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Kewaunee County · Wildlife area
Hunting at Brusky Wildlife Area
Brusky Wildlife Area, 75 acres in Kewaunee County: ducks and geese, pheasants and raccoons, foxes and coyotes, zones and tags, property rules, county harvest and the land nearby.
Photo: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Brusky Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Brusky Wildlife Area
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Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Brusky Wildlife Area on one card
Hunters reach Brusky Wildlife Area in Kewaunee County; it is a DNR state wildlife area. This is northeast Wisconsin, in the DNR Northeast Region. Day-to-day it is in the hands of the Wisconsin DNR. Measured at 75 acres, it comes in 230th of 285 state wildlife areas. Coordinates are not published; nearest-place lists use Kewaunee County's centre, closest to Casco.
From the source page (DNR property page (75-acre)); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Brusky Wildlife Area
Zones that take in Brusky Wildlife Area
Brusky Wildlife Area is not drawn on the DNR map, so its zones are read from Kewaunee County. Brusky Wildlife Area is Central Farmland deer country, unit Kewaunee. Antlerless quota, 2026: 3,500. The Zone F bear quota for 2026 is 50, spread over 764 drawn permits. Zone 2 turkey numbers for 2025: 51,056 spring tags, 22% success. Kewaunee County is one of the 12 counties without a baiting ban.
Antlerless tags near Brusky Wildlife Area
| Unit | Zone | Quota 2026 | Bonus, public | Bonus, private | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kewaunee | Central Farmland | 3,500 | 298 | 798 | 4 |
Brusky Wildlife Area: other game zones
| Zone | Detail | Numbers | More | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone F | No hounds | 50 target, 764 permits | 1 point | 27 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 2 | 51,056 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 11,024 gobblers | 2,500 fall bonus |
| Ruffed grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Open Water (500 feet from mainland shore) | — | ||
| Duck zone | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Canada goose | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 |
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.
How the DNR describes Brusky Wildlife Area
The managing agency's own text.
Brusky Wildlife Area is a 75-acre property located in Kewaunee County. This property is a complex of upland grasslands and small wetlands with open water that mimics prairie pothole habitat on a small scale. Brusky Wildlife Area was converted to its present habitat through wetland restoration projects employing small dikes and scrapes. The wetland/grassland complex provides good nesting cover for a variety of game and nongame bird species. Primary recreational uses are waterfowl and pheasant hunting.
Brusky periodically receives stocked pheasants. Bird watching and wildlife viewing are also common activities at this small property. The DNR acquired the property in 1999 with funds from the Stewardship program. Habitat restoration work was completed using dikes and wildlife scrapes to create the matrix of wetlands on the property. This property is a good representation of wetland and grassland complexes. The grassland habitat provides good nesting cover for waterfowl. Periodically, local hunt clubs partner with the department to stock pheasants in the fall.
Find this property southwest of Kewaunee.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
What Brusky Wildlife Area requires of hunters
Brusky Wildlife Area access terms
Public hunting and trapping run on the statewide calendar; refuges and closed areas are posted, and the NR 45 code covers everything else.
The rule book on Brusky Wildlife Area
Half of your outer clothing above the waist, and half of your hat, must be blaze orange or pink whenever a firearm deer season is open (waterfowl hunters excepted). Ground blinds need a 144-square-inch orange or pink patch in gun deer seasons on DNR ground. Stands may not damage trees. North of Hwy. 64 they can stay overnight Sept. 1, 2026 to Jan. 31, 2027 (two per hunter per county); south of Hwy. 64 they come down daily. Deer and turkeys go into GameReg online or by phone by 5 p.m. the next day.
Go Wild shopping list for Brusky Wildlife Area
A gun deer or archery license comes with a buck authorization; antlerless deer on this land need a public-access authorization.
Stocked birds and dove fields, Brusky Wildlife Area
Pheasant stocking is noted on the property page.
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.
What hunters pursue at Brusky Wildlife Area
Species the agency lists here: ducks and geese, pheasants and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Unlisted species follow the Kewaunee County dates below, subject to the property rules.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Brusky Wildlife Area: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 43 season segments apply to Brusky Wildlife Area.
| Species | Hunt type | Zone or unit | Opening | Closing | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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: Kewaunee | 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 F | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 2 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 2 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 2 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 2 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 2 | 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 | |
| Cottontail | Cottontail rabbit | Southern cottontail zone | Oct 17, 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 (split 1) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck | Open Water Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 2) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 1) | Southern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 2) | Southern Goose Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (holiday split) | Southern Goose Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 2, 2027 | |
| 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.
