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Sawyer County · State trail
Hunting at Tuscobia State Trail
Tuscobia State Trail, 1,088 acres in Sawyer, Price, Barron and Washburn counties: zones and tags, property rules, county harvest and the land nearby.
Photo: Joshua Mayer (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Tuscobia State Trail
Tuscobia State Trail on one card
Hunters reach Tuscobia State Trail in Sawyer, Price, Barron and Washburn counties; it is a state trail with open hunting stretches. This is the Northwoods, in the DNR Northern Region. Day-to-day it is in the hands of the Wisconsin DNR. Measured at 1,088 acres, it comes in 1st of 14 state trails. Park Falls is the nearest town with a guide on this site, about 1 mile away; the land lies west of it.
From the source page (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, whole trail corridor (only partial areas are open)); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Zones that take in Tuscobia State Trail
Tuscobia State Trail is Northern Forest and Central Farmland deer country, unit DMU 113, DMU 109, DMU 111, DMU 112 and 1 more units. 5 units, with 2026 antlerless quotas from 625 to 4,500. The Zone A bear quota for 2026 is 1,100, spread over 1,675 drawn permits. Zone 6 turkey numbers for 2025: 6,001 spring tags, 23% success. Wild deer with CWD have been confirmed in Washburn County.
Antlerless tags near Tuscobia State Trail
| Unit | Zone | Quota 2026 | Bonus, public | Bonus, private | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 113 | Northern Forest | 1,155 | 1,369 | 2,244 | — |
| DMU 109 | Northern Forest | 1,870 | 2,715 | 5,713 | — |
| DMU 111 | Northern Forest | 685 | 576 | 2,184 | — |
| DMU 112 | Northern Forest | 625 | 1,437 | 1,333 | — |
| Barron | Central Farmland | 4,500 | 987 | 3,479 | 2 |
Tuscobia State Trail: other game zones
| Zone | Detail | Numbers | More | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone A | Hounds allowed | 1,100 target, 1,675 permits | 11 points | 1,235 bears in 2025 |
| Bear zone D | Hounds allowed | 1,100 target, 3,855 permits | 2 points | 931 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 zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Canada 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 1/1B/3 | No harvest | Federal listing |
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.
What Tuscobia State Trail requires of hunters
Tuscobia State Trail access terms
Hunting runs on the state park calendar: spring from April 1 to the Tuesday closest to May 3, fall from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15, and archery on to the Sunday closest to Jan. 6. Only parts of the trail are open; the trail hunting map shows them.
The rule book on Tuscobia State Trail
Half of your outer clothing above the waist, and half of your hat, must be blaze orange or pink whenever a firearm deer season is open (waterfowl hunters excepted). Ground blinds need a 144-square-inch orange or pink patch in gun deer seasons on DNR ground. Stands may not damage trees. North of Hwy. 64 they can stay overnight Sept. 1, 2026 to Jan. 31, 2027 (two per hunter per county); south of Hwy. 64 they come down daily. Deer and turkeys go into GameReg online or by phone by 5 p.m. the next day.
Go Wild shopping list for Tuscobia State Trail
A gun deer or archery license comes with a buck authorization; antlerless deer on this land need a public-access authorization.
Restricted parts of Tuscobia State Trail
The DNR closed-areas layer lists 1 zone on Tuscobia State Trail. Exception printed most often: Hunting/trapping restrictions apply, check property map(s) at link provided.
| Area | What applies | Dates | Size | NR rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscobia State Trail | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 1,107 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
When Tuscobia State Trail opens to hunters
| Species | Window | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
What hunters pursue at Tuscobia State Trail
Nothing narrows the game at Tuscobia State Trail; all open seasons apply as long as the property rules are followed.
The Sawyer County season table below has 39 dated rows for that reason.
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.
Tuscobia State Trail: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 39 season segments apply to Tuscobia State Trail.
| Species | Hunt type | Zone or unit | Opening | Closing | 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/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.
Sawyer County harvest near Tuscobia State Trail
No history before 2025 exists for these forest DMUs, the DNR says. Through Oct. 19, 2026: 100 antlered and 76 antlerless in DMU 113, 111 antlered and 111 antlerless in DMU 109 and 61 antlered and 79 antlerless in DMU 111 (preliminary). CWD year 2025 brought 60 Sawyer County samples and 0 positives. Running total since 1999: 1,917 tested. The 2025 bear count for Sawyer County was 241. No harvest is published for Tuscobia State Trail itself, so the county unit is the finest level.
