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Dunbar area, Marinette County
Hunting around Dunbar, Wisconsin
How far Dunbar sits from wildlife areas, county forest and federal land, which DMU and zones cover Marinette County, what the county registers each fall, and where to take a deer.
Photo: This is Marinette County Forest, at town from town. compujeramey (CC BY 2.0)
Dunbar is a unincorporated community (a Census-designated place) in Marinette County, DNR Northeast Region; Marinette is the county seat. No listed town sits closer to Marinette County Forest; its line runs into Dunbar. 9 public properties reach inside 10 miles, together about 113,583 mapped acres. For the shortest trip, start with Marinette County Forest, which reaches the edge of town.
Town point, land area and population from the Census 2024 Gazetteer; 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.
Deer management around Dunbar
Quota, bonus authorizations and Farmland tags for the units that cover Dunbar, with the county’s CWD and bait status.
The county is split between deer zones: Central Farmland 51%, Northern Forest 49%. Farmland hunters in Marinette (Central Farmland) get 2 antlerless tags with each archery, crossbow or gun license. For 2026 the antlerless quota sums to 5,730. No public-land bonus authorizations remained for DMU 126 as of October 19.
| Unit | Zone | Antlerless quota 2026 | Bonus tags at start (public / private) | Still listed Oct 19 | Free Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marinette (Central Farmland) | Central Farmland | 3,900 | 300 / 1,500 | 273 / 1,469 | 2 |
| DMU 126 | Northern Forest | 1,105 | 1,735 / 3,180 | 0 / 1,105 | – |
| DMU 125 | Northern Forest | 725 | 500 / 2,650 | 0 / 1,494 | – |
No deer bait or feed is allowed in Marinette County. Marinette County CWD testing to date: 3,162 wild deer sampled, 1 positives. The 2025 CWD year added 183 samples (0 positive).
Marinette County’s unit gave up 7,552 registered deer in 2025, 3,584 of them bucks. Among county-named units it was 12th in 2025. Preliminary 2026 numbers to October 19 (archery, crossbow and youth hunt): Marinette (Central Farmland) 726, DMU 126 278 and DMU 125 228.
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.
Dunbar public land, nearest first
Lands touching the 10-mile ring around Dunbar come first. Anchor tags mark the areas this town was picked for.
The largest property in the ring is Marinette County Forest at 229,978 acres. The closest state wildlife area is No Bottom Lakestate Habitat Area (37 acres). Marinette County Forest is the closest forest property (at town to its line). 2 State Natural Areas also fall inside 10 miles; most are small and open to hunting unless posted.
| Land | Kind | Edge | Middle | Acreage | Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marinette County Forest south Anchor | County forest | at town | 7.8 mi S | 229,978 | deer, bear, turkey |
| Pike Wild River southeast | Riverway or flowage | 2.8 mi | 8.2 mi SE | 4,735 | – |
| Dunbar Barrens State Natural Area northwest | Natural area | 3.4 mi | 4.2 mi NW | 1,412 | – |
| Florence County Forest northwest | County forest | 4.9 mi | 13 mi NW | 37,003 | deer, bear, turkey |
| Wild Rivers/pine Popple Conservation Easement northwest | Riverway or flowage | 7.4 mi | 20 mi NW | 58,828 | – |
| No Bottom Lakestate Habitat Area northeast | Wildlife area | 7.5 mi | 7.6 mi NE | 37 | – |
| North Branch Pemebonwon Fishery Area northeast | Fishery area | 8.0 mi | 7.9 mi NE | 5 | – |
| Town Corner Wildlife Area southeast | Wildlife area | 8.5 mi | 9.3 mi SE | 899 | furbearers |
| Town Corner Cedars State Natural Area southeast | Natural area | 9.3 mi | 9.2 mi SE | 306 | – |
| Miscauno Wildlife Area east | Wildlife area | outside 10 mi | 12 mi E | 622 | – |
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 Dunbar. Checked October 19, 2026. Statewide public land map.
Where Dunbar hunters take deer and buy gear
Counts cover 15 and 35 mile rings around Dunbar; each group below shows the closest few businesses. Donated deer can go to Pelkin's Smokey Meat Market.
| Category | Count, 15 mi | Count, 35 mi | First stop | Located in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meat processors | 1 | 2 | Antlers 2 Fins Taxidermy 13 mi northeast | Niagara |
| Taxidermy | 1 | 4 | Antlers 2 Fins Taxidermy 13 mi northeast | Niagara |
| Gun and archery stores | 3 | 7 | Atlas Outfitters 5.4 mi east | Dunbar |
Meat processors
Taxidermy
Gun and archery stores
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.
