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State natural area, the Northwoods
Sterling Barrens 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 Polk County.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Sterling Barrens State Natural Area
What the record says about Sterling Barrens State Natural Area
On paper it is a DNR-owned State Natural Area; on the map it is in Polk County. DNR staff of the Northern Region cover this part of the Northwoods. Manager: the Wisconsin DNR. Its 322 acres rank 172nd of the 449 Wisconsin state natural areas with an acreage on file. The DNR owns 322 acres of the natural area; the rest belongs to National Park Service (663 ac). In the natural areas program it is site 147. From St. Croix Falls, our closest town page, it is roughly 14 miles to the northwest. Parent property: Governor Knowles State Forest.
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 Sterling Barrens State Natural Area
Sterling Barrens State Natural Area in the agency's words
Unedited text from the official page.
Located in pitted outwash deposits laid down by glacial melt-water streams, Sterling Barrens contains a jack pine-Hill's oak dry forest interspersed with barren openings and an extensive wetland of sedge meadow and shrub-carr. The gently rolling barren openings are interspersed with prairie species. Dominant grasses are needle grass, three-awn grass, Indian grass, and big and little blue-stem. Several rare forbs are at or near their natural eastern range limit. Included in the natural area are the St. Croix River terrace escarpment and a reach of the St. Croix that contains an excellent diversity of aquatic species.
The river is lined with bottomland hardwoods of silver maple, elm, black ash, and cottonwood with willow brush. Many dragonfly species are found in this portion of the river. The dry forest on the sandy uplands and the terrace slope is young but has a diverse ground layer. Adjacent to the river is a sedge meadow dominated by wide-leaved sedges, prairie cord grass, marsh fern, sensitive fern, blue-joint grass, wool grass, ironweed and Joe-pye weed. Shrub-carr areas consist primarily of willows with white meadowsweet, alder, and occasional tamarack.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Sterling Barrens State Natural Area rules and licenses
Access rules at Sterling Barrens State Natural Area
State Natural Area rules: hunt and trap where not posted, but no camping, no vehicles, no drones and no collecting plants. Not all of it is DNR land: National Park Service sets the rules on its share.
State law on Sterling Barrens 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 Sterling Barrens 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.
Sterling Barrens State Natural Area: DMU, bear zone and turkey zone
Deer management: DMU 108, Northern Forest zone. The Natural Resources Board set 2,850 antlerless deer as the 2026 quota there. Bear Zone D has a 2026 harvest target of 1,100 with 3,855 Class A permits drawn; it took 2 preference points to win one. Spring turkey tags are sold for Zone 4; the DNR issued 34,997 there in 2025, the newest level published. Chronic wasting disease has turned up in wild deer in Polk County; DNR testing is free and voluntary statewide. The deer baiting ban covers Polk County.
Deer units that cover Sterling Barrens State Natural Area
| Deer unit | Zone | Antlerless goal | Public tags left | Private tags left | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 108 | Northern Forest | 2,850 | 3,017 | 7,467 | — |
Zones beyond deer for Sterling Barrens State Natural Area
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear D | Dogs legal | 1,100 target, 3,855 permits | 2 points | 931 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 4 | 34,997 spring tags (2025) | 24% success | 8,472 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| 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 3 | 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.
Sterling Barrens State Natural Area: species with bag limits
The record lists no species. Every season open in Polk County works here within the rules above.
That makes the Polk County calendar (40 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 Sterling Barrens State Natural Area
Sterling Barrens State Natural Area sits in the Central Farmland and Northern Forest deer zone. These 40 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 | |
| White-tailed deer | Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt | Holiday Hunt, Polk | 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 | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 4 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 4 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 4 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 4 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 4 | 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.
Linked units of Sterling Barrens State Natural Area
It shares Governor Knowles State Forest with 5 sibling units.
