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The Northwoods
Forest County Hunting
What the DNR sets for Forest County: deer zone and units, antlerless quota and Farmland tags, baiting status, bear zone B, turkey zone 7/5, plus harvest history and public ground.
Photo: USDA Forest Service Eastern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
The Census measures Forest County at 1,014 square miles of land; Crandon is the county seat. About 9,506 people lived there in 2024, 3.6% more than the 2020 base. Every acre falls in the Northern Forest Zone; 6 DMUs cover it. Licenses and questions go to the DNR Rhinelander Service Center (Rhinelander), about 32 miles away. The land list holds 18 properties with ground in Forest County, led by Lakewood-Laona Ranger District (Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest) at 343,903 acres.
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.
2026-27 deer units for Forest County
Across the 6 quota units touching Forest County, the 2026 antlerless quotas add to 3,820 deer (whole units, not just the county share). Forest units (DMU 120, DMU 122, DMU 123, DMU 124, DMU 125 and DMU 126) include no free antlerless tags; antlerless hunting there runs on bonus authorizations. Bonus tags: $12 resident, $20 nonresident, first come first served at one per day.
| Unit | Zone | 2026 antlerless quota | Bonus, public | Bonus, private | Left Oct 19 (pub/priv) | Free Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 120 | Northern Forest | 545 | 500 | 1,800 | 124 / 1,163 | — |
| DMU 122 | Northern Forest | 330 | 600 | 1,000 | 63 / 562 | — |
| DMU 123 | Northern Forest | 795 | 1,500 | 2,200 | 788 / 1,624 | — |
| DMU 124 | Northern Forest | 320 | 650 | 800 | 0 / 123 | — |
| DMU 125 | Northern Forest | 725 | 500 | 2,650 | 0 / 1,494 | — |
| DMU 126 | Northern Forest | 1,105 | 1,735 | 3,180 | 0 / 1,105 | — |
Forest units
The Holiday Hunt and extended archery are Farmland Zone seasons; forest units do not get them.
Gun deer opener
The nine-day gun deer season runs Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026, followed by muzzleloader Nov 30 to Dec 9, 2026 and the statewide antlerless-only hunt 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 harvest in Forest County
Forest County has no county-named deer unit, so the DNR publishes no county harvest series. The forest DMUs below are 2025 figures for whole units, which cross county lines.
Forest units: 2025 deer
| Unit | Buck | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 120 | 726 | 429 | 1,155 |
| DMU 122 | 472 | 330 | 802 |
| DMU 123 | 1,027 | 699 | 1,726 |
| DMU 124 | 857 | 369 | 1,226 |
| DMU 125 | 1,544 | 766 | 2,310 |
| DMU 126 | 2,104 | 1,184 | 3,288 |
Preliminary 2026 registrations
| DNR row | Bucks | Antlerless | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 120 | 62 | 48 | 110 |
| DMU 122 | 54 | 37 | 91 |
| DMU 123 | 80 | 55 | 135 |
| DMU 124 | 55 | 48 | 103 |
| DMU 125 | 140 | 88 | 228 |
| DMU 126 | 151 | 127 | 278 |
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.
Forest County chronic wasting disease results
CWD has not been detected in wild deer from Forest County across 827 samples. Baiting deer is illegal in Forest County, and so is feeding them, under the CWD-related ban. Donation rule: no test needed.
| Year | Deer sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 5 | 0 |
| 2025 | 37 | 0 |
| 2024 | 43 | 0 |
| 2023 | 39 | 0 |
| 2022 | 36 | 0 |
| 2021 | 25 | 0 |
| 2020 | 32 | 0 |
| 2019 | 56 | 0 |
| 2018 | 84 | 0 |
| 2017 | 15 | 0 |
| 2016 | 10 | 0 |
CWD rules and kiosks · Which counties ban bait
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.
Forest County: bears, gobblers and birds
Black bear
Black bear hunting here falls under zone B, drawn by preference points, with dogs allowed in B. Bear registrations in Forest County: 139 in 2025, 116 the year before.
| Zone | Target | Drawn 2026 | Points | Applied | 2025 state harvest | Dogs allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone B | 850 | 1,545 | 11 | 5,071 | 841 | Yes |
| Season | Harvest | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 139 | 65 | 74 |
| 2024 | 116 | 73 | 43 |
Turkey authorizations
The DNR turkey map places Forest County in zone 7 (58%) and 5 (42%). Levels below are 2025, the latest published. 2025 spring authorization total for zone 7/5: 16,409.
| Turkey zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Success 2025 | Birds 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 7 | 4,396 | 4,400 | 4,400 | 4,406 | 4,401 | 16% | 726 |
| Zone 5 | 11,999 | 12,000 | 11,998 | 12,010 | 12,008 | 20% | 2,446 |
Small game and birds
Ruffed grouse Zone A runs Sep 12, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 with a daily bag of 5.
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.
Forest County public properties with acreage
Forest County counts 18 public properties open to hunting; posted refuges and closed parcels inside them still apply. Forest County is one of 30 counties with a county forest, 15,251 acres as of July 2021. MFL open lands, private forests the public may hunt, cover 80,464 acres here.
