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South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Pikes Creek Unit hunting guide
Everything we could verify about South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Pikes Creek Unit: acreage, zones, property rules, harvest around it and nearby ground.
Photo: Joshua Mayer (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Pikes Creek Unit
The short version on South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit
In Bayfield County you will find South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Pikes Creek Unit, a DNR fishery area that is open to hunting. On the DNR map it belongs to the Northern Region. The managing body is the Wisconsin DNR. At 1,003 acres it sits 28th by area in a field of 245 fishery areas. About 3 miles west of Bayfield. Inside it are 1 separate record.
From the source page (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Pikes Creek Unit
South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit, as the managers tell it
Word for word from the property page.
The South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area was created in 1992 to preserve the land and water resources of Wisconsin's Lake Superior tributaries that support the self-sustaining potamodromous fishery. Potamodromous fishes live their adult lives in Lake Superior and spawn in the tributaries and include rainbow (steelhead) trout, brown trout, coaster brook trout, coho salmon, and Chinook salmon. The Fishery Area also provides public recreation and education opportunities. The Fishery Area spans six distinct watersheds, including Fish Creek, Sioux River, Pikes Creek, Cranberry River, Flag River and Iron River, along with their associated coastal wetlands.
More than 50 percent of the total self-sustaining potamodromous fishery on the Wisconsin shore of Lake Superior is included within the boundaries of the South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area. Directions: The South Shore of Lake Superior Fishery Area includes various properties close to the shores of Lake Superior and along streams draining into Lake Superior in Bayfield County.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit: what is allowed
How access works on South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit
Check the DNR public access lands map: the open parcels of this fishery land can be hunted and trapped in season.
South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit: rules from the regulations
From the October youth hunt through the Holiday Hunt, blaze orange or pink covers half of your upper clothing and cap. Mark a ground blind with 144 square inches of blaze orange or pink while firearm deer seasons run. Tree stands: no tree damage, ID on unattended stands, overnight only north of Hwy. 64 during Sept. 1-Jan. 31. Register deer, turkeys and bears through GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
What South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit costs in licenses
Buy through Go Wild; the free Farmland tags and bonus tags are marked public-access or private-land, and only public-access ones work here.
Posted closures at South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit
1 row of closures apply to South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit.
| Closed area | Type | Period | Acres | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Les Voight State Fish Hatchery | State Fish Hatchery Closed Area | Jan 1–Dec 31 | 34 | NR 11.24(1)(a) |
Access from the source page; closures from the DNR closed and restricted areas layer; stocking and dove fields from the DNR upland bird layers; rules from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations; prices from Go Wild. Checked October 19, 2026.
Tags and zones for South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit
For deer it lies in the Northern Forest zone (DMU 103). This season the unit quota is 470 antlerless deer. Zone A bear permits took 11 preference points in 2026; the target is 1,100 bears. The 2025 spring level for Turkey Zone 6 was 6,001 authorizations; 1,362 birds were registered. Deer bait is legal in Bayfield County within the 2-gallon limit.
South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit: antlerless quota and bonus tags
| Deer unit | Zone | 2026 quota | Public bonus left | Private bonus left | Free farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 103 | Northern Forest | 470 | 55 | 1,425 | — |
Every other zone South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit touches
| Zone | Detail | Figures | Points or note | Taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bear A | Hounds legal | 1,100 target, 1,675 permits | 11 points | 1,235 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 6 | 6,001 spring tags (2025) | 23% success | 1,362 gobblers | — |
| Grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose zone | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Gray wolf zone 1/1B | No season | Federally listed |
Zones from the DNR zone layers as recorded in lands.json; quotas and bonus tags from the 2026 antlerless quota table; bear figures from the 2026 bear drawing summary and 2025 bear harvest; turkey from the 2025 spring turkey report; CWD and baiting lists from the DNR. Checked October 19, 2026.
Quarry and limits, South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit
The list for South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit reads: raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Furbearers
The list is what the agency names, not a limit: other Bayfield County seasons apply under the same rules.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit season calendar, 2026-27
Archery, the nine-day gun hunt, muzzleloader, bear, turkey, upland birds, rabbits, furbearers and the duck and goose splits for South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit.
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery and crossbow | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth/disabled gun 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 | December antlerless hunt | Statewide | Dec 10, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone A | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone A | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone A | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Elk | Elk, all weapons | Northern Elk Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 6 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 6 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 6 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 6 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 6 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 6 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 6 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 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 | North of Hwy. 64 | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 1 | South of Hwy. 64 | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 2 | North of Hwy. 64 | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 2 | South of Hwy. 64 | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Unprotected species | Unprotected species | 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.
