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State natural area, the Northwoods
Lost Canoe State Natural Area hunting notes
1,119 acres of state natural area in Vilas County, with 2026-27 zones, quotas, rules, CWD testing and a map.
Photo: robertgeiger1 (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Lost Canoe State Natural Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Lost Canoe State Natural Area
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Escabana SystemTrailhead · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Lumberjack EastTrailhead · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- North Trout LakeTrailhead · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Lumberjack WestTrailhead · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.7 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.
Lost Canoe State Natural Area, by its record
Count Lost Canoe State Natural Area among the state natural areas of Vilas County. It falls in the DNR Northern Region, the Northwoods. The Wisconsin DNR manages the land. By size (1,119 acres) it is number 45 among 449 state natural areas on our list. Natural area 108 lies in T41N-R7E, Sections 1, 2, 3. T42N-R7E, Sections 34, 35. Head southeast from Boulder Junction for about 4 miles. The DNR and agency lists place it inside Northern Highland 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 Lost Canoe State Natural Area
Zone lines at Lost Canoe State Natural Area
Deer rules follow the Northern Forest zone and DMU 121. For 2026 the antlerless quota stands at 695. In Bear Zone B the DNR drew 1,545 permits for a target of 850 bears; drawn hunters needed 11 points. Turkey Zone 7: 4,401 spring authorizations in 2025 and 16% hunter success. Vilas County is on the CWD list: a positive wild deer has been found. Deer may not be baited or fed in Vilas County.
Lost Canoe State Natural Area deer management units
| DMU | Zone | 2026 antlerless | Public bonus | Private bonus | Free per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 121 | Northern Forest | 695 | 73 | 864 | — |
Bear, turkey, grouse and waterfowl lines through Lost Canoe 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 7 | 4,401 spring tags (2025) | 16% success | 726 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 Lost Canoe State Natural Area within the rules
Who may hunt Lost Canoe 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 Lost Canoe 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.
Lost Canoe 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.
Lost Canoe State Natural Area: the game on record
No species list is published for Lost Canoe State Natural Area, so every open season applies under the property rules.
See the 38 seasons listed for Vilas 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.
Lost Canoe State Natural Area hunting dates, fall 2026 to spring 2027
20 species and 38 segments reach Lost Canoe 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 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone B/A | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone B/A | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone B/A | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 7 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 7 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 7 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 7 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 7 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 7 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 7 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 7 | 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.
The land at Lost Canoe State Natural Area
This is the agency description, quoted.
Lost Canoe features a mosaic of natural community types including old-growth mesic forest, northern dry-mesic forest, poor fen, and undeveloped seepage lake. Situated on a 25-acre island in a conifer swamp of black spruce, balsam fir, and tamarack is an old-growth hemlock forest on the southeast shore of Escanaba Lake. Some large white pines were removed long ago but there is no evidence of other disturbances. Hemlock is dominant with little or no reproduction due to large deer populations and possibly heavy shading.
Other canopy species are yellow birch, paper birch, and occasional white pine. The understory and ground layer are depauperate and composed only of scattered balsam fir, pipsissewa, large-leaved aster, snowberry, partridge berry, and club mosses. On the isthmus between Lost Canoe, Pallette, and Escanaba Lakes is a mature hardwood forest dominated by medium-sized red oak, paper birch, and big-tooth aspen. Associated species include white pine, basswood, ironwood, balsam fir, and red maple. Saplings are primarily sugar maple, balsam fir, and occasionally white pine and oak.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
The larger property around Lost Canoe State Natural Area
Within Northern Highland State Forest there are 22 units with pages, this one included.
Sister units to Lost Canoe State Natural Area
| Unit | Type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| DuPage Lake Peatlands | State natural area | Iron | 3,287 |
| Toy Lake Swamp | State natural area | Vilas, Iron | 2,308 |
| Frog Lake and Pines | State natural area | Iron | 1,290 |
| Johnson Lake Barrens and Springs | State natural area | Vilas | 1,130 |
| Devine Lake and Mishonagon Creek | State natural area | Vilas | 1,088 |
| Bittersweet Lakes | State natural area | Vilas | 1,070 |
| Catherine Lake Hemlock-Hardwoods | State natural area | Iron | 869 |
| Lake Laura Hardwoods | State natural area | Vilas | 852 |
| Aurora Lake | State natural area | Vilas | 831 |
| Plum Lake Hemlock Forest | State natural area | Vilas | 747 |
| Nixon Lake | State natural area | Vilas | 737 |
| Papoose Creek Pines | State natural area | Vilas | 563 |
| Rice Creek | State natural area | Vilas | 435 |
| Van Vliet Hemlocks | State natural area | Vilas | 412 |
| Allequash Lake and Pines | State natural area | Vilas | 398 |
Deer, bears and CWD around Lost Canoe State Natural Area
Vilas County has no county-named deer unit, so the DNR reports harvest by forest DMU; 2025 is the only year under the new boundaries. So far in 2026 (preliminary, Oct. 19): DMU 121 213 deer. In CWD year 2025, 221 Vilas County deer were tested and 0 came back positive. Since 1999: 3,270 sampled, 2 positive. Bear hunters registered 70 bears in Vilas County in 2025. Property-level harvest does not exist for Lost Canoe State Natural Area; county numbers stand in.
