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Burnett County · Wildlife area
Hunting at Yellow Lake State Habitat Area
Yellow Lake State Habitat Area, 233 acres in Burnett County: zones and tags, property rules, county harvest and the land nearby.
Photo: wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Yellow Lake State Habitat Area
Yellow Lake State Habitat Area on one card
Hunters reach Yellow Lake State Habitat Area in Burnett County; it is a DNR state wildlife area. This is the Northwoods, in the DNR Northern Region. Day-to-day it is in the hands of the Wisconsin DNR. Measured at 233 acres, it comes in 181st of 285 state wildlife areas. Webster is the nearest town with a guide on this site, about 2 miles away; the land lies northwest 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 Yellow Lake State Habitat Area
Zones that take in Yellow Lake State Habitat Area
Yellow Lake State Habitat Area is Northern Forest deer country, unit DMU 108. Antlerless quota, 2026: 2,850. The Zone D bear quota for 2026 is 1,100, spread over 3,855 drawn permits. Zone 4 turkey numbers for 2025: 34,997 spring tags, 24% success. Burnett County is one of the 12 counties without a baiting ban.
Antlerless tags near Yellow Lake State Habitat Area
| Unit | Zone | Quota 2026 | Bonus, public | Bonus, private | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 108 | Northern Forest | 2,850 | 3,017 | 7,467 | — |
Yellow Lake State Habitat Area: other game zones
| Zone | Detail | Numbers | More | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone D | Hounds allowed | 1,100 target, 3,855 permits | 2 points | 931 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 4 | 34,997 spring tags (2025) | 24% success | 8,472 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| 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 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 Yellow Lake State Habitat Area requires of hunters
Yellow Lake State Habitat Area access terms
Public hunting and trapping run on the statewide calendar; refuges and closed areas are posted, and the NR 45 code covers everything else.
The rule book on Yellow Lake State Habitat Area
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 Yellow Lake State Habitat Area
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 Yellow Lake State Habitat Area
Nothing narrows the game at Yellow Lake State Habitat Area; all open seasons apply as long as the property rules are followed.
The Burnett County season table below has 40 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.
Yellow Lake State Habitat Area: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 40 season segments apply to Yellow Lake State Habitat Area.
| 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 | |
| White-tailed deer | Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt | Holiday Hunt, Burnett | 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 4/6 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 4/6 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 4/6 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 4/6 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 4/6 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 4/6 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 4/6 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 4/6 | 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.
Burnett County harvest near Yellow Lake State Habitat Area
Deer registered in the Burnett County unit, 2025: 2,861. The decade peaked at 5,290 in 2017 and bottomed at 2,861 in 2025. Through Oct. 19, 2026: 143 antlered and 164 antlerless in DMU 108 (preliminary). CWD year 2025 brought 130 Burnett County samples and 0 positives. Running total since 1999: 3,047 tested. The 2025 bear count for Burnett County was 164. No harvest is published for Yellow Lake State Habitat Area itself, so the county unit is the finest level.
Registered deer in the Yellow Lake State Habitat Area county unit
| Year | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,327 | 1,534 | 2,861 |
| 2024 | 2,240 | 1,588 | 3,828 |
| 2023 | 1,922 | 1,571 | 3,493 |
| 2022 | 2,590 | 2,449 | 5,039 |
| 2021 | 2,379 | 2,201 | 4,580 |
| 2020 | 2,560 | 2,315 | 4,875 |
CWD tests in Burnett County
| CWD year | Wild deer sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 9 | 0 |
| 2025 | 130 | 0 |
| 2024 | 144 | 0 |
| 2023 | 152 | 0 |
| 2022 | 187 | 0 |
| 2021 | 169 | 0 |
Bear numbers near Yellow Lake State Habitat Area
| Year | Total | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 224 | 93 | 131 |
| 2025 | 164 | 74 | 90 |
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 Yellow Lake State Habitat Area: more places to hunt
The big marker is Yellow Lake State Habitat Area. Smaller ones are its 10 closest neighbours. The neighbours add 14,571 acres between them.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clam River | Wildlife area | 9 | 6.5 mi | southeast |
| Amsterdam Sloughs | Wildlife area | 5,098 | 6.6 mi | southwest |
| Blomberg Lake & Woods | State natural area | 965 | 7.7 mi | southwest |
| Kohler-Peet Barrens | State natural area | 834 | 7.9 mi | west |
| Clam Lake Cumberland Point | Access site | 20 | 8.6 mi | south |
| Culbertson Springs | Fishery area | 38 | 8.6 mi | east |
| Green Lake | Wildlife area | 4 | 9.0 mi | east |
| Sand Lake | Wildlife area | 43 | 9.6 mi | east |
| Reed Lake Meadow/Barrens | State natural area | 3,568 | 9.6 mi | west |
| Norway Point Bottomlands | State natural area | 3,992 | 9.8 mi | west |
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.
