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Hunting at Pine Lake State Habitat Area
Pine Lake State Habitat Area, 20 acres in Forest County: zones and tags, property rules, county harvest and the land nearby.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Pine Lake State Habitat Area
Pine Lake State Habitat Area on one card
Hunters reach Pine Lake State Habitat Area in Forest County; it is a DNR state wildlife area. This is the Northwoods, in the DNR Northern Region. Day-to-day it is in the hands of the Wisconsin DNR. Measured at 20 acres, it comes in 260th of 285 state wildlife areas. Argonne is the nearest town with a guide on this site, about 5 miles away; the land lies northwest of it.
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 Pine Lake State Habitat Area
Zones that take in Pine Lake State Habitat Area
Pine Lake State Habitat Area is Northern Forest deer country, unit DMU 120. Antlerless quota, 2026: 545. The Zone B bear quota for 2026 is 850, spread over 1,545 drawn permits. Zone 7 turkey numbers for 2025: 4,401 spring tags, 16% success. Leave the corn at home; Forest County bans deer baiting.
Antlerless tags near Pine Lake State Habitat Area
| Unit | Zone | Quota 2026 | Bonus, public | Bonus, private | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 120 | Northern Forest | 545 | 124 | 1,163 | — |
Pine Lake State Habitat Area: other game zones
| Zone | Detail | Numbers | More | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone B | Hounds allowed | 850 target, 1,545 permits | 11 points | 851 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 7 | 4,401 spring tags (2025) | 16% success | 726 gobblers | — |
| Ruffed grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Canada goose | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf 2 | No harvest | Federal listing |
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.
What Pine Lake State Habitat Area requires of hunters
Pine Lake State Habitat Area access terms
Public hunting and trapping run on the statewide calendar; refuges and closed areas are posted, and the NR 45 code covers everything else.
The rule book on Pine Lake State Habitat Area
Half of your outer clothing above the waist, and half of your hat, must be blaze orange or pink whenever a firearm deer season is open (waterfowl hunters excepted). Ground blinds need a 144-square-inch orange or pink patch in gun deer seasons on DNR ground. Stands may not damage trees. North of Hwy. 64 they can stay overnight Sept. 1, 2026 to Jan. 31, 2027 (two per hunter per county); south of Hwy. 64 they come down daily. Deer and turkeys go into GameReg online or by phone by 5 p.m. the next day.
Go Wild shopping list for Pine Lake State Habitat Area
A gun deer or archery license comes with a buck authorization; antlerless deer on this land need a public-access authorization.
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.
What hunters pursue at Pine Lake State Habitat Area
Nothing narrows the game at Pine Lake State Habitat Area; all open seasons apply as long as the property rules are followed.
The Forest County season table below has 38 dated rows for that reason.
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.
Pine Lake State Habitat Area: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 38 season segments apply to Pine Lake State Habitat Area.
| Species | Hunt type | Zone or unit | Opening | Closing | 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 | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 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 7/5 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 7/5 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 7/5 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 7/5 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 7/5 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 7/5 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 7/5 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 7/5 | 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.
Forest County harvest near Pine Lake State Habitat Area
No history before 2025 exists for these forest DMUs, the DNR says. Through Oct. 19, 2026: 62 antlered and 48 antlerless in DMU 120 (preliminary). CWD year 2025 brought 37 Forest County samples and 0 positives. Running total since 1999: 827 tested. The 2025 bear count for Forest County was 139. No harvest is published for Pine Lake State Habitat Area itself, so the county unit is the finest level.
Registered deer in the Pine Lake State Habitat Area county unit
| Unit | Bucks | Does | Registered 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 120 | 726 | 429 | 1,155 |
CWD tests in Forest County
| CWD year | Wild deer sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 5 | 0 |
| 2025 | 37 | 0 |
| 2024 | 43 | 0 |
| 2023 | 39 | 0 |
| 2022 | 36 | 0 |
| 2021 | 25 | 0 |
Bear numbers near Pine Lake State Habitat Area
| Year | Total | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 116 | 73 | 43 |
| 2025 | 139 | 65 | 74 |
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.
