Home › Wisconsin › Counties › Polk County
Northern Region · 2026-27
Polk 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 Polk County, from DNR data.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Polk County covers 914 square miles of land and 42 of lakes and rivers, with the courthouse in Balsam Lake. It counted 45,831 people in 2024, about 50 for each square mile of land. By area the county is 93% Central Farmland and 7% Northern Forest. The DNR Spooner Service Center in Spooner is the nearest of the twelve DNR service centers. 61 public propertys on the DNR, county and federal lists sit at least partly inside the line, 10 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.
Polk County DMUs and antlerless authorizations
For 2026 the antlerless target in these units is 14,050 deer, set by unit before bonus sales opened in August. Free Farmland tags here: 2 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 108 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 108 | Northern Forest | 2,850 | 3,750 | 7,775 | 3,017 / 7,467 | — |
| Polk Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 11,200 | 1,000 | 5,200 | 987 / 5,191 | 2 |
Late antlerless hunt
Antlerless deer only, Dec 24, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027: the Holiday Hunt is on in Polk 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, Polk County
8,091 deer were registered in Polk County in 2025, ranking it 10th of 61 units with county names. Against 8,627 in 2015, the 2025 count is down 6%. Older years cover the unit as it was drawn then; 2025 is the Central Farmland unit alone.
| Year | Buck harvest | Antlerless harvest | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,702 | 4,389 | 8,091 |
| 2024 | 3,564 | 4,408 | 7,972 |
| 2023 | 3,266 | 4,009 | 7,275 |
| 2022 | 3,874 | 5,155 | 9,029 |
| 2021 | 3,584 | 4,434 | 8,018 |
| 2020 | 3,759 | 5,074 | 8,833 |
| 2019 | 3,319 | 4,114 | 7,433 |
| 2018 | 3,431 | 4,181 | 7,612 |
| 2017 | 3,599 | 5,324 | 8,923 |
| 2016 | 3,744 | 5,322 | 9,066 |
2025 forest unit totals
| DMU | Buck harvest | Antlerless harvest | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 108 | 1,913 | 1,577 | 3,490 |
Polk County so far in 2026 (preliminary)
| Unit | Bucks | Antlerless | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 108 | 143 | 164 | 307 |
| Polk | 316 | 447 | 763 |
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 Polk County?
Wild deer that tested positive for chronic wasting disease have been found in Polk County: 5 of 3,006 sampled since 1999. The 2025 CWD year brought 340 samples and 2 positives. No bait and no feeding: Polk County sits under the deer baiting and feeding ban. Adult deer donated here must be CWD tested.
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 32 | 0 |
| 2025 | 340 | 2 |
| 2024 | 265 | 2 |
| 2023 | 252 | 1 |
| 2022 | 174 | 0 |
| 2021 | 170 | 0 |
| 2020 | 203 | 0 |
| 2019 | 222 | 0 |
| 2018 | 118 | 0 |
| 2017 | 110 | 0 |
| 2016 | 187 | 0 |
| 2015 | 13 | 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.
Polk County bear and turkey numbers
Black bears
Polk County lies in bear zone D. Class A bear licenses come by preference-point drawing, and hounds are allowed in zone D. The 2025 bear harvest in Polk County was 149, 11th among Wisconsin counties.
| Bear zone | Target 2026 | Licenses drawn | Points needed | Applicants | Harvest 2025 | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone D | 1,100 | 3,855 | 2 | 6,847 | 906 | Yes |
| Year | Total | Boars | Sows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 149 | 91 | 58 |
| 2024 | 187 | 84 | 103 |
Turkey zone and permits
Turkey zone 4 covers the county. Spring 2027 permit levels have not been published; the table gives 2025 levels by zone. 34,997 spring authorizations went to zone 4 in 2025.
| Spring zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 rate | Registered 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 4 | 34,115 | 34,373 | 34,964 | 34,994 | 34,997 | 24% | 8,472 |
Birds and small game in Polk County
For ruffed grouse, Zone A applies (Sep 12, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027).
