Metro Sub-Unit 112, Wisconsin

Wisconsin DMU 112 occupies 529.6 square miles of northern Wisconsin mixed forest country spanning portions of Price, Rusk, and Sawyer counties. Elevation ranges from roughly 1,300 to 1,700 feet across gently rolling glaciated terrain shaped by the last ice age. Land cover is dominated by second-growth northern hardwoods including sugar maple, yellow birch, and quaking aspen, interspersed with mature jack pine and spruce plantations and large expanses of cedar swamp and sphagnum bog. The North Fork Flambeau River and Jump River drain the unit, with countless smaller streams feeding more than 174 lakes and abundant wetland complexes. Open agriculture is sparse to absent across this DMU; the landscape is nearly entirely forested, with water features and lowland corridors creating natural deer travel routes between bedding and feeding areas.

Hunting pressure in DMU 112 is moderate in the northern Wisconsin context and low relative to the southern farmland zone. The nine-day gun deer season concentrates activity in late November, drawing both local north-country hunters and out-of-area visitors attracted by the expansive public land base. Archery season sees considerably lighter pressure with most participants hunting private land. With 300,000-plus acres of public land spread across three counties, dispersal is easy and uncrowded timber is consistently available beyond opening weekend. Road-accessible forest roads see the heaviest foot traffic on opening Saturday; hunters willing to walk a half mile or more from a vehicle typically find solitude. Compared to southern Wisconsin WMAs, competition for prime stand locations on Price County Forest and national forest land is minimal, and hunting pressure declines sharply after the first two or three days of gun season.

DMU 112 operates under the Northern Forest Zone antlerless permit system rather than the farmland tag structure. Each deer license includes one any-deer tag valid for one antlered or antlerless deer per weapon season. Bonus antlerless harvest authorizations are purchased separately through the GoWild system and are unit-specific and land-type-specific, meaning hunters must select either public or private land when purchasing. For 2026, 1,760 public-land and 1,735 private-land bonus antlerless authorizations are available starting August 17 at $12 for residents and $20 for non-residents. In 2025, approximately 862 public and 381 private antlerless permits remained available as of early November, indicating supply generally meets demand. No earn-a-buck requirement applies. Farmland zone antlerless tags are not valid in DMU 112. Hunters must specify unit code 112 when purchasing bonus permits through GoWild or a licensed agent.

Whitetail deer are the primary target species throughout DMU 112. Archery and crossbow season runs approximately September 13 through January 4 statewide. The nine-day gun deer season opens Saturday November 22 and closes November 30. Muzzleloader season follows December 1 through 10, with a statewide antlerless-only hunt December 11 through 14. Northern forest zone regulations apply throughout the unit. Black bear hunting is available in this region with a separate drawing-based tag; Price and Sawyer counties support significant bear populations and bear seasons overlap the early archery period. Ruffed grouse hunting is excellent across the unit given the abundant aspen and alder habitat; populations cycle but consistently provide good opportunities in good mast years. Woodcock migrate through in September and October, offering bonus shooting during deer archery season. Wild turkey populations are present but limited compared to southern Wisconsin agricultural zones. Waterfowl hunting on the numerous lakes and rivers targets puddle ducks and Canada geese during early and late season. Gray wolves are established in this zone and their presence influences deer behavior and movement patterns, particularly affecting daytime activity in areas with high wolf activity.

DMU 112 delivers a genuine north-country deer hunting experience anchored by roughly 300,000 acres of accessible public land across the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and the Price and Rusk county forest systems. Deer densities run lower than the agricultural farmland zone, but the animals are large-bodied northern whitetails that carry heavy, dark-antlered racks typical of deer conditioned by hard Wisconsin winters and rich forest mast. The combination of mature aspen stands, lowland cedar swamps, and river drainages creates textbook staging areas where bucks funnel during the October and November pre-rut. Stand sites overlooking cedar swamp edges adjacent to mature hardwood feeding flats are particularly productive during the rut chasing phase. Antlerless permit availability is generous, with nearly 3,500 total bonus authorizations across public and private land in 2026, making this a viable destination for hunters seeking venison in addition to a trophy buck. The unit sits in a prime location between Hayward and the Minocqua area, giving hunters access to full-service communities for lodging, resupply, and deer processing. Hunters willing to invest scouting time in the remote timber blocks away from forest roads consistently encounter less pressure and better deer activity than those who stay roadside during the nine-day season.