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Flat Creek Wildlife Area hunting guide
Everything we could verify about Flat Creek Wildlife Area: acreage, zones, property rules, harvest around it and nearby ground.
Photo: jondejong (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Flat Creek Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Flat Creek Wildlife Area
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Stinnett LandingBoat ramp · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 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.
The short version on Flat Creek Wildlife Area
In Sawyer and Washburn counties you will find Flat Creek Wildlife Area, a DNR state wildlife area. On the DNR map it belongs to the Northern Region. The managing body is the Wisconsin DNR. At 370 acres it sits 160th by area in a field of 285 state wildlife areas. About 4 miles southwest of Hayward.
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 Flat Creek Wildlife Area
Flat Creek Wildlife Area, as the managers tell it
Word for word from the property page.
Flat Creek Wildlife Area is a 373-acre property located on the center border of Washburn and Sawyer counties, in Bass Lake Township of both counties. The habitat is comprised of aspen, swamp conifer, tamarack, northern hardwoods, balsam fir, and Flat Creek itself, with numerous beaver ponds. The only access point for Flat Creek Wildlife Area is located at the end of Flat Creek Road, approximately 4 miles southwest of Hayward and 2.5 miles west of Highway 27.
The remainder of the wildlife area can be explored via off-trail hiking, skiing and snowshoeing, providing a quiet, remote-feeling for visitors. The high-quality wetlands and mixed forest types allow great birdwatching, fishing, hunting and trapping opportunities. Notable species found at the wildlife area include white-tail deer, ruffed grouse, beaver and various waterfowl and warbler species.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Flat Creek Wildlife Area: what is allowed
How access works on Flat Creek Wildlife Area
State seasons and Wisconsin licenses are all you need, except in posted refuges and closed zones; NR 45 governs use of the property.
Flat Creek Wildlife Area: rules from the regulations
From the October youth hunt through the Holiday Hunt, blaze orange or pink covers half of your upper clothing and cap. Mark a ground blind with 144 square inches of blaze orange or pink while firearm deer seasons run. Tree stands: no tree damage, ID on unattended stands, overnight only north of Hwy. 64 during Sept. 1-Jan. 31. Register deer, turkeys and bears through GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
What Flat Creek Wildlife Area costs in licenses
Buy through Go Wild; the free Farmland tags and bonus tags are marked public-access or private-land, and only public-access ones work here.
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.
Tags and zones for Flat Creek Wildlife Area
For deer it lies in the Northern Forest zone (DMU 109). This season the unit quota is 1,870 antlerless deer. Zone D bear permits took 2 preference points in 2026; the target is 1,100 bears. The 2025 spring level for Turkey Zone 6 was 6,001 authorizations; 1,362 birds were registered. Washburn County: CWD found in wild deer, and a CWD-positive deer earns a replacement authorization.
Flat Creek Wildlife Area: antlerless quota and bonus tags
| Deer unit | Zone | 2026 quota | Public bonus left | Private bonus left | Free farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 109 | Northern Forest | 1,870 | 2,715 | 5,713 | — |
Every other zone Flat Creek Wildlife Area touches
| Zone | Detail | Figures | Points or note | Taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bear D | Hounds legal | 1,100 target, 3,855 permits | 2 points | 931 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 6 | 6,001 spring tags (2025) | 23% success | 1,362 gobblers | — |
| Grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose zone | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Gray wolf zone 3 | No season | Federally listed |
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.
Quarry and limits, Flat Creek Wildlife Area
The list for Flat Creek Wildlife Area reads: raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Furbearers
The list is what the agency names, not a limit: other Sawyer County seasons apply under the same rules.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Flat Creek Wildlife Area season calendar, 2026-27
Archery, the nine-day gun hunt, muzzleloader, bear, turkey, upland birds, rabbits, furbearers and the duck and goose splits for Flat Creek Wildlife Area.
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Nearest public ground to Flat Creek Wildlife Area, mapped
10 more properties lie close to Flat Creek Wildlife Area, shown with smaller pins. Acres across them: 3,436.
| Neighbour | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Namekagon River (Remnant) | Wildlife area | 113 | 2.9 mi | northwest |
| Stress Springs State Spring Ponds | Fishery area | 45 | 3.5 mi | north |
| Bean Brook | Fishery area | 1,600 | 3.9 mi | southwest |
| Kissick Alkaline Bog | State natural area | 137 | 4.5 mi | north |
| Kissick Swamp | Wildlife area | 932 | 5.1 mi | north |
| Namekagon River Trails End Road | Access site | 33 | 5.7 mi | west |
| Musky Bay | Wildlife area | 71 | 6.7 mi | southeast |
| Tranus Lake | State natural area | — | 7.2 mi | northwest |
| Grindstone Creek | Fishery area | 409 | 7.3 mi | east |
| Whitefish Lake | Wildlife area | 96 | 7.6 mi | southeast |
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.
