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DNR Northern Region
Iron County Hunting
A DNR-sourced guide to Iron County in the Northwoods: 2026-27 seasons, 2 DMUs with their quotas, registered deer by year, county and state land, towns and the shops that serve hunters.
Photo: jchapiewsky (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Hurley is the seat of Iron County, a 758 square mile county in the DNR Northern Region. 6,235 people call it home, per the 2024 Census estimate (+1.7% against 2020). Deer management here is Northern Forest Zone throughout (2 units). Its nearest DNR service center is DNR Woodruff Service Center in Woodruff, 43 miles from the county centre. Public hunting runs through 25 listed properties; the largest by acreage is Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest.
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.
Antlerless quota and bonus tags in Iron County
The DNR set a combined 2026 antlerless quota of 640 for the 2 units that cover Iron County; units that cross into other counties count in full. Bonus authorizations are the only antlerless option in DMU 117 and DMU 118. Go Wild sells bonus antlerless tags for $12 resident and $20 nonresident, limited to one purchase a day.
| Unit | Zone | Antlerless quota 2026 | Bonus public | Bonus private | Available Oct 19 | Free per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 117 | Northern Forest | 550 | 1,000 | 1,100 | 620 / 619 | — |
| DMU 118 | Northern Forest | 90 | 150 | 150 | 23 / 0 | — |
No Holiday Hunt
Forest Zone units hold neither the Holiday Hunt nor extended archery, so archery in Iron County closes Jan 3, 2027.
Nine-day gun season
Mark Nov 21 for the gun opener; the run of firearm seasons ends with the 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.
Iron County deer numbers by unit
The DNR has no harvest history for the 2025 forest DMU boundaries, so Iron County is shown through the 2025 totals of its units.
Northwoods and Central Forest units
2026 season to date, preliminary
| Unit | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 117 | 54 | 51 | 105 |
| DMU 118 | 47 | 14 | 61 |
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.
CWD and baiting in Iron County
Iron County has never had a CWD-positive wild deer in the DNR summary (832 tests to date). Bait for deer is legal in Iron County: up to 2 gallons per 40 acres, no animal parts, no mechanical feeders. Donated deer from here go without a required test.
| CWD year | Samples | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 26 | 0 |
| 2024 | 23 | 0 |
| 2023 | 25 | 0 |
| 2022 | 55 | 0 |
| 2021 | 41 | 0 |
| 2020 | 56 | 0 |
| 2019 | 68 | 0 |
| 2018 | 16 | 0 |
| 2017 | 11 | 0 |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 |
CWD by county · Bait law explained
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.
Beyond deer in Iron County
Bears in Iron County
Bear zone A (84%) and B (16%) covers Iron County; hound hunting is legal in A/B. 106 bears came from Iron County in 2025 (50 male, 56 female).
| Zone | Harvest goal | 2026 permits | Minimum points | Applicants 2026 | 2025 bears | Hounds OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone A | 1,100 | 1,675 | 11 | 11,648 | 1,161 | Yes |
| Zone B | 850 | 1,545 | 11 | 5,071 | 841 | Yes |
| Year | County bears | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 106 | 50 | 56 |
| 2024 | 104 | 55 | 49 |
Spring turkey
For spring turkeys, Iron County falls in zone 7; each authorization names one zone and one of the six periods, A to F. In 2025 the DNR issued 4,401 spring authorizations across zone 7.
| Zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Success | 2025 harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 7 | 4,396 | 4,400 | 4,400 | 4,406 | 4,401 | 16% | 726 |
Waterfowl and upland zones
Ruffed grouse: Zone A, open Sep 12, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027.
Bear zones A to F · Turkey periods by zone
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.
Public hunting ground across Iron County
Here are all 25 properties with public hunting ground in Iron County, largest first. The Iron County Forest held 175,343 acres in the DNR report of July 1, 2021, the newest the DNR publishes. 60,483 acres of open Managed Forest Law land in Iron County allow hunting on foot by anyone.
