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Oconto County, Wisconsin
Pensaukee River State Habitat Area: the hunter's file
Deer unit Oconto, bear and turkey zones, closures, licenses and the nearest towns and services.
Photo: wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Pensaukee River State Habitat Area
Key facts for Pensaukee River State Habitat Area
Pensaukee River State Habitat Area is a DNR state wildlife area in Oconto County. The DNR files it under its Northeast Region (northeast Wisconsin). Management sits with the Wisconsin DNR. Acreage: 16, which places it 269th of 285 state wildlife areas. The closest covered town is Oconto, around 6 miles off as the crow flies.
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 Pensaukee River State Habitat Area
Pensaukee River State Habitat Area by zone and unit
Deer: Central Farmland zone, Oconto. 7,000 antlerless deer: the 2026 quota for the unit. Bear hunters here apply for Zone F: 764 applied for 2026 and 764 permits went out. In Zone 2 turkey hunters held 51,056 spring tags in 2025 (spring 2027 levels are not out yet). CWD-positive deer have been recorded in Oconto County; free testing is offered statewide. Baiting and feeding deer are banned in Oconto County.
DMU figures for Pensaukee River State Habitat Area
| Unit | Deer zone | Quota | Public-access bonus | Private bonus | Farmland per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oconto Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 7,000 | 490 | 1,291 | 3 |
Pensaukee River State Habitat Area zone table
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone F | No dogs | 50 target, 764 permits | 1 point | 27 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 2 | 51,056 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 11,024 gobblers | 2,500 fall bonus |
| Ruffed grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf 6 | No hunt | Endangered status |
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.
Access, closures and licenses for Pensaukee River State Habitat Area
Pensaukee River State Habitat Area: open to whom, and how
Open to public hunting and trapping in state seasons with the right Wisconsin licenses. Posted refuges and closed areas are off limits, and the NR 45 state land rules apply.
Orange, stands and GameReg at Pensaukee River State Habitat Area
Bowhunters too: when a gun deer season is on, 50% of the coat and hat must be orange or pink, unless you are hunting waterfowl. A ground blind on DNR property needs 144 sq in of orange or pink during gun deer seasons. South of Hwy. 64 every stand and blind leaves with you; north of it, two portable stands per county may stay out Sept. 1-Jan. 31. Use GameReg (online or 844-426-3734) before 5 p.m. the day after the harvest.
Tags and licenses for Pensaukee River State Habitat Area
Licenses sell on Go Wild. On public land, antlerless deer need a public-access authorization for the unit.
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.
Which animals Pensaukee River State Habitat Area lists
The agency names no particular game for Pensaukee River State Habitat Area: all open seasons apply, within the property rules.
The Oconto County dates (47 rows) follow.
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.
Which seasons are open in Pensaukee River State Habitat Area
Deer dates are statewide in Wisconsin; bear, turkey, grouse, cottontail and waterfowl dates follow zone lines, so only the rows for Pensaukee River State Habitat Area are listed.
| Species | Season | Where it applies | Opens | Closes | 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 | |
| White-tailed deer | Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt | Holiday Hunt, Oconto | 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 B | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone C/F | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone B | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone B | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 5/2 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 5/2 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 5/2 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 5/2 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 5/2 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 5/2 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 5/2 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 5/2 | 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 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 1) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck | Open Water Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 2) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose | Northern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 1) | Southern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 2) | Southern Goose Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (holiday split) | Southern Goose Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 2, 2027 | |
| 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.
Pensaukee River State Habitat Area: county harvest and CWD tests
Hunters registered 7,277 deer in the Oconto County unit in 2025: 3,429 bucks and 3,848 antlerless. High year on the chart: 2022 at 8,496; low year: 2016 at 6,978. Preliminary 2026 count to Oct. 19: 699 in Oconto Central Farmland. Oconto County CWD testing (2025): 2 positives out of 168 samples. Cumulative total 5 positives in 2,426 tests. Oconto County bear harvest, 2025: 181. Harvest and CWD figures cover Oconto County as a whole.
Oconto County deer by year
| Year | Buck | Antlerless | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,429 | 3,848 | 7,277 |
| 2024 | 4,101 | 4,106 | 8,207 |
| 2023 | 3,833 | 3,432 | 7,265 |
| 2022 | 4,266 | 4,230 | 8,496 |
| 2021 | 4,109 | 3,799 | 7,908 |
| 2020 | 3,795 | 4,057 | 7,852 |
Testing for CWD, Oconto County
| Year | Deer tested | CWD positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 168 | 2 |
| 2024 | 179 | 1 |
| 2023 | 157 | 0 |
| 2022 | 194 | 0 |
| 2021 | 190 | 1 |
Bears by year, Oconto County
| Year | Bears | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 166 | 83 | 83 |
| 2025 | 181 | 95 | 86 |
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.
