Home › Wisconsin › Public land › Eau Claire County Forest
County forest · West Central region
Eau Claire County Forest for Wisconsin hunters
A hunter's summary of Eau Claire County Forest in Eau Claire County: zones and quota, rules, CWD numbers and local help.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Eau Claire County Forest
Eau Claire County Forest: record card
Eau Claire County Forest: a county forest under the County Forest Law, located in Eau Claire County. Region on record: the DNR West Central Region. Eau Claire County Forestry Department writes the rules on the ground. The 52,712 acres on record put it 15th of the 30 county forests we list. Base town: Augusta, some 8 miles away. Wisconsin County Forest System is the larger unit around it.
From the source page (WI DNR Forest Tax report "Wisconsin County Forest Acres as of July 01, 2021" (total incl. special use lands)); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Eau Claire County Forest
Eau Claire County Forest deer unit, quota and game zones
The deer unit is DMU 201 and Eau Claire, in the Central Forest and Central Farmland zones. The 2026 antlerless quota for those units is 700 and 2,600. For black bear this is Zone C, with no hound hunting; 4,465 permits for 2026. Turkey hunting falls under Zone 4, which had 34,997 spring permits in 2025. The DNR counts Eau Claire County among its CWD-affected counties. Eau Claire County sits under the DNR deer baiting and feeding ban.
The deer unit around Eau Claire County Forest
| DMU | Deer zone | Antlerless quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Free tags per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 201 | Central Forest | 700 | 103 | 1,414 | — |
| Eau Claire Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 2,600 | 279 | 986 | 2 |
| Eau Claire County Metro Sub-Unit | Metro sub-unit | Parent unit | 0 | 248 | 1 |
Bear, turkey and bird zones at Eau Claire County Forest
| Zone | Rule | Numbers | Extra | 2025 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear C | Bait only | 875 target, 4,465 permits | 2 points | 663 bears in 2025 |
| Wild turkey 4 | 34,997 spring tags (2025) | 24% success | 8,472 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse zone A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Ducks | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Geese | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf zone 5/6 | Closed | Federally endangered |
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.
Rules on the ground at Eau Claire County Forest
Entry terms for Eau Claire County Forest
State seasons plus county ordinances: that is the county forest formula. Call the forestry office for closed areas and stand rules.
Wisconsin rules that follow you to Eau Claire County Forest
During any firearm deer season, everyone hunting except waterfowlers wears blaze orange or fluorescent pink on at least half the clothing above the waist, and on half of any cap. GameReg registration is due by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Eau Claire County Forest: licenses and tags
Go Wild carries every license. For antlerless deer on public ground, use a public-access tag for the right DMU.
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.
Game and bag limits at Eau Claire County Forest
Whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, woodcock, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes, per the property record.
White-tailed deer
Black bear
Wild turkey
Ruffed grouse
Woodcock
Small game
Furbearers
Other legal game follows the Eau Claire County season table below.
Species from the property record (General county forest hunting opportunities (DNR County Forests page; WCFA grouse/woodcock management areas). Bear/elk subject to zone.); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Every Eau Claire County Forest season on one table
Private and public land share these dates. A state park, refuge or Fort McCoy can close sooner, so read the property page before you go.
| Animal | Segment | Scope | Starts | Ends | Open 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 | Metro sub-unit gun | Metro sub-unit: Eau Claire | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 9, 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 | |
| White-tailed deer | Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt | Holiday Hunt, Eau Claire | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Extended archery and crossbow | Extended archery | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone C/E | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Elk | Elk, all weapons | Central Elk Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 4 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 4 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 4 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 4 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 4 | 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.
Eau Claire County Forest described by the managing agency
Quoted as published; nothing here is our wording.
Part of the 30-county Wisconsin county forest system (more than 2.4 million acres, the largest public land ownership in the state).
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Eau Claire County Forest and the land it belongs with
Parent property: Wisconsin County Forest System, which has 30 listed parts.
The rest of Wisconsin County Forest System
| Page | Type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas | County forest | Douglas | 281,853 |
| Marinette | County forest | Marinette | 229,978 |
| Bayfield | County forest | Bayfield | 175,557 |
| Iron | County forest | Iron | 175,343 |
| Washburn | County forest | Washburn | 150,196 |
| Clark | County forest | Clark | 134,742 |
| Langlade | County forest | Langlade | 130,717 |
| Jackson | County forest | Jackson | 122,685 |
| Sawyer | County forest | Sawyer | 115,196 |
| Burnett | County forest | Burnett | 111,516 |
| Lincoln | County forest | Lincoln | 100,843 |
| Price | County forest | Price | 92,294 |
| Rusk | County forest | Rusk | 89,284 |
| Oneida | County forest | Oneida | 82,960 |
| Oconto | County forest | Oconto | 43,792 |
Harvest numbers for the country around Eau Claire County Forest
2025 in Eau Claire County: 1,742 bucks, 1,930 antlerless, 3,672 in all. Range since 2016: 3,163 to 4,429 deer a year. Early 2026 registrations (archery, crossbow, youth hunt): DMU 201 76 and Eau Claire Central Farmland 285. The DNR sampled 219 deer from Eau Claire County in 2025; 10 had CWD. 41 positives overall, from 3,366 deer. In 2025, Eau Claire County produced 26 registered bears. Figures are for the whole county unit, not Eau Claire County Forest alone; the DNR does not report harvest by property.
