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State natural area, the Northwoods
Spur Lake State Natural Area, a hunter's guide
Who runs it, which deer unit and bear zone cover it, and the public land and towns around it in Oneida County.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Spur Lake State Natural Area
What the record says about Spur Lake State Natural Area
On paper it is a DNR-owned State Natural Area; on the map it is in Oneida County. DNR staff of the Northern Region cover this part of the Northwoods. Manager: the Wisconsin DNR. Its 426 acres rank 139th of the 449 Wisconsin state natural areas with an acreage on file. In the natural areas program it is site 537, T37N-R11E, Sections 6, 7. T38N-R11E, Section 31. From Three Lakes, our closest town page, it is roughly 6 miles to the south.
From the source page (WI DNR SNA parcel ownership GIS OWNER_ACRE_AMT, WDNR-owned parcels); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Spur Lake State Natural Area
Spur Lake State Natural Area in the agency's words
Unedited text from the official page.
Spur Lake is a 113-acre muck-bottomed soft-water drainage lake that supports dense beds of emergent, submergent, and floating-leaved aquatic plants. Wild rice is the dominant emergent species. Other plants include white water-lily, bullhead water-lily, large-leaved pondweed, ribbon-leaf pondweed, common pondweed, common bladderwort, pickerel weed, and soft-stem bulrush. Wetlands including open bog, alder thicket, and black spruce-tamarack-white cedar swamp surround the majority of the lake's shoreline. Along the northeast corner is a small stand of old-growth hemlock hardwoods and a floating bog mat.
The outlet stream, Twin Lakes Creek, flows southward, joining the Pelican River, which in turn flows to the Wisconsin River. The lake and surrounding wetlands provide a habitat for black ducks, ring-necked ducks, osprey, and common loons. Use by migratory waterfowl is heavy. Native Americans used this area for centuries and there is an old campsite on the lakeshore. Spur Lake is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Spur Lake State Natural Area rules and licenses
Access rules at Spur Lake State Natural Area
State Natural Area rules: hunt and trap where not posted, but no camping, no vehicles, no drones and no collecting plants.
State law on Spur Lake State Natural Area
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 Spur Lake State Natural Area needs
Get licenses on Go Wild or at an agent. Antlerless tags are unit-specific and labelled public or private land.
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.
Spur Lake State Natural Area: DMU, bear zone and turkey zone
Deer management: DMU 120, Northern Forest zone. The Natural Resources Board set 545 antlerless deer as the 2026 quota there. Bear Zone B has a 2026 harvest target of 850 with 1,545 Class A permits drawn; it took 11 preference points to win one. Spring turkey tags are sold for Zone 7; the DNR issued 4,401 there in 2025, the newest level published. Chronic wasting disease has turned up in wild deer in Oneida County; DNR testing is free and voluntary statewide. The deer baiting ban covers Oneida County.
Deer units that cover Spur Lake State Natural Area
| Deer unit | Zone | Antlerless goal | Public tags left | Private tags left | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 120 | Northern Forest | 545 | 124 | 1,163 | — |
Zones beyond deer for Spur Lake State Natural Area
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear B | Dogs 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 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 2 | 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.
Spur Lake State Natural Area: species with bag limits
The record lists no species. Every season open in Oneida County works here within the rules above.
That makes the Oneida County calendar (38 rows) the one to read.
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.
Season dates that cover Spur Lake State Natural Area
Spur Lake State Natural Area sits in the Northern Forest deer zone. These 38 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 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 7/5 | 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.
Public property near Spur Lake State Natural Area
The large pin is Spur Lake State Natural Area; the others are the 10 closest public properties. Together they hold 75,833 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Three Lakes | Wildlife area | 210 | 4.4 mi | northeast |
| Sugar Camp Hemlocks | State natural area | 80 | 4.6 mi | northwest |
| Atkins Lake and Hiles Swamp | State natural area | 830 | 6.8 mi | southeast |
| Thunder Lake | Wildlife area | 3,250 | 7.2 mi | north |
| Pelican River Forest | Easement land | 67,369 | 7.7 mi | south |
| Rice Lake | State natural area | 1,242 | 7.9 mi | northwest |
| Pine Lake | Wildlife area | 20 | 9.0 mi | east |
| One Stone Lake Hemlocks | State natural area | 342 | 9.3 mi | northwest |
| Little Rice | Wildlife area | 2,284 | 11 mi | southeast |
| Stone Lake Pines | State natural area | 206 | 12 mi | west |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR State Natural Areas parcel ownership GIS (centroid of WDNR-owned parcels) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
How the land around Spur Lake State Natural Area hunts, by the numbers
Harvest for this part of Oneida County comes from the 2025 forest DMU counts. 2026 so far, still changing: DMU 120, 110. CWD sampling in Oneida County, CWD year 2025: 437 wild deer sampled, 5 positive. Overall: 5,365 samples and 14 positives. Oneida County: 151 bears in 2025. The DNR reports deer by unit, not by property: read these as the Oneida County picture.
