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County forest, west-central Wisconsin
Wood County Forest hunting notes
37,826 acres of county forest in Wood County, with 2026-27 zones, quotas, rules, CWD testing and a map.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Wood County Forest
Wood County Forest, by its record
Count Wood County Forest among the county forests of Wood County. It falls in the DNR West Central Region, west-central Wisconsin. Wood County Forestry Department manages the land. By size (37,826 acres) it is number 19 among 30 county forests on our list. Head west from Babcock for about 6 miles. The DNR and agency lists place it inside Wisconsin County Forest System.
From the source page (WI DNR Forest Tax report "Wisconsin County Forest Acres as of July 01, 2021" (total incl. special use lands)); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Wood County Forest
Zone lines at Wood County Forest
Deer rules follow the Central Farmland and Central Forest zones and Wood and DMU 204. For 2026 the antlerless quota stands at 4,600 and 500. In Bear Zone C the DNR drew 4,465 permits for a target of 875 bears; drawn hunters needed 2 points. Turkey Zone 3: 55,612 spring authorizations in 2025 and 22% hunter success. Wood County is on the CWD list: a positive wild deer has been found. Deer may not be baited or fed in Wood County.
Wood County Forest deer management units
| DMU | Zone | 2026 antlerless | Public bonus | Private bonus | Free per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 4,600 | 258 | 2,977 | 2 |
| DMU 204 | Central Forest | 500 | 16 | 355 | — |
Bear, turkey, grouse and waterfowl lines through Wood County Forest
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear C | No hound hunting | 875 target, 4,465 permits | 2 points | 663 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 3 | 55,612 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 12,324 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Turkey 1 | 64,574 spring tags (2025) | 21% success | 13,813 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Ducks | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Canada geese | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| Elk zone | Central (Black River Elk Range) | 6 bull and 6 antlerless | Public land nearly 70% | |
| Wolf zone 5/4A/4 | Closed | Federal protection |
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.
Hunting Wood County Forest within the rules
Who may hunt Wood County Forest
County Forest Law land is public hunting ground. Read the county ordinance for blinds, stands and ATVs, and ask the forest office what is closed.
Statewide rules that reach Wood County Forest
Wisconsin asks for 50% blaze orange or fluorescent pink above the waist in firearm deer seasons, archers included, waterfowlers not. Registration through GameReg closes at 5 p.m. on the day after recovery.
Wood County Forest license list
Residents often take the Conservation Patron, which bundles the hunting licenses. Antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
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.
Wood County Forest: the game on record
The source names whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, woodcock, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes for Wood County Forest.
White-tailed deer
Black bear
Wild turkey
Ruffed grouse
Woodcock
Small game
Furbearers
Every other open season that reaches Wood County applies too, within the property rules.
Species from the property record (General county forest hunting opportunities (DNR County Forests page; WCFA grouse/woodcock management areas). Bear/elk subject to zone.); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Wood County Forest hunting dates, fall 2026 to spring 2027
21 species and 45 segments reach Wood County Forest. The last column compares each one with today.
| Quarry | Season | Zone | From | To | Status 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 | |
| White-tailed deer | Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt | Holiday Hunt, Wood | 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 C | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Elk | Elk, all weapons | Central Elk Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 3/1 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 3/1 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 3/1 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 3/1 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 3/1 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 3/1 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 3/1 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 3/1 | 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 | |
| Cottontail | Cottontail rabbit | Southern cottontail zone | Oct 17, 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 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 1) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 2) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose | Northern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 1) | Southern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 2) | Southern Goose Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (holiday split) | Southern Goose Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 2, 2027 | |
| 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.
The land at Wood County Forest
This is the agency description, quoted.
Part of the 30-county Wisconsin county forest system (more than 2.4 million acres, the largest public land ownership in the state).
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
The larger property around Wood County Forest
Within Wisconsin County Forest System there are 30 units with pages, this one included.
Sister units to Wood County Forest
| Unit | Type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas | County forest | Douglas | 281,853 |
| Marinette | County forest | Marinette | 229,978 |
| Bayfield | County forest | Bayfield | 175,557 |
| Iron | County forest | Iron | 175,343 |
| Washburn | County forest | Washburn | 150,196 |
| Clark | County forest | Clark | 134,742 |
| Langlade | County forest | Langlade | 130,717 |
| Jackson | County forest | Jackson | 122,685 |
| Sawyer | County forest | Sawyer | 115,196 |
| Burnett | County forest | Burnett | 111,516 |
| Lincoln | County forest | Lincoln | 100,843 |
| Price | County forest | Price | 92,294 |
| Rusk | County forest | Rusk | 89,284 |
| Oneida | County forest | Oneida | 82,960 |
| Eau Claire | County forest | Eau Claire | 52,712 |
Deer, bears and CWD around Wood County Forest
Last full season (2025) the Wood County unit gave up 5,416 deer. Since 2016 the yearly total has ranged from 4,373 (2019) to 6,158 (2024). So far in 2026 (preliminary, Oct. 19): Wood Central Farmland 445 deer and DMU 204 43 deer. In CWD year 2025, 292 Wood County deer were tested and 1 came back positive. Since 1999: 2,733 sampled, 3 positive. Bear hunters registered 27 bears in Wood County in 2025. Property-level harvest does not exist for Wood County Forest; county numbers stand in.