Pensaukee River State Habitat Area pinned among its neighbours
Map of Pensaukee River State Habitat Area and the 10 nearest public places. That is 56,720 acres of public ground.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Pond | State natural area | 94 | 4.1 mi | south |
| Green Bay West Shores | Wildlife area | 10,031 | 7.4 mi | northeast |
| Oconto | County forest | 43,792 | 8.4 mi | west |
| Little Suamico | Wildlife area | 11 | 8.8 mi | southwest |
| Suamico River | Wildlife area | 12 | 14 mi | south |
| Red Banks Alvar | State natural area | 115 | 16 mi | south |
| Peshtigo Harbor Lacustrine Forest | State natural area | 440 | 16 mi | northeast |
| Peshtigo River Delta Marshes | State natural area | 452 | 16 mi | northeast |
| Gardner Swamp | Wildlife area | 1,163 | 17 mi | east |
| Bloch Oxbow | State natural area | 610 | 18 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.
Towns, processors and DNR desks near Pensaukee River State Habitat Area
Start with a town, then line up a cooler, a butcher and a mount.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oconto | Oconto | 6.1 mi | 4,638 | 11,263 |
| Abrams | Oconto | 6.5 mi | — | 12,295 |
| Sobieski | Oconto | 9.2 mi | — | 10,689 |
| Oconto Falls | Oconto | 10 mi | 3,024 | 8,956 |
For the wider county picture: Oconto County.
Venison, mounts and ammo near Pensaukee River State Habitat Area
Pensaukee River State Habitat Area: agency contacts
County service center: DNR Green Bay Service Center (920-662-5100).
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.
Pensaukee River State Habitat Area: nearest ranges
Machickanee Shooting Range in Oconto County is the nearest DNR-map range, 10 miles out. Two nearby club ranges follow.
rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, muzzleloader on file
sporting clays, 5-stand, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
First and last legal minute at Pensaukee River State Habitat Area
Deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey: 30 minutes before sunrise until 20 minutes after sunset. Ducks, geese, doves and spring turkey: same start, done at sunset.
| Date | Season moment | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, grouse opener | 5:55 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:39 a.m. to 6:21 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 6:24 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:00 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:28 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:40 a.m. to 4:28 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 6:59 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:01 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:46 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 A offset of 0 minutes for longitude 87.94 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Questions hunters raise about Pensaukee River State Habitat Area
Can I put out corn for deer at Pensaukee River State Habitat Area?
Not here: Oconto County is under the ban. CWD has been found in wild deer in Oconto County.
How much orange do I wear at Pensaukee River State Habitat Area?
During any firearm deer season: 50% of your outer clothing above the waist and 50% of any cap, blaze orange or pink. Waterfowl hunters are exempt.
When must I register a turkey from Pensaukee River State Habitat Area?
Deer: online, phone or station by 5 p.m. next day. Turkeys: online or phone only.
Which tags work on Pensaukee River State Habitat Area?
No special permit for most of it; buy the license on Go Wild and carry public-access antlerless tags.
Is there other public ground around Pensaukee River State Habitat Area?
By straight-line distance: Charles Pond State Natural Area (4 miles), Green Bay West Shores Wildlife Area (7 miles) and Oconto County Forest (8 miles).
What type of property is Pensaukee River State Habitat Area on the record?
It is a DNR state wildlife area, managed by the Wisconsin DNR.
What size is Pensaukee River State Habitat Area on the record?
About 16 acres.
What is the nearest town to Pensaukee River State Habitat Area?
Base in Oconto, 6 miles away; the ground is in Oconto County.
Which species are allowed at Pensaukee River State Habitat Area?
There is no species list. Any season open in the county works here within the rules.
What is the antlerless quota at Pensaukee River State Habitat Area?
Oconto, part of the Central Farmland zone. Antlerless goal for 2026: 7,000.
Which bear permit zone holds Pensaukee River State Habitat Area?
F. You need a Class A license from the drawing.
How many turkey permits go to the Pensaukee River State Habitat Area zone?
Turkey Zone 2. 51,056 spring tags were issued there in 2025.
What waterfowl dates apply at Pensaukee River State Habitat Area?
Duck zone: Northern; goose zone: Northern. Northern Zone ducks open Sep 26, 2026-27.
Pensaukee River State Habitat Area: one more look before the drive
Signs on the ground beat any web page. Read the posted boundaries at Pensaukee River State Habitat Area when you arrive.
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: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 (Public domain).