Oneida County bucks and antlerless
| Deer unit | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 120 | 726 | 429 | 1,155 |
Oneida County CWD sampling
| Year | Sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 36 | 1 |
| 2025 | 437 | 5 |
| 2024 | 361 | 3 |
| 2023 | 421 | 0 |
| 2022 | 443 | 1 |
| 2021 | 466 | 0 |
Oneida County bears
| Year | Bears registered | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 144 | 79 | 65 |
| 2025 | 151 | 79 | 72 |
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.
Spur Lake State Natural Area: nearest ranges
No range sits on Spur Lake State Natural Area; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Vilas County Gov't Range, about 19 miles away. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle, handgun on file
sporting clays, muzzleloader, handgun, action pistol, benchrest 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 Spur Lake State Natural Area trip
Closest towns, measured as the crow flies, then the businesses around them.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three Lakes | Oneida | 6.0 mi | — | 59,498 |
| Argonne | Forest | 14 mi | — | 93,142 |
| Rhinelander | Oneida | 14 mi | 8,286 | 45,679 |
| Eagle River | Vilas | 15 mi | 1,681 | 58,199 |
Read up on the county: Oneida County.
Taxidermy and supplies for Spur Lake State Natural Area hunters
Phone numbers for Spur Lake State Natural Area questions
The DNR service center listed for Oneida County is DNR Rhinelander Service Center, 715-365-8900.
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.
Spur Lake State Natural Area: 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 | 6:03 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 89.16 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on Spur Lake State Natural Area
When can I hunt ducks at Spur Lake State Natural Area?
Northern for ducks, Northern for geese. The regular Northern Zone duck season opens Sep 26.
Has CWD turned up in the county around Spur Lake State Natural Area?
The deer baiting ban applies in Oneida County. CWD: yes, in Oneida County.
Is blaze pink legal at Spur Lake State Natural Area?
Orange or pink, half of the upper clothing, whenever a gun deer season runs (not for waterfowl).
Where do I register game taken on Spur Lake State Natural Area?
Register on GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; the confirmation number starts with W.
Is there a separate permit for Spur Lake State Natural Area?
The standard license for your game; no landowner permission on public ground.
Which public properties lie near Spur Lake State Natural Area?
Three to try: Town of Three Lakes State Habitat Area (4 miles), Sugar Camp Hemlocks State Natural Area (5 miles) and Atkins Lake and Hiles Swamp State Natural Area (7 miles).
How is Spur Lake State Natural Area classified?
DNR-owned State Natural Area, under the Wisconsin DNR.
How much land is in Spur Lake State Natural Area?
It covers 426 acres by the recorded figure.
Where in the state does Spur Lake State Natural Area lie?
Oneida County holds it, 6 miles from Three Lakes.
Does Spur Lake State Natural Area limit which species I hunt?
No species list is published, so every open season applies under the property rules.
Which deer management unit holds Spur Lake State Natural Area?
The Northern Forest zone, DMU 120. Quota for 2026: 545 antlerless.
Is bear hunting possible at Spur Lake State Natural Area?
Zone B; hounds are legal there.
Can I turkey hunt Spur Lake State Natural Area in spring?
Zone 7; 2025 saw 726 birds registered in the zone.
Last checks on Spur Lake State Natural Area before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of Spur Lake State Natural Area has the final say on closures and maps.
Sources for this page: DNR: SpurLake · DNR GIS · DNR: StateNaturalAreas; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: GerryT (CC BY 2.0); GA-Kayaker (CC BY 2.0).