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2026-27 · Wildlife area
Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant), a hunter's guide
Who runs it, which deer unit and bear zone cover it, what it holds (whitetails, black bears, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes), and the public land and towns around it in Washburn County.
Photo: jondejong (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)
Parking, trailheads and gates near Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)
- Stinnett LandingBoat ramp · 0.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- North Springbrook LandingBoat ramp · 3.3 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.
What the record says about Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)
On paper it is a DNR state wildlife area; on the map it is in Washburn County. DNR staff of the Northern Region cover this part of the Northwoods. Manager: the Wisconsin DNR. Its 113 acres rank 215th of the 285 Wisconsin state wildlife areas with an acreage on file. From Hayward, our closest town page, it is roughly 5 miles to the west.
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 Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)
Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant) in the agency's words
Unedited text from the official page.
The Namekagon River fishery area is a 152.5-acre property, consisting of two separate parcels, in eastern Washburn County. The Namekagon River fishery area is dominated by aspen stands of varying age classes, interspersed with stands of oak, white birch and lowland brush. The property borders the Namekagon River, which is a designated wild and scenic river because of its wild and scenic values. The property provides public access to the river for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hunting, trapping and other compatible outdoor recreational activities.
The waters of the Namekagon River are generally shallow and rocky and not suitable for the use of boats. The Namekagon is a very popular river for canoe and kayak day trips. Numerous launch and pull-out sites managed by the state, counties and National Park Service are available along its course. The Namekagon River upstream from Hayward is a cold water habitat and has received national recognition for its quality fishing. Naturally reproducing brown and brook trout are plentiful.
The section from Hayward downriver to its confluence with the St Croix is a transition zone.
Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant) hunting wording
- The project intended to provide public access to the Namekagon River while also providing a public fishing and hunting area.
- Hunting – deer, bear, small game
- The Namekagon River Fishery Area is managed to provide a public access site to the Namekagon River while also providing a public fishing and hunting area and allowing other compatible recreational and educational uses.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant) rules and licenses
Access rules at Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)
Buy the license, hunt in season, and respect posted refuges and the NR 45 code.
State law on Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)
Orange or pink, 50% above the waist and 50% of the head covering, is the rule while gun deer seasons run; duck and goose hunters are exempt. Gun-season ground blinds on DNR property display 144 sq in of orange or pink from every direction. No screw-in steps or cut shooting lanes on DNR land. Overnight stands are legal north of Hwy. 64 from Sept. 1 to Jan. 31; south of it, remove them every day. By 5 p.m. the following day, register the deer on GameReg (online, phone or station).
Which licenses Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant) needs
Get licenses on Go Wild or at an agent. Antlerless tags are unit-specific and labelled public or private land.
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.
Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant): DMU, bear zone and turkey zone
Deer management: DMU 109, Northern Forest zone. The Natural Resources Board set 1,870 antlerless deer as the 2026 quota there. Bear Zone D has a 2026 harvest target of 1,100 with 3,855 Class A permits drawn; it took 2 preference points to win one. Spring turkey tags are sold for Zone 6; the DNR issued 6,001 there in 2025, the newest level published. Chronic wasting disease has turned up in wild deer in Washburn County; DNR testing is free and voluntary statewide. The deer baiting ban covers Washburn County.
Deer units that cover Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)
| Deer unit | Zone | Antlerless goal | Public tags left | Private tags left | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 109 | Northern Forest | 1,870 | 2,715 | 5,713 | — |
Zones beyond deer for Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear D | Dogs legal | 1,100 target, 3,855 permits | 2 points | 931 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 6 | 6,001 spring tags (2025) | 23% success | 1,362 gobblers | — |
| Grouse zone A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose zone | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf zone 3 | No season | Listed endangered |
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.
Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant): species with bag limits
Listed game at Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant): whitetails, black bears, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
White-tailed deer
Black bear
Small game
Furbearers
The Washburn County calendar below covers the rest.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Season dates that cover Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)
Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant) sits in the Northern Forest and Central Farmland deer zone. These 40 rows are the dated hunting segments the DNR schedule puts there, from the September archery opener into spring turkey.
| Game | Season | Applies in | Begins | Through | Right 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, Washburn | 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 6/4 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 6/4 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 6/4 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 6/4 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 6/4 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 6/4 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 6/4 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 6/4 | 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.
