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West Central Region county guide
Clark 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 Clark County this fall and next spring.
Photo: newagecrap (CC BY 2.0)
Clark County spans 1,210 square miles in west-central Wisconsin, governed from Neillsville. The Census Vintage 2024 estimate is 34,801 residents (+0.5% since 2020). It is a split county for deer: 71% Central Farmland and 29% Central Forest. The closest DNR counter is the DNR Eau Claire Service Center in Eau Claire. Clark County touches 0 state wildlife areas, 2 state natural areas and 3 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.
Clark County: units, quotas, Holiday Hunt
Natural Resources Board quotas for 2026 total 7,775 antlerless deer in the units listed here. Farmland hunters get 3 antlerless tags included with each license for this county's Farmland unit, tied to public or private land. No free tags come with forest units such as DMU 202; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 7,000 | 0 | 2,000 | 0 / 1,971 | 3 |
| DMU 202 | Central Forest | 775 | 650 | 2,000 | 0 / 1,436 | — |
Holiday Hunt: no
Neither the Holiday Hunt nor extended archery reaches Clark County this year.
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.
Clark County registered deer by year
Hunters registered 8,849 deer in the Clark unit in 2025: 3,517 bucks and 5,332 antlerless. That is 13% above the 2015 figure of 7,828; the best year since 1960 was 2000 at 17,855. Because forest DMUs were carved out of Clark County in 2025, the 2025 figure covers only its Central Farmland unit; earlier years follow the boundaries of their day.
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,517 | 5,332 | 8,849 |
| 2024 | 4,604 | 6,221 | 10,825 |
| 2023 | 3,827 | 5,351 | 9,178 |
| 2022 | 4,677 | 6,121 | 10,798 |
| 2021 | 4,285 | 5,294 | 9,579 |
| 2020 | 4,330 | 5,337 | 9,667 |
| 2019 | 3,759 | 4,746 | 8,505 |
| 2018 | 3,780 | 5,003 | 8,783 |
| 2017 | 4,277 | 4,580 | 8,857 |
| 2016 | 4,096 | 4,216 | 8,312 |
DMU totals for 2025
| DMU | Bucks | Antlerless | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 202 | 934 | 652 | 1,586 |
This fall so far (preliminary)
| Unit | Antlered | Antlerless | So far |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clark | 255 | 625 | 880 |
| DMU 202 | 58 | 56 | 114 |
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.
Clark County CWD sampling and bait rules
Chronic wasting disease has turned up in Clark County: 2 positive wild deer out of 2,695 sampled through Oct. 18, 2026. Sampling in CWD year 2025 reached 127 deer, with 2 positives. Hunters in Clark County may not bait deer; the county is on the DNR ban map. Adult deer given to the program must be tested.
| CWD year | Tested | CWD found |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 9 | 0 |
| 2025 | 127 | 2 |
| 2024 | 165 | 0 |
| 2023 | 166 | 0 |
| 2022 | 189 | 0 |
| 2021 | 190 | 0 |
| 2020 | 132 | 0 |
| 2019 | 222 | 0 |
| 2018 | 224 | 0 |
| 2017 | 136 | 0 |
| 2016 | 86 | 0 |
| 2015 | 8 | 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 Clark County
Bear zone and harvest
The DNR bear map puts Clark County in zone C; hounds are prohibited. Clark County ranked 24th for bears in 2025 with 60 registered.
| Bear zone | 2026 goal | Winners | Low points | Applicants | Taken 2025 | Hounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone C | 875 | 4,465 | 2 | 7,605 | 661 | No |
| Year | Bears | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 60 | 30 | 30 |
| 2024 | 85 | 44 | 41 |
Gobblers
Spring gobbler hunting here uses zone 3 (51%) and 4 (48%) authorizations, by period A through F. Zone 3/4 carried 90,609 spring authorizations in 2025.
| Zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 success | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | 52,304 | 52,068 | 52,808 | 53,441 | 55,612 | 22% | 12,324 |
| Zone 4 | 34,115 | 34,373 | 34,964 | 34,994 | 34,997 | 24% | 8,472 |
Elk range
The Central Elk Management Zone (old name Black River Elk Range) crosses Clark County. Quota for 2026: 6 bull and 6 antlerless. 8,452 people applied in 2025, and 9 elk were harvested.
| Unit group | 2026 licenses |
|---|---|
| E (Units 8, 11, 14) | 2 bull, 3 antlerless licenses |
| F (Unit 10) | 2 bull licenses |
| G (Units 9, 12, 13) | 2 bull, 3 antlerless 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.
