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State park, the Northwoods
Straight Lake Wilderness State Park hunting notes
1,631 acres of state park in Polk County, with 2026-27 zones, quotas, rules, CWD testing and a map.
Photo: wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Straight Lake Wilderness State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Straight Lake Wilderness State Park
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 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.
Straight Lake Wilderness State Park, by its record
Count Straight Lake Wilderness State Park among the state parks of Polk County. It falls in the DNR Northern Region, the Northwoods. The Wisconsin DNR manages the land. By size (1,631 acres) it is number 13 among 49 state parks on our list. Head northeast from Luck for about 3 miles. 2 smaller units sit inside it, each with its own page.
From the source page (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, whole property (hunting only in areas the property hunting map shows open)); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Straight Lake Wilderness State Park
Zone lines at Straight Lake Wilderness State Park
Deer rules follow the Central Farmland zone and Polk. For 2026 the antlerless quota stands at 11,200. In Bear Zone D the DNR drew 3,855 permits for a target of 1,100 bears; drawn hunters needed 2 points. Turkey Zone 4: 34,997 spring authorizations in 2025 and 24% hunter success. Polk County is on the CWD list: a positive wild deer has been found. Deer may not be baited or fed in Polk County.
Straight Lake Wilderness State Park deer management units
| DMU | Zone | 2026 antlerless | Public bonus | Private bonus | Free per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 11,200 | 987 | 5,191 | 2 |
Bear, turkey, grouse and waterfowl lines through Straight Lake Wilderness State Park
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear D | Hound hunting | 1,100 target, 3,855 permits | 2 points | 931 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 4 | 34,997 spring tags (2025) | 24% success | 8,472 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Ducks | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Canada geese | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf zone 3 | Closed | Federal protection |
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.
Hunting Straight Lake Wilderness State Park within the rules
Who may hunt Straight Lake Wilderness State Park
Hunt only in open areas and only in the park windows: early spring to early May, and mid-November to mid-December, with archery into early January. A vehicle admission sticker is needed.
Statewide rules that reach Straight Lake Wilderness State Park
Wisconsin asks for 50% blaze orange or fluorescent pink above the waist in firearm deer seasons, archers included, waterfowlers not. Ground blinds on DNR land in a firearm deer season show at least 144 square inches of solid orange or pink, visible from all sides. Unattended stands carry your name or customer ID; they may be left out north of State Hwy. 64 (up to two per county), never south of it. Registration through GameReg closes at 5 p.m. on the day after recovery.
Straight Lake Wilderness State Park license list
Residents often take the Conservation Patron, which bundles the hunting licenses. Antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
Straight Lake Wilderness State Park: refuges and closures
Straight Lake Wilderness State Park carries 1 posted restriction. Typical exception: Hunting/trapping restrictions apply, check property map(s) at link provided.
| Area | Rule | Dates | Acres | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Lake Wilderness State Park | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 1,649 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
Season windows on Straight Lake Wilderness State Park
| Species | Season | Dates | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| All open seasons | Spring | April 1 through the Tuesday nearest May 3 (gun and archery hunting, limited trapping, open areas only) | |
| All open seasons | Fall/Winter | Nov. 15-Dec. 15 (gun and archery hunting and trapping in open seasons); archery through the Sunday nearest Jan. 6 | Exceptions for Buckhorn, Big Bay, Blue Mound, Governor Dodge, Rock Island and Tower Hill state parks. |
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.
Straight Lake Wilderness State Park: the game on record
The source names raccoons, foxes and coyotes for Straight Lake Wilderness State Park.
Furbearers
Every other open season that reaches Polk County applies too, within the property rules.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Straight Lake Wilderness State Park hunting dates, fall 2026 to spring 2027
20 species and 40 segments reach Straight Lake Wilderness State Park. The last column compares each one with today.
| Quarry | Season | Zone | From | To | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
The land at Straight Lake Wilderness State Park
This is the agency description, quoted.
Hunting and trapping are allowed in the open areas of the park during the Wisconsin state parks hunting and trapping time frame. Trapping is not permitted in closed areas, as noted on the park hunting map or within 100 yards of any designated use area, including trails. Certain trap types are restricted on state park properties. For more information, please see: Hunting and trapping in Wisconsin State Parks Straight Lake State Park hunting and trapping map Winter activities During winter, trails are not groomed or packed.
Winter hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are allowed anywhere in the park. Ice fishing is a popular activity at the park, but combustion-powered ice augers are prohibited.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Straight Lake Wilderness State Park, unit by unit
The 2 parts of Straight Lake Wilderness State Park total 542 acres.
| Page | Type | County | Acres | Listed game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tunnel Channel Woods | State natural area | Polk | 457 | — |
| Straight Lake Tamarack Fen | State natural area | Polk | 85 | — |
Deer, bears and CWD around Straight Lake Wilderness State Park
Last full season (2025) the Polk County unit gave up 8,091 deer. Since 2016 the yearly total has ranged from 7,275 (2023) to 9,066 (2016). So far in 2026 (preliminary, Oct. 19): Polk Central Farmland 763 deer. In CWD year 2025, 340 Polk County deer were tested and 2 came back positive. Since 1999: 3,006 sampled, 5 positive. Bear hunters registered 149 bears in Polk County in 2025. Property-level harvest does not exist for Straight Lake Wilderness State Park; county numbers stand in.
