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Northern Region · 2026-27
Burnett 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 Burnett County, from DNR data.
Photo: wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Burnett County covers 822 square miles of land and 59 of lakes and rivers, with the courthouse in Siren. It counted 17,187 people in 2024, about 21 for each square mile of land. By area the county is 74% Northern Forest and 26% Central Farmland. The DNR Spooner Service Center in Spooner is the nearest of the twelve DNR service centers. 32 public propertys on the DNR, county and federal lists sit at least partly inside the line, 13 state wildlife areas 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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Burnett County
Burnett County DMUs and antlerless authorizations
For 2026 the antlerless target in these units is 6,605 deer, set by unit before bonus sales opened in August. Free Farmland tags here: 2 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 107 and DMU 108 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burnett Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 1,600 | 500 | 2,400 | 463 / 2,375 | 2 |
| DMU 107 | Northern Forest | 2,155 | 5,650 | 3,400 | 4,503 / 2,891 | — |
| DMU 108 | Northern Forest | 2,850 | 3,750 | 7,775 | 3,017 / 7,467 | — |
Late antlerless hunt
Antlerless deer only, Dec 24, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027: the Holiday Hunt is on in Burnett County (Central Farmland part only). Extended archery and crossbow follow, Jan 4 to Jan 31, 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, Burnett County
2,861 deer were registered in Burnett County in 2025, ranking it 46th of 61 units with county names. Against 3,072 in 2015, the 2025 count is down 7%. Older years cover the unit as it was drawn then; 2025 is the Central Farmland unit alone.
| Year | Buck harvest | Antlerless harvest | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,327 | 1,534 | 2,861 |
| 2024 | 2,240 | 1,588 | 3,828 |
| 2023 | 1,922 | 1,571 | 3,493 |
| 2022 | 2,590 | 2,449 | 5,039 |
| 2021 | 2,379 | 2,201 | 4,580 |
| 2020 | 2,560 | 2,315 | 4,875 |
| 2019 | 2,066 | 1,634 | 3,700 |
| 2018 | 2,473 | 2,327 | 4,800 |
| 2017 | 2,721 | 2,569 | 5,290 |
| 2016 | 2,424 | 1,995 | 4,419 |
2025 forest unit totals
Burnett County so far in 2026 (preliminary)
| Unit | Bucks | Antlerless | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burnett | 113 | 151 | 264 |
| DMU 107 | 98 | 119 | 217 |
| DMU 108 | 143 | 164 | 307 |
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 Burnett County?
No CWD-positive wild deer has been found in Burnett County; 3,047 have been sampled there since 1999. One of 12 counties outside the ban, Burnett County allows bait for deer in small amounts. No CWD test is required to donate deer here.
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 9 | 0 |
| 2025 | 130 | 0 |
| 2024 | 144 | 0 |
| 2023 | 152 | 0 |
| 2022 | 187 | 0 |
| 2021 | 169 | 0 |
| 2020 | 231 | 0 |
| 2019 | 241 | 0 |
| 2018 | 64 | 0 |
| 2017 | 128 | 0 |
| 2016 | 124 | 0 |
| 2015 | 21 | 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.
Burnett County bear and turkey numbers
Black bears
Burnett County lies in bear zone D (88%) and A (12%). Class A bear licenses come by preference-point drawing, and hounds are allowed in zone D/A. The 2025 bear harvest in Burnett County was 164, 9th among Wisconsin counties.
| Bear zone | Target 2026 | Licenses drawn | Points needed | Applicants | Harvest 2025 | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone D | 1,100 | 3,855 | 2 | 6,847 | 906 | Yes |
| Zone A | 1,100 | 1,675 | 11 | 11,648 | 1,161 | Yes |
| Year | Total | Boars | Sows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 164 | 74 | 90 |
| 2024 | 224 | 93 | 131 |
Turkey zone and permits
Turkey zone 4 (88%) and 6 (12%) covers the county. Spring 2027 permit levels have not been published; the table gives 2025 levels by zone. 40,998 spring authorizations went to zone 4/6 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 |
| Zone 6 | 5,390 | 5,402 | 6,001 | 6,004 | 6,001 | 23% | 1,362 |
Birds and small game in Burnett 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.
Burnett County wildlife areas, forests and natural areas
Burnett County overlaps 32 properties on the land list, from state wildlife areas to natural areas and trails. County forest: 111,516 acres, from the DNR report dated July 1, 2021. Private land enrolled in Managed Forest Law and open to the public adds 3,602 acres in Burnett County.
- County forest in the county (1)Burnett County Forest (111,516 ac)
- State wildlife areas in the county (13)Crex Meadows Wildlife Area (29,800 ac), Fish Lake Wildlife Area (13,533 ac), Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area (6,431 ac*), Amsterdam Sloughs Wildlife Area (5,098 ac), Clam Lake Wildlife Area (459 ac), Yellow Lake State Habitat Area (233 ac), Goose Lake Wildlife Area (128 ac), Sand Lake State Habitat Area (43 ac), Truck Lake State Habitat Area (40 ac), Upper Twin Lake State Habitat Area (35 ac), Round Lake State Habitat Area (24 ac), Clam River State Habitat Area (9 ac), Green Lake State Habitat Area (4 ac)
- State forest: 1Governor Knowles State Forest (21,229 ac*)
- State natural areas (11 here)Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area (6,433 ac*), Norway Point Bottomlands State Natural Area (3,992 ac), Reed Lake Meadow/Barrens State Natural Area (3,568 ac), Fish Lake Meadow State Natural Area (1,880 ac), Blomberg Lake & Woods State Natural Area (965 ac), Kohler-Peet Barrens State Natural Area (834 ac), St. Croix Ash Swamp State Natural Area (543 ac), Ekdall Wetlands State Natural Area (305 ac), Brant Brook Pines State Natural Area (150 ac), Crex Sand Prairie State Natural Area (80 ac), Fish Lake Pines State Natural Area (43 ac)
- State fishery areas: 5Clam River Fishery Area (2,557 ac), Sand Creek Fishery Area (Polk and Burnett Counties) (1,435 ac*), Spring Creek Fishery Area (72 ac), Culbertson Springs Fishery Area (38 ac), Trade Lake Public Access (1 ac)
- Public access site (1 here)Clam Lake – Cumberland Point State Public Access (20 ac)
Statewide groupings with parcels here: DNR Small Public Access and Stream Bank Parcels Open to Hunting, DNR State-Owned Islands, Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (Wisconsin).
