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State natural area, northeast Wisconsin
Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area hunting notes
351 acres of state natural area in Oconto County, with 2026-27 zones, quotas, rules, CWD testing and a map.
Photo: wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area
- Boat Landing 11Boat ramp · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat Landing 12Boat ramp · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat Landing 10Boat ramp · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 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.
Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area, by its record
Count Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area among the state natural areas of Oconto County. It falls in the DNR Northeast Region, northeast Wisconsin. The Wisconsin DNR manages the land. By size (351 acres) it is number 163 among 449 state natural areas on our list. Natural area 556 lies in T33N-R17E, Section 1. Head east from Wabeno for about 17 miles. The DNR and agency lists place it inside Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest.
From the source page (WI DNR SNA parcel ownership GIS OWNER_ACRE_AMT, WDNR-owned parcels); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area
Zone lines at Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area
Deer rules follow the Northern Forest zone and DMU 126. For 2026 the antlerless quota stands at 1,105. In Bear Zone B the DNR drew 1,545 permits for a target of 850 bears; drawn hunters needed 11 points. Turkey Zone 5: 12,008 spring authorizations in 2025 and 20% hunter success. Oconto County is on the CWD list: a positive wild deer has been found. Deer may not be baited or fed in Oconto County.
Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area deer management units
| DMU | Zone | 2026 antlerless | Public bonus | Private bonus | Free per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 126 | Northern Forest | 1,105 | 0 | 1,105 | — |
Bear, turkey, grouse and waterfowl lines through Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear B | Hound hunting | 850 target, 1,545 permits | 11 points | 851 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 5 | 12,008 spring tags (2025) | 20% success | 2,446 gobblers | — |
| Grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Ducks | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Canada geese | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf zone 2 | Closed | Federal protection |
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.
Hunting Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area within the rules
Who may hunt Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area
The DNR keeps SNA land open to hunting and trapping by default; posted closures, and NR 45 bans on camping, vehicles, drones and plant collecting, still apply.
Statewide rules that reach Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area
Wisconsin asks for 50% blaze orange or fluorescent pink above the waist in firearm deer seasons, archers included, waterfowlers not. Ground blinds on DNR land in a firearm deer season show at least 144 square inches of solid orange or pink, visible from all sides. Unattended stands carry your name or customer ID; they may be left out north of State Hwy. 64 (up to two per county), never south of it. Registration through GameReg closes at 5 p.m. on the day after recovery.
Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area license list
Residents often take the Conservation Patron, which bundles the hunting licenses. Antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
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.
Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area: the game on record
No species list is published for Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area, so every open season applies under the property rules.
See the 47 seasons listed for Oconto County below.
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.
Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area hunting dates, fall 2026 to spring 2027
20 species and 47 segments reach Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area. The last column compares each one with today.
| Quarry | Season | Zone | From | To | Status 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 | |
| White-tailed deer | Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt | Holiday Hunt, Oconto | 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 B | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone C/F | 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 5/2 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 5/2 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 5/2 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 5/2 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 5/2 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 5/2 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 5/2 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 5/2 | 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.
The land at Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area
This is the agency description, quoted.
Situated on gently rolling morainal and sandy outwash deposits, Lake Lackawanna features an undeveloped drainage lake surrounded by a diverse mosaic of relatively undisturbed wetlands. The shallow, 9-acre lake is fed from the north by a small unnamed stream that drains out of the south end of the lake. Lake Lackawanna supports floating-leaved and submergent aquatic macrophyte vegetation and is surrounded by a narrow border of southern sedge meadows, forested wetlands, a hardwood swamp, and a northern wet-mesic forest.
South of the lake, northern cedar dominates the wet-mesic forest with black spruce, black ash, and balsam fir as canopy associates. The ground layer varies throughout with species including blue joint grass, fowl manna grass, tussock sedge, three-fruited sedge, three-leaved goldthread, twinflower, naked miterwort, wild sarsaparilla, royal fern, orange jewelweed, and marsh marigold. Along the outlet stream is an alder thicket of alder, red-osier dogwood, sweet gale, and willows. Other characteristic species include red raspberry, wool-grass, and flat-top aster.
Lake Lackawanna is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
The larger property around Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area
Within Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest there are 3 units with pages, this one included.
Sister units to Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area
| Unit | Type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson Falls | State natural area | Marinette | 210 |
| Kirby Lake Hardwoods | State natural area | Marinette | 111 |
Deer, bears and CWD around Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area
Last full season (2025) the Oconto County unit gave up 7,277 deer. Since 2016 the yearly total has ranged from 6,978 (2016) to 8,496 (2022). So far in 2026 (preliminary, Oct. 19): DMU 126 278 deer. In CWD year 2025, 168 Oconto County deer were tested and 2 came back positive. Since 1999: 2,426 sampled, 5 positive. Bear hunters registered 181 bears in Oconto County in 2025. Property-level harvest does not exist for Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area; county numbers stand in.
