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Vilas County, Wisconsin
DNR Scattered Forest Lands: the hunter's file
Deer unit DMU 116 and DMU 117, bear and turkey zones, closures, licenses and the nearest towns and services.
Photo: newagecrap (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to DNR Scattered Forest Lands
Key facts for DNR Scattered Forest Lands
DNR Scattered Forest Lands is a set of scattered DNR forest parcels in Vilas, Oneida, Marathon, Iron and 4 more counties. The DNR files it under its Northern Region (the Northwoods). Management sits with the Wisconsin DNR. Size on record: 3,636 acres. Without a mapped point, this page uses the centre of Vilas County for every distance (Sayner is nearest).
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 DNR Scattered Forest Lands
Every piece of DNR Scattered Forest Lands
DNR Scattered Forest Lands is a roll-up of 3 regional categories.
| Group | Region | Acres open | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scattered Forest Land Nw | Northern | 2,816 | Vilas, Oneida, Iron, Polk |
| Scattered Forest Land Wd | West Central | 772 | Marathon, Monroe, Vernon |
| Scattered Forest Land Lm | Northeast (Lake Michigan) | 48 | Outagamie, Shawano |
From the source. Checked October 19, 2026.
DNR Scattered Forest Lands by zone and unit
With no mapped boundary, DNR Scattered Forest Lands takes the county-wide zones of Vilas, Oneida, Marathon, Iron and 2 more counties. Deer: Northern Forest, Central Farmland, Central Forest and Southern Farmland zones, DMU 116, DMU 117, DMU 120, DMU 121 and 10 more units. The 12 deer units touched carry 2026 quotas between 90 and 10,000 antlerless deer. CWD-positive deer have been recorded in Vilas, Oneida, Marathon, Monroe and 2 more counties; free testing is offered statewide.
DMU figures for DNR Scattered Forest Lands
| Unit | Deer zone | Quota | Public-access bonus | Private bonus | Farmland per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 116 | Northern Forest | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| DMU 117 | Northern Forest | 550 | 620 | 619 | — |
| DMU 120 | Northern Forest | 545 | 124 | 1,163 | — |
| DMU 121 | Northern Forest | 695 | 73 | 864 | — |
| DMU 122 | Northern Forest | 330 | 63 | 562 | — |
| DMU 124 | Northern Forest | 320 | 0 | 123 | — |
DNR Scattered Forest Lands zone table
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone A | Dogs OK | 1,100 target, 1,675 permits | 11 points | 1,235 bears in 2025 |
| Bear zone B | Dogs OK | 850 target, 1,545 permits | 11 points | 851 bears in 2025 |
| Bear zone C | No dogs | 875 target, 4,465 permits | 2 points | 663 bears in 2025 |
| Bear zone E | No dogs | 185 target, 2,628 permits | 1 point | 128 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 7 | 4,401 spring tags (2025) | 16% success | 726 gobblers | — |
| Turkey 5 | 12,008 spring tags (2025) | 20% success | 2,446 gobblers | — |
| Turkey 3 | 55,612 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 12,324 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Turkey 4 | 34,997 spring tags (2025) | 24% success | 8,472 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Turkey 1 | 64,574 spring tags (2025) | 21% success | 13,813 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Ruffed grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Ruffed grouse B | Oct 17–Dec 8 | 2 a day | ||
| Duck | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Duck | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Goose | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Goose | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| Goose | Mississippi River | — | ||
| Elk | Central (Black River Elk Range) | 6 bull and 6 antlerless | Public land nearly 70% |
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.
Access, closures and licenses for DNR Scattered Forest Lands
DNR Scattered Forest Lands: open to whom, and how
Hunting and trapping follow state seasons on the parts of this scattered parcel that the DNR map marks open, under NR 45. Find individual pieces on the Public Access Lands map.
Orange, stands and GameReg at DNR Scattered Forest Lands
Bowhunters too: when a gun deer season is on, 50% of the coat and hat must be orange or pink, unless you are hunting waterfowl. A ground blind on DNR property needs 144 sq in of orange or pink during gun deer seasons. South of Hwy. 64 every stand and blind leaves with you; north of it, two portable stands per county may stay out Sept. 1-Jan. 31. Use GameReg (online or 844-426-3734) before 5 p.m. the day after the harvest.
Tags and licenses for DNR Scattered Forest Lands
Licenses sell on Go Wild. On public land, antlerless deer need a public-access authorization for the unit.
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.
Which animals DNR Scattered Forest Lands lists
The agency names no particular game for DNR Scattered Forest Lands: all open seasons apply, within the property rules.
The Vilas County dates (38 rows) follow.
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.
Which seasons are open in DNR Scattered Forest Lands
Deer dates are statewide in Wisconsin; bear, turkey, grouse, cottontail and waterfowl dates follow zone lines, so only the rows for DNR Scattered Forest Lands are listed.
| Species | Season | Where it applies | Opens | Closes | 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 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 7 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 7 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 7 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 7 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 7 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 7 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 7 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 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.
DNR Scattered Forest Lands: county harvest and CWD tests
Deer harvest here is reported by Northern Forest DMU, and only 2025 exists since the 2025 boundary change. Preliminary 2026 count to Oct. 19: 113 in DMU 116, 105 in DMU 117 and 110 in DMU 120. Vilas County CWD testing (2025): 0 positives out of 221 samples. Cumulative total 2 positives in 3,270 tests. Vilas County bear harvest, 2025: 70. Harvest and CWD figures cover Vilas County as a whole.
