DMU Washburn, Wisconsin

Rolling glacial terrain at roughly 1,100 to 1,300 feet elevation across 853 square miles. The landscape shifts from pine barrens and jack pine flatlands in the northwest to dense mixed forest of aspen, hardwood, spruce, tamarack, and cedar bogs in the northeast, then transitions to rolling oak hills dotted with pothole lakes in the southeast. The county holds 964 lakes totaling over 31,000 acres and is drained by several significant rivers including the Namekagon (roughly 45 miles through the county), Totagatic, Yellow, Clam, and Brill. Active timber harvesting by the county forestry department creates a patchwork of early successional openings, young aspen stands, and mature forest across the landscape.

Moderate pressure overall, lower than southern Wisconsin farmland counties during the nine-day November gun deer season. The sheer size of the public land base — over 149,000 acres of county forest plus national forest and state lands — disperses hunters effectively. Roadside and easy-access areas see the most activity opening weekend, but hunters willing to push a half-mile or more off main roads find relatively uncrowded conditions. Archery and muzzleloader seasons see light pressure. The county draws a mix of local hunters and out-of-state visitors, particularly for the gun season opener, but pressure never approaches the intensity seen in southern farmland or metro-adjacent counties.

Washburn County falls within Northern Forest zone DMUs 107 and 108 (boundaries redrawn in 2025 to habitat-based units). No antlerless harvest authorizations are bundled with the base deer license in the Northern Forest zone — hunters must purchase bonus antlerless tags separately on a first-come, first-served basis starting in mid-August. For the 2026 season, DMU 107 (covering portions of Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Sawyer, and Washburn counties) offers 5,650 public land and 3,400 private land authorizations; DMU 108 (Burnett, Polk, and Washburn counties) offers 3,750 public and 7,775 private authorizations. Tags go on sale August 17 for DMU 107 and August 18 for DMU 108 at 12 dollars for residents, 20 dollars for nonresidents, and 5 dollars for youth under 12. A standard deer license allows harvest of one antlered buck; antlerless harvest requires a separate authorization for the specific DMU and land type. Hunters must identify which DMU their hunting area falls within using the DNR interactive map before purchasing tags.

Archery and crossbow deer season runs September 13 through January 4. The nine-day gun deer season opens November 22 and runs through November 30. Muzzleloader season follows December 1 through 10. A statewide antlerless-only hunt runs December 11-14; the Holiday Hunt running December 24 through January 1 applies to select Farmland Zone counties only and does not cover Washburn County. Wild turkey is available in spring across multiple permit periods in April and May, with a fall season also available. Black bear hunting is available with a permit in this northern Wisconsin county. Ruffed grouse is a standout species given the county's extensive managed aspen habitat, with Zone A grouse season running September 13 through January 5. Waterfowl hunting is excellent across the county's 964 lakes and river corridors. CWD was detected in farm-raised deer in Washburn County starting in 2023 and continues to spread statewide; hunters should review current DNR carcass transport restrictions and are encouraged to have harvested deer tested.

The 149,000-acre Washburn County Forest is the centerpiece of this unit and one of the most hunter-friendly public land blocks in northwest Wisconsin. Active timber management — the county publishes aspen age-class maps for all 15 management units — means fresh cuts and regenerating stands are always on the landscape, concentrating deer near early successional browse. Deer density runs lower than southern farmland units, but bucks in the northern forest zone tend to be larger-bodied and carry heavier antlers by Wisconsin standards. The Namekagon River corridor and the county's numerous bogs and wetland edges create natural funnels worth scouting before season. For hunters willing to trade raw deer numbers for genuine wilderness and minimal competition, Washburn delivers: push a half-mile off the road and you're likely hunting solo. Pair your deer tag with a grouse license — the managed aspen stands are among the best ruffed grouse habitat in the upper Midwest. CWD is present in the county so plan to have your deer tested after harvest.