Metro Sub-Unit 107, Wisconsin

Metro Sub-Unit 107 sits within the Milwaukee metropolitan area of southeastern Wisconsin, spanning approximately 860 square miles across a low-relief glaciated landscape. Elevations range from roughly 580 to 1,050 feet above sea level. The unit is dominated by suburban and exurban development interspersed with fragmented oak-hickory woodlots, maple-basswood stands, and riparian corridors along the Milwaukee River, Menomonee River, and Root River drainages. Wetland complexes including cattail marshes and sedge meadows break up the upland cover. Agricultural land — mostly corn, soybeans, and hay — occupies the suburban fringe. The Kettle Moraine glacial topography influences the western portions, with kettles, kames, and moraines creating irregular terrain that concentrates deer movement.

Hunting pressure is high throughout the metro sub-unit, particularly during the nine-day gun deer season in November. Public land parcels like the Kettle Moraine Southern Unit and Vernon Marsh WMA see heavy bow and gun hunting traffic given the scarcity of publicly accessible ground relative to the regional hunter population. Early archery season (September through mid-October) draws significant bowhunter activity from the Milwaukee and Waukesha metro areas. Gun season on public land is crowded — expect other hunters on any weekend during the November firearm season. Private land in outer suburban neighborhoods often sees moderate to heavy pressure from local landowners and invited guests. Post-gun season archery and late-season pressure drops considerably, making December and January the most solitary hunting window on public ground.

Antlerless tag availability in Metro Sub-Unit 107 is managed under Wisconsin''s metro sub-unit authorization system. Hunters have three options for taking antlerless deer: (1) use a Farmland Zone antlerless deer harvest authorization included with a Wisconsin hunting license or purchased as a bonus permit for the county containing the sub-unit — valid throughout the entire DMU including metro sub-units; (2) purchase a bonus antlerless harvest authorization specific to the county; or (3) request a free metro sub-unit antlerless deer harvest authorization if available for Waukesha County (free metro sub-unit authorizations are available at no cost in select counties including Waukesha). Milwaukee County proper has historically been allocated zero metro antlerless harvest authorizations per license due to restricted hunting access in the urban core. No earn-a-buck or drawing requirements apply — antlerless tags are available over the counter or via the GoWild licensing system. Any-deer buck tags are included with the standard deer hunting license; hunters may take one buck plus additional antlerless deer with valid authorizations.

Deer seasons for 2025-2026: archery and crossbow opens September 13, 2025 and runs through January 4, 2026 statewide, with an extended archery season in metro sub-units through January 31, 2026. Youth deer season runs October 11-12, 2025. Hunters with disabilities gun season October 4-12, 2025. Nine-day gun deer season runs November 29 through December 7, 2025. Muzzleloader season December 1-10. Statewide antlerless-only hunt December 11-14. Antlerless-only holiday hunt December 24, 2025 through January 1, 2026 in select farmland units. CWD is confirmed throughout Milwaukee and Waukesha counties — whole carcasses and high-risk parts (brain, spine, lymph nodes) cannot be transported out of CWD-affected counties; deboned meat, cleaned skulls, antlers, and hides are exempt. Baiting and feeding deer is prohibited in CWD counties. Turkey hunting is available in spring (late April through late May) and fall in surrounding farmland and woodland habitats. Pheasant, ruffed grouse, and woodcock are present in limited numbers on public WMAs. Waterfowl hunting occurs in the wetland complexes including Vernon Marsh and Scuppernong River areas along the Lake Michigan flyway.

Metro Sub-Unit 107 is one of the more overlooked hunting opportunities in Wisconsin precisely because most hunters bypass the suburbs for the north woods. Deer densities in the Milwaukee metro corridor are among the highest in the state — suburban deer live largely undisturbed except during hunting seasons, and bucks here often reach maturity simply because hunting access is so limited. A hunter with permission on even a modest suburban woodlot or acreage backing up to a WMA can find genuinely impressive whitetails that have never seen significant pressure. The extended archery season through January 31 gives bowhunters nearly five months of opportunity, including the rut (late October through mid-November) when bucks are most mobile in daytime hours. Vernon Marsh WMA and the Kettle Moraine Southern Unit are the standout public land options — Vernon Marsh in particular offers a unique wetland-edge hunting environment with good deer numbers using the marsh for cover. The unit''s CWD presence is a consideration but testing stations are accessible throughout the metro. Access to suburban private land through personal networking, door-knocking, and apps like OnX or HuntStand is the key to unlocking the best hunting in this unit.