Deer table, Polk County
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
CWD results near Straight Lake Wilderness State Park
| CWD year | Sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 32 | 0 |
| 2025 | 340 | 2 |
| 2024 | 265 | 2 |
| 2023 | 252 | 1 |
| 2022 | 174 | 0 |
| 2021 | 170 | 0 |
Bear table, Polk County
| Season | Total bears | 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.
Where Straight Lake Wilderness State Park hunters stay and shop
Every town listed has a hunting guide of its own on this site.
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luck | Polk | 3.1 mi | 1,064 | 7,158 |
| Frederic | Polk | 3.9 mi | 1,141 | 9,929 |
| Lewis | Polk | 8.0 mi | — | 20,655 |
| Balsam Lake | Polk | 10 mi | 954 | 3,736 |
County hunting overviews: Polk County.
Straight Lake Wilderness State Park: businesses in the area
Offices that answer for Straight Lake Wilderness State Park
Polk County is served by the 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.
The closest public land to Straight Lake Wilderness State Park
Straight Lake Wilderness State Park is the large pin, with 10 neighbours around it. Their acreage adds up to 24,534.
| Property | Type | Acres | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight River | Wildlife area | 1,499 | 0.9 mi | northeast |
| Bone Lake (Remnant) | Fishery area | 58 | 2.8 mi | south |
| Tula Lake | State natural area | 160 | 5.1 mi | east |
| McKenzie Creek | Wildlife area | 5,545 | 6.4 mi | northeast |
| Pickerel Lake | Fishery area | 9 | 6.6 mi | southeast |
| Big Round Lake (Remnant) | Fishery area | 36 | 7.2 mi | southeast |
| Polk | County forest | 17,183 | 7.6 mi | east |
| Round Lake | Wildlife area | 24 | 8.8 mi | northwest |
| Alabama Lake | Wildlife area | 12 | 10 mi | west |
| Twin Lake Public Access Laketown | Fishery area | 8 | 11 mi | west |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS (polygon centroid) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
DNR shooting hours for Straight Lake Wilderness State Park
Wisconsin prints its shooting hours as tables. For deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey the day runs from 30 minutes before sunrise to 20 minutes after sunset; migratory birds and spring turkey stop at sunset.
| When | Event | North | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 92.41 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight Lake Wilderness State Park: nearest ranges
Owen-Anderson Rifle Range in Barron County is the nearest DNR-map range, 27 miles out. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
trap, skeet, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Straight Lake Wilderness State Park: the questions that come up
How do I get permission to hunt Straight Lake Wilderness State Park?
A regular Wisconsin license from Go Wild (gun deer $24 for residents); antlerless deer need a public-access tag.
Is there a check station for Straight Lake Wilderness State Park?
Use GameReg online or call 844-426-3734 by 5 p.m. the day after.
Which properties are close to Straight Lake Wilderness State Park?
Nearest on the list: Straight River Wildlife Area (1 mile), Bone Lake Fishery Area (Remnant) (3 miles) and Tula Lake State Natural Area (5 miles).
What is the hunting window at Straight Lake Wilderness State Park?
Yes, the state park time frame: April 1 through the Tuesday nearest May 3, then Nov. 15-Dec. 15.
Whose property is Straight Lake Wilderness State Park?
The Wisconsin DNR oversees this state park with hunting in its open areas.
Does Straight Lake Wilderness State Park have separate units?
2 units, including Straight Lake Tamarack Fen State Natural Area and Tunnel Channel Woods State Natural Area.
In which Wisconsin county is Straight Lake Wilderness State Park?
Luck is closest (3 miles); the property is in Polk County.
How many acres does Straight Lake Wilderness State Park cover?
1,631 acres, per WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, whole property (hunting only in areas the property hunting map shows open).
Can I shoot antlerless deer on Straight Lake Wilderness State Park?
Central Farmland zone; unit Polk. 11,200 antlerless deer is the 2026 quota.
Which animals are listed at Straight Lake Wilderness State Park?
1 group on the list: raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
What turkey tag do I need for Straight Lake Wilderness State Park?
Your spring tag must be for Zone 4 and a period A-F.
What are the bear rules around Straight Lake Wilderness State Park?
It is in Bear Zone D, target 1,100 bears in 2026.
Does the baiting ban cover Straight Lake Wilderness State Park?
Banned in Polk County. Polk County has had CWD-positive wild deer.
Straight Lake Wilderness State Park: confirm on the ground
A last look before the drive: the Straight Lake Wilderness State Park map, your Go Wild licenses and any posted closures.
Sources for this page: DNR: hunt · DNR: recreation · DNR: straightlake · DNR GIS · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: The Hidden Hide with Ray (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).