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Hunting base, Forest County
Hunting around Crandon, Wisconsin
Crandon in the Northwoods: public hunting land in reach, the county’s zones and quotas, recent deer harvest and the processors, taxidermists and gun shops nearby.
Photo: Lakewood-Laona Ranger District (Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest), the closest listed land we have a photo of (4.7 mi). USDA Forest Service Eastern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
The Forest County courthouse is in Crandon; the county falls under the DNR Northern Region. Hunters bound for Forest County Forest use Crandon as a base; the boundary is 1 mile off. The Census Vintage 2024 estimate puts 1,737 people in Crandon, on 5.2 square miles of land. The GIS measure finds about 70,336 public acres inside 10 miles of Crandon. The first public land you reach is Forest County Forest, whose boundary is 1 mile away.
Town point, land area and population from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; public acreage and boundary distances within 10 miles are a GIS measure over the DNR managed lands layer, county forest, USFS, USFWS, NPS and DoD boundaries. Checked October 19, 2026.
Forest County deer units near Crandon
Wisconsin deer rules follow the zone and the deer management unit, so Crandon hunters work the Forest County units below.
Northern Forest Zone rules apply county-wide in Forest. The DNR set a combined antlerless quota of 3,820 for these units in 2026. Bonus tags for public land in DMU 124 had sold out by October 19.
| Unit | Deer zone | Antlerless goal | Bonus at sale (pub / priv) | Unsold Oct 19 | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 124 | Northern Forest | 320 | 650 / 800 | 0 / 123 | – |
| DMU 126 | Northern Forest | 1,105 | 1,735 / 3,180 | 0 / 1,105 | – |
| DMU 120 | Northern Forest | 545 | 500 / 1,800 | 124 / 1,163 | – |
| DMU 123 | Northern Forest | 795 | 1,500 / 2,200 | 788 / 1,624 | – |
| DMU 122 | Northern Forest | 330 | 600 / 1,000 | 63 / 562 | – |
| DMU 125 | Northern Forest | 725 | 500 / 2,650 | 0 / 1,494 | – |
Hunters in Forest County hunt without bait, under the DNR ban. 827 Forest County deer have gone through CWD testing since 1999 (0 positive). 2025 testing found 0 positive deer in 37 samples.
Forest-unit totals for 2025 (Forest County area): DMU 124 1,226, DMU 126 3,288 and DMU 120 1,155. Early-season 2026 registrations to date, preliminary: DMU 124 103, DMU 126 278 and DMU 120 110.
Units and zones from counties.json and the DNR 2026 antlerless quota and permit table; bonus counts listed on the DNR bonus availability page on October 19; Holiday Hunt and extended archery from the DNR 2026 map; CWD from the DNR CWD county summary; baiting from the DNR baiting page; harvest from DNR Deer Metrics and the preliminary 2026 harvest page. Checked October 19, 2026.
Wisconsin public land closest to Crandon
18 properties on the map and table. Pins drawn bold have a boundary inside 10 miles of Crandon.
Nothing inside 10 miles outsizes Lakewood-Laona Ranger District (Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest), listed at 343,903 acres. 5 wildlife or habitat areas lie within 10 miles, starting with South Branch Peshtigo River State Habitat Area. For forest hunting, Forest County Forest comes first. Federal land also sits close: Lakewood-Laona Ranger District (Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest). Crandon Ribbed Fen State Natural Area is the closest State Natural Area.
