Metro Sub-Unit 121, Wisconsin

DMU 121 sits within the Northern Highland physiographic region spanning portions of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas counties in Wisconsin's Northern Forest Zone. Elevation is relatively flat to gently rolling, ranging from roughly 1,600 to 1,900 feet, trending from flat in the western portions to more hilly ground in the central and southeastern sections. Land cover is dominated by mixed conifer-hardwood forest -- red pine, jack pine, and spruce intermixed with northern hardwoods including sugar maple, yellow birch, and aspen. Aspen stands are common and attract heavy deer use. The unit contains exceptional lake and wetland density: Oneida County alone holds 406 named lakes and 830 miles of streams, with bogs, marshes, and flowages woven throughout the forest. The Tomahawk River and Wisconsin River headwaters drain portions of the unit. Significant snow accumulation is common by November, shaping late-season deer movement into thermal cover.

Hunting pressure in DMU 121 is moderate by northern Wisconsin public land standards. The unit draws hunters seeking the classic northwoods wilderness experience, and opening weekend of the nine-day gun season can see competition near wetland edges and hardwood ridges close to roads. Opening weekend of the 2025 gun season saw 305 antlered and 137 antlerless deer registered in the unit, indicating solid participation without extreme crowding. Pressure is heaviest within a half-mile of forest roads; hunters willing to push deeper into the state and national forests find genuinely solitary conditions. Archery and muzzleloader seasons are noticeably quieter. The CWD feeding and baiting ban eliminates the bait pile hunting common in southern Wisconsin, spreading pressure more evenly across the landscape.

DMU 121 operates under the Northern Forest Zone antlerless authorization system. A standard deer hunting license includes one buck tag, but taking antlerless deer requires a separate Bonus Antlerless Deer Harvest Authorization. For 2026, WDNR is offering 1,500 public land and 2,000 private land bonus antlerless authorizations in DMU 121, sold on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 10 a.m. on August 17, 2026, through the GoWild system or licensed agents. Pricing is $12 for residents, $20 for nonresidents, and $5 for hunters under age 12. Purchases are limited to one authorization per person per day. No earn-a-buck requirement applies in this zone. No drawing is needed -- authorizations are over-the-counter but can sell out quickly for popular units, so hunters should log into GoWild at opening time.

Archery and crossbow season runs September 12 through January 3, 2027. The nine-day gun deer season opens November 21 and runs through November 29, 2026. Muzzleloader season follows November 30 through December 9, 2026. A statewide antlerless-only hunt runs December 10-13, 2026. An important unit-wide restriction: CWD-positive deer have been confirmed in Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas counties, placing the entire DMU 121 area under a mandatory feeding and baiting ban for all wildlife. Fall turkey hunting runs concurrent with the archery season through early January. Spring turkey permits are drawn through a lottery with seasons running mid-April through late May. The region supports ruffed grouse and American woodcock, with peak woodcock flight occurring in October. Bear hunting with hound, bait, or still hunting is available under permit from WDNR. Waterfowl opportunities exist on the numerous lakes and flowages throughout the unit.

DMU 121 delivers the quintessential Wisconsin northwoods hunting experience: vast public land, remote lakes and bogs, and a real shot at a mature buck that has survived multiple seasons in heavy cover. The conifer-aspen mosaic and wetland complexes concentrate deer in predictable November corridors, and hunters who work the pinch points between lakes, bogs, and upland timber find excellent funnel setups. Trophy potential is above average for public land hunting -- lower deer density means bucks reaching age 3.5 or older tend to carry impressive antlers, and the unit sits outside the primary CWD management zones that have suppressed buck age structure further south. With more than 245,000 acres of public land in Vilas County alone plus national forest and county forest in Lincoln and Oneida counties, hunters willing to scout and walk can find ground with no competition at all. The 13 Vilas County hunter walking trail units provide structured access to managed habitat. Multi-species trips are easy to plan: grouse, woodcock, and bear seasons all overlap with the deer calendar, making DMU 121 a strong destination for hunters wanting a full northwoods experience.