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Northeast Region · 2026-27
Oconto 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 Oconto County, from DNR data.
Photo: wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Oconto County covers 997 square miles of land and 151 of lakes and rivers, with the courthouse in Oconto. It counted 40,037 people in 2024, about 40 for each square mile of land. By area the county is 65% Central Farmland and 35% Northern Forest. The DNR Green Bay Service Center in Green Bay is the nearest of the twelve DNR service centers. 12 public propertys on the DNR, county and federal lists sit at least partly inside the line, 4 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 Oconto County
Oconto County DMUs and antlerless authorizations
For 2026 the antlerless target in these units is 8,105 deer, set by unit before bonus sales opened in August. Free Farmland tags here: 3 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 126 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 126 | Northern Forest | 1,105 | 1,735 | 3,180 | 0 / 1,105 | — |
| Oconto Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 7,000 | 500 | 1,300 | 490 / 1,291 | 3 |
Late antlerless hunt
Antlerless deer only, Dec 24, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027: the Holiday Hunt is on in Oconto 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, Oconto County
7,277 deer were registered in Oconto County in 2025, ranking it 13th of 61 units with county names. Against 6,809 in 2015, the 2025 count is up 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 | 3,429 | 3,848 | 7,277 |
| 2024 | 4,101 | 4,106 | 8,207 |
| 2023 | 3,833 | 3,432 | 7,265 |
| 2022 | 4,266 | 4,230 | 8,496 |
| 2021 | 4,109 | 3,799 | 7,908 |
| 2020 | 3,795 | 4,057 | 7,852 |
| 2019 | 3,388 | 3,775 | 7,163 |
| 2018 | 3,984 | 4,279 | 8,263 |
| 2017 | 3,856 | 3,691 | 7,547 |
| 2016 | 3,705 | 3,273 | 6,978 |
2025 forest unit totals
| DMU | Buck harvest | Antlerless harvest | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 126 | 2,104 | 1,184 | 3,288 |
Oconto County so far in 2026 (preliminary)
| Unit | Bucks | Antlerless | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 126 | 151 | 127 | 278 |
| Oconto | 336 | 363 | 699 |
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 Oconto County?
Wild deer that tested positive for chronic wasting disease have been found in Oconto County: 5 of 2,426 sampled since 1999. The 2025 CWD year brought 168 samples and 2 positives. No bait and no feeding: Oconto County sits under the deer baiting and feeding ban. Adult deer donated here must be CWD tested.
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 168 | 2 |
| 2024 | 179 | 1 |
| 2023 | 157 | 0 |
| 2022 | 194 | 0 |
| 2021 | 190 | 1 |
| 2020 | 212 | 0 |
| 2019 | 157 | 0 |
| 2018 | 113 | 0 |
| 2017 | 107 | 0 |
| 2016 | 68 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 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.
Oconto County bear and turkey numbers
Black bears
Oconto County lies in bear zone C (46%), B (29%) and F (24%). Class A bear licenses come by preference-point drawing, and hounds are allowed in zone B. The 2025 bear harvest in Oconto County was 181, 6th among Wisconsin counties.
| Bear zone | Target 2026 | Licenses drawn | Points needed | Applicants | Harvest 2025 | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone C | 875 | 4,465 | 2 | 7,605 | 661 | No |
| Zone B | 850 | 1,545 | 11 | 5,071 | 841 | Yes |
| Zone F | 50 | 764 | 1 | 764 | 27 | No |
| Year | Total | Boars | Sows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 181 | 95 | 86 |
| 2024 | 166 | 83 | 83 |
Turkey zone and permits
Turkey zone 5 (75%) and 2 (24%) covers the county. Spring 2027 permit levels have not been published; the table gives 2025 levels by zone. 63,064 spring authorizations went to zone 5/2 in 2025.
| Spring zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 rate | Registered 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 5 | 11,999 | 12,000 | 11,998 | 12,010 | 12,008 | 20% | 2,446 |
| Zone 2 | 51,022 | 51,028 | 51,030 | 51,065 | 51,056 | 22% | 11,024 |
Birds and small game in Oconto County
For ruffed grouse, Zone A applies (Sep 12, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027). Sea-duck hunters on Lake Michigan use the Open Water zone dates, 500 feet or more from shore.
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.
Oconto County wildlife areas, forests and natural areas
Oconto County overlaps 12 properties on the land list, from state wildlife areas to natural areas and trails. County forest: 43,792 acres, from the DNR report dated July 1, 2021. Private land enrolled in Managed Forest Law and open to the public adds 3,708 acres in Oconto County.
