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2026-27 · Northern Forest
Douglas 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 Douglas County this fall and next spring.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Douglas County spans 1,304 square miles in the Northwoods, governed from Superior. The Census Vintage 2024 estimate is 44,276 residents (-0.0% since 2020). The Northern Forest Zone takes in the entire county, carved into 4 units. The closest DNR counter is the DNR Spooner Service Center in Spooner. Douglas County touches 3 state wildlife areas, 7 state natural areas and 20 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.
Douglas County: units, quotas, Holiday Hunt
Natural Resources Board quotas for 2026 total 3,200 antlerless deer in the units listed here. No free tags come with forest units such as DMU 101, DMU 102 and DMU 107; 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 101 | Northern Forest | 120 | 180 | 120 | 0 / 0 | — |
| DMU 102 | Northern Forest | 925 | 1,350 | 2,500 | 404 / 1,718 | — |
| DMU 107 | Northern Forest | 2,155 | 5,650 | 3,400 | 4,503 / 2,891 | — |
| Douglas County Superior Metro Sub-Unit | Northern Forest metro | In parent | 200 | 100 | 166 / 85 | — |
Late seasons
No Holiday Hunt in Douglas County: it is a Farmland-only season.
Metro seasons
The DNR maps a metro sub-unit inside Douglas County (Douglas County Superior Metro Sub-Unit); its gun season lasts to Dec 9 and archery to Jan 31. The sub-unit opened with 300 bonus authorizations.
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.
Douglas County registered deer by year
Deer Metrics has no Douglas unit; the Northern Forest DMUs that cover the county were redrawn in 2025, so only 2025 figures exist for them.
DMU totals for 2025
This fall so far (preliminary)
| Unit | Antlered | Antlerless | So far |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 101 | 37 | 19 | 56 |
| DMU 102 | 86 | 98 | 184 |
| DMU 107 | 98 | 119 | 217 |
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.
Douglas County CWD sampling and bait rules
All 1,608 wild deer tested from Douglas County so far came back not detected. Baiting is allowed in Douglas 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) | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 63 | 0 |
| 2024 | 56 | 0 |
| 2023 | 60 | 0 |
| 2022 | 71 | 0 |
| 2021 | 78 | 0 |
| 2020 | 150 | 0 |
| 2019 | 152 | 0 |
| 2018 | 21 | 0 |
| 2017 | 11 | 0 |
| 2016 | 6 | 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 Douglas County
Bear zone and harvest
The DNR bear map puts Douglas County in zone A; zone A permits hounds. Douglas County ranked 12th for bears in 2025 with 145 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 | 145 | 73 | 72 |
| 2024 | 124 | 68 | 56 |
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 |
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.
Douglas County: state, county and federal land
30 public properties in Douglas County are pinned on the map, with 0 more just over the line. County forest land here totals 281,853 acres (DNR acreage report, July 1, 2021). Open MFL acreage in Douglas County: 75,778, per the 2026 DNR report.
- County forest (1)Douglas County Forest (281,853 acres)
- Conservation easement: 1Brule St. Croix Legacy Forest (74,398 acres*)
- State forest, 1 listedBrule River State Forest (47,314 acres)
- State habitat areas: 2St. Louis/Red River Stream Bank Protection Area (6,695 acres), Wisconsin Point Bird Sanctuary State Habitat Area (7 acres)
- 7 state natural areasBrule Glacial Spillway State Natural Area (2,656 acres), Motts Ravine State Natural Area (655 acres), Brule River Boreal Forest State Natural Area (652 acres), Pokegama Carnegie Wetlands State Natural Area (311 acres), Bear Beach State Natural Area (96 acres), Big Manitou Falls and Gorge State Natural Area (35 acres), Brule Rush Lake State Natural Area (25 acres)
- State wildlife areas (3)Douglas County Wildlife Area (3,916 acres), Lake Nebagamon State Habitat Area (38 acres), Town of Gordon State Habitat Area (20 acres)
- Riverway or scenic waters area, 1 listedTotogatic Wild River (2,491 acres*)
- State parks in the county (2)Pattison State Park (1,542 acres), Amnicon Falls State Park (833 acres)
- 9 north country trail areasClear Creek State North Country Trail Area (357 acres), Nemadji River State North Country Trail Area (178 acres), Black River State North Country Trail Area (177 acres), Solon Springs State North Country Trail Area (55 acres), Pattison State Park North Country Trail Area (40 acres), North Country National Scenic Trail (22 acres), Minnesota Border State North Country Trail Area, Pattison State Park State North Country Trail Area, Town of Solon Springs State North Country Trail Area
- 1 public access siteLeader Lake State Public Access (87 acres)
- State fishery areas, 2 listedPerson Lake Fishery Area (9 acres), Bardon Lake-Whitefish L Public Access (2 acres)
Also covering part of the county: DNR State-Owned Islands, Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (Wisconsin).
