Home › Wisconsin › Public land › Twin Lakes Conservation Easement
Iron County · Easement land
Hunting at Twin Lakes Conservation Easement
Twin Lakes Conservation Easement, 13,991 acres in Iron County: zones and tags, property rules, county harvest and the land nearby.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Twin Lakes Conservation Easement
Twin Lakes Conservation Easement on one card
Hunters reach Twin Lakes Conservation Easement in Iron County; it is a DNR conservation easement with public access. This is the Northwoods, in the DNR Northern Region. Day-to-day it is in the hands of the Wisconsin DNR. Measured at 13,991 acres, it comes in 9th of 16 easement properties. Iron Belt is the nearest town with a guide on this site, about 9 miles away; the land lies south of it.
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 Twin Lakes Conservation Easement
Zones that take in Twin Lakes Conservation Easement
Twin Lakes Conservation Easement is Northern Forest deer country, unit DMU 118. Antlerless quota, 2026: 90. The Zone A bear quota for 2026 is 1,100, spread over 1,675 drawn permits. Zone 7 turkey numbers for 2025: 4,401 spring tags, 16% success. Iron County is one of the 12 counties without a baiting ban.
Antlerless tags near Twin Lakes Conservation Easement
| Unit | Zone | Quota 2026 | Bonus, public | Bonus, private | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 118 | Northern Forest | 90 | 23 | 0 | — |
Twin Lakes Conservation Easement: 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 |
| Turkey 7 | 4,401 spring tags (2025) | 16% success | 726 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 | ||
| Wolf 1 | 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 Twin Lakes Conservation Easement requires of hunters
Twin Lakes Conservation Easement access terms
Public access comes from a DNR easement on private forest; buildings have posted closed zones.
The rule book on Twin Lakes Conservation Easement
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 Twin Lakes Conservation Easement
A gun deer or archery license comes with a buck authorization; antlerless deer on this land need a public-access authorization.
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 Twin Lakes Conservation Easement
Nothing narrows the game at Twin Lakes Conservation Easement; all open seasons apply as long as the property rules are followed.
The Iron County season table below has 38 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.
Twin Lakes Conservation Easement: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 38 season segments apply to Twin Lakes Conservation Easement.
| 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/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.
Iron County harvest near Twin Lakes Conservation Easement
No history before 2025 exists for these forest DMUs, the DNR says. Through Oct. 19, 2026: 47 antlered and 14 antlerless in DMU 118 (preliminary). CWD year 2025 brought 26 Iron County samples and 0 positives. Running total since 1999: 832 tested. The 2025 bear count for Iron County was 106. No harvest is published for Twin Lakes Conservation Easement itself, so the county unit is the finest level.
Registered deer in the Twin Lakes Conservation Easement county unit
| Unit | Bucks | Does | Registered 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 118 | 384 | 91 | 475 |
CWD tests in Iron County
| CWD year | Wild deer sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 26 | 0 |
| 2024 | 23 | 0 |
| 2023 | 25 | 0 |
| 2022 | 55 | 0 |
| 2021 | 41 | 0 |
Bear numbers near Twin Lakes Conservation Easement
| Year | Total | 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.
Around Twin Lakes Conservation Easement: more places to hunt
The big marker is Twin Lakes Conservation Easement. Smaller ones are its 10 closest neighbours. The neighbours add 237,937 acres between them.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Northern | Easement land | 13,994 | 2.2 mi | east |
| Island Lake Hemlocks | State natural area | 113 | 3.9 mi | east |
| Snake Track | Wildlife area | 15 | 6.6 mi | north |
| Iron | County forest | 175,343 | 7.6 mi | east |
| Caroline Lake | State natural area | 131 | 7.7 mi | west |
| Ashland | County forest | 40,305 | 9.7 mi | west |
| Moose Lake | State natural area | 4,293 | 10 mi | southeast |
| Tomahawk Timberlands (moose Lake Trct) | Easement land | 3,014 | 12 mi | southeast |
| Devil's Creek | Wildlife area | 7 | 13 mi | west |
| Town of Morse | Wildlife area | 722 | 14 mi | northwest |
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.
Twin Lakes Conservation Easement: nearby towns and businesses
Town pages first, then shops, processors and DNR desks.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Belt | Iron | 8.8 mi | — | 90,192 |
| Mellen | Ashland | 13 mi | 686 | 85,788 |
| Glidden | Ashland | 14 mi | — | 89,026 |
| Hurley | Iron | 14 mi | 1,610 | 37,166 |
County-level hunting pages: Iron County.
Shops a short drive from Twin Lakes Conservation Easement
DNR desks closest to Twin Lakes Conservation Easement
Service center for Iron County business: DNR Woodruff 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.
Twin Lakes Conservation Easement: nearest ranges
About 7 miles separates Twin Lakes Conservation Easement from Snaketrack Shooting Range, the nearest public map range.
rifle, handgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Shooting light at Twin Lakes Conservation Easement by date
At Twin Lakes Conservation Easement 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 90.39 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
What people ask about hunting Twin Lakes Conservation Easement
What acreage is listed for Twin Lakes Conservation Easement?
Roughly 13,991 acres.
Which agency sets the rules on Twin Lakes Conservation Easement?
The Wisconsin DNR treats it as a DNR conservation easement with public access.
What game is legal on Twin Lakes Conservation Easement?
Any species in an open season, as long as you follow the property rules.
Where do Twin Lakes Conservation Easement hunters spend the night?
Start from Iron Belt; the land is 9 miles off, in Iron County.
Which bear management zone holds Twin Lakes Conservation Easement?
Bear Zone A. Zone A took 11 preference points in 2026.
Which DMU takes in Twin Lakes Conservation Easement?
Deer unit DMU 118; zone Northern Forest. The 2026 antlerless quota is 90 (DMU 118); use a public-access antlerless tag here.
What are the waterfowl zones for Twin Lakes Conservation Easement?
It sits in the Northern duck and Northern goose zones. In the Northern Zone the regular duck split begins Sep 26.
Which turkey zone is Twin Lakes Conservation Easement in?
Zone 7, one bird per spring authorization.
Do I need blaze orange at Twin Lakes Conservation Easement?
In any open firearm deer season, wear blaze orange or pink on at least half your coat and cap.
Is deer baiting legal near Twin Lakes Conservation Easement?
Baiting is allowed in this county within the 2-gallon limit. The county is not on the CWD list.
Which Wisconsin license covers Twin Lakes Conservation Easement?
Go Wild sells everything needed; antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
How do I register a deer from Twin Lakes Conservation Easement?
Through GameReg (online, phone or a station) by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
If Twin Lakes Conservation Easement is full, where next?
Within a short drive: Great Northern Conservation Easement (2 miles), Island Lake Hemlocks State Natural Area (4 miles) and Snake Track State Habitat Area (7 miles).
Check Twin Lakes Conservation Easement once more
Refuges, closed areas and park windows at Twin Lakes Conservation Easement can shift mid-season; the property page and the DNR map have the current picture.
Sources for this page: DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Shenandoah National Park (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Joe Mabel (CC BY-SA 4.0).