| Property | Kind | To boundary | To mapped point | Acres | Game listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest County Forest south Anchor area | County forest | 1.2 mi | 5.2 mi S | 15,251 | deer, bear, turkey |
| Peterson Springs State Spring Ponds northeast | Fishery area | 1.7 mi | 2.0 mi NE | 40 | – |
| Crandon Ribbed Fen State Natural Area northwest | Natural area | 2.8 mi | 3.2 mi NW | 96 | – |
| South Branch Peshtigo River State Habitat Area north | Wildlife area | 2.9 mi | 3.4 mi N | 463 | – |
| Wabikon Waters Conservation Easement east | Easement | 4.5 mi | 7.4 mi E | 18,219 | – |
| Lakewood-Laona Ranger District (Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest) southeast | Ranger district | 4.7 mi | 17 mi SE | 343,903 | deer, bear, turkey |
| Little Rice Wildlife Area northwest | Wildlife area | 4.7 mi | 5.7 mi NW | 2,284 | waterfowl, furbearers |
| Hemlock Springs State Habitat Area south | Wildlife area | 5.1 mi | 5.4 mi S | 154 | – |
| Campbell Springs State Spring Ponds north | Fishery area | 6.3 mi | 6.4 mi N | 45 | – |
| Langlade County Forest southwest | County forest | 7.3 mi | 37 mi SW | 130,717 | deer, bear, turkey |
| Pelican River Forest Conservation Easement west | Easement | 7.4 mi | 13 mi W | 67,369 | – |
| Bishop Lake State Public Access southwest | Fishery area | 8.4 mi | 8.5 mi SW | 21 | – |
| Martin Springs State Spring Ponds south | Fishery area | 8.4 mi | 8.6 mi S | 71 | – |
| Swamp Creek Fen State Natural Area southwest | Natural area | 8.9 mi | 9.2 mi SW | 80 | – |
| Atkins Lake and Hiles Swamp State Natural Area northwest | Natural area | 9.1 mi | 9.7 mi NW | 830 | – |
| Lily Lake State Public Access south | Fishery area | 9.5 mi | 9.8 mi S | 46 | – |
Lands, acreage and species from DNR property pages and federal hunting pages; boundary distances inside 10 miles from places.json (DNR managed lands, county forest, USFS, USFWS, NPS and DoD layers); centre distances are straight lines from the Census point for Crandon. Checked October 19, 2026. Statewide public land map.
Processing and shops in reach of Crandon
Businesses Crandon hunters use most, grouped by trade and sorted by distance. To donate venison, Prime Choice Meat Market takes deer for the DNR donation program.
| Kind | Listings 15 mi | Listings 35 mi | Nearest business | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venison processing | 1 | 2 | Shcaefers Deer Processing at town southwest | Crandon |
| Taxidermy studios | 0 | 8 | Bonack Safari World Taxidermy 21 mi northwest | Three Lakes |
| Guides and preserves | 0 | 2 | Three Lakes Preserve 17 mi northwest | Three Lakes |
| Gear shops | 1 | 18 | Tamarack Outfitters LLC 0.3 mi southwest | Crandon |
Venison processing
Taxidermy studios
Guides and preserves
Gear shops
Processors from the DNR deer donation list, DNR CWD sampling stations and Yellow Pages; shops from the DNR license sales locations (license-only agents left out) and Yellow Pages; guides and preserves from Yellow Pages. Checked October 19, 2026; hours were not checked.
DNR counters near Crandon
These are the DNR and federal offices in reach of Crandon. Call the service center before you make the trip.
DNR Rhinelander Service Center, 26 mi west
Laona Office (Lakewood-Laona Ranger District), 11 mi east
Lakewood Office (Lakewood-Laona Ranger District), 26 mi southeast
From the DNR office locations and field locations pages and the federal office pages listed in services.json, checked October 19, 2026.
2026-27 seasons for hunters in Crandon
Crandon 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 and disabled gun deer 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 | Statewide antlerless-only (December 4-day hunt) | Statewide | Dec 10, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone B | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone B | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone B | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 7/5 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 7/5 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 7/5 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 7/5 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 7/5 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 7/5 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 7/5 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 7/5 | 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 (hunting and trapping) | Northern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 1 (hunting and trapping) | Southern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 2 (hunting and trapping) | Northern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 2 (hunting and trapping) | Southern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Unprotected species | Unprotected species (opossum, skunk, weasel, woodchuck, porcupine, starling, English sparrow, chukar, coturnix quail, etc.) | 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.
Crandon bear and turkey zones
Bear zones A to F and turkey zones 1 to 7 follow roads rather than county lines; Forest County is listed by share of area.
