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DNR Northern Region
Oneida County Hunting
A DNR-sourced guide to Oneida County in the Northwoods: 2026-27 seasons, 7 DMUs with their quotas, registered deer by year, county and state land, towns and the shops that serve hunters.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Rhinelander is the seat of Oneida County, a 1,114 square mile county in the DNR Northern Region. 38,175 people call it home, per the 2024 Census estimate (+0.9% against 2020). Deer management here is Northern Forest Zone throughout (7 units). Its nearest DNR service center is DNR Rhinelander Service Center in Rhinelander, 8 miles from the county centre. Public hunting runs through 42 listed properties; the largest by acreage is Lakewood-Laona Ranger District (Chequamegon-Nicolet National 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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Oneida County
Antlerless quota and bonus tags in Oneida County
The DNR set a combined 2026 antlerless quota of 4,095 for the 7 units that cover Oneida County; units that cross into other counties count in full. Bonus authorizations are the only antlerless option in DMU 116, DMU 117 and DMU 119; DMU 116 has no bonus quota at all. 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 116 | Northern Forest | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 / 0 | — |
| DMU 117 | Northern Forest | 550 | 1,000 | 1,100 | 620 / 619 | — |
| DMU 119 | Northern Forest | 1,190 | 1,250 | 4,650 | 487 / 3,743 | — |
| DMU 120 | Northern Forest | 545 | 500 | 1,800 | 124 / 1,163 | — |
| DMU 121 | Northern Forest | 695 | 1,500 | 2,000 | 73 / 864 | — |
| DMU 123 | Northern Forest | 795 | 1,500 | 2,200 | 788 / 1,624 | — |
| DMU 124 | Northern Forest | 320 | 650 | 800 | 0 / 123 | — |
No Holiday Hunt
Forest Zone units hold neither the Holiday Hunt nor extended archery, so archery in Oneida 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.
Oneida County deer numbers by unit
The DNR has no harvest history for the 2025 forest DMU boundaries, so Oneida County is shown through the 2025 totals of its units.
Northwoods and Central Forest units
| Unit | Buck | Antlerless | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 116 | 917 | 301 | 1,218 |
| DMU 117 | 523 | 372 | 895 |
| DMU 119 | 1,502 | 1,014 | 2,516 |
| DMU 120 | 726 | 429 | 1,155 |
| DMU 121 | 1,001 | 614 | 1,615 |
| DMU 123 | 1,027 | 699 | 1,726 |
| DMU 124 | 857 | 369 | 1,226 |
2026 season to date, preliminary
| Unit | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 116 | 105 | 8 | 113 |
| DMU 117 | 54 | 51 | 105 |
| DMU 119 | 136 | 100 | 236 |
| DMU 120 | 62 | 48 | 110 |
| DMU 121 | 122 | 91 | 213 |
| DMU 123 | 80 | 55 | 135 |
| DMU 124 | 55 | 48 | 103 |
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 Oneida County
CWD is present in Oneida County. The DNR has sampled 5,365 wild deer there since 1999 and 14 tested positive. Last CWD year: 437 tested, 5 positive. The baiting and feeding ban covers Oneida County, as it does 59 other counties. The donation program requires tests on adult deer from this county.
| CWD year | Samples | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 36 | 1 |
| 2025 | 437 | 5 |
| 2024 | 361 | 3 |
| 2023 | 421 | 0 |
| 2022 | 443 | 1 |
| 2021 | 466 | 0 |
| 2020 | 482 | 0 |
| 2019 | 470 | 2 |
| 2018 | 596 | 1 |
| 2017 | 200 | 1 |
| 2016 | 121 | 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 Oneida County
Bears in Oneida County
Bear zone B (69%) and A (31%) covers Oneida County; hound hunting is legal in B/A. 151 bears came from Oneida County in 2025 (79 male, 72 female).
| Zone | Harvest goal | 2026 permits | Minimum points | Applicants 2026 | 2025 bears | Hounds OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone B | 850 | 1,545 | 11 | 5,071 | 841 | Yes |
| Zone A | 1,100 | 1,675 | 11 | 11,648 | 1,161 | Yes |
| Year | County bears | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 151 | 79 | 72 |
| 2024 | 144 | 79 | 65 |
Spring turkey
For spring turkeys, Oneida County falls in zone 7 (85%) and 5 (15%); each authorization names one zone and one of the six periods, A to F. In 2025 the DNR issued 16,409 spring authorizations across zone 7/5.
| Zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Success | 2025 harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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 Oneida County
Here are all 42 properties with public hunting ground in Oneida County, largest first. The Oneida County Forest held 82,960 acres in the DNR report of July 1, 2021, the newest the DNR publishes. 113,718 acres of open Managed Forest Law land in Oneida County allow hunting on foot by anyone.
