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2026-27 · Fishery area
Tozer Springs Fishery Area, a hunter's guide
Who runs it, which deer unit and bear zone cover it, what it holds (whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys and ducks and geese), and the public land and towns around it in Washburn County.
Photo: jondejong (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Tozer Springs Fishery Area
What the record says about Tozer Springs Fishery Area
On paper it is a DNR fishery area that is open to hunting; on the map it is in Washburn County. DNR staff of the Northern Region cover this part of the Northwoods. Manager: the Wisconsin DNR. Its 32 acres rank 178th of the 245 Wisconsin fishery areas with an acreage on file. From Spooner, our closest town page, it is roughly 3 miles to the southwest.
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 Tozer Springs Fishery Area
Tozer Springs Fishery Area in the agency's words
Unedited text from the official page.
Tozer Springs Fishery Area is a 30.8-acre property in Washburn County. Tozer Springs Fishery Area consists of a mix of swamp hardwoods, jackpine stands, aspen, emergent vegetation and spring ponds. Tozer and Un springs are contained within the Fishery Area and their waters flow into the nearby Yellow River, eventually ending up in the Mississippi River by way of the St. Croix River. McKenzie Creek Fishery Area Tozer Springs Fishery Area was purchased in 1976 with the intent of protecting the spring ponds which feed into the nearby Yellow River.
Directions: To get to the Fishery Area from Spooner, travel 1.15 miles south on U.S. Hwy 63 from the intersection of U.S. Hwy 63 and State Hwy 70. Travel west on Green Valley Road approximately 2 miles to arrive at the parking lot.
Tozer Springs Fishery Area hunting wording
- Hunting – deer, bear, turkey, waterfowl, small game
- Tozer Springs is stocked annually with catchable size brook trout.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Tozer Springs Fishery Area rules and licenses
Access rules at Tozer Springs Fishery Area
State seasons on the open parcels only. The DNR map shows which pieces of this fishery land those are.
State law on Tozer Springs Fishery 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 Tozer Springs Fishery 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.
Tozer Springs Fishery Area: DMU, bear zone and turkey zone
Deer management: Washburn, Central Farmland zone. The Natural Resources Board set 2,600 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 Washburn County; DNR testing is free and voluntary statewide. The deer baiting ban covers Washburn County.
Deer units that cover Tozer Springs Fishery Area
| Deer unit | Zone | Antlerless goal | Public tags left | Private tags left | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washburn Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 2,600 | 324 | 2,235 | 2 |
Zones beyond deer for Tozer Springs Fishery 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.
Tozer Springs Fishery Area: species with bag limits
Listed game at Tozer Springs Fishery Area: whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
White-tailed deer
Black bear
Wild turkey
Ducks and geese
Small game
Furbearers
The Washburn 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 Tozer Springs Fishery Area
Tozer Springs Fishery Area sits in the Northern Forest and Central Farmland 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, Washburn | 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/A | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D/A | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D/A | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 6/4 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 6/4 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 6/4 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 6/4 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 6/4 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 6/4 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 6/4 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 6/4 | 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.
Public property near Tozer Springs Fishery Area
The large pin is Tozer Springs Fishery Area; the others are the 10 closest public properties. Together they hold 117,726 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gov. Tommy G. Thompson Hatchery | Fishery area | 118 | 2.0 mi | northeast |
| Sawyer Creek | Fishery area | 718 | 2.0 mi | south |
| Beaver Brook | State natural area | 307 | 3.4 mi | east |
| Beaver Brook | Wildlife area | 1,914 | 4.2 mi | east |
| Spooner Lake (aka Crystal Brook) | Wildlife area | 84 | 7.1 mi | east |
| Clam River | Fishery area | 2,557 | 10 mi | southwest |
| Spring Creek | Fishery area | 72 | 11 mi | west |
| Bear Lake | Fishery area | 265 | 12 mi | south |
| Burnett | County forest | 111,516 | 12 mi | northwest |
| Whalen Creek Fish and | Fishery area | 175 | 12 mi | northeast |
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 Tozer Springs Fishery Area hunts, by the numbers
Washburn County hunters registered 1,418 deer in 2025, 625 of them bucks. Totals swing between 1,418 and 4,825 across the years charted. 2026 so far, still changing: Washburn Central Farmland, 131. CWD sampling in Washburn County, CWD year 2025: 209 wild deer sampled, 0 positive. Overall: 4,434 samples and 1 positives. Washburn County: 167 bears in 2025. The DNR reports deer by unit, not by property: read these as the Washburn County picture.
