Metro Sub-Unit 108, Wisconsin

DMU 108 spans approximately 762 square miles across Burnett, Polk, and Washburn counties in Wisconsin''s northwest corner, within the Northern Forest Management Zone. Elevation is relatively flat to gently rolling, typical of glaciated north-country terrain, ranging roughly from 900 to 1,400 feet. The unit is dominated by mixed northern hardwoods and boreal forest including aspen, birch, maple, and oak interspersed with conifer stands of pine, spruce, and tamarack. Wetlands and bogs are extensive throughout, especially in Burnett and Washburn counties, and the unit is laced with rivers, streams, and hundreds of small lakes including the Namekagon River corridor. Agricultural clearings appear primarily in southern Polk County, providing edge habitat that concentrates deer. The Namekagon Barrens area in northern Burnett and southern Washburn counties offers a rare pine-oak barrens ecosystem managed with prescribed fire, adding unique open shrub habitat to an otherwise forested landscape.

Hunting pressure in DMU 108 is moderate overall, with noticeable concentrations near accessible county forest roads and popular WMAs during the nine-day gun season. The large public land base spreads hunters out considerably compared to southern Wisconsin farmland units, and significant roadless wetland and bog areas provide low-pressure refuge for deer that move into huntable cover. Gun deer season in November draws substantial local participation from northwest Wisconsin residents, and some out-of-state hunters seeking the northern forest experience. Archery pressure is lighter relative to gun season. The barrens and remote river bottoms along the Namekagon and St. Croix corridors see the least pressure. Overall, hunters willing to go a half-mile off the road on public land can find lightly hunted areas. The unit led the Northern Forest Zone with 2.7 deer registered per square mile in the 2025 nine-day gun season, indicating a healthy and accessible deer herd.

Wisconsin resident deer hunting licenses include one free any-deer harvest authorization valid statewide for antlered or antlerless deer. For antlerless-only harvest in DMU 108, hunters may purchase bonus antlerless deer harvest authorizations starting in mid-August each year through the GoWild licensing portal or licensed sales locations. In 2026, DMU 108 offered 3,750 public-land bonus authorizations and 7,775 private-land bonus authorizations, on sale August 17 at 10 a.m. Bonus tags are $12 for residents and $20 for nonresidents, sold one per person per day until sold out. Tags are unit- and land-type-specific (public vs. private land), so hunters must select the correct designation at purchase. There is no earn-a-buck requirement in DMU 108. No drawing is required for bonus antlerless tags — they are over-the-counter once available. Hunters should check the DNR''s antlerless availability page before the season as allocations change annually based on CDAC population recommendations.

Deer archery and crossbow season runs September 13 through January 5 (2025-26 season), with an extended archery season in designated metro subunits through January 31. The nine-day gun deer season runs November 22 through November 30, followed by muzzleloader season December 1 through December 10. A late antlerless-only firearm season and Holiday Hunt may offer additional opportunities. Fall turkey season runs October 15 through December 31; spring turkey season runs April through late May with six permit periods (A-F), and Burnett, Polk, and Washburn counties participate in the turkey permit drawing via GoWild. Black bear hunting is available via application in the Northern Zone, which includes this unit — bear applications are due in December for the following fall season. Ruffed grouse season in Zone A (northern Wisconsin) runs September 13 through January 4 with a 5-bird daily bag limit, and the Namekagon Barrens and county forest aspen stands support locally good grouse populations. Woodcock season coincides with grouse. Waterfowl hunting is available on the many lakes, rivers, and wetlands throughout the unit during Wisconsin''s duck and goose seasons. Wolf presence is confirmed in the broader region and may affect deer distribution near denning areas.

DMU 108 is one of the standout deer units in Wisconsin''s Northern Forest Zone, topping the zone in registered deer per square mile at 2.7 during the 2025 gun season. The unit''s combination of vast public land — Burnett County Forest, Governor Knowles State Forest, the Namekagon Barrens WA, and county forest lands in all three counties — makes it accessible to hunters without private land connections. The St. Croix and Namekagon river corridors concentrate deer movement along natural funnels and offer some of the most scenic hunting in the upper Midwest. Trophy potential exists, with historical records including a 206 1/8-inch Burnett County buck from the early 1900s, and modern mature bucks taken each season from the remote wetland and forest blocks. The pine-oak barrens habitat in the northern part of the unit is unique in Wisconsin and draws deer, turkeys, and bears into open edge areas. Hunters targeting public land in this unit should focus on aspen regeneration areas adjacent to wetland edges during archery season and morning/evening field edges near agricultural ground in southern Polk County during gun season. The unit is a true north-woods experience with ample bonus antlerless tags available over the counter, making it ideal for hunters looking to fill the freezer while enjoying some of Wisconsin''s most wild country.