Deer table, Wood County
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,266 | 3,150 | 5,416 |
| 2024 | 2,951 | 3,207 | 6,158 |
| 2023 | 2,478 | 2,653 | 5,131 |
| 2022 | 2,750 | 2,729 | 5,479 |
| 2021 | 2,505 | 2,424 | 4,929 |
| 2020 | 2,661 | 2,676 | 5,337 |
CWD results near Wood County Forest
| CWD year | Sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 9 | 0 |
| 2025 | 292 | 1 |
| 2024 | 241 | 0 |
| 2023 | 184 | 0 |
| 2022 | 201 | 1 |
| 2021 | 209 | 0 |
Bear table, Wood County
| Season | Total bears | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24 | 13 | 11 |
| 2025 | 27 | 17 | 10 |
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.
Where Wood County Forest hunters stay and shop
Every town listed has a hunting guide of its own on this site.
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babcock | Wood | 6.4 mi | — | 85,496 |
| Pittsville | Wood | 12 mi | 808 | 38,270 |
| Ceex Haci | Wood | 13 mi | — | 30,121 |
| Warrens | Monroe | 18 mi | 541 | 79,341 |
County hunting overviews: Wood County.
Wood County Forest: businesses in the area
Offices that answer for Wood County Forest
Wood County is served by the DNR Wausau 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.
The closest public land to Wood County Forest
Wood County Forest is the large pin, with 10 neighbours around it. Their acreage adds up to 137,742.
| Property | Type | Acres | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood County | Wildlife area | 19,240 | 1.3 mi | north |
| Sandhill | Wildlife area | 9,642 | 5.4 mi | northeast |
| Yellow River Floodplain Forest | State natural area | 86 | 6.1 mi | northeast |
| Kingston Pines | State natural area | 535 | 6.1 mi | southwest |
| Meadow Valley | Wildlife area | 58,071 | 8.8 mi | south |
| Necedah | Wildlife refuge | 45,000 | 11 mi | south |
| Cranberry Creek Mound Group | State natural area | 675 | 11 mi | southeast |
| Meadow Valley Barrens | State natural area | 631 | 12 mi | south |
| Blueberry Trail | State natural area | 251 | 15 mi | south |
| Suk Cerney Peatlands | State natural area | 3,611 | 15 mi | south |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Public Land GIS, County Forests layer (polygon centroid) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside))). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
DNR shooting hours for Wood County Forest
Wisconsin prints its shooting hours as tables. For deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey the day runs from 30 minutes before sunrise to 20 minutes after sunset; migratory birds and spring turkey stop at sunset.
| When | Event | North | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 90.23 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Wood County Forest: nearest ranges
Sherwood Shooting Range in Clark County is the nearest DNR-map range, 15 miles out. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle, trap, sporting clays, shotgun on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
trap, skeet, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Wood County Forest: the questions that come up
Is there a check station for Wood County Forest?
Use GameReg online or call 844-426-3734 by 5 p.m. the day after.
What does the orange rule mean at Wood County Forest?
Yes, 50% orange or pink above the waist from the youth deer hunt through the Holiday Hunt.
Which properties are close to Wood County Forest?
Nearest on the list: Wood County Wildlife Area (1 mile), Sandhill Wildlife Area (5 miles) and Yellow River Floodplain Forest State Natural Area (6 miles).
How do I get permission to hunt Wood County Forest?
A regular Wisconsin license from Go Wild (gun deer $24 for residents); antlerless deer need a public-access tag.
Whose property is Wood County Forest?
Wood County Forestry Department oversees this county forest under the County Forest Law.
Where does Wood County Forest fit?
It belongs to Wisconsin County Forest System.
In which Wisconsin county is Wood County Forest?
Babcock is closest (6 miles); the property is in Wood County.
How many acres does Wood County Forest cover?
37,826 acres, per WI DNR Forest Tax report "Wisconsin County Forest Acres as of July 01, 2021" (total incl. special use lands).
Can I shoot antlerless deer on Wood County Forest?
Central Farmland and Central Forest zones; unit Wood and DMU 204. 4,600 and 500 antlerless deer is the 2026 quota.
Which animals are listed at Wood County Forest?
7 groups on the list: whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, woodcock, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
What turkey tag do I need for Wood County Forest?
Your spring tag must be for Zone 3 and a period A-F.
What are the bear rules around Wood County Forest?
It is in Bear Zone C, target 875 bears in 2026.
Does the baiting ban cover Wood County Forest?
Banned in Wood County. Wood County has had CWD-positive wild deer.
Wood County Forest: confirm on the ground
A last look before the drive: the Wood County Forest map, your Go Wild licenses and any posted closures.
Sources for this page: DNR GIS · DNR: AcreageSummary · DNR: CountyForests · WCFA: county contacts; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Dave Williss (CC BY 2.0).