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2026-27 · Northern Forest
Bayfield County Hunting
Registered deer since 1960, CWD sampling since 2015, bear and turkey figures, wildlife areas and county forest acres, and the season dates that reach Bayfield County this fall and next spring.
Photo: wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Bayfield County spans 1,478 square miles in the Northwoods, governed from Washburn. The Census Vintage 2024 estimate is 16,838 residents (+3.8% since 2020). The Northern Forest Zone takes in the entire county, carved into 5 units. The closest DNR counter is the DNR Spooner Service Center in Spooner. Bayfield County touches 5 state wildlife areas, 13 state natural areas and 17 other public properties.
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 Bayfield County
Bayfield County: units, quotas, Holiday Hunt
Natural Resources Board quotas for 2026 total 5,415 antlerless deer in the units listed here. No free tags come with forest units such as DMU 102, DMU 103 and DMU 106; hunters buy bonus antlerless authorizations instead. Remaining bonus authorizations stay on sale at $12 for residents and $20 for visitors until the unit sells out.
| DMU | Zone | Quota 2026 | Public bonus | Private bonus | Unsold Oct 19 | Farmland tags per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 102 | Northern Forest | 925 | 1,350 | 2,500 | 404 / 1,718 | — |
| DMU 103 | Northern Forest | 470 | 450 | 1,600 | 55 / 1,425 | — |
| DMU 106 | Northern Forest | 710 | 650 | 2,300 | 521 / 2,092 | — |
| DMU 107 | Northern Forest | 2,155 | 5,650 | 3,400 | 4,503 / 2,891 | — |
| DMU 113 | Northern Forest | 1,155 | 1,900 | 2,750 | 1,369 / 2,244 | — |
Late seasons
No Holiday Hunt in Bayfield County: it is a Farmland-only season.
Gun season
Gun deer opens the Saturday before Thanksgiving: Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026. Muzzleloader follows Nov 30 to Dec 9, 2026, then four antlerless-only days 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.
Bayfield County registered deer by year
Deer Metrics has no Bayfield unit; the Northern Forest DMUs that cover the county were redrawn in 2025, so only 2025 figures exist for them.
DMU totals for 2025
| DMU | Bucks | Antlerless | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 102 | 1,280 | 904 | 2,184 |
| DMU 103 | 748 | 386 | 1,134 |
| DMU 106 | 731 | 519 | 1,250 |
| DMU 107 | 1,429 | 977 | 2,406 |
| DMU 113 | 990 | 786 | 1,776 |
This fall so far (preliminary)
| Unit | Antlered | Antlerless | So far |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 102 | 86 | 98 | 184 |
| DMU 103 | 23 | 27 | 50 |
| DMU 106 | 55 | 58 | 113 |
| DMU 107 | 98 | 119 | 217 |
| DMU 113 | 100 | 76 | 140 |
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.
Bayfield County CWD sampling and bait rules
All 2,155 wild deer tested from Bayfield County so far came back not detected. Baiting is allowed in Bayfield County, one of only 12 counties without a ban, within limits: no more than 2 gallons per 40 acres and sites 100 yards apart. No test is needed before donating.
| CWD year | Tested | CWD found |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 84 | 0 |
| 2024 | 70 | 0 |
| 2023 | 80 | 0 |
| 2022 | 108 | 0 |
| 2021 | 114 | 0 |
| 2020 | 154 | 0 |
| 2019 | 190 | 0 |
| 2018 | 62 | 0 |
| 2017 | 13 | 0 |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 |
CWD across Wisconsin · Feeding rules
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.
Other game in Bayfield County
Bear zone and harvest
The DNR bear map puts Bayfield County in zone A; zone A permits hounds. Bayfield County ranked 5th for bears in 2025 with 185 registered.
| Bear zone | 2026 goal | Winners | Low points | Applicants | Taken 2025 | Hounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone A | 1,100 | 1,675 | 11 | 11,648 | 1,161 | Yes |
| Year | Bears | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 185 | 102 | 83 |
| 2024 | 202 | 94 | 108 |
Gobblers
Spring gobbler hunting here uses zone 6 authorizations, by period A through F. Zone 6 carried 6,001 spring authorizations in 2025.
| Zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 success | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 6 | 5,390 | 5,402 | 6,001 | 6,004 | 6,001 | 23% | 1,362 |
Elk range
The Northern Elk Management Zone (old name Clam Lake Elk Range) crosses Bayfield County. Quota for 2026: 8 bulls, subject to 50% declaration by the Ojibwe tribes (ceded territory). 17,737 people applied in 2025, and 7 elk were harvested.
| Unit group | 2026 licenses |
|---|---|
| A (Unit 1) | 1 bull license |
| B (Unit 2) | CLOSED |
| C (Units 3, 4, 5) | 1 bull license |
| D (Units 6, 7) | 2 bull licenses |
Ducks, geese, grouse, rabbits
Grouse hunters here follow Zone A: Sep 12, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027.
Bear zone map and dates · Turkey zones 1 to 7
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.
Bayfield County: state, county and federal land
35 public properties in Bayfield County are pinned on the map, with 0 more just over the line. County forest land here totals 175,557 acres (DNR acreage report, July 1, 2021). Open MFL acreage in Bayfield County: 32,562, per the 2026 DNR report.
