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Ashland County · State park
Hunting at Big Bay State Park
Big Bay State Park, 2,524 acres in Ashland County: whitetails and raccoons, foxes and coyotes, zones and tags, property rules, county harvest and the land nearby.
Photo: Fighting Irish 1977 (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Big Bay State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Big Bay State Park
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
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.
Big Bay State Park on one card
Hunters reach Big Bay State Park in Ashland County; it is a state park with hunting in its open areas. This is the Northwoods, in the DNR Northern Region. Day-to-day it is in the hands of the Wisconsin DNR. Measured at 2,524 acres, it comes in 10th of 49 state parks. Bayfield is the nearest town with a guide on this site, about 7 miles away; the land lies east of it. Below are the 1 units it contains.
From the source page (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, whole property (hunting only in areas the property hunting map shows open)); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Big Bay State Park
Zones that take in Big Bay State Park
Big Bay State Park is Northern Forest deer country, unit DMU 105. Antlerless quota, 2026: 35. The Zone A bear quota for 2026 is 1,100, spread over 1,675 drawn permits. Zone 6 turkey numbers for 2025: 6,001 spring tags, 23% success. Ashland County is one of the 12 counties without a baiting ban.
Antlerless tags near Big Bay State Park
| Unit | Zone | Quota 2026 | Bonus, public | Bonus, private | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 105 | Northern Forest | 35 | 47 | 42 | — |
Big Bay State Park: other game zones
| Zone | Detail | Numbers | More | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone A | Hounds allowed | 1,100 target, 1,675 permits | 11 points | 1,235 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 6 | 6,001 spring tags (2025) | 23% success | 1,362 gobblers | — |
| Ruffed grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Canada goose | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf 1 | No harvest | Federal listing |
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.
How the DNR describes Big Bay State Park
The managing agency's own text.
Hunting and trapping are allowed in the open areas of the park during the Wisconsin state parks hunting and trapping time frame. Trapping is not permitted in closed areas as noted on the park hunting map or within 100 yards of any designated use area, including trails. Certain trap types are restricted on state park properties. For more information, please see: Hunting and trapping in Wisconsin State Parks Big Bay State Park hunting and trapping map In addition to the opportunities that are available during the state parks hunting/trapping time frame, hunting opportunities in state parks that were already established by rule and in place prior to the enactment of 2011 ACT 168, remain in place.
At Big Bay State Park, this includes archery deer hunting, which is allowed in the park beginning Oct. 15 through the Sunday nearest Jan. 6.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
What Big Bay State Park requires of hunters
Big Bay State Park access terms
Hunting runs on the state park calendar: spring from April 1 to the Tuesday closest to May 3, fall from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15, and archery on to the Sunday closest to Jan. 6. Park entry requires the vehicle admission pass.
The rule book on Big Bay State Park
Half of your outer clothing above the waist, and half of your hat, must be blaze orange or pink whenever a firearm deer season is open (waterfowl hunters excepted). Ground blinds need a 144-square-inch orange or pink patch in gun deer seasons on DNR ground. Stands may not damage trees. North of Hwy. 64 they can stay overnight Sept. 1, 2026 to Jan. 31, 2027 (two per hunter per county); south of Hwy. 64 they come down daily. Deer and turkeys go into GameReg online or by phone by 5 p.m. the next day.
Go Wild shopping list for Big Bay State Park
A gun deer or archery license comes with a buck authorization; antlerless deer on this land need a public-access authorization.
Restricted parts of Big Bay State Park
The DNR closed-areas layer lists 1 zone on Big Bay State Park. Exception printed most often: Hunting/trapping restrictions apply, check property map(s) at link provided.
| Area | What applies | Dates | Size | NR rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bay State Park | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 2,610 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
When Big Bay State Park opens to hunters
| Species | Window | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All open seasons | Spring | April 1 through the Tuesday nearest May 3 (gun and archery hunting, limited trapping, open areas only) | |
| All open seasons | Fall/Winter | Nov. 15-Dec. 15 (gun and archery hunting and trapping in open seasons); archery through the Sunday nearest Jan. 6 | Exceptions for Buckhorn, Big Bay, Blue Mound, Governor Dodge, Rock Island and Tower Hill state parks. |
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.
The parts of Big Bay State Park
1 units sit inside Big Bay State Park, 963 acres in total.
| Name | Kind | Counties | Acres | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bay Sand Spit and Bog | State natural area | Ashland | 963 | — |
What hunters pursue at Big Bay State Park
Species the agency lists here: whitetails and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
White-tailed deer
Furbearers
Unlisted species follow the Ashland County dates below, subject to the property rules.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Big Bay State Park: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 39 season segments apply to Big Bay State Park.
| Species | Hunt type | Zone or unit | Opening | Closing | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Ashland County harvest near Big Bay State Park
No history before 2025 exists for these forest DMUs, the DNR says. CWD year 2025 brought 20 Ashland County samples and 0 positives. Running total since 1999: 835 tested. The 2025 bear count for Ashland County was 144. No harvest is published for Big Bay State Park itself, so the county unit is the finest level.
