oct. 18, 2026; CWD year runs April 1-March 31, 2026 partial); baiting from the DNR baiting and feeding page and its map; donation testing from the Deer Donation Program. Checked October 19, 2026.
Barron County: bears, gobblers and birds
Black bear
Black bear hunting here falls under zone D, drawn by preference points, with dogs allowed in D. Bear registrations in Barron County: 140 in 2025, 153 the year before.
| Zone | Target | Drawn 2026 | Points | Applied | 2025 state harvest | Dogs allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone D | 1,100 | 3,855 | 2 | 6,847 | 906 | Yes |
| Season | Harvest | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 140 | 88 | 52 |
| 2024 | 153 | 67 | 86 |
Turkey authorizations
The DNR turkey map places Barron County in zone 4 (80%) and 6 (20%). Levels below are 2025, the latest published. 2025 spring authorization total for zone 4/6: 40,998.
| Turkey zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Success 2025 | Birds 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 4 | 34,115 | 34,373 | 34,964 | 34,994 | 34,997 | 24% | 8,472 |
| Zone 6 | 5,390 | 5,402 | 6,001 | 6,004 | 6,001 | 23% | 1,362 |
Small game and birds
Ruffed grouse Zone A runs Sep 12, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 with a daily bag of 5.
Bear zones from the DNR bear zone layer; targets, permits and points from the 2026 bear drawing summary; harvest from the DNR 2025 bear report and 2024 report; turkey levels from the DNR turkey reports (2025 levels; 2027 not yet published); elk from the DNR elk page; bird zones from the DNR zone layers. Checked October 19, 2026.
Barron County public properties with acreage
Barron County counts 25 public properties open to hunting; posted refuges and closed parcels inside them still apply. Barron County is one of 30 counties with a county forest, 16,305 acres as of July 2021. MFL open lands, private forests the public may hunt, cover 2,740 acres here. Leased private land adds more: 2 VPA-HIP properties and 0 THAP turkey leases in Barron County.
- County forest (1 here)Barron County Forest (16,305 ac)
- State wildlife areas (7 here)Loon Lake Wildlife Area (3,219 ac*), New Auburn Wildlife Area (1,183 ac), Quaderer's Creek Wildlife Area (350 ac), Sweeney Pond Wildlife Area (281 ac), Highway T Wildlife Area (77 ac), Statewide Wildlife Habitat – John Porter Flowage (77 ac), Lightning Creek Wildlife Area
- State fishery areas in the county (9)Yellow River Fishery Area (694 ac), Engle Creek Springs Fishery Area (190 ac), Hickey Creek Fishery Area (Remnant) (79 ac), Duck Lake Fishery Area (Remnant) (66 ac), Turtle Creek Fishery Area (39 ac), Upper Turtle Lake Fishery Area (Remnant) (30 ac), Dummy Lake Fishery Area (16 ac), Little Granite Lake Public Access (3 ac), Silver Creek Fishery Area (3 ac)
- State trail (1 here)Tuscobia State Trail (1,088 ac*)
- State natural areas: 2New Auburn Sedge Meadow State Natural Area (317 ac), Loon Lake Woods State Natural Area (61 ac)
- State habitat areas (4)Galbraith Extensive Wildlife Habitat Area (139 ac), Vermillion River Extensive Wildlife Habitat Area (120 ac), Barker Creek Extensive Wildlife Habitat Area (74 ac), Sampson Extensive Wildlife Habitat Area (38 ac)
- Ice Age Trail area (1)Tuscobia Creek State Ice Age Trail Area (2 ac)
Larger units with ground here: DNR Extensive Wildlife Habitat Lands, DNR Statewide Fisheries Program Lands, DNR State-Owned Islands, DNR Scattered Wildlife Lands.
Beyond the line: Bear Lake Fishery Area (14 miles, 265 ac), Camelia Lake Public Access (17 miles, 1 ac).
Every public property · County forest list · About MFL open land · About VPA-HIP
Public land from the DNR managed lands layer and property pages, DNR state natural area, county forest and federal records; county forest acres from the DNR county forest acreage report (July 1, 2021); MFL open acres from the DNR MFL report; leases from the DNR VPA-HIP and THAP lists. Acres within 10 miles of the county seat are a GIS measure. Checked October 19, 2026.
Every Barron County season on one table
Private and public land share these dates. A state park, refuge or Fort McCoy can close sooner, so read the property page before you go.
| Animal | Segment | Scope | Starts | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery and crossbow | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth and disabled gun deer hunt | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun deer (9-day) | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Statewide antlerless-only (December 4-day hunt) | Statewide | Dec 10, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt | Holiday Hunt: Barron | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone D | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone D | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone D | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 4/6 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 4/6 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 4/6 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 4/6 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 4/6 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 4/6 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 4/6 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 4/6 | May 26, 2027 | Jun 1, 2027 | |
| Ruffed Grouse | Ruffed grouse | Grouse Zone A | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Pheasant | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite Quail | Bobwhite quail | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Hungarian partridge | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | Squirrel | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Cottontail rabbit | Northern cottontail zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe Hare | Snowshoe hare | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| American Crow | Crow | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Mar 24, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Youth waterfowl hunt | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck | Northern Duck Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose | Northern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon (resident) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon (nonresident) | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red and gray fox | Fox (red and gray) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Coyote (hunting) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 1 (hunting and trapping) | Northern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 1 (hunting and trapping) | Southern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 2 (hunting and trapping) | Northern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 2 (hunting and trapping) | Southern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Unprotected species | Unprotected species (opossum, skunk, weasel, woodchuck, porcupine, starling, English sparrow, chukar, coturnix quail, etc.) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 hunting regulations and season dates, checked October 19, 2026.