Public property near Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)
The large pin is Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant); the others are the 10 closest public properties. Together they hold 153,577 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Creek | Wildlife area | 370 | 2.9 mi | southeast |
| Namekagon River Trails End Road | Access site | 33 | 3.3 mi | west |
| Kissick Alkaline Bog | State natural area | 137 | 3.5 mi | northeast |
| Stress Springs State Spring Ponds | Fishery area | 45 | 3.7 mi | east |
| Kissick Swamp | Wildlife area | 932 | 3.9 mi | northeast |
| Bean Brook | Fishery area | 1,600 | 4.0 mi | south |
| Tranus Lake | State natural area | — | 4.3 mi | northwest |
| Washburn | County forest | 150,196 | 6.9 mi | west |
| Totagatic Highlands Hemlocks | State natural area | 160 | 8.0 mi | north |
| Big Island on Nelson | Habitat area | 104 | 9.6 mi | northeast |
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.
How the land around Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant) hunts, by the numbers
Washburn County hunters registered 1,418 deer in 2025, 625 of them bucks. Totals swing between 1,418 and 4,825 across the years charted. 2026 so far, still changing: DMU 109, 222. CWD sampling in Washburn County, CWD year 2025: 209 wild deer sampled, 0 positive. Overall: 4,434 samples and 1 positives. Washburn County: 167 bears in 2025. The DNR reports deer by unit, not by property: read these as the Washburn County picture.
Washburn County bucks and antlerless
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 625 | 793 | 1,418 |
| 2024 | 1,727 | 1,326 | 3,053 |
| 2023 | 1,558 | 1,334 | 2,892 |
| 2022 | 2,505 | 2,238 | 4,743 |
| 2021 | 2,222 | 1,747 | 3,969 |
| 2020 | 2,129 | 2,021 | 4,150 |
Washburn County CWD sampling
| Year | Sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 26 | 0 |
| 2025 | 209 | 0 |
| 2024 | 196 | 0 |
| 2023 | 180 | 0 |
| 2022 | 206 | 0 |
| 2021 | 185 | 0 |
Washburn County bears
| Year | Bears registered | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 254 | 136 | 118 |
| 2025 | 167 | 94 | 73 |
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 River Fishery Area (Remnant): nearest ranges
No range sits on Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant); the nearest on the DNR public range map is Frog Creek Washburn Cty. Forest, about 12 miles away. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle, trap, shotgun, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
skeet, sporting clays, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
archery, 3D archery on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Home bases for a Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant) trip
Closest towns, measured as the crow flies, then the businesses around them.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hayward | Sawyer | 5.0 mi | 2,587 | 64,530 |
| Springbrook | Washburn | 5.4 mi | — | 67,368 |
| Little Round Lake | Sawyer | 11 mi | — | 34,951 |
| Chief Lake | Sawyer | 12 mi | — | 31,269 |
Read up on the county: Washburn County.
Taxidermy and supplies for Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant) hunters
Phone numbers for Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant) questions
The DNR service center listed for Washburn County is DNR Spooner Service Center, 715-635-2101.
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.
Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant): legal shooting time, table by date
Big game and small game hunters get 20 minutes after sunset in Wisconsin, not 30. Waterfowl and spring gobbler hunters quit at sunset.
| Date | Hunt | Northern Area hours | Southern Area hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 91.59 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)
How much land is in Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)?
It covers 113 acres by the recorded figure.
Where in the state does Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant) lie?
Washburn County holds it, 5 miles from Hayward.
What is Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant) hunted for?
The agency names whitetails, black bears, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes; other legal game follows the county dates.
Which deer management unit holds Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)?
The Northern Forest zone, DMU 109. Quota for 2026: 1,870 antlerless.
Is bear hunting possible at Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)?
Zone D; hounds are legal there.
Can I turkey hunt Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant) in spring?
Zone 6; 2025 saw 1,362 birds registered in the zone.
When can I hunt ducks at Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)?
Northern for ducks, Northern for geese. The regular Northern Zone duck season opens Sep 26.
Has CWD turned up in the county around Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)?
The deer baiting ban applies in Washburn County. CWD: yes, in Washburn County.
Is blaze pink legal at Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)?
Orange or pink, half of the upper clothing, whenever a gun deer season runs (not for waterfowl).
Where do I register game taken on Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)?
Register on GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; the confirmation number starts with W.
Is there a separate permit for Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)?
The standard license for your game; no landowner permission on public ground.
Which public properties lie near Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant)?
Three to try: Flat Creek Wildlife Area (3 miles), Namekagon River – Trails End Road State Public Access (3 miles) and Kissick Alkaline Bog State Natural Area (4 miles).
How is Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant) classified?
DNR state wildlife area, under the Wisconsin DNR.
Last checks on Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant) before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of Namekagon River Fishery Area (Remnant) has the final say on closures and maps.
Sources for this page: DNR: 5050namekagonriver · DNR GIS · DNR: county; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Olivier Bruchez (CC BY-SA 2.0); Dana Beveridge (CC BY 2.0).