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2026-27 · State forest
Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest, a hunter's guide
Who runs it, which deer unit and bear zone cover it, what it holds (whitetails, wild turkeys, black bears and ducks and geese), and the public land and towns around it in Marinette and Oconto counties.
Photo: wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest
- Boat Landing 11Boat ramp · 0.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat Landing 12Boat ramp · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat Landing 10Boat ramp · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat Landing 13Boat ramp · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat Landing 8Boat ramp · 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.
What the record says about Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest
On paper it is a Wisconsin state forest; on the map it is in Marinette and Oconto counties. DNR staff of the Northeast Region cover this part of northeast Wisconsin. Manager: the Wisconsin DNR. Its 11,786 acres rank 11th of the 16 Wisconsin state forests with an acreage on file. From Crivitz, our closest town page, it is roughly 17 miles to the northwest. It is the parent of 3 pages on this site.
From the source page (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, parcels open to hunting); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest
Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest in the agency's words
Unedited text from the official page.
Hunting Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest offers ample opportunities for hunters. White-tail deer, small game, black bear and migratory birds are the primary game species. Trappers can find beaver, muskrat, raccoon, fisher and mink on the property. Hunters must have the appropriate licenses and follow all hunting regulations and hours. Trappers must have the appropriate licenses and follow all trapping regulations. The majority of lands within the state forest are open to hunting during the scheduled seasons.
The exception is a 100-yard buffer around the campground in Old Veteran's Lake Campground. Water activities Water activities Wildlife viewing The forests surrounding the Peshtigo flowages offer abundant food, water and shelter for a variety of animal species such as songbirds, turkeys, white-tail deer, black bears and butterflies. In addition, the waters of the flowages provide habitat for bald eagles, sandhill cranes, ospreys, common loons, great blue herons and many species of waterfowl. The flowages are also home to many furbearers and various species of amphibians and reptiles.
There are numerous opportunities to observe and enjoy wildlife in a remote and wild setting, but please remember to observe from a distance. In particular, make sure to stay at least 100 yards away from eagle and osprey nests to minimize disturbance.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest rules and licenses
Access rules at Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest
State seasons apply across the forest; campgrounds, picnic grounds and posted special-use areas are closed to hunting.
State law on Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest
Orange or pink, 50% above the waist and 50% of the head covering, is the rule while gun deer seasons run; duck and goose hunters are exempt. Gun-season ground blinds on DNR property display 144 sq in of orange or pink from every direction. No screw-in steps or cut shooting lanes on DNR land. Overnight stands are legal north of Hwy. 64 from Sept. 1 to Jan. 31; south of it, remove them every day. By 5 p.m. the following day, register the deer on GameReg (online, phone or station).
Which licenses Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest needs
Get licenses on Go Wild or at an agent. Antlerless tags are unit-specific and labelled public or private land.
Closed and restricted areas inside Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest
1 closed or restricted area appear for Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest in the DNR layer.
| Name | Restriction | Closed | Acres | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest | Closed to hunting and trapping | Jan 1–Dec 31 | 39 | 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.
Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest: DMU, bear zone and turkey zone
Deer management: Marinette and DMU 126, Central Farmland and Northern Forest zones. The Natural Resources Board set 3,900 and 1,105 antlerless deer as the 2026 quota there. Bear Zone B has a 2026 harvest target of 850 with 1,545 Class A permits drawn; it took 11 preference points to win one. Spring turkey tags are sold for Zone 5; the DNR issued 12,008 there in 2025, the newest level published. Chronic wasting disease has turned up in wild deer in Marinette and Oconto counties; DNR testing is free and voluntary statewide. The deer baiting ban covers Marinette and Oconto counties.
Deer units that cover Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest
| Deer unit | Zone | Antlerless goal | Public tags left | Private tags left | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marinette Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 3,900 | 273 | 1,469 | 2 |
| DMU 126 | Northern Forest | 1,105 | 0 | 1,105 | — |
Zones beyond deer for Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear B | Dogs legal | 850 target, 1,545 permits | 11 points | 851 bears in 2025 |
| Bear C | Dogs barred | 875 target, 4,465 permits | 2 points | 663 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 5 | 12,008 spring tags (2025) | 20% success | 2,446 gobblers | — |
| Grouse zone A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose zone | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf zone 2 | No season | Listed 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.
Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest: species with bag limits
Listed game at Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest: whitetails, wild turkeys, black bears, ducks and geese, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
White-tailed deer
Wild turkey
Black bear
Ducks and geese
Small game
Furbearers
The Marinette County calendar below covers the rest.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Season dates that cover Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest
Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest sits in the Central Farmland and Northern Forest deer zone. These 45 rows are the dated hunting segments the DNR schedule puts there, from the September archery opener into spring turkey.
| Game | Season | Applies in | Begins | Through | Right 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 | 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 | 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 | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone B | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 5 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 5 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 5 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 5 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 5 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 5 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 5 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 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 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 1) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck | Open Water Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 2) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose | Northern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 1) | Southern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 2) | Southern Goose Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (holiday split) | Southern Goose Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 2, 2027 | |
| 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.
