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Vilas County · State forest
Northern Highland State Forest hunting guide
Everything we could verify about Northern Highland State Forest: acreage, zones, property rules, harvest around it and nearby ground.
Photo: Joshua Mayer from Madison, WI, USA (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Northern Highland State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Northern Highland State Forest
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- North Trout LakeTrailhead · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Lumberjack WestTrailhead · 3.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 4.2 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.
The short version on Northern Highland State Forest
In Vilas, Iron and Oneida counties you will find Northern Highland State Forest, a Wisconsin state forest. On the DNR map it belongs to the Northern Region. The managing body is the Wisconsin DNR. At 176,094 acres it sits 2nd by area in a field of 16 state forests. About 3 miles southwest of Boulder Junction. Look up Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest for the wider property it sits in. Inside it are 22 separate records.
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 Northern Highland State Forest
Northern Highland State Forest, as the managers tell it
Word for word from the property page.
Hunting and trapping is permitted in the forest. Hunters are reminded to check their regulations for open seasons and contact forest headquarters to confirm open areas. Hunting is not allowed within any state campground, picnic area or other special use area designated by posted notice. Pets Pet Rules (Fido and the Forest brochure)
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Northern Highland State Forest: what is allowed
How access works on Northern Highland State Forest
Forest-wide hunting in season, with campgrounds, picnic areas and posted special-use areas excluded.
Northern Highland State Forest: 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 Northern Highland State Forest 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.
Posted closures at Northern Highland State Forest
2 rows of closures apply to Northern Highland State Forest.
| Closed area | Type | Period | Acres | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Highland American Legion State Forest | Closed to hunting and trapping | Jan 1–Dec 31 | 353 | NR 29.301(1)(b) |
| Northern Highland American Legion State Forest | Closed to Public | Jan 1–Dec 31 | 57 | NR 45.04(1)(b)(2)(a) |
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 Northern Highland State Forest
For deer it lies in the Northern Forest zone (DMU 117, DMU 121 and DMU 122). This season the unit quota is 550, 695 and 330 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 7 was 4,401 authorizations; 726 birds were registered. Vilas and Oneida counties: CWD found in wild deer, and a CWD-positive deer earns a replacement authorization.
Northern Highland State Forest: antlerless quota and bonus tags
| Deer unit | Zone | 2026 quota | Public bonus left | Private bonus left | Free farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 117 | Northern Forest | 550 | 620 | 619 | — |
| DMU 121 | Northern Forest | 695 | 73 | 864 | — |
| DMU 122 | Northern Forest | 330 | 63 | 562 | — |
Every other zone Northern Highland State Forest 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 |
| Black bear B | Hounds legal | 850 target, 1,545 permits | 11 points | 851 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 7 | 4,401 spring tags (2025) | 16% success | 726 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 2/1/1B | 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, Northern Highland State Forest
Northern Highland State Forest has no species list on record. Any season open in Vilas County is fair game, subject to the property rules.
Below: 38 season rows for Vilas 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.
Northern Highland State Forest season calendar, 2026-27
Archery, the nine-day gun hunt, muzzleloader, bear, turkey, upland birds, rabbits, furbearers and the duck and goose splits for Northern Highland State Forest.
| 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 | |
| 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.
Units connected to Northern Highland State Forest
Northern Highland State Forest is one of 2 units that Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest lists.
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest units beside Northern Highland State Forest
| Unit | Type | Where | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Legion | State forest | Oneida, Vilas | 61,014 |
17,928 acres across 22 units make up the listed parts of Northern Highland State Forest.
| Name | Type | County | Acreage | Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | — |
| Lost Canoe | State natural area | Vilas | 1,119 | — |
| 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 | — |
| Lake Alva Birch-Hemlock | State natural area | Vilas | 314 | — |
| Camp Lake and Pines | State natural area | Vilas | 211 | — |
| Nell Lake | State natural area | Vilas | 117 | — |
| Trout River | State natural area | Vilas | 108 | — |
| Trout Lake Conifer Swamp | State natural area | Vilas | 22 | — |
| Black Tern Bog | State natural area | Vilas | 20 | — |
Nearest public ground to Northern Highland State Forest, mapped
10 more properties lie close to Northern Highland State Forest, shown with smaller pins. Acres across them: 6,324.
