State guide

Public land that may allow hunting in Wisconsin

152 named public land units in Wisconsin from PAD-US 4.1: 43 state wildlife & game areas, 36 forests & grasslands, 30 wildlife refuges & WPAs, 1 BLM units, 1 lake & reservoir project lands, 41 other public land units. The largest are Chequamegon National Forest, Nicolet National Forest, Northern Highland State Forest.

152listed areas
2.4Macres (approx.)
43state wildlife & game areas

Deer season 2026: archery opens Sept. 12, 2026; firearms Nov. 21, 2026 (Gun, statewide). All Wisconsin dates by zone (checked Sep 26, 2026)

Wisconsin deer season dates for 2026 (from the state agency) · Deer score calculator · How to score a buck

Regulations & licenses: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

This site does not list seasons, bag limits, license or permit rules. Those change every year and differ by area. Check them with the state agency before you go, and confirm the specific area is open to the hunting you plan.

Check regulations with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Where the listed areas are

State wildlife & game areas (43)Forests & grasslands (36)Wildlife refuges & WPAs (30)BLM public land (1)Lake & reservoir project land (1)Other public land (41)

One dot per area at its reference point; larger dots are larger areas. Outline: U.S. Census Bureau.

Acres by land type

Approximate acres for the portion of each unit inside Wisconsin.

Photos from Wisconsin public lands

All photo credits

National Forest land
Ottawa National Forest
84 acres
Photo: usfs_Eastern_Region · public domain · original source

Public-domain photos by U.S. federal agencies, taken in the place named on each card.