Deer table, Oconto County
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,429 | 3,848 | 7,277 |
| 2024 | 4,101 | 4,106 | 8,207 |
| 2023 | 3,833 | 3,432 | 7,265 |
| 2022 | 4,266 | 4,230 | 8,496 |
| 2021 | 4,109 | 3,799 | 7,908 |
| 2020 | 3,795 | 4,057 | 7,852 |
CWD results near Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area
| CWD year | Sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 168 | 2 |
| 2024 | 179 | 1 |
| 2023 | 157 | 0 |
| 2022 | 194 | 0 |
| 2021 | 190 | 1 |
Bear table, Oconto County
| Season | Total bears | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 166 | 83 | 83 |
| 2025 | 181 | 95 | 86 |
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.
Where Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area hunters stay and shop
Every town listed has a hunting guide of its own on this site.
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wabeno | Forest | 17 mi | — | 119,637 |
| Goodman | Marinette | 18 mi | — | 141,454 |
| Crivitz | Marinette | 18 mi | 1,118 | 15,689 |
| Dunbar | Marinette | 20 mi | — | 113,583 |
County hunting overviews: Oconto County.
Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area: businesses in the area
Offices that answer for Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area
Oconto County is served by the DNR Green Bay 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.
The closest public land to Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area
Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area is the large pin, with 10 neighbours around it. Their acreage adds up to 579,333.
| Property | Type | Acres | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor Thompson | State park | 2,945 | 4.5 mi | southeast |
| Thunder River Rearing Station | Fishery area | 136 | 6.0 mi | south |
| Lakewood Rearing Station | Fishery area | 195 | 9.3 mi | west |
| Wausaukee River | Wildlife area | 23 | 12 mi | east |
| Camp One Springs Conservation Easement Area | Easement land | 80 | 14 mi | northwest |
| Lakewood-Laona | Ranger district | 343,903 | 14 mi | west |
| Marinette | County forest | 229,978 | 15 mi | northeast |
| Amberg | Wildlife area | 1,169 | 15 mi | northeast |
| Town Corner | Wildlife area | 899 | 17 mi | northeast |
| Long Lake Road | Wildlife area | 5 | 17 mi | east |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR State Natural Areas parcel ownership GIS (centroid of WDNR-owned parcels) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
DNR shooting hours for Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area
Wisconsin prints its shooting hours as tables. For deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey the day runs from 30 minutes before sunrise to 20 minutes after sunset; migratory birds and spring turkey stop at sunset.
| When | Event | North | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 88.32 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Ranges within reach of Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area
Florence County Shooting Range in Florence County is the nearest DNR-map range, 30 miles out. 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.
Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area: the questions that come up
Which properties are close to Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area?
Nearest on the list: Governor Thompson State Park (5 miles), Thunder River Rearing Station (6 miles) and Lakewood Rearing Station (9 miles).
How do I get permission to hunt Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area?
A regular Wisconsin license from Go Wild (gun deer $24 for residents); antlerless deer need a public-access tag.
Whose property is Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area?
The Wisconsin DNR oversees this DNR-owned State Natural Area.
Where does Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area fit?
It belongs to Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest.
In which Wisconsin county is Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area?
Wabeno is closest (17 miles); the property is in Oconto County.
How many acres does Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area cover?
351 acres, per WI DNR SNA parcel ownership GIS OWNER_ACRE_AMT, WDNR-owned parcels.
Can I shoot antlerless deer on Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area?
Northern Forest zone; unit DMU 126. 1,105 antlerless deer is the 2026 quota.
Which game seasons apply on Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area?
All open seasons apply, subject to the property rules; the source names no species.
What turkey tag do I need for Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area?
Your spring tag must be for Zone 5 and a period A-F.
What are the bear rules around Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area?
It is in Bear Zone B, target 850 bears in 2026.
Does the baiting ban cover Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area?
Banned in Oconto County. Oconto County has had CWD-positive wild deer.
Which duck and goose zones cover Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area?
Use the Northern duck dates and the Northern goose dates. Regular duck hunting in the Northern Zone starts Sep 26.
Is there a check station for Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area?
Use GameReg online or call 844-426-3734 by 5 p.m. the day after.
Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area: confirm on the ground
A last look before the drive: the Lake Lackawanna State Natural Area map, your Go Wild licenses and any posted closures.
Sources for this page: DNR: LakeLackawanna · DNR GIS · DNR: StateNaturalAreas; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0).