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 Burnett County
Deer dates are statewide in Wisconsin; bear, turkey, grouse, cottontail and waterfowl dates follow zone lines, so only the rows for Burnett 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 | |
| White-tailed deer | Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt | Holiday Hunt: Burnett (Central Farmland) | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Extended archery and crossbow | Extended archery | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone D/A | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone D/A | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone D/A | 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.
From Burnett County towns to the counties around it
Pick a base town in Burnett County; its page lists the closest public properties and legal hours.
- Sirencounty seat · 927 people in 2024 · 18,217 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Danbury47,402 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Grantsburg1,372 people in 2024 · 59,716 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Webster712 people in 2024 · 49,270 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
Bordering Burnett County: 4 Wisconsin counties plus Chisago (MN) and Pine (MN).
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
When you can shoot at Burnett 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 | 6:15 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:59 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:20 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:48 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 7:00 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:19 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:21 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 5:06 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 F offset of 20 minutes for longitude 92.38 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Burnett County burn ban and campfire rules
The Wisconsin burn ban page shows Burnett County today.
- Burn permit: 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): Burnett 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).
- 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.
Burnett County ranges and matches
2 ranges in Burnett County, from the DNR range layer and directory listings checked October 19, 2026.
sporting clays, shotgun on file
trap, skeet, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
Nearest range on the DNR public range map: Frog Creek Washburn Cty. Forest in Washburn County, about 31 miles from the county center.
Matches and shows here
| When and what | Kind | Go |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 13-14, 2026: Yukon Arms Siren Gun Show | Gun show | Details |
| Feb 26-27, 2027: Grantsburg Gun Show | Gun show | Details |
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
Burnett County hunting services
Each group starts with Burnett 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.
Burnett County on the Wisconsin events calendar
Bird dog championship, bird dog trial and deer processing class: 1 upcoming event and 7 posted results. Retrieved October 19, 2026.
Still to come
| Held | What | Where | Register | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 13, 2026 | Deer Processing Class (Burnett County) / Deer processing class | Crex Meadows Wildlife Area Grantsburg Burnett Co. | Event details | Source |
Who placed
| Held | Event | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 6, 2025 | Region 19 Amateur All-Age Championship 2025 / Bird dog championship | Open Derby 1st: Erin's Banshee (pointer male; Allen Linder, owner; Sean Patrick Derrig, handler) | Source |
| Oct 3, 2025 | Region 19 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship 2025 / Bird dog championship | Region 19 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship winner: Touch's Too Much (pointer male; Keith Wright, owner; Austin Turley, handler) | Source |
| Sep 24, 2025 | NBHA Sharptail Open Championship 2025 / Bird dog championship | NBHA Sharptail Open Championship winner: Grouse Trails Little Bud (pointer male; John McKellop III, owner and handler) | Source |
| Oct 12, 2024 | National Vizsla Association – Sharptail Open Shooting Dog and Derby Classics 2024 / Bird dog trial | NVA Sharptail Open Shooting Dog Classic 1st: B G K's Bolt Action (Vizsla male; Jarrett Bell, owner and handler) | Source |
| Oct 6, 2024 | Region 19 Amateur All-Age Championship 2024 / Bird dog championship | Region 19 Amateur All-age Championship winner: Ramblin Rivers Natural (pointer male; William Stapleton, owner and handler) | Source |
| Oct 4, 2024 | Region 19 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship 2024 / Bird dog championship | Region 19 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship winner: Carbonado's Silver Sage (pointer female; Austin & Michelle Austin, owners; Austin Turley, handler) | Source |
| Sep 25, 2024 | NBHA Sharptail Championship 2024 / Bird dog championship | NBHA Sharptail Open Championship winner: Little Hawk (setter female; Paul Cook, owner and handler) | Source |
Burnett County questions from hunters
What is the deadline to register a deer in Burnett County?
5 p.m. the day after you recover it; the confirmation number starts with W.
Do bowhunters wear orange in Burnett County?
Yes, whenever a firearm deer season is open.
Which venison processors are nearest Burnett County?
Block & Cleaver Artisan Meats, Lock and Load and Louie's Finer Meats, in order of distance.
When does deer season end in Burnett County?
Jan 31, 2027 for archery and crossbow.
Is Burnett County a Farmland or Forest county for deer?
Northern Forest and Central Farmland (split by the zone line).
How much is a bonus antlerless tag for Burnett County?
$12 resident, $20 nonresident, one per day while they last.
How many bucks were registered in Burnett County in 2025?
1,327 antlered deer.
Has chronic wasting disease turned up in Burnett County?
No: none of 3,047 wild deer tested was positive.
Can I feed deer in my yard in Burnett County?
Feeding is allowed under the same 2-gallon limits as bait.
How many bear permits are there for Burnett County?
Zone D drew 3,855 permits for 2026 against a harvest target of 1,100.
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 Burnett 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: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); Joshua Mayer (CC BY-SA 2.0); aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0); Anne Marie Peterson from Madison, WI, US (CC BY-SA 2.0); Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA (CC BY 2.0).