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.
Polk County wildlife areas, forests and natural areas
Polk County overlaps 61 properties on the land list, from state wildlife areas to natural areas and trails. County forest: 17,183 acres, from the DNR report dated July 1, 2021. Private land enrolled in Managed Forest Law and open to the public adds 2,665 acres in Polk County. Look up the 1 leased private parcel in Polk County through VPA-HIP and THAP.
- State forest: 1Governor Knowles State Forest (21,229 ac*)
- County forest in the county (1)Polk County Forest (17,183 ac)
- State wildlife areas in the county (10)McKenzie Creek Wildlife Area (5,545 ac), Loon Lake Wildlife Area (3,219 ac*), Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area (3,136 ac), Straight River Wildlife Area (1,499 ac), Joel Marsh Wildlife Area (1,367 ac), Straight Lake Wildlife Area (1,325 ac), Snake Creek Spring State Habitat Area (199 ac), Balsam Branch Wildlife Area (174 ac), Alabama Lake State Habitat Area (12 ac), Osceola Creek State Habitat Area (9 ac)
- Wetland management district (1 here)St. Croix Wetland Management District (7,980 ac*)
- State parks (2)Straight Lake Wilderness State Park (1,631 ac), Interstate Park (1,318 ac)
- State fishery areas: 14Sand Creek Fishery Area (Polk and Burnett Counties) (1,435 ac*), Osceola Hatchery (344 ac), Behning Creek Fishery Area (131 ac), Wagon Landing Statewide Spring Pond (69 ac), Bone Lake Fishery Area (Remnant) (58 ac), Omer Springs Fishery Area (47 ac), Big Round Lake Fishery Area (Remnant) (36 ac), East (Lotus) Lake Fishery Area (36 ac), Apple River Fishery Area (Remnant) (27 ac), Pickerel Lake Public Access (9 ac), Twin Lake Public Access Laketown (8 ac), St. Croix Falls Hatchery (4 ac), Camelia Lake Public Access (1 ac), Twin Lake Public Access Eureka (1 ac)
- State natural areas (9 here)Trade River Forest and Wetlands State Natural Area (909 ac), Tunnel Channel Woods State Natural Area (457 ac), Sterling Barrens State Natural Area (322 ac), Tula Lake State Natural Area (160 ac), Interstate Lowland Forest State Natural Area (124 ac), Dalles of the St. Croix River State Natural Area (87 ac), Straight Lake Tamarack Fen State Natural Area (85 ac), Osceola Bedrock Glades State Natural Area (24 ac), Centennial Bedrock Glade State Natural Area (20 ac)
- Waterfowl production areas (16)Bierbrauer Waterfowl Production Area (275 ac*), Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area (155 ac*), Clear Lake Waterfowl Production Area (154 ac), Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area (149 ac), Kobernick Waterfowl Production Area (135 ac), Spring Meadows Waterfowl Production Area (133 ac), Beyl Waterfowl Production Area (126 ac), Houghdahl-North Waterfowl Production Area (92 ac), Houghdahl – South Waterfowl Production Area (59 ac), Suckut Waterfowl Production Area (49 ac), Boe Waterfowl Production Area (48 ac), Steffan Waterfowl Production Area (46 ac), Alden Waterfowl Production Area (40 ac), Parker Creek Waterfowl Production Area (38 ac), Farmington Waterfowl Production Area (30 ac), Meadowlark Waterfowl Production Area (22 ac)
- State habitat areas, 3 listedParker Creek Fishery Area (587 ac), Black Brook State Habitat Area-Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area (207 ac), Spring Meadow State Habitat Area-Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area (169 ac)
- 1 demonstration forestApple River Timber Demonstration Forest (54 ac)
- Ice Age Trail areas, 3 listedPine Lake State Ice Age Trail Area, Straight Lake State Ice Age Trail Area, Town of Lorain State Ice Age Trail Area
Statewide groupings with parcels here: DNR Statewide Wildlife Habitat Program Lands, Natural Area – Dedication, DNR State Ice Age Trail Areas (unnamed parcels), DNR Small Public Access and Stream Bank Parcels Open to Hunting, DNR State-Owned Islands, DNR Scattered Forest Lands, Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (Wisconsin).