Skip Middle River Sea Lamprey Barrier State Habitat Area; DNR lists no hunting there.
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.
Douglas County: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 40 season segments apply to Douglas 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 | Metro sub-unit gun | Metro sub-unit: Superior | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 9, 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 | Extended archery and crossbow | Metro sub-unit | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
Douglas County base towns and next-door counties
Population figures for Douglas County towns are Census 2024 estimates; unincorporated places have none.
- Superiorcounty seat · 26,620 residents · 12,815 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Superiorcounty seat · 668 residents · 19,705 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Brule84,777 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Gordon111,471 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Lake Nebagamon1,136 residents · 88,730 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Solon Springs679 residents · 122,350 acres of public land in 10 miles
Neighbouring Wisconsin counties: 4; out of state, Carlton (MN), Lake (MN), Pine (MN) and St. Louis (MN).
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Douglas 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 91.89 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Burn bans and permits in Douglas County
Douglas County status today: open the Wisconsin county list.
- Permits: 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): Douglas 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.
Douglas County: where to shoot
Douglas County holds 6 listed ranges, including Eau Claire Lakes Conservation Club from the DNR public range map.
rifle, handgun, archery, trap, shotgun on file
archery on file
rifle, handgun, shotgun on file
trap, shotgun on file
Upcoming in Douglas County
| When, name | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 29-30, 2027: Chris and Rob’s Superior Gun Show | Gun show | Event page |
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
After the shot in Douglas County
Distances are straight-line miles from the middle of Douglas 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.
Banquets, trials and hunts in Douglas County
Listed as of October 19, 2026: 7 posted results.
Posted results
| Held | Event | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 2026 | Moose River Grouse Dog Club 2026 / Bird dog trial | Open Sohoting Dog Classic 1st: Northwoods Cedar Edge (setter female; Eric & Lindsey Saetre, owners; Lindsey Saetre, handler) | Source |
| Oct 10, 2025 | National Amateur Grouse Championship 2025 / Bird dog championship | National Amateur Grouse Championship winner: Grouse Trails Little Bud (pointer male; John McKellop III, owner and handler) | Source |
| Oct 3, 2025 | Region 19 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship 2025 / Bird dog championship | Region 19 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship winner: Planet Queen (setter female; Scott Anderson, owner and handler) | Source |
| Apr 25, 2025 | Moose River Grouse Dog Club 2025 / Bird dog trial | Open Shooting Dog Classic 1st: Northern Slopes Bell (setter female; Ed Graddy, owner and handler) | Source |
| Oct 11, 2024 | Region 19 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship 2024 / Bird dog championship | Region 19 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship winner: Grouse Trails Little Bud (pointer male; John McKellop, owner and handler) | Source |
| Apr 26, 2024 | International Amateur Woodcock Championship 2024 / Bird dog championship | International Amateur Woodcock Championship winner: Moss Meadow Seeker (setter male; Ken Moss, owner and handler) | Source |
| Apr 19, 2024 | Moose River Grouse Dog Club – Spring Open Shooting Dog Classic 2024 / Bird dog trial | Open Shooting Dog Classic 1st: Northwoods Atlas (setter male; Greg Johnson, owner and handler) | Source |
Douglas County FAQ
How many bucks came from the units in Douglas County?
DMU 101: 1,000, DMU 102: 1,280 and DMU 107: 1,429 in 2025.
What is the 2026 antlerless quota in Douglas County?
3,200 across 3 units, counting each unit whole.
Can bears be baited in Douglas County?
Bear baiting has its own rules: April 15 to the end of bear season, 10 gallons per site, in a hollow log or stump.
Do I need to test a donated deer from Douglas County?
No test is required for this county.
How successful are turkey hunters in Douglas County?
Zone 6 spring success was 23% in 2025.
How many bears were taken in Douglas County?
145 in 2025.
Can I register a deer by phone in Douglas County?
Yes: 1-844-426-3734 (844-GAME-REG), by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
What does Douglas County offer in public hunting land?
The land list has 30 properties here, plus 281,853 acres of county forest and 75,778 open MFL acres.
Which processors handle deer close to Douglas County?
Nearest on our list: Hursh Meat Processing, D & E Custom Butchering & Smokehouse and Block & Cleaver Artisan Meats.
Do ground blinds need orange on public land in Douglas County?
On DNR land, yes: 144 square inches of solid orange or pink visible from all sides during firearm deer seasons.
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.
Douglas 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: Sank63 (CC BY 2.0); tuchodi (CC BY 2.0); Joe Passe (CC BY-SA 2.0); aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0); Sank63 (CC BY 2.0); aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0).