
Wisconsin
Nation’s premier ruffed grouse Northwoods covers, legendary November gun deer season, and Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Public Lands to Hunt in Wisconsin
Official Regulatory Authority
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR)

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
Covering 11 counties in northern Wisconsin. Mature stands of sugar maple, yellow birch, hemlock, and red pine mixed with alder bogs and wild rice lakes. Legendary hunting for ruffed grouse, American woodcock, black bear, and heavy-antlered northwoods whitetail bucks.

Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area
Located in Dodge and Fond du Lac counties, Horicon Marsh is the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States. A critically vital stopover for hundreds of thousands of migrating Canada geese, mallards, and teal, offering iconic pass-shooting and blind hunting.

George W. Mead Wildlife Area
Spanning Marathon, Wood, and Portage counties along the Little Eau Pleine River. Extensive wetlands, flowages, and aspen-oak woodlands support premier waterfowl hunting, ruffed grouse, woodcock, and whitetail deer.

Wisconsin County Forest System
The largest public landholding in Wisconsin, encompassing 2.4 million acres across 29 northern and central counties. Managed for timber and wildlife, providing free public walk-in and motorized trail hunting for whitetail deer, bear, grouse, and snowshoe hare.

Crex Meadows State Wildlife Area
Located in Burnett County, protecting a vast restored brush prairie and sedge marsh complex. Famous for fall migrations of sandhill cranes and waterfowl, with exceptional hunting for sharp-tailed grouse, ruffed grouse, and whitetail deer.