Deer table, Vilas County
| Deer unit | Bucks 2025 | Antlerless 2025 | Total 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 121 | 1,001 | 614 | 1,615 |
CWD results near Lost Canoe State Natural Area
| CWD year | Sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 31 | 0 |
| 2025 | 221 | 0 |
| 2024 | 272 | 1 |
| 2023 | 234 | 0 |
| 2022 | 292 | 0 |
| 2021 | 214 | 1 |
Bear table, Vilas County
| Season | Total bears | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 88 | 43 | 45 |
| 2025 | 70 | 41 | 29 |
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 Lost Canoe 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder Junction | Vilas | 4.3 mi | — | 103,002 |
| Sayner | Vilas | 6.1 mi | — | 123,140 |
| Woodruff | Oneida | 13 mi | — | 68,581 |
| Minocqua | Oneida | 14 mi | — | 64,543 |
County hunting overviews: Vilas County.
Lost Canoe State Natural Area: businesses in the area
Offices that answer for Lost Canoe State Natural Area
Vilas County is served by the DNR Woodruff 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 Lost Canoe State Natural Area
Lost Canoe State Natural Area is the large pin, with 10 neighbours around it. Their acreage adds up to 239,396.
| Property | Type | Acres | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Highland-American Legion | State forest | 237,127 | 1.2 mi | southeast |
| Day Lake | State natural area | 209 | 4.9 mi | west |
| Dunn Lake | State natural area | 954 | 9.4 mi | north |
| Big St Germain | Fishery area | 1 | 9.5 mi | southeast |
| Natural Area – Dedication | State natural area | 707 | 11 mi | north |
| White Sand Lake | Fishery area | 1 | 11 mi | southwest |
| Brandy Lake | Fishery area | 1 | 12 mi | southwest |
| Upper Buckatabon Springs | State natural area | 120 | 13 mi | east |
| Arthur A. Oehmcke Fish Hatchery | Fishery area | 106 | 13 mi | south |
| Tamarack Rearing Station | Fishery area | 170 | 13 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 Lost Canoe 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 | 6:03 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:47 a.m. to 6:29 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:32 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:08 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:36 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:48 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:07 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:09 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 4:54 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 C offset of 8 minutes for longitude 89.60 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Lost Canoe State Natural Area: nearest ranges
Boulder Junction Shooting Range in Vilas County is the nearest DNR-map range, 2 miles out. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle, handgun, trap, skeet, shotgun on file
rifle, handgun, trap, skeet, 5-stand on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Lost Canoe State Natural Area: the questions that come up
In which Wisconsin county is Lost Canoe State Natural Area?
Boulder Junction is closest (4 miles); the property is in Vilas County.
How many acres does Lost Canoe State Natural Area cover?
1,119 acres, per WI DNR SNA parcel ownership GIS OWNER_ACRE_AMT, WDNR-owned parcels.
Can I shoot antlerless deer on Lost Canoe State Natural Area?
Northern Forest zone; unit DMU 121. 695 antlerless deer is the 2026 quota.
Which game seasons apply on Lost Canoe State Natural Area?
All open seasons apply, subject to the property rules; the source names no species.
What turkey tag do I need for Lost Canoe State Natural Area?
Your spring tag must be for Zone 7 and a period A-F.
What are the bear rules around Lost Canoe State Natural Area?
It is in Bear Zone B, target 850 bears in 2026.
Does the baiting ban cover Lost Canoe State Natural Area?
Banned in Vilas County. Vilas County has had CWD-positive wild deer.
Which duck and goose zones cover Lost Canoe 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 Lost Canoe State Natural Area?
Use GameReg online or call 844-426-3734 by 5 p.m. the day after.
What does the orange rule mean at Lost Canoe State Natural Area?
Yes, 50% orange or pink above the waist from the youth deer hunt through the Holiday Hunt.
Which properties are close to Lost Canoe State Natural Area?
Nearest on the list: Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest (1 mile), Day Lake State Natural Area (5 miles) and Dunn Lake State Natural Area (9 miles).
How do I get permission to hunt Lost Canoe 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 Lost Canoe State Natural Area?
The Wisconsin DNR oversees this DNR-owned State Natural Area.
Lost Canoe State Natural Area: confirm on the ground
A last look before the drive: the Lost Canoe State Natural Area map, your Go Wild licenses and any posted closures.
Sources for this page: DNR: LostCanoe · DNR GIS · DNR: StateNaturalAreas; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Joe K Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0); Dave Williss (CC BY 2.0).