Home › Wisconsin › Public land › Natural Area Dedication
State natural area · Northern region
Natural Area – Dedication for Wisconsin hunters
A hunter's summary of Natural Area – Dedication in Vilas, Door, Sauk, Polk and 6 more counties: zones and quota, rules, CWD numbers and local help.
Photo: wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Natural Area – Dedication
Parking, trailheads and gates near Natural Area – Dedication
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Oxbow LandingBoat ramp · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Little Oxbow Lake Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Moosehead Lake Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Ormes Lake Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Dawn Lake Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 3.5 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.
Natural Area Dedication: record card
Natural Area – Dedication: a DNR-owned State Natural Area, located in Vilas, Door, Sauk, Polk and 6 more counties. Region on record: the DNR Northern Region. The Wisconsin DNR writes the rules on the ground. The 707 acres on record put it 81st of the 449 state natural areas we list. Base town: Boulder Junction, some 7 miles away.
From the source page (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, parcels open to hunting); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Natural Area – Dedication
Natural Area Dedication deer unit, quota and game zones
The deer unit is DMU 122, Door, Sauk, Polk and 6 more units, in the Central Farmland, Northern Forest and Southern Farmland zones. From 90 up to 15,000 antlerless deer: the 2026 quota range over 10 units. The DNR counts Vilas, Sauk, Polk, Marquette and 2 more counties among its CWD-affected counties.
The deer unit around Natural Area Dedication
| DMU | Deer zone | Antlerless quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Free tags per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 122 | Northern Forest | 330 | 63 | 562 | — |
| Door | Central Farmland | 4,000 | 246 | 746 | 5 |
| Sauk | Southern Farmland | 11,000 | 750 | 3,950 | 2 |
| Polk Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 11,200 | 987 | 5,191 | 2 |
| Marquette | Central Farmland | 10,000 | 1,996 | 7,993 | 4 |
| Dunn | Central Farmland | 15,000 | 492 | 2,993 | 3 |
| Milwaukee Metro Sub-unit | Metro sub-unit | Parent unit | — | — | — |
Bear, turkey and bird zones at Natural Area Dedication
| Zone | Rule | Numbers | Extra | 2025 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear A | With hounds | 1,100 target, 1,675 permits | 11 points | 1,235 bears in 2025 |
| Bear B | With hounds | 850 target, 1,545 permits | 11 points | 851 bears in 2025 |
| Bear D | With hounds | 1,100 target, 3,855 permits | 2 points | 931 bears in 2025 |
| Bear E | Bait only | 185 target, 2,628 permits | 1 point | 128 bears in 2025 |
| Bear F | Bait only | 50 target, 764 permits | 1 point | 27 bears in 2025 |
| Wild turkey 7 | 4,401 spring tags (2025) | 16% success | 726 gobblers | — |
| Wild turkey 2 | 51,056 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 11,024 gobblers | 2,500 fall bonus |
| Wild turkey 1 | 64,574 spring tags (2025) | 21% success | 13,813 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Wild turkey 4 | 34,997 spring tags (2025) | 24% success | 8,472 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Wild turkey 3 | 55,612 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 12,324 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Wild turkey 6 | 6,001 spring tags (2025) | 23% success | 1,362 gobblers | — |
| Grouse zone A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Grouse zone B | Oct 17–Dec 8 | 2 a day | ||
| Ducks | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Ducks | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Geese | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| Geese | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf zone 6/2/5/1 | Closed | Federally 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.
Rules on the ground at Natural Area Dedication
Entry terms for Natural Area Dedication
Hunting and trapping are generally allowed on DNR-owned State Natural Area land unless a spot is posted closed. Camping, vehicles, drones and collecting plants are not (NR 45).
Wisconsin rules that follow you to Natural Area Dedication
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.
Natural Area Dedication: 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 Natural Area Dedication
With no species list from the source, read it this way: every open Wisconsin season applies here under the property rules.
Use the Vilas County season list (38 rows) 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.
Every Natural Area Dedication 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 | |
| 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.
Harvest numbers for the country around Natural Area Dedication
Forest-unit figures for 2025 stand in for a county total in Vilas County. Early 2026 registrations (archery, crossbow, youth hunt): DMU 122 91, Door 408 and Sauk 409. The DNR sampled 221 deer from Vilas County in 2025; 0 had CWD. 2 positives overall, from 3,270 deer. In 2025, Vilas County produced 70 registered bears. Figures are for the whole county unit, not Natural Area Dedication alone; the DNR does not report harvest by property.
