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2026-27 · Fishery area
South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Fish Creek Unit, a hunter's guide
Who runs it, which deer unit and bear zone cover it, what it holds (raccoons, foxes and coyotes), and the public land and towns around it in Bayfield County.
Photo: wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Fish Creek Unit
Parking, trailheads and gates near South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Fish Creek Unit
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 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.
What the record says about South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit
On paper it is a DNR fishery area that is open to hunting; on the map it is in Bayfield County. DNR staff of the Northern Region cover this part of the Northwoods. Manager: the Wisconsin DNR. Its 1,915 acres rank 12th of the 245 Wisconsin fishery areas with an acreage on file. From Ashland, our closest town page, it is roughly 3 miles to the west.
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 South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Fish Creek Unit
South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit in the agency's words
Unedited text from the official page.
The South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area was created in 1992 to preserve the land and water resources of Wisconsin's Lake Superior tributaries that support the self-sustaining potamodromous fishery. Potamodromous fishes live their adult lives in Lake Superior and spawn in the tributaries and include rainbow (steelhead) trout, brown trout, coaster brook trout, coho salmon, and Chinook salmon. The Fishery Area also provides public recreation and education opportunities. The Fishery Area spans six distinct watersheds, including Fish Creek, Sioux River, Pikes Creek, Cranberry River, Flag River and Iron River, along with their associated coastal wetlands.
More than 50 percent of the total self-sustaining potamodromous fishery on the Wisconsin shore of Lake Superior is included within the boundaries of the South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area. Directions: The South Shore of Lake Superior Fishery Area includes various properties close to the shores of Lake Superior and along streams draining into Lake Superior in Bayfield County.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit rules and licenses
Access rules at South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit
State seasons on the open parcels only. The DNR map shows which pieces of this fishery land those are.
State law on South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit
Orange or pink, 50% above the waist and 50% of the head covering, is the rule while gun deer seasons run; duck and goose hunters are exempt. Gun-season ground blinds on DNR property display 144 sq in of orange or pink from every direction. No screw-in steps or cut shooting lanes on DNR land. Overnight stands are legal north of Hwy. 64 from Sept. 1 to Jan. 31; south of it, remove them every day. By 5 p.m. the following day, register the deer on GameReg (online, phone or station).
Which licenses South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit needs
Get licenses on Go Wild or at an agent. Antlerless tags are unit-specific and labelled public or private land.
Closed and restricted areas inside South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit
1 closed or restricted area appear for South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit in the DNR layer.
| Name | Restriction | Closed | Acres | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Les Voight State Fish Hatchery | State Fish Hatchery Closed Area | Jan 1–Dec 31 | 34 | NR 11.24(1)(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.
South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit: DMU, bear zone and turkey zone
Deer management: DMU 106 and DMU 103, Northern Forest zone. The Natural Resources Board set 710 and 470 antlerless deer as the 2026 quota there. Bear Zone A has a 2026 harvest target of 1,100 with 1,675 Class A permits drawn; it took 11 preference points to win one. Spring turkey tags are sold for Zone 6; the DNR issued 6,001 there in 2025, the newest level published. Baiting deer is lawful in Bayfield County, at no more than 2 gallons a site.
Deer units that cover South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit
| Deer unit | Zone | Antlerless goal | Public tags left | Private tags left | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 106 | Northern Forest | 710 | 521 | 2,092 | — |
| DMU 103 | Northern Forest | 470 | 55 | 1,425 | — |
Zones beyond deer for South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear A | Dogs legal | 1,100 target, 1,675 permits | 11 points | 1,235 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 6 | 6,001 spring tags (2025) | 23% success | 1,362 gobblers | — |
| Grouse zone A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose zone | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf zone 1 | No season | Listed 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.
South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit: species with bag limits
Listed game at South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit: raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Furbearers
The Bayfield County calendar below covers the rest.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Season dates that cover South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit
South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit sits in the Northern Forest deer zone. These 39 rows are the dated hunting segments the DNR schedule puts there, from the September archery opener into spring turkey.
| Game | Season | Applies in | Begins | Through | Right 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 A | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone A | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone A | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Elk | Elk, all weapons | Northern Elk Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 6 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 6 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 6 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 6 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 6 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 6 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 6 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 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.
