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Highway T Wildlife Area for Wisconsin hunters
A hunter's summary of Highway T Wildlife Area in Barron County: zones and quota, rules, CWD numbers and local help.
Photo: Joshua Mayer (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Highway T Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Highway T Wildlife Area
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- 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.
Highway T Wildlife Area: record card
Highway T Wildlife Area: a DNR state wildlife area, located in Barron County. Region on record: the DNR Northern Region. The Wisconsin DNR writes the rules on the ground. The 77 acres on record put it 226th of the 285 state wildlife areas we list. There is no map pin: the DNR gives no coordinates, so Barron County's centre stands in, with Barron closest.
From the source page (DNR property page (77-acre)); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Highway T Wildlife Area
Highway T Wildlife Area deer unit, quota and game zones
The deer unit is Barron, in the Central Farmland zone. The 2026 antlerless quota for that unit is 4,500. For black bear this is Zone D, where hounds are legal; 3,855 permits for 2026. Barron County sits under the DNR deer baiting and feeding ban.
The deer unit around Highway T Wildlife Area
| DMU | Deer zone | Antlerless quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Free tags per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barron | Central Farmland | 4,500 | 987 | 3,479 | 2 |
Bear, turkey and bird zones at Highway T Wildlife Area
| Zone | Rule | Numbers | Extra | 2025 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear D | With hounds | 1,100 target, 3,855 permits | 2 points | 931 bears in 2025 |
| Grouse zone A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Ducks | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Geese | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 |
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 Highway T Wildlife Area
Entry terms for Highway T Wildlife Area
Anyone licensed can hunt and trap here in season. Watch for posted refuges and closed areas, and follow NR 45.
Wisconsin rules that follow you to Highway T Wildlife Area
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. DNR land rule: 144 sq in of solid orange or pink on any ground blind in gun season. Leave no stand overnight south of Hwy. 64. North of the highway, two per hunter per county may stay from Sept. 1 to Jan. 31. GameReg registration is due by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Highway T Wildlife Area: 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 Highway T Wildlife Area
Whitetails, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, pheasants and raccoons, foxes and coyotes, per the property record.
White-tailed deer
Wild turkey
Ducks and geese
Pheasant
Furbearers
Other legal game follows the Barron County season table below.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Every Highway T Wildlife Area 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 | 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: Barron | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 4/6 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 4/6 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 4/6 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 4/6 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 4/6 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 4/6 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 4/6 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 4/6 | 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.
Highway T Wildlife Area described by the DNR
Quoted as published; nothing here is our wording.
Highway T Wildlife Area is a 77-acre property in Barron County located just north of the city of Barron. Find it by going west of Barron 1 mile to county Highway T, then north 2 miles. The property is divided equally by the highway and there is a small parking area on either side of the property. This property consists of 16.5 acres of flowages surrounded by sedge meadow and prairie. The parking lot overlooking the large flowage provides an opportunity for people to regularly view families of swans, geese, and other wildlife without needing to exit their vehicles.
With the variety of habitats associated with this wildlife area along with the adjacent private ag fields and woods, this is a great spot to hunt pheasant, deer, and waterfowl. Also, furbearers can be found living in the flowages that can be viewed or trapped. The location is very easy to find and within a short drive of town.
Highway T Wildlife Area: hunting text as published
- Hunting (especially noted for waterfowl, deer, pheasant and turkey)
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Harvest numbers for the country around Highway T Wildlife Area
2025 in Barron County: 3,247 bucks, 3,129 antlerless, 6,376 in all. Range since 2016: 4,936 to 7,098 deer a year. Early 2026 registrations (archery, crossbow, youth hunt): Barron 676. The DNR sampled 155 deer from Barron County in 2025; 0 had CWD. 0 positives overall, from 2,338 deer. In 2025, Barron County produced 140 registered bears. Figures are for the whole county unit, not Highway T Wildlife Area alone; the DNR does not report harvest by property.