Where Dunbar hunters reach the DNR
For license help, permits and CWD questions, start with the nearest DNR service center to Dunbar. Field offices see visitors by appointment only.
DNR Rhinelander Service Center, 60 mi west
DNR Florence Field Office, 19 mi north
Florence Wild Rivers Interpretive Center, 19 mi north
From the DNR office locations and field locations pages and the federal office pages listed in services.json, checked October 19, 2026.
Opening and closing days near Dunbar
Archery, the nine-day gun hunt, muzzleloader, bear, turkey, upland birds, rabbits, furbearers and the duck and goose splits for Dunbar.
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 C | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 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 5 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 5 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 5 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 5 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 5 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 5 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 5 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 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 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 1) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck | Open Water Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 15, 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 (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.
Drawing zones that cover Dunbar
Turkey authorization levels shown are the 2025 numbers; the DNR has not released spring 2027 levels.
For bear, Dunbar hunters apply for Zone B (the county also touches C). Zone B permits hound hunting. 275 bears came out of Marinette County in 2025. Turkey Zone 5 covers Dunbar; the DNR issued 12,008 spring authorizations there at 2025 levels (2027 levels are not out yet). Periods A-F: Apr 21 to Jun 1, 2027.
| Zone | Share | Dogs allowed | 2026 target | Drawn | Min. points | Registered 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Zone B | 69% | Allowed | 850 | 1,545 | 11 | 851 |
| Bear Zone C | 31% | Not allowed | 875 | 4,465 | 2 | 663 |
| Zone | Area share | 2025 spring tags | 2025 success | 2025 spring harvest | 2025 fall harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey Zone 5 | 100% | 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.
Dunbar: legal hunting light
Two tables cover the state, one for the Northern Area and one for the Southern Area, each for Zone A. West of 88 degrees you add 4 minutes per degree of longitude.
| Day | Season | North table | South table |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 88.18 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Closest ranges to Dunbar
Dunbar Sportsmen's Club is closest, about 0 miles from Dunbar.
trap, sporting clays, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, muzzleloader on file
trap, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, muzzleloader on file
Straight-line miles from the town center; ranges checked October 19, 2026.
Dunbar hunters ask
Are bonus deer tags left for Marinette (Central Farmland)?
1,500 private-land and 300 public-land bonus tags were set for Marinette (Central Farmland). Still for sale on October 19: 273 public and 1,469 private. Sales run through Go Wild while supplies last.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in Marinette County?
3,162 deer tested, 1 positive. Bait and feed are not allowed in the county.
Can I hunt bear near Dunbar?
Bear hunting here follows Zone B and C rules. Zone B drawing needed 11 preference points in 2026. County bear harvest in 2025: 275.
What turkey zone covers Marinette County?
Turkey Zone 5 covers the town. At 2025 levels the zone got 12,008 spring tags; hunters succeeded 20% of the time.
When does deer camp open for Dunbar hunters?
Gun deer: Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026. Then muzzleloader to Dec 9, 2026 and antlerless-only Dec 10 to Dec 13, 2026.
When is legal shooting light at Dunbar?
Use the DNR table for your side of the area line: 6:32 a.m. until 4:38 p.m. versus 6:27 a.m. until 4:44 p.m. on the opener.
Where can Dunbar hunters drop off a deer?
Try Antlers 2 Fins Taxidermy in Niagara, about 13 miles off. 2 processing listings lie inside a 35-mile ring.
Which taxidermy shop is closest to Dunbar?
Antlers 2 Fins Taxidermy in Niagara is the nearest. 1 listings sit inside 15 miles, 4 inside 35.
Where can I buy a Wisconsin hunting license near Dunbar?
Buy through Go Wild or at an agent. Try Coleman Lake Club, 4.8 mi from town. DNR service center: DNR Rhinelander Service Center (60 miles).
What is the deer registration deadline near Dunbar?
GameReg handles it; the deadline is 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
How many deer were taken near Dunbar in 2025?
Hunters registered 7,552 deer in 2025.
Where is the nearest public ground to Dunbar, Wisconsin?
It is Marinette County Forest, which reaches the edge of town. A close second is Pike Wild River.
Answers drawn from the sources listed in each section above, checked October 19, 2026.
Ready to hunt from Dunbar?
The DNR can adjust quotas and bonus availability during the season. Re-check Go Wild and the Marinette County page before you go.
Other photos on this page: Joe K Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0); Anne Marie Peterson from Madison, WI, US (CC BY-SA 2.0); royal_broil (CC BY-SA 2.0); Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA (CC BY 2.0); cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0); Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); Greg Gilbert (CC BY 2.0); Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren (CC BY 2.0).