Vilas County unit harvest
| DMU | Buck | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 122 | 472 | 330 | 802 |
| DMU 118 | 384 | 91 | 475 |
| DMU 109 | 1,590 | 1,091 | 2,681 |
CWD samples, Vilas County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 31 | 0 |
| 2025 | 221 | 0 |
| 2024 | 272 | 1 |
| 2023 | 234 | 0 |
| 2022 | 292 | 0 |
| 2021 | 214 | 1 |
Bears registered in Vilas County
| Season | Bears | Boars | Sows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Bed, fuel and a butcher near Natural Area Dedication
Where to sleep, where to buy shells, where to drop off a deer.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder Junction | Vilas | 7.3 mi | — | 103,002 |
| Sayner | Vilas | 17 mi | — | 123,140 |
| Mercer | Iron | 19 mi | — | 111,827 |
| Lac du Flambeau | Vilas | 21 mi | — | 37,716 |
Season and zone pages by county: Vilas County, Door County, Sauk County, Polk County, Marquette County, Dunn County, Ashland County, Dane County, Iowa County, Washburn County.
Who processes a deer from Natural Area Dedication
Where to ask about Natural Area Dedication
Licenses and questions for Vilas County go through 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.
Natural Area Dedication and nearby public ground
Natural Area Dedication at the big pin; the nearest 10 public places around it. Combined, 180,641 acres are on record.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stateline Lake | Wildlife area | 1 | 3.7 mi | northwest |
| Van Vliet Hemlocks | State natural area | 412 | 4.6 mi | west |
| Dunn Lake | State natural area | 954 | 5.1 mi | east |
| Rice Creek | State natural area | 435 | 5.7 mi | southwest |
| Nixon Lake | State natural area | 737 | 9.2 mi | southeast |
| Nell Lake | State natural area | 117 | 9.6 mi | west |
| Northern Highland | State forest | 176,094 | 10 mi | south |
| Papoose Creek Pines | State natural area | 563 | 10 mi | southwest |
| Lost Canoe | State natural area | 1,119 | 11 mi | south |
| Day Lake | State natural area | 209 | 11 mi | south |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS (polygon centroid) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside))). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Shooting-hour table for Natural Area Dedication
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 | 6:03 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 89.66 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Shooting ranges near Natural Area – Dedication
The DNR-map range closest to Natural Area – Dedication is Boulder Junction Shooting Range (12 miles).
rifle, handgun, trap, skeet, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Before-the-trip answers for Natural Area Dedication
Which goose zone is Natural Area Dedication in?
Ducks follow the Southern and Northern zone, Canada geese the Southern and Northern zone. Opening day for Southern Zone ducks is Oct 3.
Can I bait deer at Natural Area Dedication?
No bait or feed in Vilas, Sauk, Polk and Marquette counties. The county list for CWD includes Vilas, Sauk, Polk and Marquette counties.
When does orange apply at Natural Area Dedication?
Pink counts the same as orange: 50% above the waist in firearm deer seasons.
Does a Natural Area Dedication deer go into GameReg?
By 5 p.m. the following day, through GameReg; bears also go to a station or online the same way.
What paperwork does Natural Area Dedication need?
Gun deer ($24), archer ($24) or small game ($18) for residents; nonresident gun deer is $200.
Which public land sits closest to Natural Area Dedication?
Stateline Lake State Habitat Area (4 miles), Van Vliet Hemlocks State Natural Area (5 miles) and Dunn Lake State Natural Area (5 miles), each with a page here.
Is Natural Area Dedication DNR, county or federal ground?
A DNR-owned State Natural Area; the manager is the Wisconsin DNR.
Is Natural Area Dedication a big property?
707 acres in the source data.
Which town works as a base for Natural Area Dedication?
Vilas, Door, Sauk, Polk and 6 more counties; Boulder Junction, the nearest town we cover, is 7 miles away.
Can I hunt any species on Natural Area Dedication?
Every open Wisconsin season applies under the property rules; no list narrows it.
What deer tags work on Natural Area Dedication?
It is in DMU 122, Door and Sauk (Central Farmland, Northern Forest and Southern Farmland). This year the antlerless quota is 330, 4,000, 11,000, 11,200, 10,000, 15,000, 90, 5,200, 3,000 and 1,870.
How hard is a bear permit for Natural Area Dedication?
Zone A; hounds may be used there.
Which zone do I apply for to hunt turkeys at Natural Area Dedication?
Zone 7. Success in 2025 was 16%.
Signing off on Natural Area Dedication
Gates, refuges and open areas at Natural Area Dedication are the manager's call; confirm them before opening day.
Sources for this page: DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: tuchodi (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).