Around Pine Lake State Habitat Area: more places to hunt
The big marker is Pine Lake State Habitat Area. Smaller ones are its 10 closest neighbours. The neighbours add 89,982 acres between them.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell Springs State Spring Ponds | Fishery area | 45 | 4.1 mi | southeast |
| Atkins Lake and Hiles Swamp | State natural area | 830 | 4.9 mi | southwest |
| Little Rice | Wildlife area | 2,284 | 6.1 mi | south |
| Crandon Ribbed Fen | State natural area | 96 | 6.5 mi | southeast |
| South Branch Peshtigo River | Wildlife area | 463 | 7.4 mi | southeast |
| Town of Three Lakes | Wildlife area | 210 | 7.6 mi | northwest |
| Peterson Springs State Spring Ponds | Fishery area | 40 | 8.7 mi | southeast |
| Spur Lake | State natural area | 426 | 9.0 mi | west |
| Pelican River Forest | Easement land | 67,369 | 11 mi | southwest |
| Wabikon Waters | Easement land | 18,219 | 13 mi | southeast |
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.
Pine Lake State Habitat Area: nearby towns and businesses
Town pages first, then shops, processors and DNR desks.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argonne | Forest | 5.4 mi | — | 93,142 |
| Crandon | Forest | 9.7 mi | 1,737 | 70,336 |
| Three Lakes | Oneida | 12 mi | — | 59,498 |
| Newald | Forest | 14 mi | — | 110,338 |
County-level hunting pages: Forest County.
Shops a short drive from Pine Lake State Habitat Area
DNR desks closest to Pine Lake State Habitat Area
Service center for Forest County business: DNR Rhinelander 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.
Pine Lake State Habitat Area: nearest ranges
About 24 miles separates Pine Lake State Habitat Area from Vilas County Gov't Range, the nearest public map range. Nearby rod and gun clubs round out the list.
rifle, handgun on file
sporting clays, muzzleloader, handgun, action pistol, benchrest on file
rifle, trap, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Shooting light at Pine Lake State Habitat Area by date
At Pine Lake State Habitat Area the offset is 4 minutes (Zone B). The times below already include it for both DNR shooting-hours areas.
| Day | Season | North table | South table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, grouse opener | 5:59 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:43 a.m. to 6:25 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 6:28 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:04 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:32 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:44 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:03 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:05 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 4:50 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 B offset of 4 minutes for longitude 88.97 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
What people ask about hunting Pine Lake State Habitat Area
Which bear management zone holds Pine Lake State Habitat Area?
Bear Zone B. Zone B took 11 preference points in 2026.
Which DMU takes in Pine Lake State Habitat Area?
Deer unit DMU 120; zone Northern Forest. The 2026 antlerless quota is 545 (DMU 120); use a public-access antlerless tag here.
What are the waterfowl zones for Pine Lake State Habitat Area?
It sits in the Northern duck and Northern goose zones. In the Northern Zone the regular duck split begins Sep 26.
Which turkey zone is Pine Lake State Habitat Area in?
Zone 7, one bird per spring authorization.
Do I need blaze orange at Pine Lake State Habitat Area?
In any open firearm deer season, wear blaze orange or pink on at least half your coat and cap.
Is deer baiting legal near Pine Lake State Habitat Area?
No: Forest County bans deer baiting and feeding. The county is not on the CWD list.
Which Wisconsin license covers Pine Lake State Habitat Area?
Go Wild sells everything needed; antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
How do I register a deer from Pine Lake State Habitat Area?
Through GameReg (online, phone or a station) by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
Which agency sets the rules on Pine Lake State Habitat Area?
The Wisconsin DNR treats it as a DNR state wildlife area.
If Pine Lake State Habitat Area is full, where next?
Within a short drive: Campbell Springs State Spring Ponds (4 miles), Atkins Lake and Hiles Swamp State Natural Area (5 miles) and Little Rice Wildlife Area (6 miles).
Where do Pine Lake State Habitat Area hunters spend the night?
Start from Argonne; the land is 5 miles off, in Forest County.
What acreage is listed for Pine Lake State Habitat Area?
Roughly 20 acres.
What game is legal on Pine Lake State Habitat Area?
Any species in an open season, as long as you follow the property rules.
Check Pine Lake State Habitat Area once more
Refuges, closed areas and park windows at Pine Lake State Habitat Area can shift mid-season; the property page and the DNR map have the current picture.
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: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).