Home › Wisconsin › Public land › Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
Burnett County · Scenic riverway
Hunting at Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (Wisconsin)
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (Wisconsin), 20,195 acres in Burnett, Washburn, Polk, Sawyer and 3 more counties: whitetails, ducks and geese, black bears and wild turkeys, zones and tags, property rules, county harvest and the land nearby.
Photo: Daniel-Latorre (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (Wisconsin)
Parking, trailheads and gates near Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (Wisconsin)
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 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.
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway on one card
Hunters reach Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (Wisconsin) in Burnett, Washburn, Polk, Sawyer and 3 more counties; it is a National Park Service scenic riverway. This is the Northwoods, in the DNR Northern Region. Day-to-day it is in the hands of the National Park Service. The figure on file is 20,195 acres. Danbury is the nearest town with a guide on this site, about 9 miles away; the land lies northeast of it.
From the source page (GIS acres of NPS land in Wisconsin (St. Croix and Lower St. Croix NSR polygons, WI DNR Public Land GIS)); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (Wisconsin)
Zones that take in Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway is Northern Forest and Central Farmland deer country, unit DMU 107, DMU 108, DMU 109, Polk and 2 more units. 6 units, with 2026 antlerless quotas from 1,155 to 11,200. The Zone A bear quota for 2026 is 1,100, spread over 1,675 drawn permits. Zone 6 turkey numbers for 2025: 6,001 spring tags, 23% success. Wild deer with CWD have been confirmed in Washburn and Polk counties.
Antlerless tags near Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
| Unit | Zone | Quota 2026 | Bonus, public | Bonus, private | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 107 | Northern Forest | 2,155 | 4,503 | 2,891 | — |
| DMU 108 | Northern Forest | 2,850 | 3,017 | 7,467 | — |
| DMU 109 | Northern Forest | 1,870 | 2,715 | 5,713 | — |
| Polk Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 11,200 | 987 | 5,191 | 2 |
| DMU 113 | Northern Forest | 1,155 | 1,369 | 2,244 | — |
| St. Croix | Central Farmland | 3,500 | 494 | 1,496 | 2 |
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway: other game zones
| Zone | Detail | Numbers | More | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone A | Hounds allowed | 1,100 target, 1,675 permits | 11 points | 1,235 bears in 2025 |
| Bear zone D | Hounds allowed | 1,100 target, 3,855 permits | 2 points | 931 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 6 | 6,001 spring tags (2025) | 23% success | 1,362 gobblers | — |
| Turkey 4 | 34,997 spring tags (2025) | 24% success | 8,472 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Ruffed grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Canada goose | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Elk | Northern (Clam Lake Elk Range) | 8 bulls, subject to 50% declaration by the Ojibwe tribes (ceded territory) | Public land approximately 68% | |
| Wolf 3/1/6/1B | 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.
How the Park Service describes Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
The managing agency's own text.
St. Croix and Namekagon rivers (WI/MN). Waterfowl hunting in cattail and wild rice flowages of the Namekagon and St. Croix backwaters.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
What Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway requires of hunters
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway access terms
Hunting allowed on most NPS land in the Riverway under the regulations of the state that issued your license (know which side of the state line you are on). Portable stands only, removed daily (no screw-in steps); personal property not left more than 24 hours; no cutting shooting lanes; no motor vehicles/ATVs off established roads; no dog training. Some NPS land is closed or restricted for safety (Superintendent's Compendium). Private land inside the Riverway requires landowner permission.
The rule book on Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
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). Deer and turkeys go into GameReg online or by phone by 5 p.m. the next day.
Go Wild shopping list for Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
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 Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
Species the agency lists here: whitetails, ducks and geese, black bears, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse and squirrels, cottontails and hares.
White-tailed deer
Ducks and geese
Black bear
Wild turkey
Ruffed grouse
Small game
Unlisted species follow the Burnett County dates below, subject to the property rules.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 40 season segments apply to Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway.
| 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 | |
| White-tailed deer | Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt | Holiday Hunt, Burnett | 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 4/6 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 4/6 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 4/6 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 4/6 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 4/6 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 4/6 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 4/6 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 4/6 | 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.
Burnett County harvest near Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
Deer registered in the Burnett County unit, 2025: 2,861. The decade peaked at 5,290 in 2017 and bottomed at 2,861 in 2025. Through Oct. 19, 2026: 98 antlered and 119 antlerless in DMU 107, 143 antlered and 164 antlerless in DMU 108 and 111 antlered and 111 antlerless in DMU 109 (preliminary). CWD year 2025 brought 130 Burnett County samples and 0 positives. Running total since 1999: 3,047 tested. The 2025 bear count for Burnett County was 164. No harvest is published for Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway itself, so the county unit is the finest level.