- National forest ranger district in the county (1)Lakewood-Laona Ranger District (Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest) (343,903 ac*)
- County forest in the county (1)Oconto County Forest (43,792 ac)
- State wildlife areas in the county (4)Green Bay West Shores Wildlife Area (10,031 ac*), Peshtigo Brook Wildlife Area (2,236 ac), Pensaukee River State Habitat Area (16 ac), Little Suamico State Habitat Area (11 ac)
- State forest: 1Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest (11,786 ac*)
- State natural areas (3 here)Peshtigo Brook Meadow and Woods State Natural Area (477 ac), Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area (351 ac), Charles Pond State Natural Area (94 ac)
- State fishery areas: 2South Branch Oconto River Fishery Area (582 ac), Lakewood Rearing Station (195 ac)
Statewide groupings with parcels here: DNR Statewide Habitat Areas (unnamed parcels), DNR Small Public Access and Stream Bank Parcels Open to Hunting, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Close by, across the boundary: Montana Lake Fishery Area (6 miles, 98 ac), North Branch Beaver Creek (13 miles, 1,138 ac), Kirby Lake Hardwoods State Natural Area (17 miles, 111 ac), Shawano Lake State Habitat Area (19 miles, 19 ac), Johnson Falls State Natural Area (20 miles, 210 ac).
Copper Culture Mounds State Park is closed to hunting.
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 Oconto County
Deer dates are statewide in Wisconsin; bear, turkey, grouse, cottontail and waterfowl dates follow zone lines, so only the rows for Oconto 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: Oconto (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 B | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone C/F | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 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 5/2 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 5/2 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 5/2 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 5/2 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 5/2 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 5/2 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 5/2 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 5/2 | 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 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 1) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck | Open Water Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 15, 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.
From Oconto County towns to the counties around it
Pick a base town in Oconto County; its page lists the closest public properties and legal hours.
- Ocontocounty seat · 4,638 people in 2024 · 11,263 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Abrams12,295 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Oconto Falls3,024 people in 2024 · 8,956 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Sobieski10,689 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Suring519 people in 2024 · 28,377 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
Bordering Oconto County: 7 Wisconsin counties.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
When you can shoot at Oconto 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 | 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 88.21 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Burning rules in Oconto County
Today's Oconto County status is on the Wisconsin burn ban 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): Oconto 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).
- Campfires while hunting: DNR-managed lands (NR 45.07): no fire on the ground and no burning refuse except in designated fireplaces or fire rings.
Oconto County ranges and matches
4 ranges in Oconto County, from the DNR range layer and directory listings checked October 19, 2026.
rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, muzzleloader on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
sporting clays, 5-stand, shotgun on file
rifle, smallbore rimfire, handgun, shotgun, archery on file
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
Oconto County hunting services
Each group starts with Oconto 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.
Oconto County on the Wisconsin events calendar
On file here: 1 upcoming event (NWTF banquet).
Still to come
| Held | What | Where | Register | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 2027 | Lena Swamp Strutters NWTF Banquet / NWTF banquet | Suring Oconto Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
Oconto County questions from hunters
What is the deadline to register a deer in Oconto County?
5 p.m. the day after you recover it; the confirmation number starts with W.
Do bowhunters wear orange in Oconto County?
Yes, whenever a firearm deer season is open.
Which venison processors are nearest Oconto County?
Wisco Meats, Hillcrest Meats and Meatski's Quality Meats, in order of distance.
When does deer season end in Oconto County?
Jan 31, 2027 for archery and crossbow.
Is Oconto County a Farmland or Forest county for deer?
Central Farmland and Northern Forest (split by the zone line).
How much is a bonus antlerless tag for Oconto County?
$12 resident, $20 nonresident, one per day while they last.
How many bucks were registered in Oconto County in 2025?
3,429 antlered deer.
Has chronic wasting disease turned up in Oconto County?
Yes: 5 CWD-positive wild deer on record since 1999.
Can I feed deer in my yard in Oconto County?
No; feeding deer is banned along with baiting.
How many bear permits are there for Oconto County?
Zone C drew 4,465 permits for 2026 against a harvest target of 875.
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 Oconto 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: wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0); USDA NRCS Montana (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USDA Forest Service Eastern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USDA Forest Service Eastern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Anne Marie Peterson from Madison, WI, US (CC BY-SA 2.0); royal_broil (CC BY-SA 2.0); Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA (CC BY 2.0); tuchodi (CC BY 2.0); Blondinrikard Fröberg (CC BY 2.0).