Clark County: state, county and federal land
5 public properties in Clark County are pinned on the map, with 5 more just over the line. County forest land here totals 134,742 acres (DNR acreage report, July 1, 2021). Open MFL acreage in Clark County: 4,415, per the 2026 DNR report. The DNR leases 2 private properties here for public access (1 VPA-HIP, 1 THAP).
- County forest (1)Clark County Forest (134,742 acres)
- State forest, 1 listedBlack River State Forest (68,861 acres*)
- 2 state natural areasEast Fork of the Black River State Natural Area (513 acres*), Arbutus Oaks State Natural Area (214 acres)
- State habitat area: 1Black River Fishery Area (7 acres)
Also covering part of the county: DNR Scattered Wildlife Lands.
Just outside the county: Winding Creek Rearing Station (19 miles, 197 acres), Eau Claire County Forest (20 miles, 52,712 acres), McMillan Marsh Wildlife Area (20 miles, 5,800 acres), Augusta Wildlife Area (24 miles, 2,127 acres), Halls (Stockwell) Creek Fishery Area (24 miles, 814 acres).
Public land index · About county forests · MFL lands · VPA-HIP · About THAP
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.
Clark County: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 42 season segments apply to Clark 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 C | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Elk | Elk (archery, crossbow and firearm) | Central Elk Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 3/4 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 3/4 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 3/4 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 3/4 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 3/4 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 3/4 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 3/4 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 3/4 | 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 | |
| Cottontail | Cottontail rabbit | Southern cottontail zone | Oct 17, 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 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 1) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 2) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose | Northern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 1) | Southern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 2) | Southern Goose Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (holiday split) | Southern Goose Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 2, 2027 | |
| 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.
Clark County base towns and next-door counties
Population figures for Clark County towns are Census 2024 estimates; unincorporated places have none.
- Neillsvillecounty seat · 2,375 residents · 37,652 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Humbird77,004 acres of public land in 10 miles
Neighbouring Wisconsin counties: 6.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Clark 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 | 6:07 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 90.61 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Before you burn in Clark County
Clark County status today: open the Wisconsin county list.
- 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): Clark County is not on this list.
- Ban orders: 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).
- Fires on public land: DNR-managed lands (NR 45.07): no fire on the ground and no burning refuse except in designated fireplaces or fire rings.
Clark County: where to shoot
Clark County holds 2 listed ranges, including Sherwood Shooting Range from the DNR public range map.
rifle, trap, sporting clays, shotgun on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
Upcoming in Clark County
| When, name | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 30, 2027: 8th Annual Thorp Cardinal 3D Shootout | NASP | Event page |
| Jan 30, 2027: 8th Annual Thorp Cardinal Shootout | NASP | Event page |
| Feb 5-6, 2027: 4th Annual OW Blackhawk 3D Tournament | NASP | Event page |
| Feb 5-6, 2027: 4th Annual OW Blackhawk Bullseye Tournament | NASP | Event page |
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
After the shot in Clark County
Distances are straight-line miles from the middle of Clark 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.
Clark County FAQ
Can I register a deer by phone in Clark County?
Yes: 1-844-426-3734 (844-GAME-REG), by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
What does Clark County offer in public hunting land?
The land list has 5 properties here, plus 134,742 acres of county forest and 4,415 open MFL acres.
Which processors handle deer close to Clark County?
Nearest on our list: Martin's Meat Processing, River Valley Meats and Smith Bros Meats.
Do ground blinds need orange on public land in Clark County?
On DNR land, yes: 144 square inches of solid orange or pink visible from all sides during firearm deer seasons.
Can I hunt elk in Clark County?
Only with a drawn license for a unit group in the Central Zone elk zone.
What late deer seasons does Clark County have?
None beyond the statewide December antlerless hunt.
What is the 2026 antlerless quota in Clark County?
7,775 across 2 units, counting each unit whole.
What deer zone is Clark County in?
The Central Farmland and Central Forest Zones, covered by 2 units: Clark Central Farmland and DMU 202.
Do I need to test a donated deer from Clark County?
Yes for adult deer.
How many antlerless deer were taken in Clark County?
5,332 in 2025, out of 8,849 in all.
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.
Clark 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: newagecrap (CC BY 2.0); Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0); aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0); wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0); Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA (CC BY 2.0); Anne Marie Peterson from Madison, WI, US (CC BY-SA 2.0); Aaron Volkening (CC BY 2.0); royal_broil (CC BY-SA 2.0).