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Langlade County, Wisconsin
Ackley Wildlife Area: the hunter's file
Deer unit Langlade, bear and turkey zones, closures, licenses and the nearest towns and services.
Photo: David Jakes (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Ackley Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Ackley Wildlife Area
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Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Key facts for Ackley Wildlife Area
Ackley Wildlife Area is a DNR state wildlife area in Langlade County. The DNR files it under its Northern Region (the Northwoods). Management sits with the Wisconsin DNR. Acreage: 1,103, which places it 117th of 285 state wildlife areas. The closest covered town is Antigo, around 12 miles off as the crow flies.
From the source page (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Ackley Wildlife Area
Ackley Wildlife Area by zone and unit
Deer: Central Farmland zone, Langlade. 1,100 antlerless deer: the 2026 quota for the unit. Bear hunters here apply for Zone B: 5,071 applied for 2026 and 1,545 permits went out. In Zone 5 turkey hunters held 12,008 spring tags in 2025 (spring 2027 levels are not out yet). CWD-positive deer have been recorded in Langlade County; free testing is offered statewide. Baiting and feeding deer are banned in Langlade County.
DMU figures for Ackley Wildlife Area
| Unit | Deer zone | Quota | Public-access bonus | Private bonus | Farmland per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Langlade Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 1,100 | 723 | 3,253 | 2 |
Ackley Wildlife Area zone table
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone B | Dogs OK | 850 target, 1,545 permits | 11 points | 851 bears in 2025 |
| Bear zone C | No dogs | 875 target, 4,465 permits | 2 points | 663 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 5 | 12,008 spring tags (2025) | 20% success | 2,446 gobblers | — |
| Ruffed grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf 4/2 | No hunt | Endangered status |
Zones from the DNR zone layers as recorded in lands.json; quotas and bonus tags from the 2026 antlerless quota table; bear figures from the 2026 bear drawing summary and 2025 bear harvest; turkey from the 2025 spring turkey report; CWD and baiting lists from the DNR. Checked October 19, 2026.
Ackley Wildlife Area: the property description
Copied from the official listing.
Welcome to Ackley Wildlife Area, located on State Highway 64, 12 miles west of Antigo and 14 miles east of Merrill. Shortly after the turn of the century, harvest of the original hardwood, hemlock and pine timber types occurred in the area now known as the Ackley Wildlife Area. Later, wildfires and attempts at farming reduced the cover types to grasses, shrubs and aspen. These activities resulted in the wildlife area and surrounding lands developing into ideal habitat for sharp-tailed grouse.
This property was originally created in 1951 as an area to manage for sharp-tailed grouse. Since that time, wildlife managers have developed 27 shallow waterfowl flowages encompassing more than 400 acres of water. The remainder of the property is a mix of native grasslands, aspen and northern hardwood stands. If you like hunting, Ackley provides excellent opportunities to pursue a variety of game species, such as deer, turkey, black bear, ruffed grouse, woodcock and waterfowl. Beavers, muskrats, fishers and coyotes are abundant on this property and on the 27,000 acres of surrounding county forest lands.
Hunting lines from the Ackley Wildlife Area page
- Ackley Wildlife Area is managed to provide opportunities for public hunting, trapping and other outdoor recreation while protecting the qualities of the unique native communities and associated species found on the property.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Access, closures and licenses for Ackley Wildlife Area
Ackley Wildlife Area: open to whom, and how
Open to public hunting and trapping in state seasons with the right Wisconsin licenses. Posted refuges and closed areas are off limits, and the NR 45 state land rules apply.
Orange, stands and GameReg at Ackley Wildlife Area
Bowhunters too: when a gun deer season is on, 50% of the coat and hat must be orange or pink, unless you are hunting waterfowl. A ground blind on DNR property needs 144 sq in of orange or pink during gun deer seasons. South of Hwy. 64 every stand and blind leaves with you; north of it, two portable stands per county may stay out Sept. 1-Jan. 31. Use GameReg (online or 844-426-3734) before 5 p.m. the day after the harvest.
Tags and licenses for Ackley Wildlife Area
Licenses sell on Go Wild. On public land, antlerless deer need a public-access authorization for the unit.
Access from the source page; closures from the DNR closed and restricted areas layer; stocking and dove fields from the DNR upland bird layers; rules from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations; prices from Go Wild. Checked October 19, 2026.
Which animals Ackley Wildlife Area lists
Game on the record for Ackley Wildlife Area: whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse, woodcock and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
White-tailed deer
Black bear
Wild turkey
Ducks and geese
Ruffed grouse
Woodcock
Furbearers
Seasons not named here still apply if they are open in Langlade County and the property rules allow.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Which seasons are open in Ackley Wildlife Area
Deer dates are statewide in Wisconsin; bear, turkey, grouse, cottontail and waterfowl dates follow zone lines, so only the rows for Ackley Wildlife Area 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/disabled gun 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 | December antlerless hunt | Statewide | Dec 10, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone B | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone C | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone B | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone B | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 5 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 5 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 5 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 5 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 5 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 5 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 5 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 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 | North of Hwy. 64 | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 1 | South of Hwy. 64 | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 2 | North of Hwy. 64 | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 2 | South of Hwy. 64 | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Unprotected species | Unprotected species | 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.
Ackley Wildlife Area: county harvest and CWD tests
Hunters registered 2,007 deer in the Langlade County unit in 2025: 905 bucks and 1,102 antlerless. High year on the chart: 2018 at 4,284; low year: 2025 at 2,007. Preliminary 2026 count to Oct. 19: 161 in Langlade Central Farmland. Langlade County CWD testing (2025): 0 positives out of 145 samples. Cumulative total 1 positives in 2,176 tests. Langlade County bear harvest, 2025: 169. Harvest and CWD figures cover Langlade County as a whole.
