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Sawyer County, Wisconsin
Swamp Lake State Natural Area: the hunter's file
Deer unit DMU 112, bear and turkey zones, closures, licenses and the nearest towns and services.
Photo: wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Swamp Lake State Natural Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Swamp Lake State Natural Area
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 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.
Key facts for Swamp Lake State Natural Area
Swamp Lake State Natural Area is a DNR-owned State Natural Area in Sawyer County. The DNR files it under its Northern Region (the Northwoods). Management sits with the Wisconsin DNR. Acreage: 1,042, which places it 49th of 449 state natural areas. Listed as SNA 645; survey location T38N-R3W, Sections 1, 2, 11, 12. The closest covered town is Park Falls, around 15 miles off as the crow flies. It belongs to Flambeau River 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 Swamp Lake State Natural Area
Swamp Lake State Natural Area by zone and unit
Deer: Northern Forest zone, DMU 112. 625 antlerless deer: the 2026 quota for the unit. Bear hunters here apply for Zone A: 11,648 applied for 2026 and 1,675 permits went out. In Zone 6 turkey hunters held 6,001 spring tags in 2025 (spring 2027 levels are not out yet). Sawyer County still allows deer baiting, up to 2 gallons per 40 acres with placement rules.
DMU figures for Swamp Lake State Natural Area
| Unit | Deer zone | Quota | Public-access bonus | Private bonus | Farmland per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 112 | Northern Forest | 625 | 1,437 | 1,333 | — |
Swamp Lake State Natural Area zone table
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone A | Dogs OK | 1,100 target, 1,675 permits | 11 points | 1,235 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 6 | 6,001 spring tags (2025) | 23% success | 1,362 gobblers | — |
| Ruffed grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| 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 1 | No hunt | Endangered status |
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.
Swamp Lake State Natural Area: the property description
Copied from the official listing.
Swamp Lake features a 258-acre soft-water drainage lake with a maximum depth of nine feet. A designated Wilderness Lake, the lake is remote and completely undeveloped. Numerous bird species use the site and waterfowl use is especially significant during migration. Species noted include common loon, common merganser, belted kingfisher, great blue heron, bald eagle, and osprey. The lake is surrounded by a black spruce swamp and a large black ash swamp with pockets of white cedar.
A narrow outlet channel to Mason Lake drains Swamp Lake and the surrounding wetlands. East of the lake pole-sized hardwoods grade into select-cut but mature to old-growth northern mesic forest dominated by hemlock, sugar maple, yellow birch, and a few supercanopy white pine. Sugar maple dominates the sapling layer and hemlock regeneration is absent. The ground layer is generally sparse, with lady fern, downy yellow wood violet, sweet cicely, rosy twisted stalk, large-flowered trillium, long beech fern, and American starflower.
This is one of the very few significant stands of older forest remaining on the Flambeau following the severe 1977 blowdown event.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Access, closures and licenses for Swamp Lake State Natural Area
Swamp Lake State Natural Area: open to whom, and how
Expect open hunting and trapping on the DNR-owned parcels, with no camping, motor vehicles, drones or plant collecting allowed.
Orange, stands and GameReg at Swamp Lake State Natural Area
Bowhunters too: when a gun deer season is on, 50% of the coat and hat must be orange or pink, unless you are hunting waterfowl. A ground blind on DNR property needs 144 sq in of orange or pink during gun deer seasons. South of Hwy. 64 every stand and blind leaves with you; north of it, two portable stands per county may stay out Sept. 1-Jan. 31. Use GameReg (online or 844-426-3734) before 5 p.m. the day after the harvest.
Tags and licenses for Swamp Lake State Natural Area
Licenses sell on Go Wild. On public land, antlerless deer need a public-access authorization for the unit.
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.
Swamp Lake State Natural Area: parent and sister units
Flambeau River State Forest is the parent; 7 more units share it.
More of Flambeau River State Forest
| Name | Kind | Counties | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass Lake Peatlands | State natural area | Price, Sawyer | 954 |
| Hanson Lake Wetlands | State natural area | Sawyer | 302 |
| Oxbo Pines | State natural area | Price, Sawyer | 287 |
| Flambeau River Hardwood Forest | State natural area | Sawyer | 266 |
| Skinner Creek Hardwoods | State natural area | Rusk | 228 |
| North Fork Pines | State natural area | Price | 82 |
| Lake of the Pines Conifer-Hardwoods | State natural area | Sawyer | 53 |
Which animals Swamp Lake State Natural Area lists
The agency names no particular game for Swamp Lake State Natural Area: all open seasons apply, within the property rules.
The Sawyer County dates (39 rows) follow.
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.
Which seasons are open in Swamp Lake State Natural Area
Deer dates are statewide in Wisconsin; bear, turkey, grouse, cottontail and waterfowl dates follow zone lines, so only the rows for Swamp Lake State Natural Area are listed.
| Species | Season | Where it applies | Opens | Closes | 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 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone A/D | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone A/D | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone A/D | 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.
