Flambeau River State Forest: hunting and access
Flambeau River State Forest is 89,904 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Sawyer, Rusk, Price and Ashland counties, 6 miles from Park Falls. Hunters registered 1,398 deer in DMU 112 in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's DNR property data, read 2026-10. Harvest: DNR Deer Metrics.
State wildlife areas, forests and other DNR landCounty forestNational forestOther county, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landVoluntary Public Access landFlambeau River State ForestCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 89,904 acres in 34 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Sawyer County, Rusk County, Price County and Ashland County |
| Deer Management Unit | DMU 112, DMU 113, DMU 115, DMU 117 |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Flambeau River |
| Nearest towns | Park Falls (6 mi), Butternut (6 mi) and Glen Flora (6 mi) |
What is Flambeau River State Forest like?
The Flambeau River State Forest provides excellent backcountry opportunities, including wooded hiking trails, ATV and snowmobile trails, family campgrounds and rustic river sites, hunting and fishing. Canoeing is the most popular activity at the forest. Different portions of the river offer varying degrees of difficulty. The North Fork is ideal for the novice, while the South Fork is for the advanced paddler. Nine landings offer access to forest lakes and the Flambeau River.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on Flambeau River State Forest?
The DNR's property map lists Flambeau River State Forest as "Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping". Hunting follows Wisconsin's statewide seasons and the rules posted on the property.
How many deer are taken around Flambeau River State Forest?
Flambeau River State Forest lies in 4 deer management units. The DNR registered 1,398 deer in DMU 112 in 2025.
| DMU | Flambeau River State Forest acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DMU 112 | 72,042 | 1,398 |
| DMU 113 | 13,276 | 1,776 |
| DMU 115 | 4,550 | 3,013 |
| DMU 117 | 38 | 895 |
Harvest for the whole deer management unit, not the property alone: Wisconsin DNR Deer Metrics (registered harvest by deer management unit).
How do you get to Flambeau River State Forest?
Nearest towns: Park Falls (6 miles), Butternut (6 miles), Glen Flora (6 miles) and Hawkins (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 70 and WI 182.
What other public land is near Flambeau River State Forest?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Tuscobia State Trail: 1,087 acres, next to it
- Hay Creek-Hoffman Lake Wildlife Area: 14,503 acres, next to it
- Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area: 35,782 acres, next to it
- Kimberly Clark Wildlife Area: 8,742 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Bosner Creek Conservation Easement Area: 21 acres, 1 mile away
Public land within 3 miles of Flambeau River State Forest
Counting Flambeau River State Forest itself, 176,317 of the 276,460 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (63.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife areas, forests and other DNR land | 104,231 |
| County forest | 59,904 |
| National forest | 12,107 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 54 |
| Other federal land | 14 |
| State parks | 7 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Flambeau River State Forest?
In Sawyer, Rusk, Price and Ashland counties, 6 miles from Park Falls. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Flambeau River State Forest open to hunting?
Yes. The DNR's property map lists it as "Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping". Posted refuges or closed areas, where there are any, are marked on site.
Which deer management unit is Flambeau River State Forest in?
DMU 112 (72,042 acres), DMU 113 (13,276 acres), DMU 115 (4,550 acres) and DMU 117 (38 acres).
How much public land is around Flambeau River State Forest?
176,317 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Flambeau River State Forest included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Tuscobia State Trail (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Flambeau River State Forest; Wisconsin DNR managed lands open to hunting.
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
- Deer harvest: Wisconsin DNR Deer Metrics (registered harvest by deer management unit).
FilledTag is not part of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.
Wisconsin hunting Sawyer County Rusk County Price County Ashland County