Vilas County deer by year
| DMU | Antlered | Antlerless | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 116 | 917 | 301 | 1,218 |
| DMU 117 | 523 | 372 | 895 |
| DMU 120 | 726 | 429 | 1,155 |
| DMU 121 | 1,001 | 614 | 1,615 |
| DMU 122 | 472 | 330 | 802 |
| DMU 124 | 857 | 369 | 1,226 |
| DMU 119 | 1,502 | 1,014 | 2,516 |
| DMU 123 | 1,027 | 699 | 1,726 |
| DMU 118 | 384 | 91 | 475 |
| DMU 205 | 261 | 187 | 448 |
| Fort McCoy | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Testing for CWD, Vilas County
| Year | Deer tested | CWD positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 31 | 0 |
| 2025 | 221 | 0 |
| 2024 | 272 | 1 |
| 2023 | 234 | 0 |
| 2022 | 292 | 0 |
| 2021 | 214 | 1 |
Bears by year, Vilas County
| Year | Bears | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 88 | 43 | 45 |
| 2025 | 70 | 41 | 29 |
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.
DNR Scattered Forest Lands pinned among its neighbours
No pin for DNR Scattered Forest Lands: the DNR gives no point. Distances are from the middle of Vilas County. That is 243,256 acres of public ground.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plum Lake Hemlock Forest | State natural area | 747 | 2.4 mi | south |
| Aurora Lake | State natural area | 831 | 2.6 mi | southwest |
| Lake Laura Hardwoods | State natural area | 852 | 2.6 mi | east |
| Lake Alva Birch-Hemlock | State natural area | 314 | 2.7 mi | north |
| Northern Highland-American Legion | State forest | 237,127 | 3.8 mi | west |
| Lost Canoe | State natural area | 1,119 | 4.8 mi | west |
| Nixon Lake | State natural area | 737 | 5.0 mi | northwest |
| Johnson Lake Barrens and Springs | State natural area | 1,130 | 5.2 mi | northeast |
| Allequash Lake and Pines | State natural area | 398 | 6.5 mi | west |
| Big St Germain | Fishery area | 1 | 7.3 mi | south |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (county centre, no point published). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns, processors and DNR desks near DNR Scattered Forest Lands
Start with a town, then line up a cooler, a butcher and a mount.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sayner | Vilas | 4.7 mi | — | 123,140 |
| Boulder Junction | Vilas | 8.6 mi | — | 103,002 |
| Woodruff | Oneida | 14 mi | — | 68,581 |
| Eagle River | Vilas | 15 mi | 1,681 | 58,199 |
For the wider county picture: Vilas County, Oneida County, Marathon County, Iron County, Monroe County, Vernon County, Polk County, Outagamie County.
Venison, mounts and ammo near DNR Scattered Forest Lands
DNR Scattered Forest Lands: agency contacts
County service center: DNR Woodruff Service Center (715-356-5211).
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.
First and last legal minute at DNR Scattered Forest Lands
Deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey: 30 minutes before sunrise until 20 minutes after sunset. Ducks, geese, doves and spring turkey: same start, done at sunset.
| Date | Season moment | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 89.50 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Questions hunters raise about DNR Scattered Forest Lands
Can I put out corn for deer at DNR Scattered Forest Lands?
Not here: Vilas, Oneida, Marathon and Monroe counties is under the ban. CWD has been found in wild deer in Vilas, Oneida, Marathon and Monroe counties.
How much orange do I wear at DNR Scattered Forest Lands?
During any firearm deer season: 50% of your outer clothing above the waist and 50% of any cap, blaze orange or pink. Waterfowl hunters are exempt.
When must I register a turkey from DNR Scattered Forest Lands?
Deer: online, phone or station by 5 p.m. next day. Turkeys: online or phone only.
Which tags work on DNR Scattered Forest Lands?
No special permit for most of it; buy the license on Go Wild and carry public-access antlerless tags.
Is there other public ground around DNR Scattered Forest Lands?
By straight-line distance: Plum Lake Hemlock Forest State Natural Area (2 miles), Aurora Lake State Natural Area (3 miles) and Lake Laura Hardwoods State Natural Area (3 miles).
What type of property is DNR Scattered Forest Lands on the record?
It is a set of scattered DNR forest parcels, managed by the Wisconsin DNR.
What size is DNR Scattered Forest Lands on the record?
About 3,636 acres.
What is the nearest town to DNR Scattered Forest Lands?
Base in Sayner, 5 miles away; the ground is in Vilas, Oneida, Marathon, Iron and 4 more counties. Counted from the middle of Vilas County.
Which species are allowed at DNR Scattered Forest Lands?
There is no species list. Any season open in the county works here within the rules.
What is the antlerless quota at DNR Scattered Forest Lands?
DMU 116, DMU 117 and DMU 120, part of the Northern Forest, Central Farmland, Central Forest and Southern Farmland zones. Antlerless goal for 2026: 550, 545, 695, 330, 320, 1,190, 795, 6,500, 90, 1,600, 6,000 and 10,000.
Which bear permit zone holds DNR Scattered Forest Lands?
A/B/C/E. You need a Class A license from the drawing.
How many turkey permits go to the DNR Scattered Forest Lands zone?
Turkey Zone 7/5/3/4/1. 4,401 spring tags were issued there in 2025.
What waterfowl dates apply at DNR Scattered Forest Lands?
Duck zone: Northern and Southern; goose zone: Northern, Southern and Mississippi River. Northern Zone ducks open Sep 26, 2026-27.
DNR Scattered Forest Lands: one more look before the drive
Signs on the ground beat any web page. Read the posted boundaries at DNR Scattered Forest Lands when you arrive.
Sources for this page: DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).