Langlade County deer by year
| Year | Buck | Antlerless | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 905 | 1,102 | 2,007 |
| 2024 | 1,963 | 1,678 | 3,641 |
| 2023 | 1,908 | 1,459 | 3,367 |
| 2022 | 2,378 | 1,716 | 4,094 |
| 2021 | 1,853 | 807 | 2,660 |
| 2020 | 1,766 | 1,147 | 2,913 |
Testing for CWD, Langlade County
| Year | Deer tested | CWD positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 6 | 0 |
| 2025 | 145 | 0 |
| 2024 | 159 | 0 |
| 2023 | 169 | 0 |
| 2022 | 144 | 1 |
| 2021 | 118 | 0 |
Bears by year, Langlade County
| Year | Bears | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 201 | 103 | 98 |
| 2025 | 169 | 87 | 82 |
Deer from DNR Deer Metrics harvest history and the 2026 harvest to date; CWD from the DNR CWD summary; bears from the DNR bear harvest reports. Checked October 19, 2026.
Ackley Wildlife Area pinned among its neighbours
Map of Ackley Wildlife Area and the 10 nearest public places. That is 135,669 acres of public ground.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Langlade | County forest | 130,717 | 2.7 mi | east |
| Yellow Lake Statewide | Fishery area | 2,536 | 13 mi | northwest |
| Plover River | Fishery area | 1,470 | 13 mi | southeast |
| Plover River Woods | State natural area | 284 | 13 mi | southeast |
| Daneault Springs | Fishery area | 39 | 15 mi | southeast |
| Little Haymeadow Creek Fish Area | Fishery area | 11 | 15 mi | northwest |
| Prairie River | Ice Age Trail area | 17 | 16 mi | northwest |
| Krueger Pines | State natural area | 29 | 17 mi | west |
| Council Grounds | State park | 493 | 17 mi | west |
| Demlows Lake | Fishery area | 73 | 18 mi | east |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS (polygon centroid of hunting-open parcels) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns, processors and DNR desks near Ackley Wildlife Area
Start with a town, then line up a cooler, a butcher and a mount.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antigo | Langlade | 12 mi | 8,096 | 18,960 |
| Merrill | Lincoln | 15 mi | 9,445 | 6,590 |
| Wausau | Marathon | 18 mi | 40,262 | 6,929 |
| Summit Lake | Langlade | 19 mi | — | 82,723 |
For the wider county picture: Langlade County.
Venison, mounts and ammo near Ackley Wildlife Area
Ackley Wildlife Area: agency contacts
County service center: DNR Rhinelander Service Center (715-365-8900).
Towns and populations from the Census 2024 estimates; public acres within 10 miles from the land layers; businesses from store locators and listings (license-only agents left out); offices from DNR, USFS and USFWS pages. Checked October 19, 2026. Call ahead.
Ackley Wildlife Area: nearest ranges
Langlade (County forest) in Langlade County is the nearest DNR-map range, 14 miles out. Two nearby club ranges follow.
rifle, trap, shotgun on file
rifle on file
trap, skeet, sporting clays, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
First and last legal minute at Ackley Wildlife Area
Deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey: 30 minutes before sunrise until 20 minutes after sunset. Ducks, geese, doves and spring turkey: same start, done at sunset.
| Date | Season moment | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, 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 89.40 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Questions hunters raise about Ackley Wildlife Area
When must I register a turkey from Ackley Wildlife Area?
Deer: online, phone or station by 5 p.m. next day. Turkeys: online or phone only.
Which tags work on Ackley Wildlife Area?
No special permit for most of it; buy the license on Go Wild and carry public-access antlerless tags.
Is there other public ground around Ackley Wildlife Area?
By straight-line distance: Langlade County Forest (3 miles), Yellow Lake Statewide Habitat Area (13 miles) and Plover River Fishery Area (13 miles).
What type of property is Ackley Wildlife Area on the record?
It is a DNR state wildlife area, managed by the Wisconsin DNR.
What size is Ackley Wildlife Area on the record?
About 1,103 acres.
What is the nearest town to Ackley Wildlife Area?
Base in Antigo, 12 miles away; the ground is in Langlade County.
Which game is named for Ackley Wildlife Area?
The property record lists whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse, woodcock and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
What is the antlerless quota at Ackley Wildlife Area?
Langlade, part of the Central Farmland zone. Antlerless goal for 2026: 1,100.
Which bear permit zone holds Ackley Wildlife Area?
B/C. You need a Class A license from the drawing.
How many turkey permits go to the Ackley Wildlife Area zone?
Turkey Zone 5. 12,008 spring tags were issued there in 2025.
What waterfowl dates apply at Ackley Wildlife Area?
Duck zone: Northern; goose zone: Northern. Northern Zone ducks open Sep 26, 2026-27.
Can I put out corn for deer at Ackley Wildlife Area?
Not here: Langlade County is under the ban. CWD has been found in wild deer in Langlade County.
How much orange do I wear at Ackley Wildlife Area?
During any firearm deer season: 50% of your outer clothing above the waist and 50% of any cap, blaze orange or pink. Waterfowl hunters are exempt.
Ackley Wildlife Area: one more look before the drive
Signs on the ground beat any web page. Read the posted boundaries at Ackley Wildlife Area when you arrive.
Sources for this page: DNR: ackley · DNR GIS · DNR: alpha; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: born1945 (CC BY 2.0); colmmcsky (CC BY-SA 2.0).