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Riverway, the Northwoods
Chippewa Flowage hunting notes
7,436 acres of riverway in Sawyer County, with 2026-27 zones, quotas, rules, CWD testing and a map.
Photo: wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Chippewa Flowage
Parking, trailheads and gates near Chippewa Flowage
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Hay Creek Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 3.1 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.
Chippewa Flowage, by its record
Count Chippewa Flowage among the riverways and wild rivers of Sawyer County. It falls in the DNR Northern Region, the Northwoods. The Wisconsin DNR manages the land. By size (7,436 acres) it is number 6 among 9 riverways and wild rivers on our list. Head north from New Post for about 3 miles.
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.
Zone lines at Chippewa Flowage
Deer rules follow the Northern Forest zone and DMU 111, DMU 113 and Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation. For 2026 the antlerless quota stands at 685 and 1,155. In Bear Zone A the DNR drew 1,675 permits for a target of 1,100 bears; drawn hunters needed 11 points. Turkey Zone 6: 6,001 spring authorizations in 2025 and 23% hunter success. No ban in Sawyer County: deer bait up to 2 gallons per 40 acres.
Chippewa Flowage deer management units
| DMU | Zone | 2026 antlerless | Public bonus | Private bonus | Free per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 111 | Northern Forest | 685 | 576 | 2,184 | — |
| DMU 113 | Northern Forest | 1,155 | 1,369 | 2,244 | — |
| Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation | — | — | — | — | — |
Bear, turkey, grouse and waterfowl lines through Chippewa Flowage
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear A | Hound hunting | 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 | — |
| Grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Ducks | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Canada geese | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Elk zone | Northern (Clam Lake Elk Range) | 8 bulls, subject to 50% declaration by the Ojibwe tribes (ceded territory) | Public land approximately 68% | |
| Wolf zone 1/1B | Closed | Federal protection |
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.
Hunting Chippewa Flowage within the rules
Who may hunt Chippewa Flowage
This DNR DNR land is open to public hunting and trapping in state seasons wherever the DNR managed-lands map shows it open; NR 45 rules apply.
Statewide rules that reach Chippewa Flowage
Wisconsin asks for 50% blaze orange or fluorescent pink above the waist in firearm deer seasons, archers included, waterfowlers not. Ground blinds on DNR land in a firearm deer season show at least 144 square inches of solid orange or pink, visible from all sides. Unattended stands carry your name or customer ID; they may be left out north of State Hwy. 64 (up to two per county), never south of it. Registration through GameReg closes at 5 p.m. on the day after recovery.
Chippewa Flowage license list
Residents often take the Conservation Patron, which bundles the hunting licenses. Antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
Chippewa Flowage: refuges and closures
Chippewa Flowage carries 1 posted restriction.
| Area | Rule | Dates | Acres | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa Flowage | Closed to hunting and trapping | Jan 1–Dec 31 | — | NR 45.09(1) |
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.
Chippewa Flowage: the game on record
No species list is published for Chippewa Flowage, so every open season applies under the property rules.
See the 39 seasons listed for Sawyer County below.
Species from the property record (No species list published for this property; open seasons follow statewide/zone regulations where hunting is allowed.); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Chippewa Flowage hunting dates, fall 2026 to spring 2027
21 species and 39 segments reach Chippewa Flowage. The last column compares each one with today.
| Quarry | Season | Zone | From | To | Status 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 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.
Deer, bears and CWD around Chippewa Flowage
Sawyer County has no county-named deer unit, so the DNR reports harvest by forest DMU; 2025 is the only year under the new boundaries. So far in 2026 (preliminary, Oct. 19): DMU 111 140 deer and DMU 113 140 deer. In CWD year 2025, 60 Sawyer County deer were tested and 0 came back positive. Since 1999: 1,917 sampled, 0 positive. Bear hunters registered 241 bears in Sawyer County in 2025. Property-level harvest does not exist for Chippewa Flowage; county numbers stand in.