All 152 areas, largest first

Land type Manager PAD-US access Minimum size

National Forest land
Chequamegon National Forest
863,667 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Bayfield County, Ashland County + 4 more
Open access
National Forest land
Nicolet National Forest
663,369 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Forest County, Oconto County + 4 more
Open access
State forest
Northern Highland State Forest
176,586 acres
State: department of natural resources · Vilas County, Iron County
Open access
State forest
Flambeau River State Forest
90,845 acres
State: department of natural resources · Sawyer County, Rusk County + 2 more
Open access
State forest
Black River State Forest
68,954 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jackson County
Open access
State forest
American Legion State Forest
60,994 acres
State: department of natural resources · Oneida County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife And Fish Refuge
52,684 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Crawford County, La Crosse County + 4 more
Restricted access
State forest
Brule River State Forest
47,125 acres
State: department of natural resources · Douglas County
Open access
Other state land
Lower Wisconsin State Riverway
46,366 acres
State: department of natural resources · Grant County, Iowa County + 4 more
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
National Wildlife Refuge
Necedah National Wildlife Refuge
44,104 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Juneau County
Restricted access
Other state land
Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
36,010 acres
State: department of natural resources · Iron County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State forest
Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit-Iansr
30,189 acres
State: department of natural resources · Sheboygan County, Fond du Lac County + 1 more
Open access
Other state land
Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area
25,947 acres
State: department of natural resources · Oneida County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge
21,881 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Dodge County, Fond du Lac County
Restricted access
State forest
Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit
21,501 acres
State: department of natural resources · Waukesha County, Walworth County + 1 more
Open access
State forest
Governor Knowles State Forest
21,267 acres
State: department of natural resources · Burnett County, Polk County
Open access
State forest
Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest
11,813 acres
State: department of natural resources · Marinette County, Oconto County
Open access
Other state land
Glacial Habitat Restoration
9,956 acres
State: department of natural resources · Fond du Lac County, Winnebago County + 2 more
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State forest
Scattered Forest Lands
8,290 acres
State: department of natural resources · Vilas County, Oneida County + 6 more
Open access
Other state land
Chippewa Flowage
7,342 acres
State: department of natural resources · Sawyer County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge
6,960 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Trempealeau County, Buffalo County
Restricted access
Other state land
Statewide Habitat Areas
6,732 acres
State: department of natural resources · Dodge County, Dane County + 29 more
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
Waterfowl Production Area
St. Croix County Waterfowl Production Area
6,437 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · St. Croix County
Restricted access
Other state land
South Shore Lake Superior Fish
6,120 acres
State: department of natural resources · Bayfield County
Restricted access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Ms Rv Pools 11-22 Recreation Area
6,062 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Grant County
Open access
Other state land
Stream Bank Protection Fee Program
5,240 acres
State: department of natural resources · Sheboygan County, Dane County + 10 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
New Wood Wildlife Area 1
5,000 acres
State: department of natural resources · Oneida County, Vilas County
Open access
Other state land
Pike Wild River
4,715 acres
State: department of natural resources · Marinette County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State wildlife / game area
Waterloo Wildlife Area
4,199 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jefferson County, Dodge County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Mc Millan Wildlife Area
4,177 acres
State: department of natural resources · Marathon County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
Waterfowl Production Area
Columbia County Waterfowl Production Area
3,897 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Columbia County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Statewide Wildlife Habitat
3,698 acres
State: department of natural resources · Oneida County, St. Croix County + 17 more
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
Other state land
Gift Lands
3,156 acres
State: department of natural resources · Marinette County, Grant County + 17 more
Open access
State forest
Coulee Experimental Forest
2,961 acres
State: department of natural resources · La Crosse County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area
2,841 acres
State: department of natural resources · Rock County, Green County
Restricted access
Other state land
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
2,517 acres
State: department of natural resources · Burnett County, Polk County
Open access
Other state land
Totogatic Wild River
2,486 acres
State: department of natural resources · Washburn County, Douglas County
Restricted access
Waterfowl Production Area
Winnebago County Waterfowl Production Area Of Wi
2,463 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Winnebago County
Restricted access
Waterfowl Production Area
Winnebago County Waterfowl Production Area
2,421 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Winnebago County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Danbury Wildlife Area
2,218 acres
State: department of natural resources · Burnett County
Restricted access
Other state land
Statewide Spring Ponds
2,145 acres
State: department of natural resources · Langlade County, Marathon County + 6 more
Open access
BLM public land
BLM Northeastern States District Office Public Lands
2,129 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Columbia County, Adams County + 16 more
Open access
Other state land
Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area - Dick Steffes Unit
2,037 acres
State: department of natural resources · Oneida County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Lima Marsh Wildlife Area
1,993 acres
State: department of natural resources · Rock County
Restricted access
Other state land
Sauk Prairie Recreation Area 1
1,786 acres
State: department of natural resources · Sauk County
Open access
Waterfowl Production Area
Dane County Waterfowl Production Area
1,724 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Dane County
Restricted access
Other state land
Menard Island Resource Area
1,644 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lincoln County, Oneida County
Restricted access
Other state land
Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area 15
1,561 acres
State: department of natural resources · Oneida County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Kiezer Lake Wildlife Area
1,390 acres
State: department of natural resources · Burnett County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Mack Wildlife Area
1,352 acres
State: department of natural resources · Outagamie County
Restricted access
Waterfowl Production Area
Dunn County Waterfowl Production Area
1,272 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Dunn County
Restricted access
State forest
Kettle Moraine State Forest-Loew Lake Unit
1,232 acres
State: department of natural resources · Washington County
Open access
Waterfowl Production Area
Polk County Waterfowl Production Area
1,218 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Polk County
Restricted access
Other state land
Western Prairie Habitat Restoration
1,209 acres
State: department of natural resources · St. Croix County, Polk County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
Waterfowl Production Area
Fond Du Lac County Waterfowl Production Area
1,161 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Fond du Lac County
Restricted access
State forest
Northern Highland State Forest 5
1,147 acres
State: department of natural resources · Vilas County
Open access
Other state land
Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area 18
1,099 acres
State: department of natural resources · Oneida County
Open access
State forest
Kettle Moraine State Forest-Lapham Peak Unit
1,071 acres
State: department of natural resources · Waukesha County
Open access
Waterfowl Production Area
Polk County Waterfowl Production Area Of Wi
1,031 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Polk County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Fox River National Wildlife Refuge
999 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Marquette County
Restricted access
State forest
Kettle Moraine State Forest
977 acres
State: department of natural resources · Waukesha County, Walworth County
Open access
State forest
Kettle Moraine State Forest-Mukwonago River Unit
971 acres
State: department of natural resources · Waukesha County, Walworth County
Open access
Waterfowl Production Area
Dodge County Waterfowl Production Area
809 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Dodge County
Restricted access
State forest
Kettle Moraine State Forest-Pike Lake Unit
779 acres
State: department of natural resources · Washington County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Storrs Lake Wildlife Area
750 acres
State: department of natural resources · Rock County
Restricted access
Waterfowl Production Area
Sheboygan County Waterfowl Production Area
727 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Sheboygan County
Restricted access
Waterfowl Production Area
Ozaukee County Waterfowl Production Area
710 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Ozaukee County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area
661 acres
State: department of natural resources · Marquette County
Open access
Other state land
Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resource Area
544 acres
State: department of natural resources · Winnebago County, Shawano County + 1 more
Open access
Other state land
Longtail Point
541 acres
State: department of natural resources · Brown County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge
465 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Door County
Restricted access
State forest
Douglas Hallock Demo Forest
452 acres
State: department of natural resources · Grant County
Restricted access
Waterfowl Production Area
Rock County Waterfowl Production Area
422 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Rock County
Restricted access
Waterfowl Production Area
Rock County Waterfowl Production Area Of Wi
421 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Rock County
Restricted access
Waterfowl Production Area
Marquette County Waterfowl Production Area
396 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Marquette County
Restricted access
Other state land
One Stone Lake Hemlocks/Little Rice Lake Sna
382 acres
State: department of natural resources · Oneida County
Restricted access
Other state land
Sauk Prairie Recreation Area 2
373 acres
State: department of natural resources · Sauk County
Open access
Waterfowl Production Area
Adams County Waterfowl Production Area
341 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Adams County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Crex Meadows Wildlife Area 5
324 acres
State: department of natural resources · Burnett County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge
308 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Bayfield County
Restricted access
Other state land
Miscellaneous Lands
290 acres
State: department of natural resources · Adams County
Open access
Waterfowl Production Area
Waushara County Waterfowl Production Area
272 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Waushara County
Restricted access
Waterfowl Production Area
Manitowoc County Waterfowl Production Area
255 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Manitowoc County
Restricted access
Other state land
Lower Wisconsin State Riverway 127
244 acres
State: department of natural resources · Iowa County
Open access
Waterfowl Production Area
Jefferson County Waterfowl Production Area
241 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Jefferson County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Crex Meadows Wildlife Area 10
241 acres
State: department of natural resources · Burnett County
Open access
Other state land
White River Fishery Area-Bayfield
241 acres
State: department of natural resources · Bayfield County, Ashland County
Open access
Other state land
Stream Bank Protection Fee Program 37
234 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lafayette County
Open access
Waterfowl Production Area
Sauk County Waterfowl Production Area
228 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Sauk County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Cylon Marsh Wildlife Area
221 acres
State: department of natural resources · St. Croix County
Restricted access
State forest
Baileys Harbor Boreal Forest & Wetlands - Jonathan Ela Unit
212 acres
State: department of natural resources · Door County
Restricted access
State forest
Black River State Forest 6
203 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jackson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Dell Creek Wildlife Area 2
199 acres
State: department of natural resources · Sauk County
Open access
Other state land
St. Louis River Stream Bank Area
192 acres
State: department of natural resources · Douglas County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Pine Island Wildlife Area 3
182 acres
State: department of natural resources · Sauk County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Mud Lake Wildlife Area
180 acres
State: department of natural resources · Kenosha County, Columbia County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Waterloo Wildlife Area 16
177 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jefferson County
Open access
Other state land
Griffith Nursery
174 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wood County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Kimberly Clark Wildlife Area 4
155 acres
