Hunter Lake
Hunter Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 175 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Hunter Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 12.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 175 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Hunter Lake is a 175-acre mesotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Hunter Lake ranks #70 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 11.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.7 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Hunter Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hunter Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Hunter Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Hunter Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 75°F) and coldest in Sep (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 10 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Hunter Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Hunter Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1995. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 175 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Hunter LakePublic
- Upper Buckatabon LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hunter Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.3 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.77 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Hunter Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10007795 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.28 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #70 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Hunter Lake
Where is Hunter Lake?
- Hunter Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Hunter Lake?
- Hunter Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 175 acres.
Is Hunter Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Hunter Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Hunter Lake?
- Hunter Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 10 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Hunter Lake?
- Hunter Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 175 acres.
What fish are in Hunter Lake?
- Fish species found in Hunter Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye. Hunter Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Hunter Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Hunter Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Hunter Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Hunter Lake?
- Hunter Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hunter Lake, Upper Buckatabon Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Hunter Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
45 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX45 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory