Patterson Hemlocks State Natural Area: hunting and access
Patterson Hemlocks State Natural Area is 304 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Oneida and Vilas counties, 5 miles from Lac du Flambeau. Hunters registered 1,218 deer in DMU 116 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 landNational forestLand trusts and other open landPatterson Hemlocks State Natural AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 304 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Oneida County and Vilas County |
| Deer Management Unit | DMU 116, Lac du Flambeau Reservation |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Patterson Hemlocks |
| Nearest towns | Lac du Flambeau (5 mi), Minocqua (12 mi) and Woodruff (13 mi) |
What is Patterson Hemlocks State Natural Area like?
Patterson Hemlocks protects a large block of old-growth northern mesic forest on an isthmus between Clear and Fuller Lakes with large hemlock, yellow birch, and white pine throughout. The tract contains examples of all stages of development in a hemlock-hardwood forest from areas of dense hemlock saplings to a mature stand of hemlock with scattered clumps of supercanopy white pine. The hemlock and yellow birch are in the 15-30 inch size class while some white pines are greater than three feet in diameter (dbh) and 120 feet high. The eastern portion of the site is relatively level but becomes more rolling toward the west. Many dead-standing trees, a very thick duff layer, and rotting logs on the ground accentuate the stand's old-growth appearance. Understory shrubs include mountain maple and beaked hazelnut.
Oneida County. T39n-r4e, section 3 ne¼, e½nw¼. T40-R4E, Sections 34, 35. 304 acres. Highway 51 and State Highway 70 in Woodruff, go west on Highway 70 13.1 miles, then south on West Clear Lake Road 1 mile to the northern boundary of the site. Park along the road.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on Patterson Hemlocks State Natural Area?
The DNR's property map lists Patterson Hemlocks State Natural Area 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 Patterson Hemlocks State Natural Area?
Patterson Hemlocks State Natural Area lies in 2 deer management units. The DNR registered 1,218 deer in DMU 116 in 2025.
| DMU | Patterson Hemlocks State Natural Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DMU 116 | 189 | 1,218 |
| Lac du Flambeau Reservation | 116 |
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 Patterson Hemlocks State Natural Area?
Nearest towns: Lac du Flambeau (5 miles), Minocqua (12 miles), Woodruff (13 miles) and Mercer (18 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 70.
What other public land is near Patterson Hemlocks State Natural Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Bootjack Bog State Natural Area: 2,092 acres, 4.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Patterson Hemlocks State Natural Area
Counting Patterson Hemlocks State Natural Area itself, 2,325 of the 24,186 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National forest | 1,958 |
| State wildlife areas, forests and other DNR land | 367 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Patterson Hemlocks State Natural Area?
In Oneida and Vilas counties, 5 miles from Lac du Flambeau. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Patterson Hemlocks State Natural 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 Patterson Hemlocks State Natural Area in?
DMU 116 (189 acres) and Lac du Flambeau Reservation (116 acres).
How much public land is around Patterson Hemlocks State Natural Area?
2,325 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Patterson Hemlocks State Natural Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Bootjack Bog State Natural Area (4.1 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Patterson Hemlocks State Natural 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.