State: department of natural resources · Price County
Open access
State forest
F G Wilson State Forest Nursery
155 acres
State: department of natural resources · Grant County
Open access
Waterfowl Production Area
Polk County Waterfowl Production Area Of Ia
148 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Polk County
Restricted access
Other state land
Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area 19
147 acres
State: department of natural resources · Oneida County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
La Crosse Marsh Natural Resource Area
135 acres
State: department of natural resources · La Crosse County
Restricted access
Other state land
Hayward Nursery
130 acres
State: department of natural resources · Sawyer County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuge
125 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Jackson Marsh Wildlife Area
125 acres
State: department of natural resources · Washington County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Tichigan Wildlife Area 1
125 acres
State: department of natural resources · Racine County
Open access
State forest
Uhrenholdt Mem Timber Demo Forest
125 acres
State: department of natural resources · Sawyer County
Open access
Other state land
Land
122 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Grant County
Open access
State forest
American Legion State Forest 16
112 acres
State: department of natural resources · Oneida County
Open access
Other state land
Lower Wisconsin State Riverway 126
111 acres
State: department of natural resources · Richland County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Vernon Wildlife Area 4
110 acres
State: department of natural resources · Waukesha County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Tichigan Wildlife Area 2
102 acres
State: department of natural resources · Racine County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Goose Lake Wildlife Area 3
101 acres
State: department of natural resources · Dane County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Mud Lake Wildlife Area-Dodge
100 acres
State: department of natural resources · Dodge County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Pine Island Wildlife Area 2
100 acres
State: department of natural resources · Sauk County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Tiffany Wildlife Area 6
88 acres
State: department of natural resources · Pepin County
Open access
National Forest land
Ottawa National Forest
84 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Vilas County, Forest County
Open access
Other state land
Willow Creek Fishery Area
84 acres
State: department of natural resources · Richland County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge
82 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Walworth County
Restricted access
State forest
Black River State Forest 3
81 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jackson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Pershing Wildlife Area
80 acres
State: department of natural resources · Taylor County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Crex Meadows Wildlife Area 7
80 acres
State: department of natural resources · Burnett County
Open access
Other state land
Open Space
80 acres
State: department of natural resources · Dodge County
Open access
State forest
James J Rule Timber Demo Forest
80 acres
State: department of natural resources · Iowa County
Restricted access
State forest
Black River State Forest 2
79 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jackson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Peter Helland Wildlife Area
78 acres
State: department of natural resources · Columbia County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Scattered Wildlife
78 acres
State: department of natural resources · Chippewa County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lacrosse Marsh Natural Resource
75 acres
State: department of natural resources · La Crosse County
Open access
State forest
Forestry Exploration Center
70 acres
State: department of natural resources · Milwaukee County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Loon Lake Wildlife Area 6
69 acres
State: department of natural resources · Polk County
Open access
State forest
Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit 24
68 acres
State: department of natural resources · Walworth County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Dunnville Wildlife Area 8
66 acres
State: department of natural resources · Dunn County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Peter Helland Wildlife Area 10
66 acres
State: department of natural resources · Columbia County
Open access
Other state land
Green Co Prairies (Mural Bluff Prairie) Sna
65 acres
State: department of natural resources · Green County
Restricted access
State forest
Hardies Creek Timber Demo Forest
58 acres
State: department of natural resources · Trempealeau County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Waterloo Wildlife Area 14
57 acres
State: department of natural resources · Dodge County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Vernon Wildlife Area 3
54 acres
State: department of natural resources · Waukesha County
Open access
State forest
Flambeau River State Forest 1
53 acres
State: department of natural resources · Sawyer County
Open access
State forest
Apple River Timber Demo Forest
52 acres
State: department of natural resources · Polk County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Peter Helland Wildlife Area 7
51 acres
State: department of natural resources · Columbia County
Open access
State forest
Champion Valley Timber Demo Forest
51 acres
State: department of natural resources · Vernon County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Waterloo Wildlife Area 13
45 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jefferson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Dunnville Wildlife Area 9
42 acres
State: department of natural resources · Dunn County
Open access
Other state land
Prairie River Fishery Area
42 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lincoln County
Open access
Other state land
Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resource Area 26
40 acres
State: department of natural resources · Outagamie County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
White River Wildlife Area-Ashland
40 acres
State: department of natural resources · Ashland County
Open access
Other state land
Western Prairie Habitat Restoration 15
40 acres
State: department of natural resources · Polk County
Open access
Other state land
Clam River Fishery Area
40 acres
State: department of natural resources · Burnett County
Open access
Other state land
North Branch Beaver Creek Fishery Area
40 acres
State: department of natural resources · Marinette County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
North Branch Milwaukee River Wildlife And Farm
40 acres
State: department of natural resources · Sheboygan County
Open access
State forest
Northern Highland State Forest 4
40 acres
State: department of natural resources · Iron County
Open access

Acreage is calculated from simplified PAD-US boundaries for the portion inside Wisconsin. “Access” is the PAD-US public access field, not a statement about hunting. National wildlife refuges are generally coded “restricted” in PAD-US because of seasonal or area closures.