Swamp Lake State Natural Area: county harvest and CWD tests
Deer harvest here is reported by Northern Forest DMU, and only 2025 exists since the 2025 boundary change. Preliminary 2026 count to Oct. 19: 109 in DMU 112. Sawyer County CWD testing (2025): 0 positives out of 60 samples. Cumulative total 0 positives in 1,917 tests. Sawyer County bear harvest, 2025: 241. Harvest and CWD figures cover Sawyer County as a whole.
Sawyer County deer by year
| DMU | Antlered | Antlerless | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 112 | 813 | 585 | 1,398 |
Testing for CWD, Sawyer County
| Year | Deer tested | CWD positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 60 | 0 |
| 2024 | 57 | 0 |
| 2023 | 95 | 0 |
| 2022 | 81 | 0 |
| 2021 | 74 | 0 |
Bears by year, Sawyer County
| Year | Bears | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 296 | 133 | 163 |
| 2025 | 241 | 134 | 107 |
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.
Swamp Lake State Natural Area pinned among its neighbours
Map of Swamp Lake State Natural Area and the 10 nearest public places. That is 240,272 acres of public ground.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberly Clark | Wildlife area | 8,701 | 4.3 mi | southeast |
| Niebauer Springs | Fishery area | 199 | 7.7 mi | southeast |
| Lac Sault Dore | Access site | 24 | 9.6 mi | southeast |
| Price | County forest | 92,294 | 12 mi | south |
| Lake of the Pines | Easement land | 20,813 | 12 mi | west |
| Sawyer | County forest | 115,196 | 15 mi | southwest |
| Tuscobia | State trail | 1,088 | 15 mi | northeast |
| Spring Creek | Wildlife area | 914 | 18 mi | southeast |
| Silvernail | Wildlife area | 1,041 | 18 mi | southwest |
| South Fork Flambeau River | Fishery area | 2 | 18 mi | northeast |
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.
Towns, processors and DNR desks near Swamp Lake State Natural Area
Start with a town, then line up a cooler, a butcher and a mount.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Falls | Price | 15 mi | 2,375 | 47,202 |
| Winter | Sawyer | 15 mi | 335 | 80,670 |
| Phillips | Price | 16 mi | 1,489 | 45,856 |
| Butternut | Ashland | 18 mi | 366 | 31,503 |
For the wider county picture: Sawyer County.
Venison, mounts and ammo near Swamp Lake State Natural Area
Swamp Lake State Natural Area: agency contacts
County service center: 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.
Swamp Lake State Natural Area: nearest ranges
Cranberry Creek in Price County is the nearest DNR-map range, 19 miles out.
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
First and last legal minute at Swamp Lake State Natural Area
Deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey: 30 minutes before sunrise until 20 minutes after sunset. Ducks, geese, doves and spring turkey: same start, done at sunset.
| Date | Season moment | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 90.69 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Questions hunters raise about Swamp Lake State Natural Area
When must I register a turkey from Swamp Lake State Natural Area?
Deer: online, phone or station by 5 p.m. next day. Turkeys: online or phone only.
Which tags work on Swamp Lake State Natural Area?
No special permit for most of it; buy the license on Go Wild and carry public-access antlerless tags.
Is there other public ground around Swamp Lake State Natural Area?
By straight-line distance: Kimberly Clark Wildlife Area (4 miles), Niebauer Springs Fishery Area (8 miles) and Lac Sault Dore State Public Access (10 miles).
What is the parent of Swamp Lake State Natural Area?
Flambeau River State Forest holds it.
What type of property is Swamp Lake State Natural Area on the record?
It is a DNR-owned State Natural Area, managed by the Wisconsin DNR.
What size is Swamp Lake State Natural Area on the record?
About 1,042 acres.
What is the nearest town to Swamp Lake State Natural Area?
Base in Park Falls, 15 miles away; the ground is in Sawyer County.
Which species are allowed at Swamp Lake State Natural Area?
There is no species list. Any season open in the county works here within the rules.
What is the antlerless quota at Swamp Lake State Natural Area?
DMU 112, part of the Northern Forest zone. Antlerless goal for 2026: 625.
Which bear permit zone holds Swamp Lake State Natural Area?
A. You need a Class A license from the drawing.
How many turkey permits go to the Swamp Lake State Natural Area zone?
Turkey Zone 6. 6,001 spring tags were issued there in 2025.
What waterfowl dates apply at Swamp Lake State Natural Area?
Duck zone: Northern; goose zone: Northern. Northern Zone ducks open Sep 26, 2026-27.
Can I put out corn for deer at Swamp Lake State Natural Area?
Yes, within the state limits on amount and placement. No positive wild deer recorded here.
Swamp Lake State Natural Area: one more look before the drive
Signs on the ground beat any web page. Read the posted boundaries at Swamp Lake State Natural Area when you arrive.
Sources for this page: DNR: SwampLake · DNR GIS · DNR: StateNaturalAreas; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); Virginia State Parks staff (CC BY 2.0).