Wisconsin public hunting land and wildlife areas
Public hunting grounds
The regions are divided into counties
Info includes size, location, principal wildlife, and habitat.
Contact the regional DNR office for moreinfo
Click on region for detail
   

Hidden Valleys

Crawford County
 
 
Kickapoo River Wildlife Area- Bell Center Unit-Size: 1,370 acres, hunting and fishing easement.
Location: 1 mile south of Gays Mills along Hwy. 131 and Hwy. S.
Principal Wildlife: Ducks, deer, pheasants, woodcock, great egrets.
Other Recreation: Fishing.
Habitat: Marsh, swamp, upland.
Contact: Viroqua DNR.
 
 
Wauzeka Unit- Lower WI State Riverway-Size: 3,535 acres, state-owned and easement.
Location: Borders Hwy. 60 east and west of Wauzeka.
Principal Wildlife: Waterfowl, deer, turkeys, squirrels, grouse, furbearers.
Other Recreation: Hiking, fishing, birdwatching, canoeing.
Habitat: Bottomland hardwoods, upland hardwoods, marsh, sloughs.
Contact: WILSON NURSERY/STATE OF WIS.
5350 Hwy 133 E
Boscobel, WI 53805
 
 
Kickapoo River Wildlife Area- Wauzeka-Size: 5,697 acres, (1,927 state-owned, 3,770 under easement).
Location: 1/2 mile north of Wauzeka on Hwy. 131.
Principal Wildlife: Squirrels, deer, ruffed grouse, ducks, turkeys, great egrets, blanding's turtles.
Other Recreation: Mushroom hunting, hiking, birdwatching on state-owned lands. Easements are only for hunting and fishing.
Habitat: Upland and bottomland forest, wetlands, grasslands.
Contact: Viroqua DNR.
 
 
Marietta Unit- Lower WI State Riverway-Size: 1,956 acres, all state-owned.
Location: Two miles east of Boscobel on Hwy. 60.
Principal Wildlife: Deer, turkeys, squirrels, grouse, ducks, furbearers.
Other Recreation: Hiking, fishing, birding.
Habitat: Upland hardwoods, fields, steep bluff prairie.
Contact: WILSON NURSERY/STATE OF WIS.
5350 Hwy 133 E
Boscobel, WI 53805
 
 
Grant County
 
 
Wyalusing Unit- Lower WI State Riverway-Size: 690 acres, all state-owned.
Location: Immediately east of Wyalusing State Park, north side of Hwy. C.
Principal Wildlife: Deer, turkeys, squirrels, rabbits, grouse, furbearers, turkey vultures.
Other Recreation: Fishing, hiking, birdwatcing.
Habitat: Bottomland hardwoods, upland bluff and forest.
Contact: WILSON NURSERY/STATE OF WIS.
5350 Hwy 133 E
Boscobel, WI 53805
 
Millville Unit- Lower WI State Riverway-Size: 3,625 acres, all state-owned.
Location: Off Hwy. C, just north of Millville. Six parking areas.
Principal Wildlife: Deer, turkeys, squirrels, rabbits, grouse, furbearers.
Other Recreation: Fishing on Wisconsin River, hiking, birdwatching.
Habitat: Upland hardwoods, agricultural fields.
Contact: WILSON NURSERY/STATE OF WIS.
5350 Hwy 133 E
Boscobel, WI 53805
 
Woodman Unit- Lower WI State Riverway-Size: 1,926 acres, all state-owned.
Location: North of Hwy. 133, on Woodman Lake Road.
Principal Wildlife: Waterfowl, furbearers, sandhill cranes. Other Recreation: 1 boat launch, fishing with disabled access.
Habitat: River, sloughs, marsh, forest.
Contact: WILSON NURSERY/STATE OF WIS.
5350 Hwy 133 E
Boscobel, WI 53805
 
 
Mount Hope Pond Conservation Area-Size: 200 acres, all state-owned.
Location: Four miles north of Mount Hope on Hwy. 133.
Principal Wildlife: Deer, ruffed grouse, turkeys, squirrels.
Other Recreation: Trout fishing.
Habitat: Forest, fields.
Contact: WILSON NURSERY/STATE OF WIS.
5350 Hwy 133 E
Boscobel, WI 53805
 
 
Semrad Slough-Size: 278 acres, all state-owned.
Location: 1 mile east of Woodman on Hwy. 133.
Principal Wildlife: Waterfowl, furbearers.
Other Recreation: Fishing, birdwatching.
Habitat: Large slough, open marsh, prairie.
Contact: WILSON NURSERY/STATE OF WIS.
5350 Hwy 133 E
Boscobel, WI 53805
 