Registered deer in the Tuscobia State Trail county unit
| Unit | Bucks | Does | Registered 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 113 | 990 | 786 | 1,776 |
| DMU 109 | 1,590 | 1,091 | 2,681 |
| DMU 111 | 779 | 587 | 1,366 |
| DMU 112 | 813 | 585 | 1,398 |
CWD tests in Sawyer County
| CWD year | Wild deer sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 60 | 0 |
| 2024 | 57 | 0 |
| 2023 | 95 | 0 |
| 2022 | 81 | 0 |
| 2021 | 74 | 0 |
Bear numbers near Tuscobia State Trail
| Year | Total | 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.
Around Tuscobia State Trail: more places to hunt
The big marker is Tuscobia State Trail. Smaller ones are its 10 closest neighbours. The neighbours add 26,413 acres between them.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Fork Flambeau River | Fishery area | 2 | 4.9 mi | east |
| Hay Creek-Hoffman Lake | Wildlife area | 14,489 | 9.8 mi | northeast |
| Oxbo Pines | State natural area | 287 | 11 mi | west |
| North Fork Pines | State natural area | 82 | 12 mi | southwest |
| Flambeau Wetlands | State natural area | 355 | 13 mi | northeast |
| Niebauer Springs | Fishery area | 199 | 13 mi | south |
| Kimberly Clark | Wildlife area | 8,701 | 15 mi | southwest |
| Swamp Lake | State natural area | 1,042 | 15 mi | southwest |
| Bass Lake Peatlands | State natural area | 954 | 15 mi | southwest |
| Hanson Lake Wetlands | State natural area | 302 | 15 mi | southwest |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS (polygon centroid) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside))). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Tuscobia State Trail: nearby towns and businesses
Town pages first, then shops, processors and DNR desks.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Falls | Price | 0.8 mi | 2,375 | 47,202 |
| Butternut | Ashland | 5.8 mi | 366 | 31,503 |
| Glidden | Ashland | 15 mi | — | 89,026 |
| Phillips | Price | 17 mi | 1,489 | 45,856 |
County-level hunting pages: Sawyer County, Price County, Barron County, Washburn County.
Shops a short drive from Tuscobia State Trail
DNR desks closest to Tuscobia State Trail
Service center for Sawyer County business: 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.
Tuscobia State Trail: nearest ranges
About 6 miles separates Tuscobia State Trail from Flambeau River / Hay Creek Shooting Range, the nearest public map range.
rifle on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Shooting light at Tuscobia State Trail by date
At Tuscobia State Trail the offset is 12 minutes (Zone D). The times below already include it for both DNR shooting-hours areas.
| Day | Season | North table | South table |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 90.46 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
What people ask about hunting Tuscobia State Trail
How do I register a deer from Tuscobia State Trail?
Through GameReg (online, phone or a station) by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
Do I need blaze orange at Tuscobia State Trail?
In any open firearm deer season, wear blaze orange or pink on at least half your coat and cap.
When can I hunt Tuscobia State Trail?
Only during the state park windows: early April to early May, and Nov. 15-Dec. 15 (archery into early January).
Which Wisconsin license covers Tuscobia State Trail?
Go Wild sells everything needed; antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
Which agency sets the rules on Tuscobia State Trail?
The Wisconsin DNR treats it as a state trail with open hunting stretches.
If Tuscobia State Trail is full, where next?
Within a short drive: South Fork Flambeau River State Public Access (5 miles), Hay Creek-Hoffman Lake Wildlife Area (10 miles) and Oxbo Pines State Natural Area (11 miles).
Where do Tuscobia State Trail hunters spend the night?
Start from Park Falls; the land is 1 mile off, in Sawyer, Price, Barron and Washburn counties.
What acreage is listed for Tuscobia State Trail?
Roughly 1,088 acres.
Which DMU takes in Tuscobia State Trail?
Deer unit DMU 113, DMU 109 and DMU 111; zone Northern Forest and Central Farmland. The 2026 antlerless quota is 1,155 (DMU 113), 1,870 (DMU 109), 685 (DMU 111), 625 (DMU 112) and 4,500 (Barron); use a public-access antlerless tag here.
What game is legal on Tuscobia State Trail?
Any species in an open season, as long as you follow the property rules.
Which turkey zone is Tuscobia State Trail in?
Zone 6, one bird per spring authorization.
Which bear management zone holds Tuscobia State Trail?
Bear Zone A/D. Zone A took 11 preference points in 2026.
Is deer baiting legal near Tuscobia State Trail?
No: Barron and Washburn counties ban deer baiting and feeding. Wild deer with CWD are documented in Washburn County.
Check Tuscobia State Trail once more
Refuges, closed areas and park windows at Tuscobia State Trail can shift mid-season; the property page and the DNR map have the current picture.
Sources for this page: DNR: hunt · DNR: tuscobia · DNR GIS · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0).