Zone B bear rules apply around Crandon; its 2026 harvest target is 850. Hunting bears with hounds is allowed in Zone B. Forest County bear registrations for 2025: 139. Zone 7 spring hunters succeeded 16% of the time in 2025. Spring turkey, Period A through F: Apr 21 to Jun 1, 2027.
| Bear zone | County share | Dogs | Target, 2026 | Drawn, 2026 | Points | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Zone B | 100% | Allowed | 850 | 1,545 | 11 | 851 |
| Turkey zone | Share of county | Spring tags 2025 | Spring success 2025 | Spring harvest 2025 | Fall harvest 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey Zone 7 | 58% | 4,401 | 16% | 726 | 162 |
| Turkey Zone 5 | 42% | 12,008 | 20% | 2,446 | 300 |
Bear zones from counties.json (DNR layer) and the DNR bear drawing summary; bear harvest from the DNR 2025 bear harvest report; turkey from the DNR spring turkey report. Checked October 19, 2026.
Hunting hours for Crandon
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.
| Date | Season moment | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery, fall turkey and grouse opener | 5:59 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:43 a.m. to 6:25 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 6:28 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:04 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:32 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:44 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:03 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:05 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 4:50 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 B offset of 4 minutes for longitude 88.90 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Sighting in near Crandon
Three ranges closest to Crandon, with the access rule on each.
sporting clays, muzzleloader, handgun, action pistol, benchrest on file
rifle, trap, shotgun on file
archery, 3D archery on file
Vilas County Gov't Range is the nearest DNR-map range, roughly 34 miles out.
Straight-line miles from the town center; ranges checked October 19, 2026.
Crandon hunting questions
Is deer baiting legal around Crandon?
CWD positives in Forest County to date: 0. The DNR ban on baiting and feeding applies.
What bonus antlerless availability does DMU 124 have?
Initial bonus supply in DMU 124: 650 public, 800 private. On October 19, 0 public and 123 private were still listed. Check Go Wild for live availability.
Which turkey zone is Crandon in?
The county sits in Zone 7 and 5. In 2025, 16% of the 4,401 authorizations were filled.
Is Forest County good for bear?
Zone B covers the county. The 2026 draw took 11 points in Zone B. The 2025 county total was 139 bears.
When does shooting time start near Crandon on the gun opener?
Opening day at Crandon runs 6:32 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. north of the area line, or 6:27 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. south of it.
When does the nine-day hunt open near Crandon?
The firearm season is Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026. Muzzleloader follows, Nov 30 to Dec 9, 2026, then the antlerless-only hunt Dec 10 to Dec 13, 2026.
Where do Crandon hunters take a trophy for mounting?
Try Bonack Safari World Taxidermy first (21 miles). Inside 15 miles: 0.
Where does a Crandon deer go for butchering?
Start with Shcaefers Deer Processing, 0 miles away. A 35-mile radius holds 2 listings.
Where do I check in a deer from Forest County?
Use GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the deer.
Which license seller is nearest Crandon?
Go Wild sells every license online; agents sell them in person. The nearest agent is Tamarack Outfitters LLC, 0.3 mi away. Or visit the DNR Rhinelander Service Center (26 miles).
What is the total public acreage near Crandon?
The 10-mile ring takes in about 70,336 public acres. 18 properties reach that close.
Is there public hunting land right next to Crandon?
Forest County Forest, whose boundary is 1 mile away. Peterson Springs State Spring Ponds ranks second by distance.
Answers drawn from the sources listed in each section above, checked October 19, 2026.
Before leaving Crandon
The DNR regulations are the final word for hunts out of Crandon.
Other photos on this page: royal_broil (CC BY-SA 2.0); Anne Marie Peterson from Madison, WI, US (CC BY-SA 2.0); Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA (CC BY 2.0); ianpreston (CC BY 2.0); Falashad (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); Tracie Hall (CC BY-SA 2.0); Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren (CC BY 2.0).