Other units of Governor Knowles State Forest
| Name | Type | County | Acreage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norway Point Bottomlands | State natural area | Burnett | 3,992 |
| Trade River Forest and Wetlands | State natural area | Polk | 909 |
| St. Croix Ash Swamp | State natural area | Burnett | 543 |
| Ekdall Wetlands | State natural area | Burnett | 305 |
| Brant Brook Pines | State natural area | Burnett | 150 |
Public property near Sterling Barrens State Natural Area
The large pin is Sterling Barrens State Natural Area; the others are the 10 closest public properties. Together they hold 15,593 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Lake Public Access Laketown | Fishery area | 8 | 8.5 mi | east |
| Twin Lake Public Access Eureka | Fishery area | 1 | 9.3 mi | east |
| Alabama Lake | Wildlife area | 12 | 9.5 mi | east |
| Fish Lake Meadow | State natural area | 1,880 | 11 mi | north |
| Fish Lake | Wildlife area | 13,533 | 11 mi | north |
| Fish Lake Pines | State natural area | 43 | 11 mi | northeast |
| Trade Lake | Fishery area | 1 | 12 mi | northeast |
| Round Lake | Wildlife area | 24 | 13 mi | northeast |
| St. Croix Falls Hatchery | Fishery area | 4 | 14 mi | southeast |
| Dalles of the St. Croix River | State natural area | 87 | 14 mi | southeast |
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 Sterling Barrens State Natural Area hunts, by the numbers
Polk County hunters registered 8,091 deer in 2025, 3,702 of them bucks. Totals swing between 7,275 and 9,066 across the years charted. 2026 so far, still changing: DMU 108, 307. CWD sampling in Polk County, CWD year 2025: 340 wild deer sampled, 2 positive. Overall: 3,006 samples and 5 positives. Polk County: 149 bears in 2025. The DNR reports deer by unit, not by property: read these as the Polk County picture.
Polk County bucks and antlerless
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,702 | 4,389 | 8,091 |
| 2024 | 3,564 | 4,408 | 7,972 |
| 2023 | 3,266 | 4,009 | 7,275 |
| 2022 | 3,874 | 5,155 | 9,029 |
| 2021 | 3,584 | 4,434 | 8,018 |
| 2020 | 3,759 | 5,074 | 8,833 |
Polk County CWD sampling
| Year | Sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 32 | 0 |
| 2025 | 340 | 2 |
| 2024 | 265 | 2 |
| 2023 | 252 | 1 |
| 2022 | 174 | 0 |
| 2021 | 170 | 0 |
Polk County bears
| Year | Bears registered | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 187 | 84 | 103 |
| 2025 | 149 | 91 | 58 |
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.
Sterling Barrens State Natural Area: nearest ranges
No range sits on Sterling Barrens State Natural Area; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Hudson Rod Gun and Archery Club, about 40 miles away. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle, handgun, archery, trap, skeet on file
trap, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery, shotgun on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Home bases for a Sterling Barrens 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Croix Falls | Polk | 14 mi | 2,310 | 3,497 |
| Grantsburg | Burnett | 16 mi | 1,372 | 59,716 |
| Luck | Polk | 17 mi | 1,064 | 7,158 |
| Frederic | Polk | 18 mi | 1,141 | 9,929 |
Read up on the county: Polk County.
Taxidermy and supplies for Sterling Barrens State Natural Area hunters
Phone numbers for Sterling Barrens State Natural Area questions
The DNR service center listed for Polk 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.
Sterling Barrens 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 | 6:15 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 92.81 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on Sterling Barrens State Natural Area
Where in the state does Sterling Barrens State Natural Area lie?
Polk County holds it, 14 miles from St. Croix Falls.
Does Sterling Barrens 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 Sterling Barrens State Natural Area?
The Northern Forest zone, DMU 108. Quota for 2026: 2,850 antlerless.
Is bear hunting possible at Sterling Barrens State Natural Area?
Zone D; hounds are legal there.
Can I turkey hunt Sterling Barrens State Natural Area in spring?
Zone 4; 2025 saw 8,472 birds registered in the zone.
When can I hunt ducks at Sterling Barrens 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 Sterling Barrens State Natural Area?
The deer baiting ban applies in Polk County. CWD: yes, in Polk County.
Is blaze pink legal at Sterling Barrens 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 Sterling Barrens 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 Sterling Barrens State Natural Area?
The standard license for your game; no landowner permission on public ground.
Which public properties lie near Sterling Barrens State Natural Area?
Three to try: Twin Lake Public Access Laketown (8 miles), Twin Lake Public Access Eureka (9 miles) and Alabama Lake State Habitat Area (9 miles).
Is Sterling Barrens State Natural Area its own property?
Yes, Governor Knowles State Forest.
How is Sterling Barrens State Natural Area classified?
DNR-owned State Natural Area, under the Wisconsin DNR.
Last checks on Sterling Barrens State Natural Area before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of Sterling Barrens State Natural Area has the final say on closures and maps.
Sources for this page: DNR: SterlingBarrens · DNR GIS · DNR: StateNaturalAreas; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Susan Young (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Peter Sheik (CC BY 2.0).