South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit: the units it holds
396 acres across 1 unit make up the listed parts of South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit.
| Name | Type | County | Acreage | Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Pikes Creek Boreal Forest | State natural area | Bayfield | 396 | — |
Nearest public ground to South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit, mapped
10 more properties lie close to South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit, shown with smaller pins. Acres across them: 51,043.
| Neighbour | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Shore Lake Superior | Fishery area | 276 | 0.7 mi | southwest |
| Nourse Sugarbush | State natural area | 438 | 2.2 mi | southwest |
| Big Rock Pines | State natural area | 159 | 6.7 mi | south |
| South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Sioux River Unit | Fishery area | 2,265 | 8.0 mi | southwest |
| Big Bay Sand Spit and Bog | State natural area | 963 | 8.8 mi | east |
| Saxine Creek | Wildlife area | 236 | 8.8 mi | northwest |
| Big Bay | State park | 2,524 | 9.0 mi | east |
| Lost Creek Bog | State natural area | 850 | 12 mi | west |
| Whittlesey Creek | Wildlife refuge | 469 | 15 mi | south |
| Apostle Islands National Lakeshore | National lakeshore | 42,863 | 16 mi | northeast |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS (polygon centroid of hunting-open parcels) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Registered deer and bears near South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit
The DNR has no Bayfield County deer series; its forest DMUs carry 2025 totals only. The 2026 season to date shows 50 deer in DMU 103; the DNR calls it preliminary. 84 samples, 0 positive: that is Bayfield County in CWD year 2025. All years combined: 0 of 2,155. 185 bears came out of Bayfield County in 2025. These numbers describe the county around South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit, not the property alone.
Deer registered near South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit
| Unit | Bucks | Antlerless | Deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 103 | 748 | 386 | 1,134 |
Bayfield County CWD by year
| CWD year | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 84 | 0 |
| 2024 | 70 | 0 |
| 2023 | 80 | 0 |
| 2022 | 108 | 0 |
| 2021 | 114 | 0 |
Bayfield County bear harvest
| Year | Bear harvest | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 202 | 94 | 108 |
| 2025 | 185 | 102 | 83 |
Deer from DNR Deer Metrics harvest history and the 2026 harvest to date; CWD from the DNR CWD summary; bears from the DNR bear harvest reports. Checked October 19, 2026.
South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Pikes Creek Unit: nearest ranges
The DNR-map range closest to South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Pikes Creek Unit is Sports Hollow (16 miles). Closer club options sit beside it.
rifle, handgun, trap, skeet, sporting clays on file
archery, 3D archery on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Towns, offices and services around South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit
Towns, then services in this county and the next one over.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayfield | Bayfield | 2.6 mi | 592 | 59,543 |
| Washburn | Bayfield | 8.9 mi | 2,055 | 47,397 |
| Cornucopia | Bayfield | 11 mi | — | 82,457 |
| Ashland | Ashland | 15 mi | 7,940 | 6,255 |
Our county write-ups: Bayfield County.
Butchers, mounts and gun counters near South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit
Service centers near South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit
For Bayfield County, the DNR points to its DNR Spooner Service Center.
Towns and populations from the Census 2024 estimates; public acres within 10 miles from the land layers; businesses from store locators and listings (license-only agents left out); offices from DNR, USFS and USFWS pages. Checked October 19, 2026. Call ahead.
When the shooting day opens and closes at South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit
The DNR tables are worked out for Zone A in the east; South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit lies in longitude Zone D, so add 12 minutes to each table time.
| Day | Reason | Northern table | Southern table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, 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 90.88 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit in questions and answers
What neighbours South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit?
Closest first: South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area (1 mile), Nourse Sugarbush State Natural Area (2 miles) and Big Rock Pines State Natural Area (7 miles).
What parts of South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit are posted closed?
1 posted restrictions apply; check the table above.
Who is the land manager for South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit?
The Wisconsin DNR manages it; the land is a DNR fishery area that is open to hunting.
What pages sit under South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit?
It has 1 units with their own pages.
How far is the drive from Bayfield to South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit?
Bayfield County, roughly 3 miles out of Bayfield.
How large is South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit, in acres?
Acreage on record: 1,003.
Is South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit forest or farmland deer country?
DMU 103 in the Northern Forest zone. The unit quota stands at 470 antlerless deer this year.
Which game does South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit list?
The source lists raccoons, foxes and coyotes. Other open seasons apply too, within the property rules.
Is South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit good turkey ground?
Apply for Zone 6; spring periods A-F run in 2027 from April 21.
Are hounds allowed for bear at South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit?
Bear Zone A: 1,675 permits drawn for 2026.
What are the CWD and bait rules for South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit?
It is legal in this county under the 2-gallon rule. The county has no CWD positives.
Is South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit in the northern or southern duck zone?
Northern duck zone and Northern goose zone. First regular duck day in the Northern Zone: Sep 26.
How fast must I register a kill on South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit?
GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit, final notes
Print the South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit map, carry your tags, and check the manager page the week you go.
Sources for this page: DNR: 2370southshorelakesuperior · DNR GIS · DNR: county · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: The Hidden Hide with Ray (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region (Public domain).