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Benson Creek Fishery Area hunting guide
Everything we could verify about Benson Creek Fishery Area: acreage, zones, property rules, harvest around it and nearby ground.
Photo: Aaron Carlson (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Benson Creek Fishery Area
The short version on Benson Creek Fishery Area
In Sawyer County you will find Benson Creek Fishery Area, a DNR fishery area that is open to hunting. On the DNR map it belongs to the Northern Region. The managing body is the Wisconsin DNR. At 306 acres it sits 64th by area in a field of 245 fishery areas. About 8 miles northeast of Birchwood.
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 Benson Creek Fishery Area
Benson Creek Fishery Area, as the managers tell it
Word for word from the property page.
The Benson Creek Fishery Area contains Benson Creek, a small class 1 brook trout stream which begins in Benson Springs in section 23 and flows 1.8 miles south to Lake Chetac. Being well suited for trout, the headwaters and mid-stream portions of the creek are boarded by open sedge marsh, the rest of the stream by upland and/or shrub marsh. Seven spring ponds are located on the drainage of Benson Creek, with the largest being Benson Springs covering 1.8 acres.
Picture Title (picture optional) © photographer –> Location/Directions Benson Creek Fishery Area is located in southwest Sawyer County approximately 17 miles south of the City of Hayward via State Hwy 27 and County Hwy F. T 38N, R 9W, sections 22 and 23.
What the Benson Creek Fishery Area page says about hunting
- Hunting – deer, turkey & small game
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Benson Creek Fishery Area: what is allowed
How access works on Benson Creek Fishery Area
Check the DNR public access lands map: the open parcels of this fishery land can be hunted and trapped in season.
Benson Creek Fishery Area: 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. Mark a ground blind with 144 square inches of blaze orange or pink while firearm deer seasons run. Tree stands: no tree damage, ID on unattended stands, overnight only north of Hwy. 64 during Sept. 1-Jan. 31. Register deer, turkeys and bears through GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
What Benson Creek Fishery Area 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 Benson Creek Fishery Area
For deer it lies in the Northern Forest zone (DMU 109). This season the unit quota is 1,870 antlerless deer. Zone D bear permits took 2 preference points in 2026; the target is 1,100 bears. The 2025 spring level for Turkey Zone 6 was 6,001 authorizations; 1,362 birds were registered. Deer bait is legal in Sawyer County within the 2-gallon limit.
Benson Creek Fishery Area: antlerless quota and bonus tags
| Deer unit | Zone | 2026 quota | Public bonus left | Private bonus left | Free farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 109 | Northern Forest | 1,870 | 2,715 | 5,713 | — |
Every other zone Benson Creek Fishery Area touches
| Zone | Detail | Figures | Points or note | Taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bear D | Hounds legal | 1,100 target, 3,855 permits | 2 points | 931 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 6 | 6,001 spring tags (2025) | 23% success | 1,362 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 1/1B | 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, Benson Creek Fishery Area
The list for Benson Creek Fishery Area reads: whitetails, wild turkeys, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
White-tailed deer
Wild turkey
Small game
Furbearers
The list is what the agency names, not a limit: other Sawyer County seasons apply under the same rules.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Benson Creek Fishery Area season calendar, 2026-27
Archery, the nine-day gun hunt, muzzleloader, bear, turkey, upland birds, rabbits, furbearers and the duck and goose splits for Benson Creek Fishery Area.
| 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/D | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone A/D | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone A/D | 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 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 6 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 6 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 6 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 6 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 6 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 6 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 6 | 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.
Nearest public ground to Benson Creek Fishery Area, mapped
10 more properties lie close to Benson Creek Fishery Area, shown with smaller pins. Acres across them: 4,875.
| Neighbour | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hauer Springs | Wildlife area | 130 | 3.6 mi | north |
| Beverly Lake | Fishery area | 274 | 4.2 mi | east |
| Hungry Ham Lakes Woods | Easement land | 311 | 4.6 mi | north |
| Whitefish Lake | Wildlife area | 96 | 6.4 mi | north |
| Musky Bay | Wildlife area | 71 | 7.7 mi | north |
| Eddy Creek | Fishery area | 281 | 8.5 mi | east |
| Weirgor Springs | Wildlife area | 1,955 | 9.4 mi | east |
| Big Weirgor Creek | Habitat area | 116 | 12 mi | southeast |
| Little Weirgor Creek | Wildlife area | 41 | 13 mi | southeast |
| Bean Brook | Fishery area | 1,600 | 14 mi | northwest |
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.
