Governor Knowles State Forest: hunting and access
Governor Knowles State Forest is 21,307 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Burnett and Polk counties, next to Danbury. Hunters registered 3,490 deer in DMU 108 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 park landOther county, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landGovernor Knowles State ForestCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 21,307 acres in 41 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Burnett County and Polk County |
| Deer Management Unit | DMU 108, DMU 107 |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Governor Knowles |
| Nearest towns | Danbury (next to it), Grantsburg (next to it) and Webster (7 mi) |
What is Governor Knowles State Forest like?
This 55-mile-long forest in northwestern Wisconsin parallels the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and offers camping, paddling, hiking, horseback riding, biking, hunting, fishing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling opportunities. Three campgrounds (St. Croix, Trade River Equestrian and Sioux Portage Group) and nine primitive backpack campsites are found within 32,500 wooded acres.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on Governor Knowles State Forest?
The DNR's property map lists Governor Knowles 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 Governor Knowles State Forest?
Governor Knowles State Forest lies in 2 deer management units. The DNR registered 3,490 deer in DMU 108 in 2025.
| DMU | Governor Knowles State Forest acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DMU 108 | 21,120 | 3,490 |
| DMU 107 | 187 | 2,406 |
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 Governor Knowles State Forest?
Nearest towns: Danbury (next to it), Grantsburg (next to it), Webster (7 miles) and St. Croix Falls (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 87, WI 70, WI 35, WI 77 and WI 48.
What other public land is near Governor Knowles State Forest?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Fish Lake Wildlife Area: 13,535 acres, next to it
- Crex Meadows Wildlife Area: 29,812 acres, next to it
- Gandy Dancer State Trail: 880 acres, next to it
- Grantsburg Station: 20 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Yellow Lake State Habitat Area: 233 acres, 4.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Governor Knowles State Forest
Counting Governor Knowles State Forest itself, 64,980 of the 271,149 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (24%), 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 | 50,920 |
| County forest | 9,640 |
| National park land | 4,334 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 75 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 9 |
| State parks | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Governor Knowles State Forest?
In Burnett and Polk counties, next to Danbury. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Governor Knowles 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 Governor Knowles State Forest in?
DMU 108 (21,120 acres) and DMU 107 (187 acres).
How much public land is around Governor Knowles State Forest?
64,980 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Governor Knowles State Forest included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Fish Lake Wildlife Area (next to it).
Get a Wisconsin hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Wisconsin are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Wisconsin included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Governor Knowles 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.