 
Boscobel Unit- Lower WI State Riverway-Size: 1,342 acres, all state-owned.
Location: Immediately north of Boscobel on Hwy. 61 before crossing river.
Principal Wildlife: Waterfowl, deer, squirrels, rabbits, furbearers, sandhill cranes.
Other Recreation: Fishing, dog training.
Habitat: Open marsh, bottomland hardwoods.
Contact: WILSON NURSERY/STATE OF WIS.
5350 Hwy 133 E
Boscobel, WI 53805
 
 
Blue River Unit- Lower WI State Riverway-Size: 1,904 acres, all state-owned.
Location: West of Blue River on Hwy. 133, and old C road.
Principal Wildlife: Waterfowl, turkeys, deer, squirrels, rabbits, furbearers, sandhill cranes.
Other Recreation: Fishing, birdwatching.
Habitat: River, sloughs, marsh, forest.
Contact: WILSON NURSERY/STATE OF WIS.
5350 Hwy 133 E
Boscobel, WI 53805
 
 
Muscoda Unit- Lower WI State Riverway-Size: 2,291 acres, all state-owned.
Location: 2 miles west of Muscoda on W. Pine Road.
Principal Wildlife: Waterfowl, deer, squirrels, rabbits, furbearers, sandhill cranes.
Other Recreation: Fishing, snowmobile and horse trail, birdwatching, boat launch in Muscoda.
Habitat: River, slough, marsh, bottomland hardwoods, prairie.
Contact: WILSON NURSERY/STATE OF WIS.
5350 Hwy 133 E
Boscobel, WI 53805
 
 
Fenley Recreation Area-Size: 271 acres, all state-owned.
Location: 2 miles west of Kieler.
Principal Wildlife: Deer, squirrels, turkeys, ruffed grouse. Other Recreation: Hiking.
Habitat: Upland hardwoods, steep bluffs, cropland.
Contact: Wyalusing State Park
 
 
Green County
 
 
Brooklyn Wildlife Area-Size: 3,938 acres, (2,118 owned, 1,820 leased).
Location: 2 miles east of Belleville on Hwy. D.
Principal Wildlife: Pheasants, ducks, quail, rabbits, woodcock, deer, turkeys, furbearers, Hungarian partridges, songbirds, sandhill cranes.
Other Recreation: Part of Ice Age trail goes through property. Hiking, trout fishing, birdwatching, cross-country skiing.
Habitat: Cropland, scattered woodlots, grassland, marsh.
Contact: Janesville DNR.
 
Albany Wildlife Area-Size: 1,928 acres, (1,408 owned, 520 leased).
Location: Take Purintun Road west out of Albany 1 mile to Tin Can Road, then north 1 mile.
Principal Wildlife: Pheasants, furbearers, rabbits, turkeys, deer, woodcock, squirrels, quail.
Other Recreation: Canoeing, fishing, biking, hiking, birdwatching. 3 boat launches.
Habitat: Bottomland hardwoods, river, grassland, scattered woodlots.
Contact: Janesville DNR.
 
 
Liberty Creek Wildlife Area-Size: 722 acres, (562 owned, 160 leased).
Location: 4 miles north of Albany on Hwy. E, then east on Brooklyn- Albany Rd. 1 mile.
Principal Wildlife: Pheasants, ducks, turkeys, deer, furbearers, sandhill cranes.
Other Recreation: Birdwatching, trout fishing.
Habitat: Riverine sedge meadow, grassland, scattered woodlots.
Contact: Janesville DNR.
 
 
Browntown-Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area
Size: 723 acres, (643 owned, 80 leased).
Location: 6 miles southwest of Monroe off of Hwy 11.
Principal Wildlife: Pheasants, rabbits, squirrels, deer.
Other Recreation: Fishing.
Habitat: Marsh, grassland, scattered woodlots.
Contact: Janesville DNR.
 
Iowa County
 
Avoca Unit- Lower WI State Riverway-Size: 3,736 acres, all state-owned.
Location: East and west of Avoca off Hwy. 133.
Principal Wildlife: Pheasants, woodcock, furbearers, deer, grouse, turkeys, eagles.
Other Recreation: Birdwatching, fishing on river channel, prairie aesthetics. One boat launch.
Habitat: Marsh, potholes, forest, prairie.
Contact: Tower Hill State Park.
 