Town of St. Croix Falls State Ice Age Trail Area is closed to hunting.
Public land hub · County forests · Open MFL land · Leased access 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 Polk County
Deer dates are statewide in Wisconsin; bear, turkey, grouse, cottontail and waterfowl dates follow zone lines, so only the rows for Polk 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: Polk (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 D | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone D | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone D | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 4 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 4 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 4 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 4 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 4 | 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.
From Polk County towns to the counties around it
Pick a base town in Polk County; its page lists the closest public properties and legal hours.
- Balsam Lakecounty seat · 954 people in 2024 · 3,736 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Clear Lake1,103 people in 2024 · 7,120 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Frederic1,141 people in 2024 · 9,929 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Lewis20,655 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Luck1,064 people in 2024 · 7,158 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Osceola2,880 people in 2024 · 5,877 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- St. Croix Falls2,310 people in 2024 · 3,497 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Turtle Lakemostly next door · 1,036 people in 2024 · 9,672 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
Bordering Polk County: 4 Wisconsin counties plus Chisago (MN) and Washington (MN).
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
When you can shoot at Polk 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 | 6:15 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:59 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:20 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:48 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 7:00 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:19 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:21 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 5:06 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 F offset of 20 minutes for longitude 92.45 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Before you burn in Polk County
Polk County status today: open the Wisconsin county 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): Polk 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).
- 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.
Polk County: where to shoot
1 range in Polk County, from the DNR range layer and directory listings checked October 19, 2026.
trap, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery, shotgun on file
Nearest range on the DNR public range map: Owen-Anderson Rifle Range in Barron County, about 23 miles from the county center.
Matches and shows here
| When and what | Kind | Go |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 6-7, 2026: Clear Lake Fire Fighters Gun Show | Gun show | Details |
| Dec 4-6, 2026: Clarke County Fairgrounds Gun Show in Osceola, WI | Gun show | Ticket info |
| Jan 8-9, 2027: BrowTine Amery Area Gun Show | Gun show | Details |
| Apr 9-10, 2027: Amery VFW Gun and Knife Show | Gun show | Details |
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
Polk County hunting services
Each group starts with Polk 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.
Polk County questions from hunters
How many bucks were registered in Polk County in 2025?
3,702 antlered deer.
Has chronic wasting disease turned up in Polk County?
Yes: 5 CWD-positive wild deer on record since 1999.
Can I feed deer in my yard in Polk County?
No; feeding deer is banned along with baiting.
How many bear permits are there for Polk County?
Zone D drew 3,855 permits for 2026 against a harvest target of 1,100.
When is spring turkey season in Polk County?
Youth hunt Apr 17 to Apr 18, 2027, then Periods A to F from Apr 21 to Jun 1, 2027.
Is there a county forest in Polk County?
Yes, 17,183 acres as of the DNR 2021 report.
What is the deadline to register a deer in Polk County?
5 p.m. the day after you recover it; the confirmation number starts with W.
Do bowhunters wear orange in Polk County?
Yes, whenever a firearm deer season is open.
Which venison processors are nearest Polk County?
Amery Meat Market, Deer's Food Locker and Lock and Load, in order of distance.
When does deer season end in Polk County?
Jan 31, 2027 for archery and crossbow.
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 Polk 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: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tom Shockey (CC BY 2.0); royal_broil (CC BY-SA 2.0); Anne Marie Peterson from Madison, WI, US (CC BY-SA 2.0); Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA (CC BY 2.0); USDA NRCS South Dakota (CC BY-SA 2.0).