Unit 116

The Rice River Flowage and multiple interconnected reservoirs (Aabajijiwang, Willow, Killarney, Lake Nokomis) serve as major orientation points and water sources. Schoolhouse Bay and the three capes (Madden Point, Doolittle Point, Clawsons Point) provide navigation reference along water features. The Willow River, Sailor Creek, and Little Elk River system define primary drainages and travel corridors for deer.

Named flowages and rapids (Willow Rapids, Halfbreed Rapids) help pinpoint location along waterways. These features are less dramatic than mountain landmarks but highly reliable for route-finding and understanding deer movement patterns in flat country.

Elevations span a narrow 400-foot range across terrain that rarely exceeds moderate slopes. Low-elevation forest dominates, with a mosaic of hardwoods, conifers, and aspen creating diverse cover. Extensive wetlands—marshes, swamps, and shrubby areas—comprise roughly half the non-forested land, interspersed with open prairie and grassland flats.

Forest density varies from thick timber stands to more open understory, especially where logging or natural disturbance has created younger growth. Transitional edges between forest and wetland are abundant, concentrating deer movement and providing reliable ambush opportunities for hunters.

A dense road network—nearly 2 miles of road per square mile—provides excellent access throughout the unit. Highway connections to Phillips, Minocqua, and surrounding towns mean hunters can reach most areas within short drives from vehicles. The mixed public-private ownership creates a connected-but-fragmented landscape; knowing boundary lines is essential.

Initial pressure concentrates around developed access points, town borders, and major water features visible on maps. Hunters willing to push back from roads and into the wetland interior find lighter pressure and more intact deer behavior. Flatness works both ways—easy to access but also easy for pressure to dissipate across a wider area.

Unit 116 occupies a moderate-sized block of north-central Wisconsin between the towns of Minocqua, Phillips, and Tripoli. The unit's flat topography reflects its glacial heritage—gentle slopes and abundant depressions characterize the entire area. Public land sections are interspersed with private holdings, requiring attention to access points and boundary lines.

The landscape sits well below any alpine or high-elevation terrain; this is classic Great Lakes region forest country. Multiple towns border and penetrate the unit, making access straightforward but also concentrating initial hunting pressure around roads and parking areas.

Water dominates Unit 116's character. Multiple reservoirs and flowages create permanent, reliable water sources throughout the unit—critical for sustaining deer populations and hunter logistics. The Willow River system, Sailor Creek, and Foulds Creek form major drainage corridors connecting wetlands and providing natural travel routes for game.

Springs (Foulds, Grant, Mercer, Hogsback, and others) supplement surface water in drier pockets. Seasonal flow in smaller streams varies, but the abundance of flowages and reservoirs means water scarcity is rarely a planning factor. Wet conditions are common; boots and willingness to wade are practical necessities.

Unit 116 supports white-tailed deer as the primary quarry, with mule deer present but uncommon. Whitetails thrive in the mixed forest-wetland landscape, using dense cover for bedding and wet areas for feeding and water. Early season success concentrates on forest edges—hunt the transition lines between timber and wetland margins, especially near springs and smaller waterways.

Midseason tactics shift toward thicker cover as hunting pressure increases; pushing into swampy forest can yield quieter country. Rut activity uses the same corridor system. The flat terrain allows glassing from high spots, but optics hunting is less productive than in broken country—approach and ambush on edges and trails work better.

Water sources concentrate deer; sitting near named springs or flowage outflows can be productive.