Deer table, Sawyer County
| Deer unit | Bucks 2025 | Antlerless 2025 | Total 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 111 | 779 | 587 | 1,366 |
| DMU 113 | 990 | 786 | 1,776 |
CWD results near Chippewa Flowage
| CWD year | Sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 60 | 0 |
| 2024 | 57 | 0 |
| 2023 | 95 | 0 |
| 2022 | 81 | 0 |
| 2021 | 74 | 0 |
Bear table, Sawyer County
| Season | Total bears | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Where Chippewa Flowage hunters stay and shop
Every town listed has a hunting guide of its own on this site.
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Post | Sawyer | 3.1 mi | — | 59,626 |
| Chief Lake | Sawyer | 5.7 mi | — | 31,269 |
| Little Round Lake | Sawyer | 7.4 mi | — | 34,951 |
| Radisson | Sawyer | 12 mi | 273 | 34,233 |
County hunting overviews: Sawyer County.
Chippewa Flowage: businesses in the area
Offices that answer for Chippewa Flowage
Sawyer County is served by the 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.
The closest public land to Chippewa Flowage
Chippewa Flowage is the large pin, with 10 neighbours around it. Their acreage adds up to 20,599.
| Property | Type | Acres | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mud Callahan | Wildlife area | 93 | 4.3 mi | northwest |
| Chief River | Wildlife area | 1,186 | 4.6 mi | north |
| Chippewa Flowage | Easement land | 17,885 | 7.5 mi | southeast |
| Dead Creek Springs | Fishery area | 84 | 8.2 mi | north |
| Grindstone Creek | Fishery area | 409 | 8.2 mi | west |
| Mosquito Brook | Wildlife area | 226 | 10 mi | northwest |
| Eddy Creek | Fishery area | 281 | 11 mi | south |
| Chippewa River Conservation Easement Area | Easement land | 2 | 11 mi | south |
| Town of Spider Lake | Wildlife area | 42 | 12 mi | north |
| Lake Helane | State natural area | 391 | 12 mi | north |
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.
DNR shooting hours for Chippewa Flowage
Wisconsin prints its shooting hours as tables. For deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey the day runs from 30 minutes before sunrise to 20 minutes after sunset; migratory birds and spring turkey stop at sunset.
| When | Event | North | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 91.22 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Chippewa Flowage: nearest ranges
Closest public range: Cable Rod & Gun Club, roughly 17 miles from the middle of Chippewa Flowage. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
trap, skeet, shotgun, sporting clays, handgun on file
sporting clays, shotgun 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.
Chippewa Flowage: the questions that come up
Is there a check station for Chippewa Flowage?
Use GameReg online or call 844-426-3734 by 5 p.m. the day after.
What does the orange rule mean at Chippewa Flowage?
Yes, 50% orange or pink above the waist from the youth deer hunt through the Holiday Hunt.
Where is hunting not allowed on Chippewa Flowage?
There are 1 closed or restricted zones; see the property map.
How do I get permission to hunt Chippewa Flowage?
A regular Wisconsin license from Go Wild (gun deer $24 for residents); antlerless deer need a public-access tag.
Whose property is Chippewa Flowage?
The Wisconsin DNR oversees this state riverway, wild river or scenic waters area.
Which properties are close to Chippewa Flowage?
Nearest on the list: Mud Callahan State Habitat Area (4 miles), Chief River Wildlife Area (5 miles) and Chippewa Flowage Conservation Easement (8 miles).
In which Wisconsin county is Chippewa Flowage?
New Post is closest (3 miles); the property is in Sawyer County.
How many acres does Chippewa Flowage cover?
7,436 acres, per WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting.
Can I shoot antlerless deer on Chippewa Flowage?
Northern Forest zone; unit DMU 111, DMU 113 and Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation. 685 and 1,155 antlerless deer is the 2026 quota.
Which game seasons apply on Chippewa Flowage?
All open seasons apply, subject to the property rules; the source names no species.
What turkey tag do I need for Chippewa Flowage?
Your spring tag must be for Zone 6 and a period A-F.
What are the bear rules around Chippewa Flowage?
It is in Bear Zone A, target 1,100 bears in 2026.
Does the baiting ban cover Chippewa Flowage?
Allowed, up to 2 gallons per 40 acres. Not a CWD county.
Chippewa Flowage: confirm on the ground
A last look before the drive: the Chippewa Flowage map, your Go Wild licenses and any posted closures.
Sources for this page: DNR GIS · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Susan Young (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Wesley Fryer (CC BY 2.0).