Registered deer in the Big Bay State Park county unit
| Unit | Bucks | Does | Registered 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 105 | 31 | 26 | 57 |
CWD tests in Ashland County
| CWD year | Wild deer sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 20 | 0 |
| 2024 | 18 | 0 |
| 2023 | 18 | 0 |
| 2022 | 18 | 0 |
| 2021 | 24 | 0 |
Bear numbers near Big Bay State Park
| Year | Total | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Around Big Bay State Park: more places to hunt
The big marker is Big Bay State Park. Smaller ones are its 10 closest neighbours. The neighbours add 48,464 acres between them.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Pikes Creek Unit | Fishery area | 1,003 | 9.0 mi | west |
| South Shore Lake Superior | Fishery area | 276 | 9.5 mi | west |
| North Pikes Creek Boreal Forest | State natural area | 396 | 9.7 mi | west |
| Nourse Sugarbush | State natural area | 438 | 11 mi | west |
| Apostle Islands National Lakeshore | National lakeshore | 42,863 | 12 mi | north |
| Big Rock Pines | State natural area | 159 | 13 mi | southwest |
| South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Sioux River Unit | Fishery area | 2,265 | 14 mi | southwest |
| Saxine Creek | Wildlife area | 236 | 17 mi | west |
| Town of Saxon | Wildlife area | 359 | 18 mi | southeast |
| Whittlesey Creek | Wildlife refuge | 469 | 19 mi | southwest |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS (polygon centroid) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Big Bay State Park: nearby towns and businesses
Town pages first, then shops, processors and DNR desks.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayfield | Bayfield | 6.6 mi | 592 | 59,543 |
| Washburn | Bayfield | 13 mi | 2,055 | 47,397 |
| Ashland | Ashland | 17 mi | 7,940 | 6,255 |
| Birch Hill | Ashland | 20 mi | — | 31,792 |
County-level hunting pages: Ashland County.
Shops a short drive from Big Bay State Park
DNR desks closest to Big Bay State Park
Service center for Ashland County business: 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.
Where to sight in near Big Bay State Park
About 20 miles separates Big Bay State Park from Sports Hollow, the nearest public map range. Nearby rod and gun clubs round out the list.
rifle, handgun, trap, skeet, sporting clays on file
archery, 3D archery on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Shooting light at Big Bay State Park by date
At Big Bay State Park the offset is 12 minutes (Zone D). The times below already include it for both DNR shooting-hours areas.
| Day | Season | North table | South 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 90.69 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
What people ask about hunting Big Bay State Park
Which species are hunted on Big Bay State Park?
Listed: whitetails and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Where do Big Bay State Park hunters spend the night?
Start from Bayfield; the land is 7 miles off, in Ashland County.
Which bear management zone holds Big Bay State Park?
Bear Zone A. Zone A took 11 preference points in 2026.
Which DMU takes in Big Bay State Park?
Deer unit DMU 105; zone Northern Forest. The 2026 antlerless quota is 35 (DMU 105); use a public-access antlerless tag here.
What are the waterfowl zones for Big Bay State Park?
It sits in the Northern duck and Northern goose zones. In the Northern Zone the regular duck split begins Sep 26.
Which turkey zone is Big Bay State Park in?
Zone 6, one bird per spring authorization.
Do I need blaze orange at Big Bay State Park?
In any open firearm deer season, wear blaze orange or pink on at least half your coat and cap.
Is deer baiting legal near Big Bay State Park?
Baiting is allowed in this county within the 2-gallon limit. The county is not on the CWD list.
Which Wisconsin license covers Big Bay State Park?
Go Wild sells everything needed; antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
How do I register a deer from Big Bay State Park?
Through GameReg (online, phone or a station) by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
If Big Bay State Park is full, where next?
Within a short drive: South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Pikes Creek Unit (9 miles), South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area (10 miles) and North Pikes Creek Boreal Forest State Natural Area (10 miles).
When can I hunt Big Bay State Park?
Only during the state park windows: early April to early May, and Nov. 15-Dec. 15 (archery into early January).
Which agency sets the rules on Big Bay State Park?
The Wisconsin DNR treats it as a state park with hunting in its open areas.
Check Big Bay State Park once more
Refuges, closed areas and park windows at Big Bay State Park can shift mid-season; the property page and the DNR map have the current picture.
Sources for this page: DNR: hunt · DNR: recreation · DNR: bigbay · DNR GIS · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0).