| Neighbour | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Lake | State natural area | 209 | 1.0 mi | southwest |
| White Sand Lake | Fishery area | 1 | 7.8 mi | southwest |
| Powell Marsh | Wildlife area | 4,342 | 9.7 mi | west |
| Natural Area – Dedication | State natural area | 707 | 10 mi | north |
| Dunn Lake | State natural area | 954 | 11 mi | northeast |
| Brandy Lake | Fishery area | 1 | 12 mi | south |
| Stateline Lake | Wildlife area | 1 | 12 mi | north |
| Big St Germain | Fishery area | 1 | 13 mi | southeast |
| Big Crawling Stone | Fishery area | 2 | 13 mi | southwest |
| Arthur A. Oehmcke Fish Hatchery | Fishery area | 106 | 13 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) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Registered deer and bears near Northern Highland State Forest
The DNR has no Vilas County deer series; its forest DMUs carry 2025 totals only. The 2026 season to date shows 105 deer in DMU 117, 213 deer in DMU 121 and 91 deer in DMU 122; the DNR calls it preliminary. 221 samples, 0 positive: that is Vilas County in CWD year 2025. All years combined: 2 of 3,270. 70 bears came out of Vilas County in 2025. These numbers describe the county around Northern Highland State Forest, not the property alone.
Deer registered near Northern Highland State Forest
| Unit | Bucks | Antlerless | Deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 117 | 523 | 372 | 895 |
| DMU 121 | 1,001 | 614 | 1,615 |
| DMU 122 | 472 | 330 | 802 |
Vilas County CWD by year
| CWD year | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 31 | 0 |
| 2025 | 221 | 0 |
| 2024 | 272 | 1 |
| 2023 | 234 | 0 |
| 2022 | 292 | 0 |
| 2021 | 214 | 1 |
Vilas County bear harvest
| Year | Bear harvest | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Northern Highland State Forest: nearest ranges
About 3 miles separates Northern Highland State Forest from Boulder Junction Shooting Range, the nearest public map range.
rifle, handgun, trap, skeet, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Towns, offices and services around Northern Highland State Forest
Towns, then services in this county and the next one over.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder Junction | Vilas | 3.2 mi | — | 103,002 |
| Sayner | Vilas | 9.5 mi | — | 123,140 |
| Woodruff | Oneida | 13 mi | — | 68,581 |
| Lac du Flambeau | Vilas | 13 mi | — | 37,716 |
Our county write-ups: Vilas County, Iron County, Oneida County.
Butchers, mounts and gun counters near Northern Highland State Forest
Service centers near Northern Highland State Forest
For Vilas County, the DNR points to its 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.
When the shooting day opens and closes at Northern Highland State Forest
The DNR tables are worked out for Zone A in the east; Northern Highland State Forest lies in longitude Zone C, so add 8 minutes to each table time.
| Day | Reason | Northern table | Southern table |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 89.69 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Northern Highland State Forest in questions and answers
Is Northern Highland State Forest forest or farmland deer country?
DMU 117, DMU 121 and DMU 122 in the Northern Forest zone. The unit quota stands at 550, 695 and 330 antlerless deer this year.
Is there a game list for Northern Highland State Forest?
The record lists none, which means all open seasons, within the property rules.
Is Northern Highland State Forest good turkey ground?
Apply for Zone 7; spring periods A-F run in 2027 from April 21.
Are hounds allowed for bear at Northern Highland State Forest?
Bear Zone A: 1,675 permits drawn for 2026.
What are the CWD and bait rules for Northern Highland State Forest?
Deer bait is illegal in Vilas and Oneida counties. Vilas and Oneida counties: CWD-positive deer on record.
Is Northern Highland State Forest 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 Northern Highland State Forest?
GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Can pink replace orange at Northern Highland State Forest?
Yes while gun deer seasons are open; half your upper clothing and hat in orange or fluorescent pink.
What parts of Northern Highland State Forest are posted closed?
2 posted restrictions apply; check the table above.
Is a permit required for Northern Highland State Forest?
Your Wisconsin license is enough; residents pay $24 for gun deer, $18 for small game.
Is Northern Highland State Forest part of a larger property?
It is a unit of Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest.
What neighbours Northern Highland State Forest?
Closest first: Day Lake State Natural Area (1 mile), White Sand Lake Public Access (8 miles) and Powell Marsh Wildlife Area (10 miles).
How large is Northern Highland State Forest, in acres?
Acreage on record: 176,094.
Northern Highland State Forest, final notes
Print the Northern Highland State Forest map, carry your tags, and check the manager page the week you go.
Sources for this page: DNR: recreation · DNR GIS · DNR: nhal · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); Calistemon (CC BY-SA 4.0).