Barron County unit harvest
| Season | Bucks | Does and fawns | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,247 | 3,129 | 6,376 |
| 2024 | 2,810 | 2,979 | 5,789 |
| 2023 | 2,394 | 3,063 | 5,457 |
| 2022 | 3,070 | 4,028 | 7,098 |
| 2021 | 2,667 | 3,520 | 6,187 |
| 2020 | 2,847 | 4,076 | 6,923 |
CWD samples, Barron County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 37 | 0 |
| 2025 | 155 | 0 |
| 2024 | 119 | 0 |
| 2023 | 136 | 0 |
| 2022 | 106 | 0 |
| 2021 | 119 | 0 |
Bears registered in Barron County
| Season | Bears | Boars | Sows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 153 | 67 | 86 |
| 2025 | 140 | 88 | 52 |
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.
Bed, fuel and a butcher near Highway T Wildlife Area
Where to sleep, where to buy shells, where to drop off a deer.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barron | Barron | 2.5 mi | 3,674 | 1,365 |
| Almena | Barron | 9.1 mi | 740 | 6,171 |
| Cumberland | Barron | 11 mi | 2,302 | 15,665 |
| Turtle Lake | Barron | 15 mi | 1,036 | 9,672 |
Season and zone pages by county: Barron County.
Who processes a deer from Highway T Wildlife Area
Where to ask about Highway T Wildlife Area
Licenses and questions for Barron County go through the 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.
Highway T Wildlife Area and nearby public ground
Highway T Wildlife Area is not pinned (no point on record); the neighbours are measured from Barron County's centre. Combined, 17,435 acres are on record.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide Wildlife Habitat John Porter Flowage | Wildlife area | 77 | 3.0 mi | southwest |
| Engle Creek Springs | Fishery area | 190 | 4.0 mi | north |
| Yellow River | Fishery area | 694 | 6.1 mi | northwest |
| Hickey Creek (Remnant) | Fishery area | 79 | 6.3 mi | north |
| Silver Creek | Fishery area | 3 | 9.4 mi | east |
| Duck Lake (Remnant) | Fishery area | 66 | 10 mi | northwest |
| Tuscobia Creek | Ice Age Trail area | 2 | 11 mi | northeast |
| Dummy Lake | Fishery area | 16 | 12 mi | northwest |
| Little Granite Lake | Fishery area | 3 | 12 mi | northwest |
| Barron | County forest | 16,305 | 12 mi | north |
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.
Shooting-hour table for Highway T Wildlife Area
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 91.85 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Before-the-trip answers for Highway T Wildlife Area
What paperwork does Highway T Wildlife Area need?
Gun deer ($24), archer ($24) or small game ($18) for residents; nonresident gun deer is $200.
Which public land sits closest to Highway T Wildlife Area?
Statewide Wildlife Habitat – John Porter Flowage (3 miles), Engle Creek Springs Fishery Area (4 miles) and Yellow River Fishery Area (6 miles), each with a page here.
Is Highway T Wildlife Area DNR, county or federal ground?
A DNR state wildlife area; the manager is the Wisconsin DNR.
Is Highway T Wildlife Area a big property?
77 acres in the source data.
Which town works as a base for Highway T Wildlife Area?
Barron County; Barron, the nearest town we cover, is 2 miles away. (Measured from the Barron County centre: no point is published.)
Which species does the record give for Highway T Wildlife Area?
Whitetails, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, pheasants and raccoons, foxes and coyotes, plus any other season open in the county.
What deer tags work on Highway T Wildlife Area?
It is in Barron (Central Farmland). This year the antlerless quota is 4,500.
How hard is a bear permit for Highway T Wildlife Area?
Zone D; hounds may be used there.
Which goose zone is Highway T Wildlife Area 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 Highway T Wildlife Area?
No bait or feed in Barron County. No CWD-positive wild deer are on record for the county.
When does orange apply at Highway T Wildlife Area?
Pink counts the same as orange: 50% above the waist in firearm deer seasons.
Does a Highway T Wildlife Area deer go into GameReg?
By 5 p.m. the following day, through GameReg; bears also go to a station or online the same way.
Signing off on Highway T Wildlife Area
Gates, refuges and open areas at Highway T Wildlife Area are the manager's call; confirm them before opening day.
Sources for this page: DNR: hwyt · DNR: alpha · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Deborah Freeman (CC BY-SA 2.0); bgautrea (CC BY-SA 2.0).