Unit 111

Key navigational features include Whitefish Lake and Lake Chippewa in the western portion—both substantial reservoirs useful for orientation. The Brunet River and West Fork Chippewa River serve as major drainages defining terrain flow. Radisson Flowage in the central area and the chain of flowages (Tiger Cat, Bear Foot Lake) create recognizable water features for navigation.

Hay Creek Narrows and Cranberry Narrows pinch down travel corridors. The numerous islands—Popple, Sand, Big Banana, Birch—mark water-based reference points. Miles Point and Pine Point provide minor landmark features.

These features create a web of navigable corridors useful for understanding deer movement patterns through otherwise uniform forest.

The entire unit sits in the lower elevation band between roughly 1,050 and 1,770 feet with gentle rolling terrain. Habitat consists primarily of mixed hardwood and coniferous forest interspersed with extensive wetlands and swamps—nearly half the unit is forested plains, while another 44% consists of open or sparsely timbered lowlands. Biernit Swamp and scattered smaller wetland complexes dominate the landscape.

Whitefish Lake, Phipps Lake, and numerous flowages (Lake Chippewa, Radisson Flowage, Tiger Cat) create open-water pockets throughout. The moderate forest coverage and abundant water mean deer have reliable food and cover, with water crossings becoming critical travel corridors.

Road density is high at 2.49 miles per square mile—meaning vehicle access reaches most of the landscape. Approximately 403 miles of major roads and 42.6 miles of numbered highways crisscross the unit, with good connectivity to Radisson and Hayward. However, 91.4% private ownership limits where hunters can actually hunt; public land access is scarce.

The straightforward road network and proximity to towns create moderate-to-high hunter pressure, especially near established parking areas and public access points. Terrain complexity is extremely low (0.8/10), making the country easy to navigate but also predictable—pressure tends to concentrate on accessible public parcels and well-known public water access.

Unit 111 occupies a roughly 455-square-mile block in Wisconsin's Sawyer and Bayfield counties, centered around the Radisson and Hayward areas. The landscape sits in the transition zone between Lake Superior's influence to the north and the state's central lowlands. Extensive bay systems—Milwaukee Bay, Moses Bay, Kavanagh Bay, and others—characterize the eastern and northern portions, indicating proximity to major water bodies.

The unit is heavily accessible via state highways and county roads, connecting to populated settlements throughout. Geographic positioning and road networks make staging from Radisson, Ojibwa, or Hayward practical entry points for hunting.

Water is abundant and dominates the unit's character. Twenty-plus named lakes and flowages provide consistent water sources, with Lake Chippewa and Radisson Flowage as major impoundments. The Brunet River and West Fork Chippewa River systems are perennial corridors.

Whitefish Creek, Spider Creek, Blueberry Creek, and other named streams create drainage patterns through the lowlands. Springs including Buckhorn, Maple, and Beaver Creek Spring support seepage areas. Approximately 9% of total area is water surface—higher than most units.

Swamps and wetlands further increase standing water. This abundance means water is never a limiting resource; instead, water crossings and riparian edges become predictable deer travel zones.

White-tailed and mule deer inhabit this unit's forest-wetland complex. Whitetails dominate in the timbered lowlands and swamp edges where they exploit the dense cover and consistent water sources. Early season finds deer using oak ridges and open hardwood areas; peak activity concentrates around flowage edges where aquatic vegetation attracts does and fawns.

Rut timing follows regional patterns (late October through November), with bucks traveling between bedding swamps and feeding areas. Late season pushes deer toward remaining open water and conifer cover. Success requires scouting specific private property access and recognizing water-crossing opportunities.

The low terrain complexity means thorough pre-hunt reconnaissance—knowing where neighbors allow access and identifying deer sign near flowages and streams—outweighs bushwhacking skills. Mule deer presence is minimal but possible in western portions; focus primarily on whitetail hunting strategies.