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State park, the Northwoods
Council Grounds State Park hunting notes
493 acres of state park in Lincoln County, with 2026-27 zones, quotas, rules, CWD testing and a map.
Photo: ThreeIfByBike (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Council Grounds State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Council Grounds State Park
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 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.
Council Grounds State Park, by its record
Count Council Grounds State Park among the state parks of Lincoln County. It falls in the DNR Northern Region, the Northwoods. The Wisconsin DNR manages the land. By size (493 acres) it is number 34 among 49 state parks on our list. Head west from Merrill for about 2 miles. 1 smaller unit sit inside it, each with its own page.
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 Council Grounds State Park
Zone lines at Council Grounds State Park
Deer rules follow the Northern Forest zone and DMU 119. For 2026 the antlerless quota stands at 1,190. In Bear Zone B the DNR drew 1,545 permits for a target of 850 bears; drawn hunters needed 11 points. Turkey Zone 5: 12,008 spring authorizations in 2025 and 20% hunter success. Lincoln County is on the CWD list: a positive wild deer has been found. Deer may not be baited or fed in Lincoln County.
Council Grounds State Park deer management units
| DMU | Zone | 2026 antlerless | Public bonus | Private bonus | Free per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 119 | Northern Forest | 1,190 | 487 | 3,743 | — |
Bear, turkey, grouse and waterfowl lines through Council Grounds State Park
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear B | Hound hunting | 850 target, 1,545 permits | 11 points | 851 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 5 | 12,008 spring tags (2025) | 20% success | 2,446 gobblers | — |
| Turkey 4 | 34,997 spring tags (2025) | 24% success | 8,472 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Ducks | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Canada geese | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf zone 2 | 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 Council Grounds State Park within the rules
Who may hunt Council Grounds State Park
Hunt only in open areas and only in the park windows: early spring to early May, and mid-November to mid-December, with archery into early January. A vehicle admission sticker is needed.
Statewide rules that reach Council Grounds State Park
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.
Council Grounds State Park license list
Residents often take the Conservation Patron, which bundles the hunting licenses. Antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
Council Grounds State Park: refuges and closures
Council Grounds State Park carries 1 posted restriction. Typical exception: Hunting/trapping restrictions apply, check property map(s) at link provided.
| Area | Rule | Dates | Acres | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council Grounds State Park | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 494 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
Season windows on Council Grounds State Park
| Species | Season | Dates | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Council Grounds State Park: the game on record
The source names raccoons, foxes and coyotes for Council Grounds State Park.
Furbearers
Every other open season that reaches Lincoln County applies too, within the property rules.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Council Grounds State Park hunting dates, fall 2026 to spring 2027
20 species and 39 segments reach Council Grounds State Park. 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 B/A | 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/A | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone B/A | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 4/5 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 4/5 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 4/5 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 4/5 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 4/5 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 4/5 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 4/5 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 4/5 | 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.
The land at Council Grounds State Park
This is the agency description, quoted.
Hunting Council Grounds State Park 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.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Council Grounds State Park, unit by unit
The 1 parts of Council Grounds State Park total 29 acres.
| Page | Type | County | Acres | Listed game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krueger Pines | State natural area | Lincoln | 29 | — |
Deer, bears and CWD around Council Grounds State Park
Last full season (2025) the Lincoln County unit gave up 1,426 deer. Since 2016 the yearly total has ranged from 1,426 (2025) to 4,346 (2017). So far in 2026 (preliminary, Oct. 19): DMU 119 236 deer. In CWD year 2025, 152 Lincoln County deer were tested and 0 came back positive. Since 1999: 2,880 sampled, 1 positive. Bear hunters registered 123 bears in Lincoln County in 2025. Property-level harvest does not exist for Council Grounds State Park; county numbers stand in.
Deer table, Lincoln County
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 718 | 708 | 1,426 |
| 2024 | 1,930 | 1,207 | 3,137 |
| 2023 | 1,694 | 1,107 | 2,801 |
| 2022 | 2,278 | 1,538 | 3,816 |
| 2021 | 1,860 | 1,048 | 2,908 |
| 2020 | 1,664 | 1,258 | 2,922 |
CWD results near Council Grounds State Park
| CWD year | Sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 9 | 0 |
| 2025 | 152 | 0 |
| 2024 | 148 | 0 |
| 2023 | 164 | 0 |
| 2022 | 166 | 0 |
| 2021 | 219 | 0 |
Bear table, Lincoln County
| Season | Total bears | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 142 | 63 | 79 |
| 2025 | 123 | 54 | 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.
