Metro Sub-Unit 120, Wisconsin

DMU 120 sits in Wisconsin's Northern Forest Zone in Vilas County at roughly 1,400 to 1,800 feet elevation across gently rolling glacial terrain. The unit is blanketed by mature mixed forest dominated by white pine, red pine, spruce, and fir on uplands, with northern hardwoods (maple, basswood, ash) and aspen/birch stands that provide classic deer browse and mast. More than 1,300 lakes, wetlands, bogs, and creek corridors define the landscape -- Vilas County hosts the World's Largest Chain of 28 Connected Lakes. Glacial eskers, drumlin ridges, low-lying alder swamps, and blowdown patches create natural travel funnels for deer despite modest overall relief in this glacially shaped highlands.

Hunting pressure is moderate but spread thin across nearly 500 square miles of remote forest, giving hunters who invest in pre-season scouting genuine solitude. The Northern Forest Zone historically draws fewer hunters per square mile than Wisconsin's southern farmland units. Popular trailheads and road access points see elevated activity during the opening weekend of the November 9-day gun season; mid-week and the back half of the season are noticeably quieter. Archery pressure from September through October is light to low -- bowhunters working the interior of national forest or county forest tracts often encounter no other hunters for days at a time. The unit has no adjacent farmland edge, which reduces the condensed opening-weekend pressure typical of southern zones. Wolf packs are present in the northern forest and can shift deer movement and bedding patterns significantly.

DMU 120 operates under the Northern Forest Zone tag structure. A base deer license covers one antlered buck. Antlerless harvest authorizations (bonus tags) are not automatically bundled with licenses in the Forest Zone and must be purchased separately through GoWild or a licensed agent on a first-come, first-served basis. For the 2026 season, WDNR made available 600 public land and 1,000 private land antlerless authorizations for DMU 120, going on sale August 17 at 10 a.m. Resident cost is $12 per tag; youth under 12 pay $5; nonresidents pay $20. No drawing is required -- tags are sold over the counter until the quota sells out or the season ends. Earn-a-buck restrictions do not apply in this unit. Confirm current tag availability at dnr.wisconsin.gov or through GoWild before purchasing.

Archery and crossbow deer season runs September 13, 2025 through January 4, 2026. The 9-day gun deer season is November 22-30, 2025. Muzzleloader season runs December 1-10, 2025. Fall turkey season is open statewide September 13 through November 21, 2025; spring turkey runs mid-April through late May in multiple draw periods. Black bear season in the northern zone runs September 3 through October 7, 2025, with zone-specific restrictions on bait and dog use -- verify the applicable zone for DMU 120 in current WDNR regulations. Ruffed grouse hunting is open September 13 through January 31 and grouse are abundant in aspen corridors throughout the unit. Snowshoe hare and cottontail rabbit seasons run fall and winter. Waterfowl (ducks and geese) are huntable on the unit's numerous lakes and wetlands during fall migration with state and federal licenses required. Beaver and other furbearers are present with applicable trapping seasons.

DMU 120 is a genuine Northern Highlands wilderness hunting experience: nearly 500 square miles of pine, hardwood, and lake-studded terrain with the majority in public ownership and accessible to foot hunters on 90-plus miles of motor-vehicle-free walking trails. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest give hunters roadless backcountry that is increasingly rare in the Midwest. Hunters willing to push a half-mile or more off the main roads encounter far less competition and have realistic chances at mature bucks that rarely see hunting pressure. Antlerless tags are available over the counter with 600 public land authorizations for 2026. Eagle River provides a full-service hub with lodging, outfitters, and meat processors nearby. The unit's 1,300-plus lakes, top-tier ruffed grouse habitat in aspen cuts, and concurrent fall bear and turkey opportunities make this a strong multi-species destination. Scout for wolf sign when patterning deer -- pack activity in the northern forest often reveals where deer are pressured and points hunters toward overlooked pockets of undisturbed habitat.