Eau Claire County unit harvest
| Season | Bucks | Does and fawns | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,742 | 1,930 | 3,672 |
| 2024 | 2,046 | 2,051 | 4,097 |
| 2023 | 1,802 | 1,871 | 3,673 |
| 2022 | 2,119 | 2,310 | 4,429 |
| 2021 | 1,910 | 2,022 | 3,932 |
| 2020 | 1,995 | 2,178 | 4,173 |
CWD samples, Eau Claire County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 13 | 0 |
| 2025 | 219 | 10 |
| 2024 | 224 | 6 |
| 2023 | 263 | 9 |
| 2022 | 310 | 2 |
| 2021 | 351 | 4 |
Bears registered in Eau Claire County
| Season | Bears | Boars | Sows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 28 | 11 | 17 |
| 2025 | 26 | 15 | 11 |
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.
Eau Claire County Forest on the Wisconsin events calendar
On file here: 1 posted result (bird dog trial).
Past winners
| Held | Event | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2, 2026 | North Country Bird Dog Club 2026 / Bird dog trial | Open Shooting Dog [One-Hour Heats] 1st: Lake Effect Ali (setter female; Tim Kaufman, owner and handler) | Source |
Bed, fuel and a butcher near Eau Claire County Forest
Where to sleep, where to buy shells, where to drop off a deer.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta | Eau Claire | 8.0 mi | 1,495 | 41,840 |
| Fairchild | Eau Claire | 11 mi | 433 | 78,661 |
| Fall Creek | Eau Claire | 13 mi | 1,391 | 10,837 |
| Cadott | Chippewa | 15 mi | 1,467 | 4,340 |
Season and zone pages by county: Eau Claire County.
Who processes a deer from Eau Claire County Forest
Where to ask about Eau Claire County Forest
Licenses and questions for Eau Claire County go through the DNR Eau Claire 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.
Eau Claire County Forest and nearby public ground
Eau Claire County Forest at the big pin; the nearest 10 public places around it. Combined, 6,890 acres are on record.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta | Wildlife area | 2,127 | 4.7 mi | southwest |
| Buffalo River | State trail | 450 | 15 mi | southwest |
| Buffalo River | Fishery area | 1,578 | 16 mi | south |
| Halls (Stockwell) Creek | Fishery area | 814 | 18 mi | south |
| Northfield Lakes (Beaver Creek) Fish Rearing Station | Fishery area | 575 | 19 mi | south |
| King Creek (Remnant) | Fishery area | 30 | 19 mi | southwest |
| Black River | Habitat area | 7 | 20 mi | northeast |
| Lake Wissota | State park | 1,057 | 20 mi | northwest |
| Drywood | Wildlife area | 39 | 20 mi | northwest |
| Buffalo River (Remnant) | Fishery area | 213 | 21 mi | southwest |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Public Land GIS, County Forests layer (polygon centroid) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside))). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Shooting-hour table for Eau Claire County Forest
Two tables cover the state, one for the Northern Area and one for the Southern Area, each for Zone A. West of 88 degrees you add 4 minutes per degree of longitude.
| Date | Why it matters | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 91.01 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Eau Claire County Forest: nearest ranges
About 28 miles separates Eau Claire County Forest from Cornell Shooting Range, the nearest public map range. Club ranges within 30 miles are included.
rifle, handgun on file
rifle, handgun, trap, shotgun on file
rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, muzzleloader, air gun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Before-the-trip answers for Eau Claire County Forest
Which town works as a base for Eau Claire County Forest?
Eau Claire County; Augusta, the nearest town we cover, is 8 miles away.
Which species does the record give for Eau Claire County Forest?
Whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, woodcock, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes, plus any other season open in the county.
What deer tags work on Eau Claire County Forest?
It is in DMU 201 and Eau Claire (Central Forest and Central Farmland). This year the antlerless quota is 700 and 2,600.
How hard is a bear permit for Eau Claire County Forest?
Zone C; hounds may not be used there.
Which zone do I apply for to hunt turkeys at Eau Claire County Forest?
Zone 4. Success in 2025 was 24%.
Which goose zone is Eau Claire County Forest in?
Ducks follow the Northern zone, Canada geese the Northern zone. Opening day for Northern Zone ducks is Sep 26.
Can I bait deer at Eau Claire County Forest?
No bait or feed in Eau Claire County. The county list for CWD includes Eau Claire County.
When does orange apply at Eau Claire County Forest?
Pink counts the same as orange: 50% above the waist in firearm deer seasons.
Does an Eau Claire County Forest deer go into GameReg?
By 5 p.m. the following day, through GameReg; bears also go to a station or online the same way.
What paperwork does Eau Claire County Forest need?
Gun deer ($24), archer ($24) or small game ($18) for residents; nonresident gun deer is $200.
Which public land sits closest to Eau Claire County Forest?
Augusta Wildlife Area (5 miles), Buffalo River State Trail (15 miles) and Buffalo River Fishery Area (16 miles), each with a page here.
What does Eau Claire County Forest belong to?
A piece of Wisconsin County Forest System.
Is Eau Claire County Forest DNR, county or federal ground?
A county forest under the County Forest Law; the manager is Eau Claire County Forestry Department.
Signing off on Eau Claire County Forest
Gates, refuges and open areas at Eau Claire County Forest are the manager's call; confirm them before opening day.
Sources for this page: DNR GIS · DNR: AcreageSummary · DNR: CountyForests · WCFA: county contacts; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Shenandoah National Park (Public Domain Mark 1.0); scostello22 (CC BY 2.0).