- National forest ranger districts, 2 listedLakewood-Laona Ranger District (Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest) (343,903 acres*), Eagle River-Florence Ranger District (Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest) (319,429 acres*)
- 3 state forestsNorthern Highland-American Legion State Forest (237,127 acres*), Northern Highland State Forest (176,094 acres*), American Legion State Forest (61,014 acres*)
- County forest, 1 listedOneida County Forest (82,960 acres)
- Conservation easement (1 here)Pelican River Forest Conservation Easement (67,369 acres*)
- 2 riverways and scenic watersWillow Flowage Scenic Waters Area (27,302 acres), Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area – Dick Steffes Unit (2,031 acres)
- State natural areas (22)Big Swamp State Natural Area (2,914 acres), Rainbow Wetlands State Natural Area (2,357 acres), Bootjack Bog State Natural Area (2,089 acres), Squirrel River Pines State Natural Area (1,363 acres), Rice Lake State Natural Area (1,242 acres), Upper Tomahawk River Pines State Natural Area (835 acres), Atkins Lake and Hiles Swamp State Natural Area (830 acres*), Enterprise Hemlocks State Natural Area (601 acres), Spur Lake State Natural Area (426 acres), Gobler Lake State Natural Area (393 acres), One Stone Lake Hemlocks State Natural Area (342 acres), Wind Pudding Lake State Natural Area (340 acres), Patterson Hemlocks State Natural Area (304 acres*), State Natural Area – Nw (266 acres), Upper Kaubashine Creek State Natural Area (264 acres), Tomahawk Lake Hemlocks State Natural Area (247 acres), Lower Tomahawk River Pines State Natural Area (242 acres), Stone Lake Pines State Natural Area (206 acres), Two Lakes Pine-Oak Forest State Natural Area (112 acres), Shallow Lake State Natural Area (103 acres), Germain Hemlocks State Natural Area (91 acres), Sugar Camp Hemlocks State Natural Area (80 acres)
- State wildlife areas, 3 listedWoodboro Lakes Wildlife Area (3,299 acres), Thunder Lake Wildlife Area (3,250 acres), Town of Three Lakes State Habitat Area (210 acres)
- Other DNR land in the county (1)Menard Island Resource Area (1,667 acres*)
- State trail, 1 listedBearskin State Trail (638 acres)
- 6 state fishery areasArthur A. Oehmcke Fish Hatchery (106 acres), Mercer Lake Habitat Area (77 acres), Swamp Lake Public Access (56 acres), Buckskin Lake Public Access (2 acres), Squirrel Lake Public Access (2 acres), Booth Lake Public Access (1 acres)
Multi-county units and DNR groupings that also reach the county: DNR Statewide Habitat Areas (unnamed parcels), DNR Statewide Wildlife Habitat Program Lands, DNR Statewide Fisheries Program Lands, Wisconsin Forest Legacy Program Easements (unnamed tracts), DNR State-Owned Islands, DNR Gift Lands, DNR Scattered Forest Lands, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
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.
Oneida 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 Oneida 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 B/A | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone B/A | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone B/A | 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.
Oneida County seat, towns and border counties
The 5 towns below have their own page, with the county seat first.
- Rhinelanderseat · 8,286 townspeople · 45,679 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Lake Tomahawk71,243 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Minocqua64,543 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Three Lakes59,498 public acres in a 10-mile circle
- Woodruff68,581 public acres in a 10-mile circle
Oneida County meets 5 in-state counties.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Oneida County shooting time on key dates
At Oneida County the offset is 8 minutes (Zone C). 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 | 6:03 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:47 a.m. to 6:29 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:32 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:08 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:36 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:48 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:07 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:09 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 4:54 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 C offset of 8 minutes for longitude 89.53 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Burn bans and permits in Oneida County
Today's Oneida County status is on the Wisconsin burn ban list.
- 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): Oneida 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.
Oneida County gun ranges and clubs
Oneida County holds 3 listed ranges; none appears on the DNR public range map.
archery, 3D archery on file
rifle, handgun, trap, skeet, 5-stand on file
sporting clays, muzzleloader, handgun, action pistol, benchrest on file
The closest DNR-map range is C.W. Caywood Memorial Shooting Range, 18 miles off in Vilas County. Hours and rules
County shoot dates
| Date, shoot | Format | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 11-12, 2026: Hodag Sports Club Sportsman’s Swap Meet | Gun show | Listing |
| Apr 30-May 1, 2027: Hodag Sports Club Sportsman’s Swap Meet | Gun show | Listing |
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
Oneida County: processing, mounts and gear
Where Oneida 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.
Oneida County, answered
What is GameReg?
Wisconsin's harvest registration system at gamereg.wi.gov or 1-844-426-3734.
Can I hunt state natural areas in Oneida County?
Most DNR-owned SNAs are open; 22 are listed here. Check each page for closures.
Which processor should I call first in Oneida County?
Lake Tomahawk Meat Market, the nearest listing; call ahead in season.
Do duck hunters in Oneida County need orange?
No. Waterfowl hunters are exempt.
Can I shoot a doe in Oneida County with my gun license?
Only with a bonus authorization for the unit, where any are offered.
What DMU should I pick for Oneida County on Go Wild?
The unit where you will hunt: DMU 116, DMU 117, DMU 119, DMU 120, DMU 121, DMU 123 and DMU 124. Farmland tags and bonus tags are unit specific.
How many deer were tested for CWD in Oneida County in 2025?
437 in CWD year 2025, 5 positive.
Which forest unit near Oneida County had the most deer in 2025?
DMU 119, with 2,516.
How many points do I need for a Oneida County bear tag?
Zone B needed 11 preference points in the 2026 drawing.
Can I use a feeder for deer in Oneida County?
No. Automatic and gravity feeders are never legal for deer bait in Wisconsin.
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.
Oneida 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); Tom Shockey (CC BY 2.0); aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0); aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0); robertgeiger1 (CC BY 2.0); jchapiewsky (CC BY-SA 2.0); ThreeIfByBike (CC BY-SA 2.0).