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2026-27 · Riverway
Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters 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 Iron and Ashland counties.
Photo: BobbbyLight (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Springstead LandingBoat ramp · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Springstead LandingBoat ramp · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Springstead LandingBoat ramp · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Trude Lake LandingBoat ramp · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Sportsman's LandingBoat ramp · 3.6 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.
What the record says about Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
On paper it is a state riverway, wild river or scenic waters area; on the map it is in Iron and Ashland counties. DNR staff of the Northern Region cover this part of the Northwoods. Manager: the Wisconsin DNR. Its 35,736 acres rank 3rd of the 9 Wisconsin riverways and wild rivers with an acreage on file. From Mercer, our closest town page, it is roughly 8 miles to the southwest. It is the parent of 2 pages on this site.
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 Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area rules and licenses
Access rules at Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
State seasons on the open parcels only. The DNR map shows which pieces of this DNR land those are.
State law on Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters 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 Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area needs
Get licenses on Go Wild or at an agent. Antlerless tags are unit-specific and labelled public or private land.
Closed and restricted areas inside Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
1 closed or restricted area appear for Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area in the DNR layer.
| Name | Restriction | Closed | Acres | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area | Closed to hunting and trapping | Jan 1–Dec 31 | — | NR 45.09(1) |
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.
Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area: DMU, bear zone and turkey zone
Deer management: DMU 117, Northern Forest zone. The Natural Resources Board set 550 antlerless deer as the 2026 quota there. Bear Zone A has a 2026 harvest target of 1,100 with 1,675 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. Baiting deer is lawful in Iron and Ashland counties, at no more than 2 gallons a site.
Deer units that cover Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
| Deer unit | Zone | Antlerless goal | Public tags left | Private tags left | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 117 | Northern Forest | 550 | 620 | 619 | — |
Zones beyond deer for Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear A | Dogs legal | 1,100 target, 1,675 permits | 11 points | 1,235 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 1/1B | 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.
Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area: species with bag limits
The record lists no species. Every season open in Iron County works here within the rules above.
That makes the Iron 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 Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters 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 A/B | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone A/B | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone A/B | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 7 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 7 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 7 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 7 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 7 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 7 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 7 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 7 | 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.
Units inside Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
Units inside Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area: 2, adding up to 5,816 acres.
| Unit | Type | Where | Size | Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle-Flambeau Patterned Bog | State natural area | Iron | 5,461 | — |
| Flambeau Wetlands | State natural area | Iron | 355 | — |
Public property near Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
The large pin is Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area; the others are the 10 closest public properties. Together they hold 35,268 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springstead Muskeg | State natural area | 631 | 6.0 mi | south |
| Tomahawk Timberlands (moose Lake Trct) | Easement land | 3,014 | 6.5 mi | north |
| Lehto Lake | State natural area | 1,612 | 6.6 mi | southeast |
| Frog Lake and Pines | State natural area | 1,290 | 7.3 mi | northeast |
| Hay Creek-Hoffman Lake | Wildlife area | 14,489 | 7.5 mi | southwest |
| Moose Lake | State natural area | 4,293 | 9.1 mi | north |
| DuPage Lake Peatlands | State natural area | 3,287 | 11 mi | northeast |
| Pike Lake | Fishery area | 2 | 12 mi | southeast |
| Powell Marsh | Wildlife area | 4,342 | 13 mi | east |
| Toy Lake Swamp | State natural area | 2,308 | 14 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) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
How the land around Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area hunts, by the numbers
Harvest for this part of Iron County comes from the 2025 forest DMU counts. 2026 so far, still changing: DMU 117, 105. CWD sampling in Iron County, CWD year 2025: 26 wild deer sampled, 0 positive. Overall: 832 samples and 0 positives. Iron County: 106 bears in 2025. The DNR reports deer by unit, not by property: read these as the Iron County picture.
Iron County bucks and antlerless
| Deer unit | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 117 | 523 | 372 | 895 |
Iron County CWD sampling
| Year | Sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 26 | 0 |
| 2024 | 23 | 0 |
| 2023 | 25 | 0 |
| 2022 | 55 | 0 |
| 2021 | 41 | 0 |
Iron County bears
| Year | Bears registered | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 104 | 55 | 49 |
| 2025 | 106 | 50 | 56 |
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.
Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area: nearest ranges
No range sits on Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Northwoods Shooting Range, about 10 miles away.
rifle, handgun, archery, trap, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Home bases for a Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area trip
Closest towns, measured as the crow flies, then the businesses around them.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer | Iron | 8.3 mi | — | 111,827 |
| Lac du Flambeau | Vilas | 15 mi | — | 37,716 |
| Park Falls | Price | 17 mi | 2,375 | 47,202 |
| Butternut | Ashland | 17 mi | 366 | 31,503 |
Read up on the county: Iron County, Ashland County.
Taxidermy and supplies for Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area hunters
Phone numbers for Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area questions
The DNR service center listed for Iron County is DNR Woodruff Service Center, 715-356-5211.
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.
Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters 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 | 6:07 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 90.16 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
Is blaze pink legal at Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters 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 Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area?
Register on GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; the confirmation number starts with W.
Is there a separate permit for Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area?
The standard license for your game; no landowner permission on public ground.
Are there closed areas on Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area?
Some parts are closed or limited (1 listed).
Which public properties lie near Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area?
Three to try: Springstead Muskeg State Natural Area (6 miles), Tomahawk Timberlands Conservation Easement (moose Lake Trct) (7 miles) and Lehto Lake State Natural Area (7 miles).
Which units make up Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area?
2 units, listed in the units section.
How is Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area classified?
State riverway, wild river or scenic waters area, under the Wisconsin DNR.
How much land is in Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area?
It covers 35,736 acres by the recorded figure.
Where in the state does Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area lie?
Iron and Ashland counties holds it, 8 miles from Mercer.
Does Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters 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 Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area?
The Northern Forest zone, DMU 117. Quota for 2026: 550 antlerless.
Is bear hunting possible at Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area?
Zone A; hounds are legal there.
Can I turkey hunt Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area in spring?
Zone 7; 2025 saw 726 birds registered in the zone.
Last checks on Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area has the final say on closures and maps.
Sources for this page: DNR: turtleflambeau · DNR GIS · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); urbanwoodchuck (CC BY 2.0).