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Northern Region · 2026-27
Taylor County Hunting
Deer units and bonus tags, Holiday Hunt status, CWD test results by year, the baiting rule, bear, turkey and waterfowl zones and every public property in Taylor County, from DNR data.
Photo: USDA Forest Service Eastern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Taylor County covers 975 square miles of land and 10 of lakes and rivers, with the courthouse in Medford. It counted 20,167 people in 2024, about 21 for each square mile of land. By area the county is 73% Northern Forest and 27% Central Farmland. The DNR Wausau Service Center in Wausau is the nearest of the twelve DNR service centers. 6 public propertys on the DNR, county and federal lists sit at least partly inside the line, 1 state wildlife area among them.
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.
Taylor County DMUs and antlerless authorizations
For 2026 the antlerless target in these units is 8,235 deer, set by unit before bonus sales opened in August. Free Farmland tags here: 1 per license, specific to the unit and to public-access or private land. Forest Zone units come without free Farmland tags, so antlerless deer in DMU 110, DMU 114 and DMU 115 need a bonus authorization. A bonus authorization costs $12 (resident) or $20 (nonresident) on Go Wild, one per hunter per day while they last.
| DMU | Management zone | Quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Left at Oct 19 | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 110 | Northern Forest | 1,765 | 1,000 | 6,950 | 421 / 6,419 | — |
| DMU 114 | Northern Forest | 850 | 250 | 3,300 | 0 / 2,521 | — |
| DMU 115 | Northern Forest | 1,430 | 1,000 | 5,000 | 637 / 3,517 | — |
| DMU 119 | Northern Forest | 1,190 | 1,250 | 4,650 | 487 / 3,743 | — |
| Taylor Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 3,000 | 0 | 2,000 | 0 / 1,848 | 1 |
Late hunts
No Holiday Hunt and no extended bow season here; archery closes Jan 3, 2027.
The nine-day
Rifles and shotguns: Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026. Muzzleloaders: Nov 30 to Dec 9, 2026. Antlerless only: 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 registrations, Taylor County
2,710 deer were registered in Taylor County in 2025, ranking it 47th of 61 units with county names. Against 4,768 in 2015, the 2025 count is down 43%. Older years cover the unit as it was drawn then; 2025 is the Central Farmland unit alone.
| Year | Buck harvest | Antlerless harvest | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,109 | 1,601 | 2,710 |
| 2024 | 2,618 | 1,987 | 4,605 |
| 2023 | 2,234 | 2,068 | 4,302 |
| 2022 | 3,114 | 3,060 | 6,174 |
| 2021 | 2,682 | 2,663 | 5,345 |
| 2020 | 2,818 | 3,347 | 6,165 |
| 2019 | 2,443 | 2,358 | 4,801 |
| 2018 | 3,110 | 2,596 | 5,706 |
| 2017 | 3,212 | 2,221 | 5,433 |
| 2016 | 2,978 | 2,283 | 5,261 |
2025 forest unit totals
| DMU | Buck harvest | Antlerless harvest | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 110 | 1,787 | 1,757 | 3,544 |
| DMU 114 | 1,229 | 902 | 2,131 |
| DMU 115 | 1,549 | 1,464 | 3,013 |
| DMU 119 | 1,502 | 1,014 | 2,516 |
Taylor County so far in 2026 (preliminary)
| Unit | Bucks | Antlerless | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 110 | 141 | 172 | 313 |
| DMU 114 | 156 | 123 | 279 |
| DMU 115 | 136 | 152 | 288 |
| DMU 119 | 136 | 100 | 236 |
| Taylor | 86 | 161 | 247 |
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.
Has CWD reached Taylor County?
No CWD-positive wild deer has been found in Taylor County; 1,770 have been sampled there since 1999. One of 12 counties outside the ban, Taylor County allows bait for deer in small amounts. No CWD test is required to donate deer here.
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 5 | 0 |
| 2025 | 45 | 0 |
| 2024 | 54 | 0 |
| 2023 | 83 | 0 |
| 2022 | 174 | 0 |
| 2021 | 150 | 0 |
| 2020 | 94 | 0 |
| 2019 | 104 | 0 |
| 2018 | 44 | 0 |
| 2017 | 17 | 0 |
| 2016 | 4 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 |
More on CWD · Ban map and limits
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.
Taylor County bear and turkey numbers
Black bears
Taylor County lies in bear zone A (73%) and C (27%). Class A bear licenses come by preference-point drawing, and hounds are allowed in zone A. The 2025 bear harvest in Taylor County was 119, 18th among Wisconsin counties.
| Bear zone | Target 2026 | Licenses drawn | Points needed | Applicants | Harvest 2025 | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone A | 1,100 | 1,675 | 11 | 11,648 | 1,161 | Yes |
| Zone C | 875 | 4,465 | 2 | 7,605 | 661 | No |
| Year | Total | Boars | Sows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 119 | 58 | 61 |
| 2024 | 134 | 79 | 55 |
Turkey zone and permits
Turkey zone 4 covers the county. Spring 2027 permit levels have not been published; the table gives 2025 levels by zone. 34,997 spring authorizations went to zone 4 in 2025.
| Spring zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 rate | Registered 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 4 | 34,115 | 34,373 | 34,964 | 34,994 | 34,997 | 24% | 8,472 |
Birds and small game in Taylor County
For ruffed grouse, Zone A applies (Sep 12, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027).