Washburn County bucks and antlerless
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 625 | 793 | 1,418 |
| 2024 | 1,727 | 1,326 | 3,053 |
| 2023 | 1,558 | 1,334 | 2,892 |
| 2022 | 2,505 | 2,238 | 4,743 |
| 2021 | 2,222 | 1,747 | 3,969 |
| 2020 | 2,129 | 2,021 | 4,150 |
Washburn County CWD sampling
| Year | Sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 26 | 0 |
| 2025 | 209 | 0 |
| 2024 | 196 | 0 |
| 2023 | 180 | 0 |
| 2022 | 206 | 0 |
| 2021 | 185 | 0 |
Washburn County bears
| Year | Bears registered | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 254 | 136 | 118 |
| 2025 | 167 | 94 | 73 |
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.
Tozer Springs Fishery Area: nearest ranges
No range sits on Tozer Springs Fishery Area; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Frog Creek Washburn Cty. Forest, about 20 miles away. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle, trap, shotgun, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
archery, 3D archery on file
skeet, sporting clays, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Home bases for a Tozer Springs Fishery Area trip
Closest towns, measured as the crow flies, then the businesses around them.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spooner | Washburn | 2.8 mi | 2,494 | 18,872 |
| Shell Lake | Washburn | 5.4 mi | 1,393 | 22,756 |
| Trego | Washburn | 8.6 mi | — | 40,446 |
| Barronett | Barron | 12 mi | — | 24,125 |
Read up on the county: Washburn County.
Taxidermy and supplies for Tozer Springs Fishery Area hunters
Phone numbers for Tozer Springs Fishery Area questions
The DNR service center listed for Washburn 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.
Tozer Springs Fishery 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 | 6:11 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:55 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:16 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:44 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:56 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:15 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:17 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:02 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 E offset of 16 minutes for longitude 91.93 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on Tozer Springs Fishery Area
Has CWD turned up in the county around Tozer Springs Fishery Area?
The deer baiting ban applies in Washburn County. CWD: yes, in Washburn County.
Is blaze pink legal at Tozer Springs Fishery 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 Tozer Springs Fishery Area?
Register on GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; the confirmation number starts with W.
Is there a separate permit for Tozer Springs Fishery Area?
The standard license for your game; no landowner permission on public ground.
Which public properties lie near Tozer Springs Fishery Area?
Three to try: Gov. Tommy G. Thompson Hatchery (2 miles), Sawyer Creek Fishery Area (2 miles) and Beaver Brook State Natural Area (3 miles).
How is Tozer Springs Fishery Area classified?
DNR fishery area that is open to hunting, under the Wisconsin DNR.
How much land is in Tozer Springs Fishery Area?
It covers 32 acres by the recorded figure.
Where in the state does Tozer Springs Fishery Area lie?
Washburn County holds it, 3 miles from Spooner.
What is Tozer Springs Fishery Area hunted for?
The agency names whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes; other legal game follows the county dates.
Which deer management unit holds Tozer Springs Fishery Area?
The Central Farmland zone, Washburn. Quota for 2026: 2,600 antlerless.
Is bear hunting possible at Tozer Springs Fishery Area?
Zone D; hounds are legal there.
Can I turkey hunt Tozer Springs Fishery Area in spring?
Zone 4; 2025 saw 8,472 birds registered in the zone.
When can I hunt ducks at Tozer Springs Fishery Area?
Northern for ducks, Northern for geese. The regular Northern Zone duck season opens Sep 26.
Last checks on Tozer Springs Fishery Area before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of Tozer Springs Fishery Area has the final say on closures and maps.
Sources for this page: DNR: 5701tozersprings · DNR GIS · DNR: county; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Reiner Ehlers (CC BY 2.0); nugefishes (CC BY 2.0).