- National forest ranger districts (2)Great Divide Ranger District (Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest) (376,517 acres*), Washburn Ranger District (Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest) (205,368 acres)
- County forest (1)Bayfield County Forest (175,557 acres)
- Conservation easement: 1Brule St. Croix Legacy Forest (74,398 acres*)
- National lakeshore, 1 listedApostle Islands National Lakeshore (42,863 acres*)
- 13 state natural areasBibon Swamp State Natural Area (9,613 acres), Totagatic Lake and Forest State Natural Area (886 acres), Lost Creek Bog State Natural Area (850 acres), Bark Bay Slough State Natural Area (645 acres), Inch Lake State Natural Area (571 acres), Port Wing Boreal Forest State Natural Area (458 acres), Nourse Sugarbush State Natural Area (438 acres), North Pikes Creek Boreal Forest State Natural Area (396 acres), Lake Two Pines State Natural Area (290 acres), White River Breaks State Natural Area (160 acres), Big Rock Pines State Natural Area (159 acres), Jones Lake State Natural Area (44 acres), Sajdak Springs State Natural Area (32 acres)
- State fishery areas, 10 listedWhite River Fishery Area (Bayfield and Ashland Counties) (4,529 acres*), South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Sioux River Unit (2,265 acres), South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Fish Creek Unit (1,915 acres), South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Flag River Unit (1,019 acres), South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Pikes Creek Unit (1,003 acres), South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Iron River Unit (989 acres), South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Cranberry River Unit (588 acres), South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area (276 acres), Mid Eau Claire Lake State Public Access (56 acres), Pickerel Lake Fishery Area (5 acres)
- State wildlife areas (5)Totagatic Lake Wildlife Area (978 acres), Saxine Creek State Habitat Area (236 acres), Eighteenmile Creek State Habitat Area (38 acres), Schacte Creek State Habitat Area (38 acres), Cranberry Lake State Habitat Area (30 acres)
- National wildlife refuge, 1 listedWhittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge (469 acres)
- State habitat area: 1Big Brook State Habitat Area (10 acres)
Also covering part of the county: DNR State-Owned Islands, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (Wisconsin).
Not open to hunters: Namekagon River Fishery Area, Cap Creek-Namekagon River Brook Trout Reserves Easement Area and Gull and Eagle Islands (Apostle Islands National Lakeshore).
Public land index · About county forests · MFL lands
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.
Bayfield County: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 39 season segments apply to Bayfield County.
| Species | Hunt type | Zone or unit | Opening | Closing | 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 | |
| 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 A | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone A | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Elk | Elk (archery, crossbow and firearm) | 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 (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.
Bayfield County base towns and next-door counties
Population figures for Bayfield County towns are Census 2024 estimates; unincorporated places have none.
- Washburncounty seat · 2,055 residents · 47,397 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Bayfield592 residents · 59,543 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Cable100,523 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Cornucopia82,457 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Drummond123,047 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Iron River105,729 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Ashlandstraddles the line · 7,940 residents · 6,255 acres of public land in 10 miles
Neighbouring Wisconsin counties: 4; out of state, Lake (MN).
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Bayfield County first and last legal light
Wisconsin prints its shooting hours as tables. For deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey the day runs from 30 minutes before sunrise to 20 minutes after sunset; migratory birds and spring turkey stop at sunset.
| Date | Season moment | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 91.18 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Burn bans and permits in Bayfield County
The Wisconsin burn ban page shows Bayfield 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): Bayfield County is not on this list.
- Burn bans come from: 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).
- Public land fires: DNR-managed lands (NR 45.07): no fire on the ground and no burning refuse except in designated fireplaces or fire rings.
Bayfield County: where to shoot
Bayfield County holds 4 listed ranges, including Sports Hollow from the DNR public range map.
rifle, handgun, trap, skeet, sporting clays on file
rifle on file
trap, skeet, shotgun, sporting clays, handgun on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
After the shot in Bayfield County
Distances are straight-line miles from the middle of Bayfield County; call before you drive.
Offices for licenses and questions
Field offices are appointment only; service center counters open 8:30-4 on weekdays.
Getting a deer processed
For a mount
Guides and game farms
Gear shops
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.
Bayfield County FAQ
How successful are turkey hunters in Bayfield County?
Zone 6 spring success was 23% in 2025.
How many bears were taken in Bayfield County?
185 in 2025.
Can I register a deer by phone in Bayfield County?
Yes: 1-844-426-3734 (844-GAME-REG), by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
What does Bayfield County offer in public hunting land?
The land list has 35 properties here, plus 175,557 acres of county forest and 32,562 open MFL acres.
Which processors handle deer close to Bayfield County?
Nearest on our list: Pearce's Sausage Kitchen, Hursh Meat Processing and D & E Custom Butchering & Smokehouse.
Do ground blinds need orange on public land in Bayfield County?
On DNR land, yes: 144 square inches of solid orange or pink visible from all sides during firearm deer seasons.
What deer zone is Bayfield County in?
The Northern Forest Zone, covered by 5 units: DMU 102, DMU 103, DMU 106, DMU 107 and DMU 113.
Can I hunt elk in Bayfield County?
Only with a drawn license for a unit group in the Northern Zone elk zone.
How many bucks came from the units in Bayfield County?
DMU 102: 1,280, DMU 103: 748, DMU 106: 731 and DMU 107: 1,429 in 2025.
What is the 2026 antlerless quota in Bayfield County?
5,415 across 5 units, counting each unit whole.
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.
Bayfield County: before the opener
Bonus antlerless tags sell out in some units; buy early on Go Wild.
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: Joshua Mayer (CC BY-SA 2.0); NPS Photo (Public domain); wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0); wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0); wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0).