Where Council Grounds State Park 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrill | Lincoln | 2.0 mi | 9,445 | 6,590 |
| Wausau | Marathon | 16 mi | 40,262 | 6,929 |
| Rib Mountain | Marathon | 20 mi | 7,275 | 9,731 |
| Tomahawk | Lincoln | 20 mi | 3,390 | 41,459 |
County hunting overviews: Lincoln County.
Council Grounds State Park: businesses in the area
Offices that answer for Council Grounds State Park
Lincoln County is served by the DNR Rhinelander 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 Council Grounds State Park
Council Grounds State Park is the large pin, with 10 neighbours around it. Their acreage adds up to 27,530.
| Property | Type | Acres | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Haymeadow Creek Fish Area | Fishery area | 11 | 5.3 mi | northeast |
| Bill Cross | Wildlife area | 1,520 | 6.3 mi | northwest |
| Parallel Ridges | Ice Age Trail area | 64 | 8.8 mi | north |
| Yellow Lake Statewide | Fishery area | 2,536 | 12 mi | northeast |
| New Wood | Wildlife area | 2,700 | 13 mi | northwest |
| Tomahawk Timberlands (new Wood Trct) | Easement land | 16,923 | 14 mi | northwest |
| Camp 27 | Ice Age Trail area | 1,929 | 14 mi | northwest |
| Big Rib River | Fishery area | 727 | 14 mi | west |
| Prairie River | Ice Age Trail area | 17 | 14 mi | northeast |
| Ackley | Wildlife area | 1,103 | 17 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) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
DNR shooting hours for Council Grounds State Park
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 | 6:03 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 89.74 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Council Grounds State Park: nearest ranges
Village of Athens Sporting Range in Marathon County is the nearest DNR-map range, 20 miles out. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
trap, archery, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Council Grounds State Park: the questions that come up
How do I get permission to hunt Council Grounds State Park?
A regular Wisconsin license from Go Wild (gun deer $24 for residents); antlerless deer need a public-access tag.
Is there a check station for Council Grounds State Park?
Use GameReg online or call 844-426-3734 by 5 p.m. the day after.
Which properties are close to Council Grounds State Park?
Nearest on the list: Little Haymeadow Creek Fish Area (5 miles), Bill Cross Wildlife Area (6 miles) and Parallel Ridges State Ice Age Trail Area (9 miles).
What is the hunting window at Council Grounds State Park?
Yes, the state park time frame: April 1 through the Tuesday nearest May 3, then Nov. 15-Dec. 15.
Whose property is Council Grounds State Park?
The Wisconsin DNR oversees this state park with hunting in its open areas.
Does Council Grounds State Park have separate units?
1 unit, including Krueger Pines State Natural Area.
In which Wisconsin county is Council Grounds State Park?
Merrill is closest (2 miles); the property is in Lincoln County.
How many acres does Council Grounds State Park cover?
493 acres, per WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, whole property (hunting only in areas the property hunting map shows open).
Can I shoot antlerless deer on Council Grounds State Park?
Northern Forest zone; unit DMU 119. 1,190 antlerless deer is the 2026 quota.
Which animals are listed at Council Grounds State Park?
1 group on the list: raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
What turkey tag do I need for Council Grounds State Park?
Your spring tag must be for Zone 5 and a period A-F.
What are the bear rules around Council Grounds State Park?
It is in Bear Zone B, target 850 bears in 2026.
Does the baiting ban cover Council Grounds State Park?
Banned in Lincoln County. Lincoln County has had CWD-positive wild deer.
Council Grounds State Park: confirm on the ground
A last look before the drive: the Council Grounds State Park map, your Go Wild licenses and any posted closures.
Sources for this page: DNR: hunt · DNR: hunting · DNR: councilgrounds · DNR GIS · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: The Hidden Hide with Ray (CC BY 2.0); scostello22 (CC BY 2.0).