Towns of Barron County, then its neighbours
Public acres beside each Barron County town are a GIS total for a 10-mile circle, not a DNR figure.
- Barroncourthouse town · 3,674 inhabitants · 1,365 public acres within 10 miles
- Almena740 inhabitants · 6,171 public acres within 10 miles
- Barronett24,125 public acres within 10 miles
- Cumberland2,302 inhabitants · 15,665 public acres within 10 miles
- Turtle Lake1,036 inhabitants · 9,672 public acres within 10 miles
Barron County borders 8 Wisconsin counties.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Hunting hours for Barron County
Big game and small game hunters get 20 minutes after sunset in Wisconsin, not 30. Waterfowl and spring gobbler hunters quit at sunset.
| When | Event | North | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery, fall turkey and grouse opener | 6:11 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:55 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:16 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:44 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:56 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:15 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:17 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
Deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey table times from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources shooting hours tables, plus the Zone E offset of 16 minutes for longitude 91.85 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Burn bans and permits in Barron County
Barron County status today: open the Wisconsin county list.
- Permit season: Within DNR forest fire protection areas, whenever the ground is not completely snow-covered.
- Counties outside DNR burning-permit authority (per DNR daily restrictions on 2026-10-27): Barron County is not on this list.
- Who sets a ban: The Wisconsin DNR, through daily county burning restrictions and permit suspensions within its forest fire protection areas (NR 30.05 emergency burning regulations; NR 45.07(3) emergency use and burning rules on DNR lands by posted notice).
- Campfires while hunting: DNR-managed lands (NR 45.07): no fire on the ground and no burning refuse except in designated fireplaces or fire rings.
Barron County gun ranges and clubs
4 ranges listed inside Barron County, Owen-Anderson Rifle Range among them on the DNR public range map.
rifle on file
rifle, handgun, trap, skeet, shotgun on file
trap, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery on file
rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery, silhouette on file
On the local calendar
| Day and event | Discipline | Enter |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026: Free Public Sight In Weekend at Blue Hills Sportsmen's Club | Club match | See listing |
| Nov 8, 2026: Free Public Sight In Weekend at Blue Hills Sportsmen's Club | Club match | See listing |
| Dec 6, 2026: Start of Winter 5 Stand & Pancake Breakfast at Blue Hills Sportsmen's Club | Sporting clays | Sign up |
| Dec 6, 2026: Start of Winter 5 Stand at Blue Hills Sportsmen's Club | Sporting clays | Sign up |
| Jan 3, 2027: Winter 5 Stand and French Toast Breakfast at Blue Hills Sportsmen's Club | Sporting clays | Sign up |
| Jan 21, 2027: Multi-State CCW Class held on at Center Mass Academy, LLC | Clinic | See listing |
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
Butchers, mounts and stores near Barron County
Wisconsin publishes no list of licensed taxidermists or guides, so those rows come from DNR CWD partners and directories.
DNR counters and field offices
Weekday counter hours at DNR service centers run 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Processors nearby
Taxidermy shops
Guides nearby
Sporting goods
DNR service centers and field offices from DNR office locations; processors from the Deer Donation Program list, DNR CWD sampling station partners and directory listings; shops from the DNR license agent layer and directories. Checked October 19, 2026; call ahead. All Wisconsin hunting services.
Barron County on the Wisconsin events calendar
On file here: 1 upcoming event (NWTF banquet).
Scheduled
| On | Event | Where held | Sign-up | Found at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 6, 2027 | Northwoods Longbeards Chapter NWTF Banquet / NWTF banquet | Rice Lake Barron Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
Barron County hunters often ask
Can I hunt over a food plot in Barron County?
Yes. Standing crops and food plots are legal, but you may not plant one on DNR land.
Can I hunt bears with hounds in Barron County?
Yes, in zone D.
Can turkeys be hunted in the fall in Barron County?
Yes: Sep 12, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, using a fall authorization for the zone.
Where should I start on public land in Barron County?
Try the biggest first: Barron County Forest, Loon Lake Wildlife Area and New Auburn Wildlife Area.
Where do I register a bear from Barron County?
In the county of kill or an adjoining county, through GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; mail two premolar teeth by Oct. 15.
Does my hat need to be orange in Barron County?
If you wear one during a firearm deer season, it must be at least 50% orange or pink.
Where do hunters in Barron County take deer for cutting?
Commonly Prime Cuts Meat Market, Louie's Finer Meats and Johnny's Meats; call ahead in November.
Does extended archery apply in Barron County?
No, not in this county.
Does Barron County have more than one deer unit?
No, one unit: Barron.
Where do I see the bonus tags left in Barron County?
On the DNR bonus availability page; this page shows the counts as of Oct. 19, 2026.
Answers from the DNR Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations, registration rules, blaze orange rules, DNR harvest and CWD data and the sources cited above. Checked October 19, 2026.
Heading to Barron County
Every date here is for the 2026-27 Wisconsin seasons; check the DNR site again before the trip.
Sources: DNR Fall 2026-Spring 2027 hunting regulations, season dates, Wisconsin DNR hunting, Census and the agencies linked in each section. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Aaron Carlson (CC BY-SA 2.0); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); Anne Marie Peterson from Madison, WI, US (CC BY-SA 2.0); Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA (CC BY 2.0); royal_broil (CC BY-SA 2.0); DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0); Joe K Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); Shenandoah National Park (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Shenandoah National Park (Public Domain Mark 1.0).