Registered deer and bears near Flat Creek Wildlife Area
The DNR has no Sawyer County deer series; its forest DMUs carry 2025 totals only. The 2026 season to date shows 222 deer in DMU 109; the DNR calls it preliminary. 60 samples, 0 positive: that is Sawyer County in CWD year 2025. All years combined: 0 of 1,917. 241 bears came out of Sawyer County in 2025. These numbers describe the county around Flat Creek Wildlife Area, not the property alone.
Deer registered near Flat Creek Wildlife Area
| Unit | Bucks | Antlerless | Deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 109 | 1,590 | 1,091 | 2,681 |
Sawyer County CWD by year
| CWD year | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 60 | 0 |
| 2024 | 57 | 0 |
| 2023 | 95 | 0 |
| 2022 | 81 | 0 |
| 2021 | 74 | 0 |
Sawyer County bear harvest
| Year | Bear harvest | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Flat Creek Wildlife Area: nearest ranges
No range sits on Flat Creek Wildlife Area; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Frog Creek Washburn Cty. Forest, about 15 miles away. Closer club options sit beside it.
rifle, trap, shotgun, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
skeet, sporting clays, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
archery, 3D archery on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Towns, offices and services around Flat Creek Wildlife Area
Towns, then services in this county and the next one over.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hayward | Sawyer | 4.5 mi | 2,587 | 64,530 |
| Springbrook | Washburn | 7.1 mi | — | 67,368 |
| Little Round Lake | Sawyer | 8.4 mi | — | 34,951 |
| Chief Lake | Sawyer | 9.9 mi | — | 31,269 |
Our county write-ups: Sawyer County, Washburn County.
Butchers, mounts and gun counters near Flat Creek Wildlife Area
Service centers near Flat Creek Wildlife Area
For Sawyer County, the DNR points to its 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.
When the shooting day opens and closes at Flat Creek Wildlife Area
The DNR tables are worked out for Zone A in the east; Flat Creek Wildlife Area lies in longitude Zone E, so add 16 minutes to each table time.
| Day | Reason | Northern table | Southern table |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 91.54 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Flat Creek Wildlife Area in questions and answers
Who is the land manager for Flat Creek Wildlife Area?
The Wisconsin DNR manages it; the land is a DNR state wildlife area.
What neighbours Flat Creek Wildlife Area?
Closest first: Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant) (3 miles), Stress Springs State Spring Ponds (3 miles) and Bean Brook Fishery Area (4 miles).
How far is the drive from Hayward to Flat Creek Wildlife Area?
Sawyer and Washburn counties, roughly 4 miles out of Hayward.
How large is Flat Creek Wildlife Area, in acres?
Acreage on record: 370.
Is Flat Creek Wildlife Area forest or farmland deer country?
DMU 109 in the Northern Forest zone. The unit quota stands at 1,870 antlerless deer this year.
Which game does Flat Creek Wildlife Area list?
The source lists raccoons, foxes and coyotes. Other open seasons apply too, within the property rules.
Is Flat Creek Wildlife Area good turkey ground?
Apply for Zone 6; spring periods A-F run in 2027 from April 21.
Are hounds allowed for bear at Flat Creek Wildlife Area?
Bear Zone D: 3,855 permits drawn for 2026.
What are the CWD and bait rules for Flat Creek Wildlife Area?
Deer bait is illegal in Washburn County. Washburn County: CWD-positive deer on record.
Is Flat Creek Wildlife Area in the northern or southern duck zone?
Northern duck zone and Northern goose zone. First regular duck day in the Northern Zone: Sep 26.
How fast must I register a kill on Flat Creek Wildlife Area?
GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Can pink replace orange at Flat Creek Wildlife Area?
Yes while gun deer seasons are open; half your upper clothing and hat in orange or fluorescent pink.
Is a permit required for Flat Creek Wildlife Area?
Your Wisconsin license is enough; residents pay $24 for gun deer, $18 for small game.
Flat Creek Wildlife Area, final notes
Print the Flat Creek Wildlife Area map, carry your tags, and check the manager page the week you go.
Sources for this page: DNR: Flatcreek · DNR GIS · DNR: alpha; 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); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).