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Forest County, Wisconsin
Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area: the hunter's file
Deer unit DMU 126, bear and turkey zones, closures, licenses and the nearest towns and services.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 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.
Key facts for Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area
Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area is a DNR state wildlife area in Forest County. The DNR files it under its Northern Region (the Northwoods). Management sits with the Wisconsin DNR. Acreage: 154, which places it 199th of 285 state wildlife areas. The closest covered town is Mole Lake, around 5 miles off as the crow flies.
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 Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area
Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area by zone and unit
Deer: Northern Forest zone, DMU 126. 1,105 antlerless deer: the 2026 quota for the unit. Bear hunters here apply for Zone B: 5,071 applied for 2026 and 1,545 permits went out. In Zone 5 turkey hunters held 12,008 spring tags in 2025 (spring 2027 levels are not out yet). Baiting and feeding deer are banned in Forest County.
DMU figures for Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area
| Unit | Deer zone | Quota | Public-access bonus | Private bonus | Farmland per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 126 | Northern Forest | 1,105 | 0 | 1,105 | — |
Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area zone table
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone B | Dogs OK | 850 target, 1,545 permits | 11 points | 851 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 5 | 12,008 spring tags (2025) | 20% success | 2,446 gobblers | — |
| Ruffed grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf 2 | No hunt | Endangered status |
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 Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area
Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area: open to whom, and how
Open to public hunting and trapping in state seasons with the right Wisconsin licenses. Posted refuges and closed areas are off limits, and the NR 45 state land rules apply.
Orange, stands and GameReg at Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area
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 Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area
Licenses sell on Go Wild. On public land, antlerless deer need a public-access authorization for the unit.
Where you cannot hunt at Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area
Mind these 3 areas before you set up. The common carve-out: Except gun and muzzleloader deer, retrieval of legally killed or crippled game in posted zones.
| Area | Restriction | Dates | Acres | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peterkin Pond | Year-round game refuge | Jan 1–Dec 31 | 127 | NR 11.02(5)(a) |
| Peat Lake State Natural Area | No entry wildlife refuge | SEP 1–DEC 31 | 169 | NR 11.05(1)(a) |
| Dover | No entry wildlife refuge | SEP 1–DEC 31 | 86 | NR 11.05(3)(a) |
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 Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area lists
The agency names no particular game for Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area: all open seasons apply, within the property rules.
The Forest 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 Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area
Deer dates are statewide in Wisconsin; bear, turkey, grouse, cottontail and waterfowl dates follow zone lines, so only the rows for Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area 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 | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 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 7/5 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 7/5 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 7/5 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 7/5 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 7/5 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 7/5 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 7/5 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 7/5 | 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.
Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area: 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: 278 in DMU 126. Forest County CWD testing (2025): 0 positives out of 37 samples. Cumulative total 0 positives in 827 tests. Forest County bear harvest, 2025: 139. Harvest and CWD figures cover Forest County as a whole.
Forest County deer by year
| DMU | Antlered | Antlerless | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 126 | 2,104 | 1,184 | 3,288 |
Testing for CWD, Forest County
| Year | Deer tested | CWD positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 5 | 0 |
| 2025 | 37 | 0 |
| 2024 | 43 | 0 |
| 2023 | 39 | 0 |
| 2022 | 36 | 0 |
| 2021 | 25 | 0 |
Bears by year, Forest County
| Year | Bears | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 116 | 73 | 43 |
| 2025 | 139 | 65 | 74 |
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.
Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area pinned among its neighbours
Map of Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area and the 10 nearest public places. That is 16,354 acres of public ground.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest | County forest | 15,251 | 1.1 mi | west |
| Martin Springs State Spring Ponds | Fishery area | 71 | 4.4 mi | southwest |
| Lily Lake | Fishery area | 46 | 4.4 mi | southeast |
| Rolling Stone Lake | Wildlife area | 19 | 5.1 mi | southwest |
| Swamp Creek Fen | State natural area | 80 | 6.5 mi | west |
| Peterson Springs State Spring Ponds | Fishery area | 40 | 7.0 mi | north |
| Bishop Lake | Fishery area | 21 | 7.1 mi | west |
| Bog Brook | Wildlife area | 267 | 7.5 mi | southeast |
| Crandon Ribbed Fen | State natural area | 96 | 8.6 mi | north |
| South Branch Peshtigo River | Wildlife area | 463 | 8.6 mi | north |
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.
Towns, processors and DNR desks near Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area
Start with a town, then line up a cooler, a butcher and a mount.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mole Lake | Forest | 4.8 mi | — | 53,945 |
| Crandon | Forest | 5.4 mi | 1,737 | 70,336 |
| Post Lake | Langlade | 11 mi | — | 75,672 |
| Laona | Forest | 11 mi | — | 111,180 |
For the wider county picture: Forest County.
Venison, mounts and ammo near Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area
Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area: agency contacts
County service center: DNR Rhinelander Service Center (715-365-8900).
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.
Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area: nearest ranges
Langlade (County forest) in Langlade County is the nearest DNR-map range, 30 miles out. Two nearby club ranges follow.
rifle, trap, shotgun on file
sporting clays, muzzleloader, handgun, action pistol, benchrest on file
rifle, trap, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
First and last legal minute at Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area
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 | 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 88.88 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Questions hunters raise about Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area
What is the antlerless quota at Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area?
DMU 126, part of the Northern Forest zone. Antlerless goal for 2026: 1,105.
Which bear permit zone holds Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area?
B. You need a Class A license from the drawing.
How many turkey permits go to the Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area zone?
Turkey Zone 5. 12,008 spring tags were issued there in 2025.
What waterfowl dates apply at Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area?
Duck zone: Northern; goose zone: Northern. Northern Zone ducks open Sep 26, 2026-27.
Can I put out corn for deer at Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area?
Not here: Forest County is under the ban. No positive wild deer recorded here.
How much orange do I wear at Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area?
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 Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area?
Deer: online, phone or station by 5 p.m. next day. Turkeys: online or phone only.
Which tags work on Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area?
No special permit for most of it; buy the license on Go Wild and carry public-access antlerless tags.
Does Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area have a refuge?
No: 3 closed or restricted areas are listed, starting with Peterkin Pond.
Is there other public ground around Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area?
By straight-line distance: Forest County Forest (1 mile), Martin Springs State Spring Ponds (4 miles) and Lily Lake State Public Access (4 miles).
What type of property is Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area on the record?
It is a DNR state wildlife area, managed by the Wisconsin DNR.
What size is Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area on the record?
About 154 acres.
What is the nearest town to Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area?
Base in Mole Lake, 5 miles away; the ground is in Forest County.
Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area: one more look before the drive
Signs on the ground beat any web page. Read the posted boundaries at Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area when you arrive.
Sources for this page: DNR GIS · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: James St. John (CC BY 2.0); urbanwoodchuck (CC BY 2.0).