- National forest ranger districts (2 here)Lakewood-Laona Ranger District (Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest) (343,903 ac*), Eagle River-Florence Ranger District (Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest) (319,429 ac*)
- Conservation easements (3)Pelican River Forest Conservation Easement (67,369 ac*), Wabikon Waters Conservation Easement (18,219 ac), Camp One Springs Conservation Easement Area (80 ac)
- Riverway or scenic waters area in the county (1)Wild Rivers/pine Popple Conservation Easement (58,828 ac*)
- County forest (1 here)Forest County Forest (15,251 ac)
- State wildlife areas (5 here)Little Rice Wildlife Area (2,284 ac), South Branch Peshtigo River State Habitat Area (463 ac), Bog Brook Wildlife Area (267 ac), Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area (154 ac), Pine Lake State Habitat Area (20 ac)
- State natural areas: 2Atkins Lake and Hiles Swamp State Natural Area (830 ac*), Crandon Ribbed Fen State Natural Area (96 ac)
- State fishery areas in the county (4)Lily Lake State Public Access (46 ac), Campbell Springs State Spring Ponds (45 ac), Peterson Springs State Spring Ponds (40 ac), Bishop Lake State Public Access (21 ac)
Larger units with ground here: DNR Small Public Access and Stream Bank Parcels Open to Hunting, DNR State-Owned Islands, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Beyond the line: Pine-Popple Wild Rivers (15 miles, 11,636 ac), Woods Creek State Natural Area (16 miles, 52 ac), Woods Creek Cedars State Natural Area (16 miles, 49 ac), Town of Three Lakes State Habitat Area (17 miles, 210 ac).
Every public property · County forest list · About MFL open 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.
Every Forest County season on one table
Private and public land share these dates. A state park, refuge or Fort McCoy can close sooner, so read the property page before you go.
| Animal | Segment | Scope | Starts | Ends | Open 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 B | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone B | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone B | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 7/5 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 7/5 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 7/5 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 7/5 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 7/5 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 7/5 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 7/5 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 7/5 | 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.
Towns of Forest County, then its neighbours
Public acres beside each Forest County town are a GIS total for a 10-mile circle, not a DNR figure.
- Crandoncourthouse town · 1,737 inhabitants · 70,336 public acres within 10 miles
- Argonne93,142 public acres within 10 miles
- Laona111,180 public acres within 10 miles
- Mole Lake53,945 public acres within 10 miles
- Newald110,338 public acres within 10 miles
- Wabeno119,637 public acres within 10 miles
Forest County borders 6 Wisconsin counties, plus Iron (MI) across the state line.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Hunting hours for Forest County
Big game and small game hunters get 20 minutes after sunset in Wisconsin, not 30. Waterfowl and spring gobbler hunters quit at sunset.
| When | Event | North | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery, fall turkey and grouse opener | 5:59 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:43 a.m. to 6:25 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 6:28 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:04 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:32 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:44 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:03 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:05 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 4:50 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 B offset of 4 minutes for longitude 88.77 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Fires, permits and bans around Forest County
The Wisconsin burn ban page shows Forest 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): Forest 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.
Forest County: where to shoot
Forest County shooters leave the county to shoot; Big 4 Sportsman's Club is nearest at 14 miles.
rifle, trap, shotgun on file
sporting clays, muzzleloader, handgun, action pistol, benchrest on file
rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, muzzleloader on file
The closest DNR-map range is Florence County Shooting Range, 26 miles off in Florence County.
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
Butchers, mounts and stores near Forest County
Wisconsin publishes no list of licensed taxidermists or guides, so those rows come from DNR CWD partners and directories.
DNR counters and field offices
Weekday counter hours at DNR service centers run 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Processors nearby
Taxidermy shops
Guides nearby
Sporting goods
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.
Forest County hunters often ask
Can turkeys be hunted in the fall in Forest County?
Yes: Sep 12, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, using a fall authorization for the zone.
Where should I start on public land in Forest County?
Try the biggest first: Lakewood-Laona Ranger District (Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest), Eagle River-Florence Ranger District (Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest) and Pelican River Forest Conservation Easement.
Where do I register a bear from Forest County?
In the county of kill or an adjoining county, through GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; mail two premolar teeth by Oct. 15.
Does my hat need to be orange in Forest County?
If you wear one during a firearm deer season, it must be at least 50% orange or pink.
Where do hunters in Forest County take deer for cutting?
Commonly Shcaefers Deer Processing, Prime Choice Meat Market and Lake Tomahawk Meat Market; call ahead in November.
Does Forest County have more than one deer unit?
Yes: DMU 120, DMU 122, DMU 123, DMU 124, DMU 125 and DMU 126.
Where do I see the bonus tags left in Forest County?
On the DNR bonus availability page; this page shows the counts as of Oct. 19, 2026.
Why is there no deer history for Forest County?
The Northern Forest units were redrawn in 2025, and the DNR has no history for the new lines.
Is CWD testing free for deer from Forest County?
Yes. DNR testing is voluntary and free statewide, at kiosks, cooperating businesses or with a home kit.
Can I hunt over a food plot in Forest County?
Yes. Standing crops and food plots are legal, but you may not plant one on DNR land.
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.
Heading to Forest County
Every date here is for the 2026-27 Wisconsin seasons; check the DNR site again before the trip.
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: USDA Forest Service Eastern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); ThreeIfByBike (CC BY-SA 2.0); wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0); wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0); aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0); wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0); aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0).