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Polk County, Wisconsin
Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area: the hunter's file
Deer unit Polk, bear and turkey zones, closures, licenses and the nearest towns and services.
Photo: Aaron Carlson (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area
Key facts for Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area
Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area is a DNR state wildlife area in Polk County. The DNR files it under its Northern Region (the Northwoods). Management sits with the Wisconsin DNR. Acreage: 3,136, which places it 52nd of 285 state wildlife areas. The closest covered town is Turtle Lake, around 8 miles off as the crow flies.
From the source page (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area
Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area by zone and unit
Deer: Central Farmland zone, Polk. 11,200 antlerless deer: the 2026 quota for the unit. Bear hunters here apply for Zone D: 6,847 applied for 2026 and 3,855 permits went out. In Zone 4 turkey hunters held 34,997 spring tags in 2025 (spring 2027 levels are not out yet). CWD-positive deer have been recorded in Polk County; free testing is offered statewide. Baiting and feeding deer are banned in Polk County.
DMU figures for Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area
| Unit | Deer zone | Quota | Public-access bonus | Private bonus | Farmland per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 11,200 | 987 | 5,191 | 2 |
Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area zone table
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone D | Dogs OK | 1,100 target, 3,855 permits | 2 points | 931 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 4 | 34,997 spring tags (2025) | 24% success | 8,472 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Ruffed grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf 6 | No hunt | Endangered status |
Zones from the DNR zone layers as recorded in lands.json; quotas and bonus tags from the 2026 antlerless quota table; bear figures from the 2026 bear drawing summary and 2025 bear harvest; turkey from the 2025 spring turkey report; CWD and baiting lists from the DNR. Checked October 19, 2026.
Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area: the property description
Copied from the official listing.
Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area is a 3,181-acre property in Polk County. It consists of rolling oak, aspen, and maple upland forest, lowland forest, streams and ponds. Find it 6 miles northwest of Turtle Lake. Head north on Highway T for 7 miles to Highway G, then travel west for 2 miles. There are five parking areas along Highway G on the south side of the road. To reach the wildlife area from Range, travel north on Highway D for 4 miles to Highway V. The property can be accessed by traveling 1/2 mile east on Highway V to a parking lot on the north side of the road or by continuing to the parking area on Highway D. Rice Beds Creek runs through this property and allows visitors to fish and trap, along with this, the surrounding forests offer great deer and turkey hunting.
There was a blow-down event in 2019. Salvage logging was done on much of the property making it easier to access and allowing for the forest to regenerate more quickly. Note: No bikes or e-bikes are allowed on the property.
Hunting lines from the Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area page
- The area is popular with deer and grouse hunters because of the favorable habitat created by forest management.
- Hunting (noted for deer, bear, turkey and waterfowl)
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Access, closures and licenses for Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area
Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area: open to whom, and how
Open to public hunting and trapping in state seasons with the right Wisconsin licenses. Posted refuges and closed areas are off limits, and the NR 45 state land rules apply.
Orange, stands and GameReg at Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area
Bowhunters too: when a gun deer season is on, 50% of the coat and hat must be orange or pink, unless you are hunting waterfowl. A ground blind on DNR property needs 144 sq in of orange or pink during gun deer seasons. South of Hwy. 64 every stand and blind leaves with you; north of it, two portable stands per county may stay out Sept. 1-Jan. 31. Use GameReg (online or 844-426-3734) before 5 p.m. the day after the harvest.
Tags and licenses for Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area
Licenses sell on Go Wild. On public land, antlerless deer need a public-access authorization for the unit.
Access from the source page; closures from the DNR closed and restricted areas layer; stocking and dove fields from the DNR upland bird layers; rules from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations; prices from Go Wild. Checked October 19, 2026.
Which animals Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area lists
Game on the record for Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area: whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
White-tailed deer
Black bear
Wild turkey
Ducks and geese
Ruffed grouse
Furbearers
Seasons not named here still apply if they are open in Polk County and the property rules allow.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Which seasons are open in Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area
Deer dates are statewide in Wisconsin; bear, turkey, grouse, cottontail and waterfowl dates follow zone lines, so only the rows for Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area are listed.
| Species | Season | Where it applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery and crossbow | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth/disabled gun hunt | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun deer (9-day) | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | December antlerless hunt | Statewide | Dec 10, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt | Holiday Hunt, Polk | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Extended archery and crossbow | Extended archery | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 4 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 4 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 4 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 4 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 4 | May 26, 2027 | Jun 1, 2027 | |
| Ruffed Grouse | Ruffed grouse | Grouse Zone A | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Pheasant | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite Quail | Bobwhite quail | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Hungarian partridge | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | Squirrel | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Cottontail rabbit | Northern cottontail zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe Hare | Snowshoe hare | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| American Crow | Crow | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Mar 24, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Youth waterfowl hunt | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck | Northern Duck Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose | Northern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon (resident) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon (nonresident) | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red and gray fox | Fox (red and gray) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Coyote (hunting) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 1 | North of Hwy. 64 | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 1 | South of Hwy. 64 | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 2 | North of Hwy. 64 | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 2 | South of Hwy. 64 | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Unprotected species | Unprotected species | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 hunting regulations and season dates, checked October 19, 2026.
Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area: county harvest and CWD tests
Hunters registered 8,091 deer in the Polk County unit in 2025: 3,702 bucks and 4,389 antlerless. High year on the chart: 2016 at 9,066; low year: 2023 at 7,275. Preliminary 2026 count to Oct. 19: 763 in Polk Central Farmland. Polk County CWD testing (2025): 2 positives out of 340 samples. Cumulative total 5 positives in 3,006 tests. Polk County bear harvest, 2025: 149. Harvest and CWD figures cover Polk County as a whole.
Polk County deer by year
| Year | Buck | Antlerless | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,702 | 4,389 | 8,091 |
| 2024 | 3,564 | 4,408 | 7,972 |
| 2023 | 3,266 | 4,009 | 7,275 |
| 2022 | 3,874 | 5,155 | 9,029 |
| 2021 | 3,584 | 4,434 | 8,018 |
| 2020 | 3,759 | 5,074 | 8,833 |
Testing for CWD, Polk County
| Year | Deer tested | CWD positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 32 | 0 |
| 2025 | 340 | 2 |
| 2024 | 265 | 2 |
| 2023 | 252 | 1 |
| 2022 | 174 | 0 |
| 2021 | 170 | 0 |
Bears by year, Polk County
| Year | Bears | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 187 | 84 | 103 |
| 2025 | 149 | 91 | 58 |
Deer from DNR Deer Metrics harvest history and the 2026 harvest to date; CWD from the DNR CWD summary; bears from the DNR bear harvest reports. Checked October 19, 2026.
Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area pinned among its neighbours
Map of Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area and the 10 nearest public places. That is 22,064 acres of public ground.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Round Lake (Remnant) | Fishery area | 36 | 4.4 mi | northwest |
| Loon Lake Woods | State natural area | 61 | 6.0 mi | east |
| Pickerel Lake | Fishery area | 9 | 6.3 mi | north |
| Joel Marsh | Wildlife area | 1,367 | 6.7 mi | south |
| Loon Lake | Wildlife area | 3,219 | 6.8 mi | east |
| Upper Turtle Lake (Remnant) | Fishery area | 30 | 7.6 mi | southeast |
| Apple River Timber Demonstration Forest | Demonstration forest | 54 | 8.1 mi | southwest |
| Omer Springs | Fishery area | 47 | 8.9 mi | southwest |
| Bone Lake (Remnant) | Fishery area | 58 | 9.3 mi | northwest |
| Polk | County forest | 17,183 | 9.5 mi | north |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS (polygon centroid of hunting-open parcels) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns, processors and DNR desks near Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area
Start with a town, then line up a cooler, a butcher and a mount.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle Lake | Barron | 8.1 mi | 1,036 | 9,672 |
| Balsam Lake | Polk | 9.4 mi | 954 | 3,736 |
| Almena | Barron | 11 mi | 740 | 6,171 |
| Cumberland | Barron | 12 mi | 2,302 | 15,665 |
For the wider county picture: Polk County.
Venison, mounts and ammo near Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area
Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area: agency contacts
County service center: DNR Spooner Service Center (715-635-2101).
Towns and populations from the Census 2024 estimates; public acres within 10 miles from the land layers; businesses from store locators and listings (license-only agents left out); offices from DNR, USFS and USFWS pages. Checked October 19, 2026. Call ahead.
Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area: nearest ranges
Owen-Anderson Rifle Range in Barron County is the nearest DNR-map range, 16 miles out. Two nearby club ranges follow.
rifle on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
trap, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
First and last legal minute at Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area
Deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey: 30 minutes before sunrise until 20 minutes after sunset. Ducks, geese, doves and spring turkey: same start, done at sunset.
| Date | Season moment | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, grouse opener | 6:15 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:59 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:20 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:48 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 7:00 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:19 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:21 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. |
Deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey table times from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources shooting hours tables, plus the Zone F offset of 20 minutes for longitude 92.26 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Questions hunters raise about Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area
What type of property is Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area on the record?
It is a DNR state wildlife area, managed by the Wisconsin DNR.
What size is Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area on the record?
About 3,136 acres.
What is the nearest town to Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area?
Base in Turtle Lake, 8 miles away; the ground is in Polk County.
Which game is named for Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area?
The property record lists whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
What is the antlerless quota at Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area?
Polk, part of the Central Farmland zone. Antlerless goal for 2026: 11,200.
Which bear permit zone holds Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area?
D. You need a Class A license from the drawing.
How many turkey permits go to the Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area zone?
Turkey Zone 4. 34,997 spring tags were issued there in 2025.
What waterfowl dates apply at Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area?
Duck zone: Northern; goose zone: Northern. Northern Zone ducks open Sep 26, 2026-27.
Can I put out corn for deer at Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area?
Not here: Polk County is under the ban. CWD has been found in wild deer in Polk County.
How much orange do I wear at Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area?
During any firearm deer season: 50% of your outer clothing above the waist and 50% of any cap, blaze orange or pink. Waterfowl hunters are exempt.
When must I register a turkey from Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area?
Deer: online, phone or station by 5 p.m. next day. Turkeys: online or phone only.
Which tags work on Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area?
No special permit for most of it; buy the license on Go Wild and carry public-access antlerless tags.
Is there other public ground around Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area?
By straight-line distance: Big Round Lake Fishery Area (Remnant) (4 miles), Loon Lake Woods State Natural Area (6 miles) and Pickerel Lake Public Access (6 miles).
Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area: one more look before the drive
Signs on the ground beat any web page. Read the posted boundaries at Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area when you arrive.
Sources for this page: DNR: Ricebeds · DNR GIS · DNR: alpha; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); Maslowski, Steve, USFWS (Public domain).