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Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area hunting guide
Everything we could verify about Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area: acreage, zones, property rules, harvest around it and nearby ground.
Photo: jondejong (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area
The short version on Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area
In Burnett and Washburn counties you will find Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area, a DNR-owned State Natural Area. On the DNR map it belongs to the Northern Region. The managing body is the Wisconsin DNR. At 6,433 acres it sits 4th by area in a field of 449 state natural areas. It is State Natural Area No. 684. About 12 miles west of Minong. Look up Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area for the wider property it sits in.
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 Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area
Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area, as the managers tell it
Word for word from the property page.
Situated on rolling pitted outwash terrain, Namekagon Barrens supports two pine and oak barren communities separated by the Namekagon River. The south unit occurs more on a rolling land form than the north, but both have characteristic soils that are excessively drained sand over outwash. The north unit is drained by two headwater streams that flow into the St. Croix River. Both sites are managed for sharp-tailed grouse and grassland birds resulting in a very sparse canopy cover of 1% or less with scattered areas of dense shrubs consisting of oak grubs, American hazelnut, sweet-fern, New Jersey tea and blueberry.- The ground layer is dominated by various sand prairies grass species such as big blue-stem, little blue-stem, and June grass and a diverse group of forbs like wood lily, rough blazing star, bird's-foot violet, prairie smoke, butterfly weed, hoary puccoon and blue giant hyssop.
Each unit also includes numerous open bogs with elements of Poor Fen, Northern Sedge Meadow and Northern Wet Forest.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area: what is allowed
How access works on Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area
Hunters and trappers are welcome on DNR-owned SNA acres unless posted; leave vehicles, drones and tents outside and take no plants.
Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area: rules from the regulations
From the October youth hunt through the Holiday Hunt, blaze orange or pink covers half of your upper clothing and cap. Mark a ground blind with 144 square inches of blaze orange or pink while firearm deer seasons run. Tree stands: no tree damage, ID on unattended stands, overnight only north of Hwy. 64 during Sept. 1-Jan. 31. Register deer, turkeys and bears through GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
What Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area costs in licenses
Buy through Go Wild; the free Farmland tags and bonus tags are marked public-access or private-land, and only public-access ones work here.
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.
Tags and zones for Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area
For deer it lies in the Northern Forest zone (DMU 107). This season the unit quota is 2,155 antlerless deer. Zone A bear permits took 11 preference points in 2026; the target is 1,100 bears. The 2025 spring level for Turkey Zone 6 was 6,001 authorizations; 1,362 birds were registered. Washburn County: CWD found in wild deer, and a CWD-positive deer earns a replacement authorization.
Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area: antlerless quota and bonus tags
| Deer unit | Zone | 2026 quota | Public bonus left | Private bonus left | Free farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 107 | Northern Forest | 2,155 | 4,503 | 2,891 | — |
Every other zone Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area touches
| Zone | Detail | Figures | Points or note | Taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bear A | Hounds legal | 1,100 target, 1,675 permits | 11 points | 1,235 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 6 | 6,001 spring tags (2025) | 23% success | 1,362 gobblers | — |
| Grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose zone | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Gray wolf zone 3 | No season | Federally listed |
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.
Quarry and limits, Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area
Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area has no species list on record. Any season open in Burnett County is fair game, subject to the property rules.
Below: 40 season rows for Burnett County.
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.
Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area season calendar, 2026-27
Archery, the nine-day gun hunt, muzzleloader, bear, turkey, upland birds, rabbits, furbearers and the duck and goose splits for Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area.
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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, Burnett | 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 D/A | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D/A | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D/A | 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.
Units connected to Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area
Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area is one of 1 unit that Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area lists.
Nearest public ground to Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area, mapped
10 more properties lie close to Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area, shown with smaller pins. Acres across them: 23,535.
| Neighbour | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beartrack Lake | Access site | 26 | 1.9 mi | east |
| County Line Barrens and Forest | State natural area | 338 | 4.0 mi | southeast |
| Totogatic Wild River | Riverway | 2,491 | 5.6 mi | southeast |
| Totogan Pines | State natural area | 239 | 6.4 mi | southeast |
| Person Lake | Fishery area | 9 | 6.8 mi | northeast |
| Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (Wisconsin) | Scenic riverway | 20,195 | 7.7 mi | southwest |
| Bardon Lake-Whitefish L | Fishery area | 2 | 10 mi | northeast |
| Town of Gordon | Wildlife area | 20 | 10 mi | northeast |
| Goose Lake (Burnett County) | Wildlife area | 128 | 11 mi | south |
| Leader Lake | Access site | 87 | 11 mi | northeast |
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.