Public property near South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit
The large pin is South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit; the others are the 10 closest public properties. Together they hold 15,494 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whittlesey Creek | Wildlife refuge | 469 | 1.4 mi | northwest |
| White River Boreal Forest | State natural area | 446 | 7.2 mi | southeast |
| White River | Wildlife area | 1,272 | 7.4 mi | southeast |
| White River Breaks | State natural area | 160 | 7.5 mi | south |
| South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Sioux River Unit | Fishery area | 2,265 | 8.1 mi | north |
| Big Rock Pines | State natural area | 159 | 9.1 mi | north |
| Nourse Sugarbush | State natural area | 438 | 14 mi | north |
| North Pikes Creek Boreal Forest | State natural area | 396 | 15 mi | north |
| South Shore Lake Superior | Fishery area | 276 | 15 mi | north |
| Bibon Swamp | State natural area | 9,613 | 15 mi | southwest |
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) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside))). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
How the land around South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit hunts, by the numbers
Harvest for this part of Bayfield County comes from the 2025 forest DMU counts. 2026 so far, still changing: DMU 106, 113 and DMU 103, 50. CWD sampling in Bayfield County, CWD year 2025: 84 wild deer sampled, 0 positive. Overall: 2,155 samples and 0 positives. Bayfield County: 185 bears in 2025. The DNR reports deer by unit, not by property: read these as the Bayfield County picture.
Bayfield County bucks and antlerless
| Deer unit | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 106 | 731 | 519 | 1,250 |
| DMU 103 | 748 | 386 | 1,134 |
Bayfield County CWD sampling
| Year | Sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 84 | 0 |
| 2024 | 70 | 0 |
| 2023 | 80 | 0 |
| 2022 | 108 | 0 |
| 2021 | 114 | 0 |
Bayfield County bears
| Year | Bears registered | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 202 | 94 | 108 |
| 2025 | 185 | 102 | 83 |
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.
Closest public range to South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Fish Creek Unit
No range sits on South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area – Fish Creek Unit; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Sports Hollow, about 1 mile away. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle, handgun, trap, skeet, sporting clays on file
archery, 3D archery on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Home bases for a South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit trip
Closest towns, measured as the crow flies, then the businesses around them.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland | Ashland | 3.4 mi | 7,940 | 6,255 |
| Washburn | Bayfield | 6.8 mi | 2,055 | 47,397 |
| Bayfield | Bayfield | 17 mi | 592 | 59,543 |
| Birch Hill | Ashland | 19 mi | — | 31,792 |
Read up on the county: Bayfield County.
Taxidermy and supplies for South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit hunters
Phone numbers for South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit questions
The DNR service center listed for Bayfield County is DNR Spooner Service Center, 715-635-2101.
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.
South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit: legal shooting time, table by date
Big game and small game hunters get 20 minutes after sunset in Wisconsin, not 30. Waterfowl and spring gobbler hunters quit at sunset.
| Date | Hunt | Northern Area hours | Southern Area hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, grouse opener | 6:07 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:51 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:12 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:40 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:52 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:11 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:13 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 4:58 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 D offset of 12 minutes for longitude 90.94 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit
Are there closed areas on South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit?
Some parts are closed or limited (1 listed).
Which public properties lie near South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit?
Three to try: Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge (1 mile), White River Boreal Forest State Natural Area (7 miles) and White River Wildlife Area (7 miles).
How is South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit classified?
DNR fishery area that is open to hunting, under the Wisconsin DNR.
How much land is in South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit?
It covers 1,915 acres by the recorded figure.
Where in the state does South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit lie?
Bayfield County holds it, 3 miles from Ashland.
What is South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit hunted for?
The agency names raccoons, foxes and coyotes; other legal game follows the county dates.
Which deer management unit holds South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit?
The Northern Forest zone, DMU 106 and DMU 103. Quota for 2026: 710 and 470 antlerless.
Is bear hunting possible at South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit?
Zone A; hounds are legal there.
Can I turkey hunt South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit in spring?
Zone 6; 2025 saw 1,362 birds registered in the zone.
When can I hunt ducks at South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit?
Northern for ducks, Northern for geese. The regular Northern Zone duck season opens Sep 26.
Has CWD turned up in the county around South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit?
There is no county baiting ban here; the 2-gallon rules apply. CWD has not been found in this county's wild deer.
Is blaze pink legal at South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit?
Orange or pink, half of the upper clothing, whenever a gun deer season runs (not for waterfowl).
Where do I register game taken on South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit?
Register on GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; the confirmation number starts with W.
Last checks on South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of South Shore Lake Superior Fishery Area Fish Creek Unit has the final say on closures and maps.
Sources for this page: DNR: 2370southshorelakesuperior · DNR GIS · DNR: county · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: xulescu_g (CC BY-SA 2.0); GA-Kayaker (CC BY 2.0).