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Ashland County Forest hunting guide
Everything we could verify about Ashland County Forest: acreage, zones, property rules, harvest around it and nearby ground.
Photo: BobbbyLight (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Ashland County Forest
The short version on Ashland County Forest
In Ashland and Iron counties you will find Ashland County Forest, a county forest under the County Forest Law. On the DNR map it belongs to the Northern Region. The managing body is Ashland County Forestry Department. At 40,305 acres it sits 18th by area in a field of 30 county forests. About 6 miles southeast of Mellen. Look up Wisconsin County Forest System for the wider property it sits in.
From the source page (WI DNR Forest Tax report "Wisconsin County Forest Acres as of July 01, 2021" (total incl. special use lands)); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Ashland County Forest
Ashland County Forest, as the managers tell it
Word for word from the property page.
Part of the 30-county Wisconsin county forest system (more than 2.4 million acres, the largest public land ownership in the state).
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Ashland County Forest: what is allowed
How access works on Ashland County Forest
Public hunting is allowed on county forest land; county ordinances add rules on stands, blinds, ATVs and camping, and the forestry office knows the closures.
Ashland County Forest: rules from the regulations
From the October youth hunt through the Holiday Hunt, blaze orange or pink covers half of your upper clothing and cap. Register deer, turkeys and bears through GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
What Ashland County Forest costs in licenses
Buy through Go Wild; the free Farmland tags and bonus tags are marked public-access or private-land, and only public-access ones work here.
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.
Tags and zones for Ashland County Forest
For deer it lies in the Northern Forest zone (DMU 118). This season the unit quota is 90 antlerless deer. Zone A bear permits took 11 preference points in 2026; the target is 1,100 bears. The 2025 spring level for Turkey Zone 7 was 4,401 authorizations; 726 birds were registered. Deer bait is legal in Ashland and Iron counties within the 2-gallon limit.
Ashland County Forest: antlerless quota and bonus tags
| Deer unit | Zone | 2026 quota | Public bonus left | Private bonus left | Free farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 118 | Northern Forest | 90 | 23 | 0 | — |
Every other zone Ashland County Forest touches
| Zone | Detail | Figures | Points or note | Taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bear A | Hounds legal | 1,100 target, 1,675 permits | 11 points | 1,235 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 7 | 4,401 spring tags (2025) | 16% success | 726 gobblers | — |
| Grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose zone | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Gray wolf zone 1 | No season | Federally listed |
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.
Quarry and limits, Ashland County Forest
The list for Ashland County Forest reads: whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, woodcock, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
White-tailed deer
Black bear
Wild turkey
Ruffed grouse
Woodcock
Small game
Furbearers
The list is what the agency names, not a limit: other Ashland County seasons apply under the same rules.
Species from the property record (General county forest hunting opportunities (DNR County Forests page; WCFA grouse/woodcock management areas). Bear/elk subject to zone.); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Ashland County Forest season calendar, 2026-27
Archery, the nine-day gun hunt, muzzleloader, bear, turkey, upland birds, rabbits, furbearers and the duck and goose splits for Ashland County Forest.
| 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/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 A | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone A | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone A | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Elk | Elk, all weapons | Northern Elk Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 6/7 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 6/7 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 6/7 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 6/7 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 6/7 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 6/7 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 6/7 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 6/7 | 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 | 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.
Units connected to Ashland County Forest
Ashland County Forest is one of 30 units that Wisconsin County Forest System lists.
Wisconsin County Forest System units beside Ashland County Forest
| Unit | Type | Where | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas | County forest | Douglas | 281,853 |
| Marinette | County forest | Marinette | 229,978 |
| Bayfield | County forest | Bayfield | 175,557 |
| Iron | County forest | Iron | 175,343 |
| Washburn | County forest | Washburn | 150,196 |
| Clark | County forest | Clark | 134,742 |
| Langlade | County forest | Langlade | 130,717 |
| Jackson | County forest | Jackson | 122,685 |
| Sawyer | County forest | Sawyer | 115,196 |
| Burnett | County forest | Burnett | 111,516 |
| Lincoln | County forest | Lincoln | 100,843 |
| Price | County forest | Price | 92,294 |
| Rusk | County forest | Rusk | 89,284 |
| Oneida | County forest | Oneida | 82,960 |
| Eau Claire | County forest | Eau Claire | 52,712 |
Nearest public ground to Ashland County Forest, mapped
10 more properties lie close to Ashland County Forest, shown with smaller pins. Acres across them: 33,259.
