New Wood Wildlife Area: hunting and access
New Wood Wildlife Area is 2,704 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Lincoln County, 11 miles from Rib Lake. Hunters registered 2,516 deer in DMU 119 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 forestOther county, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landNew Wood Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,704 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Lincoln County |
| Deer Management Unit | DMU 119 |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | New Wood Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Rib Lake (11 mi), Merrill (13 mi) and Tomahawk (15 mi) |
What is New Wood Wildlife Area like?
New Wood Wildlife Area is a 4,635-acre property located in the west central portion of Lincoln County. Find New Wood Wildlife Area approximately 16 miles northwest of the city of Merrill. Go west on Conservation Avenue off of County Highway E. In 1906, near the end of the pine era, A. H. Stange of Merrill realized the untapped potential of hardwood and hemlock and acquired much of the New Wood country including today's wildlife area. In 1914, 1,600 acres comprising part of the present wildlife area were transferred to the Union Land Company of Merrill and, in 1915, to the Union Tanning Co. of New Jersey. Eastern hemlock bark played an important role in the forest and tanning industries of northern Wisconsin between 1885-1922. In 1925, the Rib Lake Lumber Co. of Taylor County bought the land and held it for their use for the next 20 years.
The wildlife area was established in 1945 to protect a significant deer yard and for the management of waterfowl, forest wildlife and public hunting purposes. Early management efforts were aimed at restoring winter cover (spruce) as well as developing small flowages for waterfowl. The habitat type is typical northern forest, dominated by northern hardwoods with a good mix of aspen, swamp conifer and swamp hardwood. There is a 21-acre shallow water flowage located in the northeast corner of the property that has a wild rice bed. The New Wood River flows through the northeast corner of the property. There is also a system of walking trails and wildlife openings that are maintained for public access. The Ice Age Trail [exit DNR] meanders through the heart of the property. The property has tripled in size in recent years due to two large acquisitions.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on New Wood Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists New Wood Wildlife Area as "Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping". Hunting follows Wisconsin's statewide seasons and the rules posted on the property.
Activities the DNR lists for New Wood Wildlife Area: Birding, Biking, Camping (limited from Sept. 1 to Dec. 1 only, rustic with no running water or toilets), Canoeing, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Fishing (class 1 and 2 trout streams on property), Hiking (Ice Age Trail), Hunting, Kayaking, Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around New Wood Wildlife Area?
New Wood Wildlife Area lies in DMU 119. The DNR registered 2,516 deer in DMU 119 in 2025.
| DMU | New Wood Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DMU 119 | 2,704 | 2,516 |
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 New Wood Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Rib Lake (11 miles), Merrill (13 miles), Tomahawk (15 miles) and Westboro (15 miles).
What other public land is near New Wood Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Tomahawk Timberlands Conservation Easement (New Wood Trct): 16,945 acres, next to it
- Camp 27 State Ice Age Trail Area: 1,932 acres, next to it
- Knob Creek State Ice Age Trail Area: 140 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Bill Cross Wildlife Area: 1,522 acres, 5.6 miles away
- Spirit Falls State Habitat Area: 490 acres, 7.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of New Wood Wildlife Area
Counting New Wood Wildlife Area itself, 18,376 of the 40,673 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (45.2%), 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 | 12,628 |
| County forest | 5,401 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 347 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is New Wood Wildlife Area?
In Lincoln County, 11 miles from Rib Lake. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is New Wood Wildlife Area 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 New Wood Wildlife Area in?
DMU 119.
How much public land is around New Wood Wildlife Area?
18,376 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, New Wood Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Tomahawk Timberlands Conservation Easement (New Wood Trct) (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, New Wood Wildlife Area; 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.