Registered deer in the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway county unit
| Year | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,327 | 1,534 | 2,861 |
| 2024 | 2,240 | 1,588 | 3,828 |
| 2023 | 1,922 | 1,571 | 3,493 |
| 2022 | 2,590 | 2,449 | 5,039 |
| 2021 | 2,379 | 2,201 | 4,580 |
| 2020 | 2,560 | 2,315 | 4,875 |
CWD tests in Burnett County
| CWD year | Wild deer sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 9 | 0 |
| 2025 | 130 | 0 |
| 2024 | 144 | 0 |
| 2023 | 152 | 0 |
| 2022 | 187 | 0 |
| 2021 | 169 | 0 |
Bear numbers near Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
| Year | Total | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 224 | 93 | 131 |
| 2025 | 164 | 74 | 90 |
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 Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway: more places to hunt
The big marker is Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway. Smaller ones are its 10 closest neighbours. The neighbours add 16,163 acres between them.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Namekagon Barrens | State natural area | 6,433 | 7.7 mi | northeast |
| Namekagon Barrens | Wildlife area | 6,431 | 7.7 mi | northeast |
| Culbertson Springs | Fishery area | 38 | 8.5 mi | south |
| County Line Barrens and Forest | State natural area | 338 | 8.7 mi | east |
| Beartrack Lake | Access site | 26 | 9.2 mi | east |
| Goose Lake (Burnett County) | Wildlife area | 128 | 10 mi | southeast |
| Totogatic Wild River | Riverway | 2,491 | 11 mi | east |
| Totogan Pines | State natural area | 239 | 11 mi | east |
| Upper Twin Lake | Wildlife area | 35 | 12 mi | south |
| Green Lake | Wildlife area | 4 | 12 mi | south |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Public Land GIS, National Park Service layer (centroid of Wisconsin NPS land) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside))). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway: nearby towns and businesses
Town pages first, then shops, processors and DNR desks.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danbury | Burnett | 8.9 mi | — | 47,402 |
| Webster | Burnett | 15 mi | 712 | 49,270 |
| Minong | Washburn | 19 mi | 557 | 94,267 |
| Siren | Burnett | 22 mi | 927 | 18,217 |
County-level hunting pages: Burnett County, Washburn County, Polk County, Sawyer County, Bayfield County, Douglas County, St. Croix County.
Shops a short drive from Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
DNR desks closest to Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
Service center for Burnett County business: DNR Spooner 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.
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (Wisconsin): nearest ranges
About 20 miles separates Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (Wisconsin) from Frog Creek Washburn Cty. Forest, the nearest public map range. Nearby rod and gun clubs round out the list.
rifle, trap, shotgun, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
trap, skeet, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Shooting light at Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway by date
At Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway the offset is 20 minutes (Zone F). 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 | 6:15 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:59 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:20 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:48 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 7:00 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:19 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:21 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 5:06 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 F offset of 20 minutes for longitude 92.22 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
What people ask about hunting Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
Is deer baiting legal near Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway?
No: Washburn, Polk and St. Croix counties ban deer baiting and feeding. Wild deer with CWD are documented in Washburn and Polk counties.
What are the waterfowl zones for Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway?
It sits in the Northern duck and Northern goose zones. In the Northern Zone the regular duck split begins Sep 26.
How do I register a deer from Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway?
Through GameReg (online, phone or a station) by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
Do I need blaze orange at Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway?
In any open firearm deer season, wear blaze orange or pink on at least half your coat and cap.
If Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway is full, where next?
Within a short drive: Namekagon Barrens State Natural Area (8 miles), Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area (8 miles) and Culbertson Springs Fishery Area (8 miles).
Which Wisconsin license covers Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway?
Go Wild sells everything needed; antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
What acreage is listed for Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway?
Roughly 20,195 acres.
Which agency sets the rules on Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway?
The National Park Service treats it as a National Park Service scenic riverway.
Which species are hunted on Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway?
Listed: whitetails, ducks and geese, black bears, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse and squirrels, cottontails and hares.
Where do Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway hunters spend the night?
Start from Danbury; the land is 9 miles off, in Burnett, Washburn, Polk, Sawyer and 3 more counties.
Which bear management zone holds Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway?
Bear Zone A/D. Zone A took 11 preference points in 2026.
Which DMU takes in Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway?
Deer unit DMU 107, DMU 108 and DMU 109; zone Northern Forest and Central Farmland. The 2026 antlerless quota is 2,155 (DMU 107), 2,850 (DMU 108), 1,870 (DMU 109), 11,200 (Polk Central Farmland), 1,155 (DMU 113) and 3,500 (St. Croix); use a public-access antlerless tag here.
Which turkey zone is Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway in?
Zone 6, one bird per spring authorization.
Check Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway once more
Refuges, closed areas and park windows at Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway can shift mid-season; the property page and the DNR map have the current picture.
Sources for this page: NPS: hunting · NPS: index · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Reiner Ehlers (CC BY 2.0); GA-Kayaker (CC BY 2.0).