Registered deer and bears near Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area
The 2025 registered deer total for the Burnett County unit was 2,861 (1,327 antlered). 2017 was the busiest year shown (5,290 deer) and 2025 the leanest (2,861). The 2026 season to date shows 217 deer in DMU 107; the DNR calls it preliminary. 130 samples, 0 positive: that is Burnett County in CWD year 2025. All years combined: 0 of 3,047. 164 bears came out of Burnett County in 2025. These numbers describe the county around Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area, not the property alone.
Deer registered near Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area
| Year | Bucks registered | Antlerless registered | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,327 | 1,534 | 2,861 |
| 2024 | 2,240 | 1,588 | 3,828 |
| 2023 | 1,922 | 1,571 | 3,493 |
| 2022 | 2,590 | 2,449 | 5,039 |
| 2021 | 2,379 | 2,201 | 4,580 |
| 2020 | 2,560 | 2,315 | 4,875 |
Burnett County CWD by year
| CWD year | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 9 | 0 |
| 2025 | 130 | 0 |
| 2024 | 144 | 0 |
| 2023 | 152 | 0 |
| 2022 | 187 | 0 |
| 2021 | 169 | 0 |
Burnett County bear harvest
| Year | Bear harvest | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 224 | 93 | 131 |
| 2025 | 164 | 74 | 90 |
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.
Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area: nearest ranges
No range sits on Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Frog Creek Washburn Cty. Forest, about 14 miles away. Closer club options sit beside it.
rifle, trap, shotgun, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
trap, skeet, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Towns, offices and services around Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area
Towns, then services in this county and the next one over.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minong | Washburn | 12 mi | 557 | 94,267 |
| Gordon | Douglas | 15 mi | — | 111,471 |
| Danbury | Burnett | 17 mi | — | 47,402 |
| Solon Springs | Douglas | 19 mi | 679 | 122,350 |
Our county write-ups: Burnett County, Washburn County.
Butchers, mounts and gun counters near Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area
Service centers near Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area
For Burnett County, the DNR points to its 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.
When the shooting day opens and closes at Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area
The DNR tables are worked out for Zone A in the east; Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area lies in longitude Zone F, so add 20 minutes to each table time.
| Day | Reason | Northern table | Southern table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, grouse opener | 6:15 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:59 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:20 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:48 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 7:00 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:19 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:21 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 5:06 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 F offset of 20 minutes for longitude 92.08 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area in questions and answers
Is Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area forest or farmland deer country?
DMU 107 in the Northern Forest zone. The unit quota stands at 2,155 antlerless deer this year.
Is there a game list for Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area?
The record lists none, which means all open seasons, within the property rules.
Is Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area good turkey ground?
Apply for Zone 6; spring periods A-F run in 2027 from April 21.
Are hounds allowed for bear at Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area?
Bear Zone A: 1,675 permits drawn for 2026.
What are the CWD and bait rules for Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area?
Deer bait is illegal in Washburn County. Washburn County: CWD-positive deer on record.
Is Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area in the northern or southern duck zone?
Northern duck zone and Northern goose zone. First regular duck day in the Northern Zone: Sep 26.
How fast must I register a kill on Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area?
GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Can pink replace orange at Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area?
Yes while gun deer seasons are open; half your upper clothing and hat in orange or fluorescent pink.
What neighbours Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area?
Closest first: Beartrack Lake State Public Access (2 miles), County Line Barrens and Forest State Natural Area (4 miles) and Totogatic Wild River (6 miles).
Is a permit required for Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area?
Your Wisconsin license is enough; residents pay $24 for gun deer, $18 for small game.
Who is the land manager for Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area?
The Wisconsin DNR manages it; the land is a DNR-owned State Natural Area.
Is Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area part of a larger property?
It is a unit of Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area.
How far is the drive from Minong to Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area?
Burnett and Washburn counties, roughly 12 miles out of Minong.
Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area, final notes
Print the Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area map, carry your tags, and check the manager page the week you go.
Sources for this page: DNR: NamekagonBarrens · DNR GIS · DNR: StateNaturalAreas; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Yellowstone National Park (Public Domain Mark 1.0); urbanwoodchuck (CC BY 2.0).