Yellow Lake State Habitat Area: nearby towns and businesses
Town pages first, then shops, processors and DNR desks.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webster | Burnett | 2.4 mi | 712 | 49,270 |
| Danbury | Burnett | 6.8 mi | — | 47,402 |
| Siren | Burnett | 9.2 mi | 927 | 18,217 |
| Lewis | Polk | 13 mi | — | 20,655 |
County-level hunting pages: Burnett County.
Shops a short drive from Yellow Lake State Habitat Area
DNR desks closest to Yellow Lake State Habitat Area
Service center for Burnett 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.
Yellow Lake State Habitat Area: nearest ranges
No range sits on Yellow Lake State Habitat Area; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Frog Creek Washburn Cty. Forest, about 30 miles away. Nearby rod and gun clubs round out the list.
rifle, trap, shotgun, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
trap, skeet, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Shooting light at Yellow Lake State Habitat Area by date
At Yellow Lake State Habitat Area the offset is 20 minutes (Zone F). 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 | 6:15 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:59 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:20 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:48 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 7:00 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:19 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:21 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 5:06 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 F offset of 20 minutes for longitude 92.38 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
What people ask about hunting Yellow Lake State Habitat Area
How do I register a deer from Yellow Lake State Habitat Area?
Through GameReg (online, phone or a station) by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
Do I need blaze orange at Yellow Lake State Habitat Area?
In any open firearm deer season, wear blaze orange or pink on at least half your coat and cap.
If Yellow Lake State Habitat Area is full, where next?
Within a short drive: Clam River State Habitat Area (6 miles), Amsterdam Sloughs Wildlife Area (7 miles) and Blomberg Lake & Woods State Natural Area (8 miles).
Which Wisconsin license covers Yellow Lake State Habitat Area?
Go Wild sells everything needed; antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
What acreage is listed for Yellow Lake State Habitat Area?
Roughly 233 acres.
Which agency sets the rules on Yellow Lake State Habitat Area?
The Wisconsin DNR treats it as a DNR state wildlife area.
What game is legal on Yellow Lake State Habitat Area?
Any species in an open season, as long as you follow the property rules.
Where do Yellow Lake State Habitat Area hunters spend the night?
Start from Webster; the land is 2 miles off, in Burnett County.
Which bear management zone holds Yellow Lake State Habitat Area?
Bear Zone D. Zone D took 2 preference points in 2026.
Which DMU takes in Yellow Lake State Habitat Area?
Deer unit DMU 108; zone Northern Forest. The 2026 antlerless quota is 2,850 (DMU 108); use a public-access antlerless tag here.
What are the waterfowl zones for Yellow Lake State Habitat Area?
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 Yellow Lake State Habitat Area in?
Zone 4, one bird per spring authorization.
Is deer baiting legal near Yellow Lake State Habitat Area?
Baiting is allowed in this county within the 2-gallon limit. The county is not on the CWD list.
Check Yellow Lake State Habitat Area once more
Refuges, closed areas and park windows at Yellow Lake State Habitat Area 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: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Dave Williss (CC BY 2.0).