Price County Hunting Guide: Regulations, Seasons & Northwoods Wisdom

🦌 Why Hunt in Price County?

Price County has some of Wisconsin’s most diverse and abundant hunting opportunities. With over 92,000 acres of county forest plus Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and Flambeau River State Forest lands, managed forests, and prime habitat, our region provides exceptional hunting experiences for both beginners and seasoned hunters.

What makes Price County special isn’t just the quantity of public land. It’s the quality of the habitat. The mix of northern hardwoods, conifer swamps, and early successional growth creates ideal conditions for deer, bear, grouse, and waterfowl. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest provides thousands of acres of remote, roadless terrain where you can hunt all season without seeing another stand. The county forest lands offer easier access and well-maintained logging roads that double as access points to prime hunting areas.

Price County consistently ranks among the top counties in Wisconsin for deer harvest per square mile of deer range. The 2025 season saw thousands of deer harvested in the county (official DNR harvest data pending for 2025), and the population remains healthy with good age structure and fawn recruitment. Bear hunters in Zone C enjoy success rates that are the envy of hunters statewide, and ruffed grouse populations cycle through peaks that draw bird hunters from across the Midwest.

⚠️ Pro-Tip: Always verify your specific hunting

📅 2026 Hunting Seasons at a Glance

Season Strategy: When to Hunt What

September: Bear season opens, and early-season archery deer hunters have the woods mostly to themselves. Grouse season kicks off, and the foliage is still thick enough to provide cover. Focus on food sources. Oak ridges for deer, young aspen cuts for grouse, and established travel corridors for bear.

October: The rut is building. Pre-rut bucks are establishing patterns, and the leaves are coming down, improving visibility. Youth deer weekend gives young hunters a low-pressure opportunity. This is prime time for grouse as the forests open up and dogs can work the cover effectively.

November: Gun deer season is the main event. The nine-day hunt is a Wisconsin tradition that brings thousands of hunters to Price County. Book your lodging early. Cabins and motels fill up by October. The rut is in full swing during early November, making for excellent hunting if you can hunt the weekdays before the gun season opens.

December: Muzzleloader season and the late archery/holiday hunt. Deer have been pressured and are more nocturnal, but fresh snow makes tracking productive. This is also when late-season grouse hunting can be excellent if you can find concentrated birds in conifer stands.

🗺️ Hunting Zones & Land Access

Public Land Opportunities

• Price County Forest: 92,000+ acres (per Price County Forestry Dept) with well-maintained access roads. The county forest is the backbone of Price County hunting. Logging operations create the edge habitat that deer and grouse thrive in, and the road system provides access to areas that would otherwise require miles of hiking. Key access points include the Riley Lake Road system east of Park Falls, the Spirit Lake Road area north of Prentice, and the Connor’s Lake Road complex south of Phillips.
• Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest: Thousands of acres within Price County (the CNNF spans 1.5 million acres across Ashland, Bayfield, Price, Sawyer, and Taylor counties) for a remote wilderness experience. The CNNF has a different kind of hunting. Longer hikes, fewer other hunters, and the chance to truly get away from it all. The areas northeast of Glidden and the wilderness zones near the Flambeau River are particularly productive. Bring a GPS and tell someone where you’re going. Cell service is nonexistent in much of this forest.
• Flambeau River State Forest: Approximately 90,147 acres of public hunting land along the Flambeau River (primarily in Sawyer County, with portions extending into Price County). The river bottoms and adjacent ridges hold good deer numbers, and the river provides natural travel corridors that concentrate animals during the rut.

2026 Antlerless Regulations

• Note: Wisconsin restructured Deer Management Units (DMUs) in 2025. Price County is now in the Northern Forest Zone with numeric units in the 101-126 range. Check the DNR deer management page for your specific DMU and antlerless tag availability.

Bonus antlerless tags are available for DMUs where the deer population exceeds management goals. Check the WDNR website for current availability. These sell out fast, especially for high-density Northern Forest units.

🎯 Safety & Essential Regulations

Treestand Safety

Treestand accidents are the leading cause of hunting-related injuries in Wisconsin. Not gunshot wounds, but falls from elevated stands. If you hunt from a treestand in Price County, wear a full-body use from the moment you leave the ground until you return. The Price County terrain. With its steep ridges and uneven ground. Makes safe tree selection critical. Always use a lifeline system that keeps you connected from the ground to the stand.

If You Harvest a Deer

1. Tag the deer immediately with your validated carcass tag before moving it.
2. Register the deer electronically by 5 PM the day after harvest at GoWild.wi.gov or by calling 1-888-936-7463.
3. Carcass movement: You may not transport a whole carcass out of a CWD-affected county. Bone it out or leave the spinal column behind. Price County is currently CWD-free, but regulations change.
4. Processing: Local processors in Phillips and Park Falls can handle your deer during the season. Call ahead during gun season. They get backed up.

See also: our deer hunting guide for Price County

📞 Local Resources

• DNR Poaching Hotline: 1-800-TIP-WDNR, Report violations anonymously.
• Northwoods Outfitters: (715) 339-2000, Full-service outfitter for guided hunts, gear, and local knowledge.
• Price County Forestry: (715) 339-6371, Public land access maps, logging road conditions, and timber sale locations.
• Official Licensing: GoWild.Wi.gov
• Meat Processors: Phillips Lockers (715-339-4000) and Park Falls Custom Meats (715-762-2555), Both offer deer processing during hunting season. Call ahead during gun season week.