Bear zones · Compare turkey zones
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.
Taylor County wildlife areas, forests and natural areas
Taylor County overlaps 6 properties on the land list, from state wildlife areas to natural areas and trails. County forest: 17,728 acres, from the DNR report dated July 1, 2021. Private land enrolled in Managed Forest Law and open to the public adds 13,065 acres in Taylor County.
- National forest ranger district in the county (1)Medford-Park Falls Ranger District (Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest) (281,708 ac*)
- County forest in the county (1)Taylor County Forest (17,728 ac)
- State wildlife area in the county (1)Pershing Wildlife Area (8,719 ac)
- State natural area (1 here)Diamond Lake State Natural Area (251 ac)
- State fishery area: 1Rib River Fishery Area (224 ac)
- Ice Age Trail area, 1 listedMarimor State Ice Age Trail Area (17 ac)
Statewide groupings with parcels here: Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Close by, across the boundary: Hawkins Hemlock Hardwood Forest State Natural Area (17 miles, 40 ac), Hawkins Hemlock Hardwoods Forest State Natural Area (17 miles, 40 ac), South Fork Main Creek State Habitat Area (23 miles, 110 ac), Jump River Conservation Easement Area (23 miles, 7 ac), Black River Fishery Area (23 miles, 7 ac).
Black River Public Access and Rem-Wood River are closed to hunting.
Public land hub · County forests · Open MFL land
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.
Which seasons are open in Taylor County
Deer dates are statewide in Wisconsin; bear, turkey, grouse, cottontail and waterfowl dates follow zone lines, so only the rows for Taylor County are listed.
| Species | Season | Where it applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone A | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone C | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone A | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone A | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 4 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 4 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 4 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 4 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 4 | 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 | |
| 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.
From Taylor County towns to the counties around it
Pick a base town in Taylor County; its page lists the closest public properties and legal hours.
- Medfordcounty seat · 4,604 people in 2024 · 5,495 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Gilman381 people in 2024 · 47,348 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Rib Lake913 people in 2024 · 34,287 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Westboro30,070 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
Bordering Taylor County: 6 Wisconsin counties.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
When you can shoot at Taylor County
Two tables cover the state, one for the Northern Area and one for the Southern Area, each for Zone A. West of 88 degrees you add 4 minutes per degree of longitude.
| Day | Season | North table | South table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery, fall turkey and grouse opener | 6:07 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:51 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:12 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:40 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:52 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:11 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:13 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 4:58 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 D offset of 12 minutes for longitude 90.50 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Burning rules in Taylor County
The Wisconsin burn ban page shows Taylor County today.
- When a permit is needed: 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): Taylor County is not on this list.
- Who declares bans: 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.
Taylor County gun ranges and clubs
5 ranges in Taylor County, from the DNR range layer and directory listings checked October 19, 2026.
sporting clays, rifle, archery, 3D archery, air gun on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
trap, sporting clays, shotgun on file
archery on file
Matches and shows here
| When and what | Kind | Go |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 13, 2027: Gilman 3D Tournament | NASP | Details |
| Feb 13, 2027: Gilman Archery Tournament | NASP | Details |
| Mar 12-13, 2027: Medford Archery Club 14th Bullseye and 8th 3D tournaments | NASP | Details |
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
Taylor County hunting services
Each group starts with Taylor County listings and fills in from neighbours.
Who to call at the DNR
Walk in at a service center on weekdays (8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.); call ahead for a field office.
Deer processors
Mounts and taxidermy
Guided hunts
Outdoor stores
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.
Taylor County: smaller state wildlife and game areas
1 smaller public area in Taylor County, 224 acres together, each with its own section below: acres, office, zones, DNR map and the facts its agency documents give.
Rib River Fishery Area
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | State Fishery Area |
| Acres | 224 (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting) |
| County | Taylor |
| Map point | 45.2303, -90.1317 (directions) |
| Zones | Northern Forest Zone; Bear Zone A |
Taylor County questions from hunters
How many bucks were registered in Taylor County in 2025?
1,109 antlered deer.
Has chronic wasting disease turned up in Taylor County?
No: none of 1,770 wild deer tested was positive.
Can I feed deer in my yard in Taylor County?
Feeding is allowed under the same 2-gallon limits as bait.
How many bear permits are there for Taylor County?
Zone A drew 1,675 permits for 2026 against a harvest target of 1,100.
When is spring turkey season in Taylor County?
Youth hunt Apr 17 to Apr 18, 2027, then Periods A to F from Apr 21 to Jun 1, 2027.
Is there a county forest in Taylor County?
Yes, 17,728 acres as of the DNR 2021 report.
What is the deadline to register a deer in Taylor County?
5 p.m. the day after you recover it; the confirmation number starts with W.
Do bowhunters wear orange in Taylor County?
Yes, whenever a firearm deer season is open.
Which venison processors are nearest Taylor County?
Hickory Nutz Sausage, River Valley Meats and Martin's Meat Processing, in order of distance.
When does deer season end in Taylor County?
Jan 3, 2027, the archery close.
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.
Double-check before Taylor County
The DNR can change quotas, bonus sales and bans between seasons. The regulations booklet is the legal reference.
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: Jeff the quiet (CC0 1.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0); USDA Forest Service Eastern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0); USDA Forest Service Eastern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0); wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0).