Registered deer and bears near Benson Creek Fishery Area
The DNR has no Sawyer County deer series; its forest DMUs carry 2025 totals only. The 2026 season to date shows 222 deer in DMU 109; the DNR calls it preliminary. 60 samples, 0 positive: that is Sawyer County in CWD year 2025. All years combined: 0 of 1,917. 241 bears came out of Sawyer County in 2025. These numbers describe the county around Benson Creek Fishery Area, not the property alone.
Deer registered near Benson Creek Fishery Area
| Unit | Bucks | Antlerless | Deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 109 | 1,590 | 1,091 | 2,681 |
Sawyer County CWD by year
| CWD year | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 60 | 0 |
| 2024 | 57 | 0 |
| 2023 | 95 | 0 |
| 2022 | 81 | 0 |
| 2021 | 74 | 0 |
Sawyer County bear harvest
| Year | Bear harvest | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 296 | 133 | 163 |
| 2025 | 241 | 134 | 107 |
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.
Benson Creek Fishery Area: nearest ranges
No range sits on Benson Creek Fishery Area; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Frog Creek Washburn Cty. Forest, about 28 miles away. Closer club options sit beside it.
rifle, trap, shotgun, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
trap, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery on file
skeet, sporting clays, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Towns, offices and services around Benson Creek Fishery Area
Towns, then services in this county and the next one over.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birchwood | Washburn | 8.5 mi | 408 | 66,882 |
| Radisson | Sawyer | 12 mi | 273 | 34,233 |
| Chief Lake | Sawyer | 14 mi | — | 31,269 |
| Little Round Lake | Sawyer | 15 mi | — | 34,951 |
Our county write-ups: Sawyer County.
Butchers, mounts and gun counters near Benson Creek Fishery Area
Service centers near Benson Creek Fishery Area
For Sawyer County, the DNR points to its DNR Spooner 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 Benson Creek Fishery Area
The DNR tables are worked out for Zone A in the east; Benson Creek Fishery Area lies in longitude Zone E, so add 16 minutes to each table time.
| Day | Reason | Northern table | Southern table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, grouse opener | 6:11 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:55 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:16 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:44 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:56 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:15 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:17 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:02 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 E offset of 16 minutes for longitude 91.46 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Benson Creek Fishery Area in questions and answers
Which game does Benson Creek Fishery Area list?
The source lists whitetails, wild turkeys, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes. Other open seasons apply too, within the property rules.
How far is the drive from Birchwood to Benson Creek Fishery Area?
Sawyer County, roughly 8 miles out of Birchwood.
Are hounds allowed for bear at Benson Creek Fishery Area?
Bear Zone D: 3,855 permits drawn for 2026.
Is Benson Creek Fishery Area forest or farmland deer country?
DMU 109 in the Northern Forest zone. The unit quota stands at 1,870 antlerless deer this year.
Is Benson Creek Fishery Area in the northern or southern duck zone?
Northern duck zone and Northern goose zone. First regular duck day in the Northern Zone: Sep 26.
Is Benson Creek Fishery Area good turkey ground?
Apply for Zone 6; spring periods A-F run in 2027 from April 21.
Can pink replace orange at Benson Creek Fishery Area?
Yes while gun deer seasons are open; half your upper clothing and hat in orange or fluorescent pink.
What are the CWD and bait rules for Benson Creek Fishery Area?
It is legal in this county under the 2-gallon rule. The county has no CWD positives.
Is a permit required for Benson Creek Fishery Area?
Your Wisconsin license is enough; residents pay $24 for gun deer, $18 for small game.
How fast must I register a kill on Benson Creek Fishery Area?
GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Who is the land manager for Benson Creek Fishery Area?
The Wisconsin DNR manages it; the land is a DNR fishery area that is open to hunting.
What neighbours Benson Creek Fishery Area?
Closest first: Hauer Springs State Habitat Area (4 miles), Beverly Lake Fishery Area (4 miles) and Hungry Ham Lakes Woods Conservation Easement (5 miles).
How large is Benson Creek Fishery Area, in acres?
Acreage on record: 306.
Benson Creek Fishery Area, final notes
Print the Benson Creek Fishery Area map, carry your tags, and check the manager page the week you go.
Sources for this page: DNR: 140bensoncreek · DNR GIS · DNR: county; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Ligocsicnarf89 (CC BY 4.0); GA-Kayaker (CC BY 2.0).