 
Helena Marsh Unit- Lower WI State Riverway-Size: 919 acres, all state-owned.
Location: Six miles west of Arena on Hwy. 14.
Principal Wildlife: Waterfowl, woodcock, deer, furbearers, turkeys, sandhill cranes.
Other Recreation: Fishing.
Habitat: River, sloughs, marsh, forest.
Contact: Tower Hill State Park.
 
 
 
Arena Unit- Lower WI State Riverway-Size: 1,406 acres, all state-owned.
Location: Scattered small parcels along south shore of Wisconsin River, north of Arena.
Principal Wildlife: Deer, turkeys, squirrels, rabbits, ruffed grouse, furbearers, raptors.
Other Recreation: Fishing along river, birdwatching.
Habitat: Floodplain forest, marsh, river.
Contact: Tower Hill State Park.
 
 
Big Spring Fishery Area-Size: 286 acres, all state-owned.
Location: West of Highland on Hwy. Q, two miles to Big Spring Road, then north one mile.
Principal Wildlife: Turkeys, deer, squirrels, rabbits, ruffed grouse, rattlesnakes, king snakes.
Other Recreation: Trout fishing, hiking.
Habitat: Oak forest, abandoned fields, cold water stream, large freshwater springs.
Contact: Dodgeville DNR.
 
 
Blackhawk Lake Recreation Area-Size: 2,036 acres, all state-owned.
Location: Take Hwy. 80 north from Cobb 3 miles to Hwy. BH, then east 2 miles.
Principal Wildlife: Ruffed grouse, deer, squirrels, rabbits, pheasants, turkeys.
Other Recreation: Fishing, birdwatching, hiking, boating, swimming.
Habitat: Abandoned croplands, lake, forest.
Contact: Tower Hill State Park.
 
Love Creek Fishery Area-Size: 570 acres, all state-owned.
Location: 2 miles north of Ridgeway on Co. Hwy H.
Principal Wildlife: Turkeys, deer, squirrels, rabbits, ruffed grouse.
Other Recreation: Fishing, birdwatching, hiking.
Habitat: Oak forest, cold water stream.
Contact: Dodgeville DNR.
 
 
Trout Creek Fishery Area-Size: 894 acres, all state-owned.
Location: Northeast of Barneveld off Co. Hwy T, 2, 4, and 6 miles.
Principal Wildlife: Deer, turkeys, grouse, waterfowl, squirrels.
Other Recreation: Fishing, hiking, birdwatching.
Habitat: Abandoned fields, oak forest.
Contact: Dodgeville DNR.
 
 
LaCrosse County
 
 
Van Loon Wildlife Area-Size: 3,981 acres, (3,786 owned, 195 leased).
Location: 3.5 miles northwest of Holmen. Property extends 5 miles south of Galesville on the Black River, from Hwy 53\93 Hunters Bridge to New Amsterdam on Co. Hwy. XX.
Principal Wildlife: Ducks, deer, squirrels, raccoons, waterfowl, turkeys.
Other Recreation: Hiking, fishing, canoeing, plant study.
Habitat: River, sloughs, marsh, forest.
Contact: La Crosse DNR.
 
 
Coulee Experimental Forest-Size: 3,000 acres, all state-owned.
Location: 5 miles south of Bangor, parking lot off Hwy. II south of Bangor.
Principal Wildlife: Deer, ruffed grouse, squirrels, turkeys, rabbits.
Other Recreation: Cross country skiing, hiking.
Habitat: Upland forest.
Contact: La Crosse DNR.
 
 
Lafayette County
 
 
Yellowstone Wildlife Area-Size: 4,047 acres, all state-owned.
Location: 8 miles northwest of Argyle on Hwy. G to Hwy. F, then north 2 miles.
Principal Wildlife: Squirrels, pheasants, deer, rabbits, turkeys, furbearers, ducks, songbirds.
Other Recreation: Hiking, berry picking, mushroom picking, birdwatching, trout fishing.
Habitat: Lake, marsh, woodlands, croplands, grasslands.
Contact: Janesville DNR.
 
 
Monroe County
 
 
Sand Creek Fishery Area-Size: 740 acres, (710 owned, 30 acres area fishing only easement).
Location: 3 miles south of Melrose, access off Hwy. 71.
Principal Wildlife: Deer, furbearers, squirrels, turkeys.
Other Recreation: Hiking, berry picking, trout fishing.
Habitat: Stream, upland and lowland forest.
Contact: Black River Falls DNR.
 
