Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area is 3,302 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Oneida County, 8 miles from Tomahawk. The DNR's page for it names ruffed grouse among the game here. Hunters registered 1,615 deer in DMU 121 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 federal landOther county, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landWoodboro Lakes Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,302 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Oneida County |
| Deer Management Unit | DMU 121, DMU 116 |
| DNR lists for hunting | ruffed grouse |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Tomahawk (8 mi), Rhinelander (10 mi) and Lake Tomahawk (12 mi) |
What is Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area like?
Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area is located about 10 miles west of Rhinelander in the Town of Woodboro. It consists of about 3,000 acres with a variety of upland forests and six small lakes. The forests are mostly aspen and white birch with areas of red oak, red maple and white pine. The property was purchased from a paper company in 1999 as part of the "Great Addition.". The lakes are small, shallow and contain no game fish, but are used by various wildlife species. An extensive logging road network runs through the property and functions as high-quality foot access. Standard vehicle travel is allowed on the main road through the property. ATVs are only allowed on the designated ATV trail.
The Roe Lake-Stag Lake Unit occurs about 3 miles south of the main Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area. This 500-acre area contains about half the frontage on Roe and Stag Lakes. The habitat is mostly aspen forest with some pine and hardwoods throughout. The property is accessible from the north on US Highway 8. You can also walk to the property from Spring Creek Road about a half-mile south of the property. The property has limited road access but is accessible by foot via an extensive trail network. No ATVs are allowed. The entire property offers high-quality recreation for hunters, trappers, and wildlife viewers. The most popular species on the property are ruffed grouse and white-tailed deer. Many other species exist on the property including a high diversity of songbirds and furbearers. Aspen timber harvest near Campine Lake, Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area names ruffed grouse. Each follows Wisconsin's statewide season and, for deer, the tags and rules of the deer management unit.
What are the rules on Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Woodboro Lakes 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 Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area: Auto travel (ATVs only allowed on designated ATV trail), Birding, Biking (no designated trails), Camping is allowed between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, Canoeing, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (noted for: ruffed grouse), Kayaking, Snowmobiling trail, Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area?
Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area lies in 2 deer management units. The DNR registered 1,615 deer in DMU 121 in 2025.
| DMU | Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DMU 121 | 3,301 | 1,615 |
| DMU 116 | 2 | 1,218 |
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 Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Tomahawk (8 miles), Rhinelander (10 miles), Lake Tomahawk (12 miles) and Minocqua (16 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 51 and US 8.
What other public land is near Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Bearskin State Trail: 638 acres, next to it
- Willow Flowage SWA - Dick Steffes Unit: 2,034 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area: 27,366 acres, 1.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area
Counting Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area itself, 15,020 of the 43,146 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (34.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| County forest | 7,783 |
| State wildlife areas, forests and other DNR land | 6,333 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 473 |
| National forest | 426 |
| State parks | 5 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area?
In Oneida County, 8 miles from Tomahawk. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Woodboro Lakes 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 Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area in?
DMU 121 (3,301 acres) and DMU 116 (2 acres).
How much public land is around Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area?
15,020 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Bearskin State Trail (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Woodboro Lakes 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.