- 2 state forestsNorthern Highland-American Legion State Forest (237,127 acres*), Northern Highland State Forest (176,094 acres*)
- County forests, 2 listedIron County Forest (175,343 acres), Ashland County Forest (40,305 acres*)
- 1 riverway or scenic waters areaTurtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area (35,736 acres*)
- Conservation easements (3 here)Great Northern Conservation Easement (13,994 acres), Twin Lakes Conservation Easement (13,991 acres), Tomahawk Timberlands Conservation Easement (moose Lake Trct) (3,014 acres)
- State wildlife areas, 5 listedHay Creek-Hoffman Lake Wildlife Area (14,489 acres*), Powell Marsh Wildlife Area (4,342 acres*), Underwood Wildlife Area (1,553 acres), Town of Saxon State Habitat Area (359 acres), Snake Track State Habitat Area (15 acres)
- State natural areas (12)Turtle-Flambeau Patterned Bog State Natural Area (5,461 acres), Moose Lake State Natural Area (4,293 acres), DuPage Lake Peatlands State Natural Area (3,287 acres), Toy Lake Swamp State Natural Area (2,308 acres*), Lehto Lake State Natural Area (1,612 acres), Frog Lake and Pines State Natural Area (1,290 acres), Catherine Lake Hemlock-Hardwoods State Natural Area (869 acres), Springstead Muskeg State Natural Area (631 acres), Flambeau Wetlands State Natural Area (355 acres), Lake Evelyn State Natural Area (303 acres), Caroline Lake State Natural Area (131 acres), Island Lake Hemlocks State Natural Area (113 acres)
Multi-county units and DNR groupings that also reach the county: Wisconsin Forest Legacy Program Easements (unnamed tracts), DNR State-Owned Islands, DNR Scattered Forest Lands.
Next door: Mary Lake State Natural Area (18 miles, 51 acres).
Statewide land list · County forest rules · MFL hunting rules
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.
Iron County season calendar, 2026-27
Archery, the nine-day gun hunt, muzzleloader, bear, turkey, upland birds, rabbits, furbearers and the duck and goose splits for Iron County.
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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/B | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone A/B | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone A/B | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 7 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 7 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 7 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 7 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 7 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 7 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 7 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 7 | 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.
Iron County seat, towns and border counties
The 3 towns below have their own page, with the county seat first.
- Hurleyseat · 1,610 townspeople · 37,166 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Iron Belt90,192 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Mercer111,827 public acres in a 10-mile circle
Iron County meets 3 in-state counties and Gogebic (MI) in a neighbouring state.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Iron County shooting time on key dates
At Iron County the offset is 12 minutes (Zone D). The times below already include it for both DNR shooting-hours areas.
| Date | Hunt | Northern Area hours | Southern Area hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 90.26 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Iron County burn ban and campfire rules
See the Wisconsin county list for Iron County today.
- Permit season: 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): Iron 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).
- 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.
Iron County gun ranges and clubs
2 ranges listed inside Iron County, Northwoods Shooting Range and Snaketrack Shooting Range among them on the DNR public range map.
rifle, handgun, archery, trap, shotgun on file
rifle, handgun on file
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
Iron County: processing, mounts and gear
Where Iron County has few listings, bordering counties fill the gap.
Agency desks nearby
The service center counter opens weekdays 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Field offices need an appointment.
Venison processing
Taxidermists nearby
Hunting preserves
Gun, archery and 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.
Iron County, answered
Can I shoot a doe in Iron County with my gun license?
Only with a bonus authorization for the unit, where any are offered.
What DMU should I pick for Iron County on Go Wild?
The unit where you will hunt: DMU 117 and DMU 118. Farmland tags and bonus tags are unit specific.
How many deer were tested for CWD in Iron County in 2025?
26 in CWD year 2025, 0 positive.
Which forest unit near Iron County had the most deer in 2025?
DMU 117, with 895.
How many points do I need for a Iron County bear tag?
Zone A needed 11 preference points in the 2026 drawing.
Can I use a feeder for deer in Iron County?
No. Automatic and gravity feeders are never legal for deer bait in Wisconsin.
Can I hunt state natural areas in Iron County?
Most DNR-owned SNAs are open; 12 are listed here. Check each page for closures.
How many turkey permits does Iron County get?
Zone 7 had 4,401 spring authorizations in 2025; 2027 levels are not out yet.
Do duck hunters in Iron County need orange?
No. Waterfowl hunters are exempt.
What is GameReg?
Wisconsin's harvest registration system at gamereg.wi.gov or 1-844-426-3734.
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.
Iron County, final word
State wildlife areas post refuges and closed areas; read the property page before you go.
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); aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0); jchapiewsky (CC BY-SA 2.0); Joshua Mayer from Madison, WI, USA (CC BY-SA 2.0).