Big Creek Fishery Area-Size: 1,316 acres, all state-owned.
Location: 2 miles northwest of Cataract; access off Hwy. 27.
Principal Wildlife: Deer, grouse, furbearers, ruffed grouse, turkeys, waterfowl.
Other Recreation: Trout fishing.
Habitat: Forest, stream, lowland brush.
Contact: La Crosse DNR.
 
 
La Crosse River Fishery Area-Size: 453 acres, all state-owned.
Location: 2 miles northeast of Angelo.
Principal Wildlife: Deer, upland game, waterfowl, furbearers, turkeys.
Other Recreation: Trout fishing.
Habitat: Stream, forest.
Contact: La Crosse DNR.
 
Ridgeville Wildlife Area-Size: 767 acres, all county-owned.
Location: 2 miles north of Norwalk. Access on Co. Hwy. T and U.
Principal Wildlife: Pheasants, squirrels, rabbits, deer, ruffed grouse, turkeys.
Other Recreation: Birdwatching.
Habitat: Cropland, field, upland forest.
Contact: La Crosse DNR.
 
Rulland's Coulee Fishery Area-Size: 208 acres, all state-owned.
Location: 2 miles southwest of Portland on Hwy. P.
Principal Wildlife: Ruffed grouse, deer, squirrels, turkeys, rabbits.
Habitat: Stream, upland forest.
Contact: La Crosse DNR.
 
 
Richland County
 
 
Willow Creek Fishery Area-Size: 300 acres, state-owned.
Location: Three miles north of Ithaca on Hwy. 58.
Principal Wildlife: Deer, quail.
Other Recreation: Trout fishing.
Habitat: Lowland brushy marsh.
Contact: Dodgeville DNR.
 
 
Pine River Public Hunting Grounds-Size: 2,345 acres (1,041 easement, 1,304 leased).
Location: 1 mile north of Gotham on Hwy. 14.
Principal Wildlife: Ducks, deer, pheasants, quail, sandhill cranes.
Other Recreation: Biking, hiking and snowmobile trail on abandoned railroad right-of-way.
Habitat: Marsh, forest, farmland.
Contact: Wilson Nursery, Richland Chamber of Commerce, (608) 647-6205.
 
 
Bear Creek Fishery Area-Size: 798 acres, all state-owned.
Location: 8 miles north of Lone Rock on Hwy. 130.
Principal Wildlife: Deer, waterfowl, raptors.
Other Recreation: Trout fishing.
Habitat: Marsh, farmland.
Contact: Tower Hill State Park.
 
 
Knapp Creek Unit- Lower WI - State Riverway-Size: 5,001 acres, (2,998 owned, 2,003 easements).
Location: 5 miles east of Boscobel on Hwy. 60.
Principal Wildlife: Ducks, deer, ruffed grouse, squirrels, turkeys, rabbits, quail.
Other Recreation: Fishing, birdwatching, hiking.
Habitat: Creek, brush, forest, prairie, farmland.
Contact: Wilson Nursery.
 
 
Lone Rock Unit- Lower WI State Riverway-Size: 960 acres, all state-owned.
Location: 1 mile west of Lone Rock on Hwy. 14.
Principal Wildlife: Waterfowl, woodcock, grouse, furbearers, deer.
Other Recreation: Canoeing, fishing. One boat launch.
Habitat: Marsh, floodplain forest.
Contact: Tower Hill State Park.
 
 
Vernon County
 
 
Coon Creek Fishery Area-Size: 200 acres, all state-owned.
Location: 2 mile northeast of Coon Valley on Hwy. P.
Principal Wildlife: Ruffed grouse, deer, squirrels, turkeys.
Habitat: Stream, upland forest.
Contact: Viroqua DNR.
 
 
Kickapoo Valley Reserve-Size: 8,500 acres, all owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/ Wisconsin Department of Tourism.
Location: 2 miles north of LaFarge.
Principal Wildlife: Deer, ruffed grouse, squirrels, turkeys, quail.
Other Recreation: Mushroom hunting, canoeing, birdwatching, camping.
Habitat: Upland forest.
Contact: Kickapoo Valley Reserve.
 
 
Tainter Creek Fishery Area-Size: 169 acres, hunting and fishing easement.
Location: 8 miles south of Viroqua.
Principal Wildlife: Ruffed grouse, deer, squirrels, turkeys.
Habitat: Stream, upland forest.
Contact: Viroqua DNR.