Units inside Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest
Units inside Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest: 3, adding up to 672 acres.
| Unit | Type | Where | Size | Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Lackawanna | State natural area | Oconto | 351 | — |
| Johnson Falls | State natural area | Marinette | 210 | — |
| Kirby Lake Hardwoods | State natural area | Marinette | 111 | — |
Public property near Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest
The large pin is Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest; the others are the 10 closest public properties. Together they hold 579,333 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor Thompson | State park | 2,945 | 3.6 mi | southeast |
| Thunder River Rearing Station | Fishery area | 136 | 5.5 mi | south |
| Lakewood Rearing Station | Fishery area | 195 | 10 mi | west |
| Wausaukee River | Wildlife area | 23 | 11 mi | northeast |
| Marinette | County forest | 229,978 | 14 mi | northeast |
| Amberg | Wildlife area | 1,169 | 14 mi | northeast |
| Camp One Springs Conservation Easement Area | Easement land | 80 | 15 mi | northwest |
| Lakewood-Laona | Ranger district | 343,903 | 15 mi | west |
| Long Lake Road | Wildlife area | 5 | 16 mi | east |
| Town Corner | Wildlife area | 899 | 16 mi | northeast |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS (polygon centroid) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside))). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
How the land around Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest hunts, by the numbers
Marinette County hunters registered 7,552 deer in 2025, 3,584 of them bucks. Totals swing between 7,552 and 9,962 across the years charted. 2026 so far, still changing: Marinette Central Farmland, 726 and DMU 126, 278. CWD sampling in Marinette County, CWD year 2025: 183 wild deer sampled, 0 positive. Overall: 3,162 samples and 1 positives. Marinette County: 275 bears in 2025. The DNR reports deer by unit, not by property: read these as the Marinette County picture.
Marinette County bucks and antlerless
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,584 | 3,968 | 7,552 |
| 2024 | 5,562 | 4,089 | 9,651 |
| 2023 | 4,660 | 3,453 | 8,113 |
| 2022 | 5,724 | 4,238 | 9,962 |
| 2021 | 5,333 | 3,775 | 9,108 |
| 2020 | 4,238 | 3,498 | 7,736 |
Marinette County CWD sampling
| Year | Sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 13 | 1 |
| 2025 | 183 | 0 |
| 2024 | 185 | 0 |
| 2023 | 180 | 0 |
| 2022 | 302 | 0 |
| 2021 | 339 | 0 |
Marinette County bears
| Year | Bears registered | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 306 | 155 | 151 |
| 2025 | 275 | 132 | 143 |
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.
Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest: nearest ranges
No range sits on Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Florence County Shooting Range, about 30 miles away. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, muzzleloader on file
archery, 3D archery on file
trap, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, muzzleloader on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Home bases for a Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest trip
Closest towns, measured as the crow flies, then the businesses around them.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crivitz | Marinette | 17 mi | 1,118 | 15,689 |
| Goodman | Marinette | 18 mi | — | 141,454 |
| Wabeno | Forest | 18 mi | — | 119,637 |
| Dunbar | Marinette | 20 mi | — | 113,583 |
Read up on the county: Marinette County, Oconto County.
Taxidermy and supplies for Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest hunters
Phone numbers for Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest questions
The DNR service center listed for Marinette County is DNR Green Bay Service Center, 920-662-5100.
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.
Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest: legal shooting time, table by date
Big game and small game hunters get 20 minutes after sunset in Wisconsin, not 30. Waterfowl and spring gobbler hunters quit at sunset.
| Date | Hunt | Northern Area hours | Southern Area hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, grouse opener | 5:59 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:43 a.m. to 6:25 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 6:28 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:04 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:32 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:44 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:03 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:05 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 4:50 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 B offset of 4 minutes for longitude 88.30 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest
Is blaze pink legal at Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest?
Orange or pink, half of the upper clothing, whenever a gun deer season runs (not for waterfowl).
Where do I register game taken on Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest?
Register on GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; the confirmation number starts with W.
Is there a separate permit for Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest?
The standard license for your game; no landowner permission on public ground.
Are there closed areas on Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest?
Some parts are closed or limited (1 listed).
Which public properties lie near Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest?
Three to try: Governor Thompson State Park (4 miles), Thunder River Rearing Station (6 miles) and Lakewood Rearing Station (10 miles).
Which units make up Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest?
3 units, listed in the units section.
How is Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest classified?
Wisconsin state forest, under the Wisconsin DNR.
How much land is in Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest?
It covers 11,786 acres by the recorded figure.
Where in the state does Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest lie?
Marinette and Oconto counties holds it, 17 miles from Crivitz.
What is Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest hunted for?
The agency names whitetails, wild turkeys, black bears, ducks and geese, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes; other legal game follows the county dates.
Which deer management unit holds Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest?
The Central Farmland and Northern Forest zones, Marinette and DMU 126. Quota for 2026: 3,900 and 1,105 antlerless.
Is bear hunting possible at Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest?
Zone B/C; hounds are legal there.
Can I turkey hunt Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest in spring?
Zone 5; 2025 saw 2,446 birds registered in the zone.
Last checks on Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest has the final say on closures and maps.
Sources for this page: DNR: recreation · DNR GIS · DNR: govearl · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Intermountain Region US Forest Service (Public domain).