| Neighbour | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline Lake | State natural area | 131 | 2.2 mi | northeast |
| Devil's Creek | Wildlife area | 7 | 5.0 mi | northwest |
| Copper Falls | State park | 3,532 | 8.7 mi | north |
| Copper Falls | State natural area | 746 | 9.0 mi | north |
| Town of Morse | Wildlife area | 722 | 9.5 mi | north |
| Twin Lakes | Easement land | 13,991 | 9.7 mi | east |
| Great Northern | Easement land | 13,994 | 12 mi | east |
| Island Lake Hemlocks | State natural area | 113 | 14 mi | east |
| Snake Track | Wildlife area | 15 | 14 mi | northeast |
| Clam Lake | Fishery area | 8 | 16 mi | southwest |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Public Land GIS, County Forests layer (polygon centroid) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside))). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Registered deer and bears near Ashland County Forest
The DNR has no Ashland County deer series; its forest DMUs carry 2025 totals only. The 2026 season to date shows 61 deer in DMU 118; the DNR calls it preliminary. 20 samples, 0 positive: that is Ashland County in CWD year 2025. All years combined: 0 of 835. 144 bears came out of Ashland County in 2025. These numbers describe the county around Ashland County Forest, not the property alone.
Deer registered near Ashland County Forest
| Unit | Bucks | Antlerless | Deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 118 | 384 | 91 | 475 |
Ashland County CWD by year
| CWD year | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 20 | 0 |
| 2024 | 18 | 0 |
| 2023 | 18 | 0 |
| 2022 | 18 | 0 |
| 2021 | 24 | 0 |
Ashland County bear harvest
| Year | Bear harvest | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 147 | 83 | 64 |
| 2025 | 144 | 75 | 69 |
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.
Ashland County Forest: nearest ranges
About 14 miles separates Ashland County Forest from Snaketrack Shooting Range, the nearest public map range. Closer club options sit beside it.
rifle, handgun on file
archery, 3D archery on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Towns, offices and services around Ashland County Forest
Towns, then services in this county and the next one over.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mellen | Ashland | 5.7 mi | 686 | 85,788 |
| Glidden | Ashland | 8.6 mi | — | 89,026 |
| Iron Belt | Iron | 16 mi | — | 90,192 |
| Clam Lake | Ashland | 17 mi | — | 173,265 |
Our county write-ups: Ashland County, Iron County.
Butchers, mounts and gun counters near Ashland County Forest
Service centers near Ashland County Forest
For Ashland County, the DNR points to its DNR Woodruff Service Center.
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.
When the shooting day opens and closes at Ashland County Forest
The DNR tables are worked out for Zone A in the east; Ashland County Forest lies in longitude Zone D, so add 12 minutes to each table time.
| Day | Reason | Northern table | Southern table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, 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 90.59 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Ashland County Forest in questions and answers
How fast must I register a kill on Ashland County Forest?
GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Can pink replace orange at Ashland County Forest?
Yes while gun deer seasons are open; half your upper clothing and hat in orange or fluorescent pink.
What neighbours Ashland County Forest?
Closest first: Caroline Lake State Natural Area (2 miles), Devil's Creek State Habitat Area (5 miles) and Copper Falls State Park (9 miles).
Is a permit required for Ashland County Forest?
Your Wisconsin license is enough; residents pay $24 for gun deer, $18 for small game.
Who is the land manager for Ashland County Forest?
Ashland County Forestry Department manages it; the land is a county forest under the County Forest Law.
Is Ashland County Forest part of a larger property?
It is a unit of Wisconsin County Forest System.
How far is the drive from Mellen to Ashland County Forest?
Ashland and Iron counties, roughly 6 miles out of Mellen.
How large is Ashland County Forest, in acres?
Acreage on record: 40,305.
Is Ashland County Forest forest or farmland deer country?
DMU 118 in the Northern Forest zone. The unit quota stands at 90 antlerless deer this year.
Which game does Ashland County Forest list?
The source lists whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, woodcock, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes. Other open seasons apply too, within the property rules.
Is Ashland County Forest good turkey ground?
Apply for Zone 7; spring periods A-F run in 2027 from April 21.
Are hounds allowed for bear at Ashland County Forest?
Bear Zone A: 1,675 permits drawn for 2026.
What are the CWD and bait rules for Ashland County Forest?
It is legal in this county under the 2-gallon rule. The county has no CWD positives.
Ashland County Forest, final notes
Print the Ashland County Forest map, carry your tags, and check the manager page the week you go.
Sources for this page: DNR GIS · DNR: AcreageSummary · DNR: CountyForests · WCFA: county contacts; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Shenandoah National Park (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).