Kewaunee County harvest near Brusky Wildlife Area
Deer registered in the Kewaunee County unit, 2025: 3,110. The decade peaked at 3,787 in 2017 and bottomed at 2,912 in 2022. Through Oct. 19, 2026: 133 antlered and 108 antlerless in Kewaunee (preliminary). CWD year 2025 brought 21 Kewaunee County samples and 0 positives. Running total since 1999: 631 tested. No harvest is published for Brusky Wildlife Area itself, so the county unit is the finest level.
Registered deer in the Brusky Wildlife Area county unit
| Year | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,400 | 1,710 | 3,110 |
| 2024 | 1,380 | 1,715 | 3,095 |
| 2023 | 1,323 | 1,605 | 2,928 |
| 2022 | 1,206 | 1,706 | 2,912 |
| 2021 | 1,235 | 1,804 | 3,039 |
| 2020 | 1,319 | 2,305 | 3,624 |
CWD tests in Kewaunee County
| CWD year | Wild deer sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 21 | 0 |
| 2024 | 19 | 0 |
| 2023 | 12 | 0 |
| 2022 | 12 | 0 |
| 2021 | 41 | 0 |
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.
Around Brusky Wildlife Area: more places to hunt
The record lacks a point, so the Kewaunee County centre stands in for distances; Brusky Wildlife Area itself is not on the map. The neighbours add 5,858 acres between them.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.D. Besadny Fish and | Wildlife area | 2,749 | 12 mi | southwest |
| Strawberry Creek | Wildlife area | 74 | 15 mi | north |
| Strawberry Creek State Hatchery | Fishery area | 6 | 15 mi | north |
| Gardner Swamp | Wildlife area | 1,163 | 15 mi | northwest |
| Ahnapee | State trail | 589 | 15 mi | north |
| Big Creek | Wildlife area | 20 | 16 mi | north |
| Potawatomi | State park | 1,097 | 17 mi | north |
| Red Banks Alvar | State natural area | 115 | 20 mi | west |
| Two Creeks Buried Forest | State natural area | 16 | 20 mi | south |
| Two Creeks | State park | 29 | 20 mi | south |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (county centre, no point published). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Brusky Wildlife Area: nearby towns and businesses
Town pages first, then shops, processors and DNR desks.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casco | Kewaunee | 9.2 mi | 683 | 3,140 |
| Kewaunee | Kewaunee | 10 mi | 2,808 | 3,073 |
| Sturgeon Bay | Door | 15 mi | 9,940 | 1,932 |
| Green Bay | Brown | 27 mi | 106,311 | 1,849 |
County-level hunting pages: Kewaunee County.
Shops a short drive from Brusky Wildlife Area
DNR desks closest to Brusky Wildlife Area
Service center for Kewaunee County business: DNR Green Bay Service Center.
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.
Shooting light at Brusky Wildlife Area by date
At Brusky Wildlife Area the offset is 0 minutes (Zone A). The times below already include it for both DNR shooting-hours areas.
| Day | Season | North table | South table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, grouse opener | 5:55 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:39 a.m. to 6:21 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 6:24 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:00 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:28 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:40 a.m. to 4:28 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 6:59 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:01 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:46 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 A offset of 0 minutes for longitude 87.45 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
What people ask about hunting Brusky Wildlife Area
If Brusky Wildlife Area is full, where next?
Within a short drive: C.D. Besadny Fish and Wildlife Area (12 miles), Strawberry Creek State Habitat Area (15 miles) and Strawberry Creek State Hatchery (15 miles).
Which Wisconsin license covers Brusky Wildlife Area?
Go Wild sells everything needed; antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
What acreage is listed for Brusky Wildlife Area?
Roughly 75 acres.
Which agency sets the rules on Brusky Wildlife Area?
The Wisconsin DNR treats it as a DNR state wildlife area.
Which species are hunted on Brusky Wildlife Area?
Listed: ducks and geese, pheasants and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Where do Brusky Wildlife Area hunters spend the night?
Start from Casco; the land is 9 miles off, in Kewaunee County. Distance taken from the county centre, as the record has no coordinates.
Which bear management zone holds Brusky Wildlife Area?
Bear Zone F. Zone F took 1 preference point in 2026.
Which DMU takes in Brusky Wildlife Area?
Deer unit Kewaunee; zone Central Farmland. The 2026 antlerless quota is 3,500 (Kewaunee); use a public-access antlerless tag here.
What are the waterfowl zones for Brusky Wildlife Area?
It sits in the Open Water (500 feet from mainland shore) and Southern duck and Southern goose zones. In the Southern Zone the regular duck split begins Oct 3.
Which turkey zone is Brusky Wildlife Area in?
Zone 2, one bird per spring authorization.
Do I need blaze orange at Brusky Wildlife Area?
In any open firearm deer season, wear blaze orange or pink on at least half your coat and cap.
Is deer baiting legal near Brusky Wildlife Area?
Baiting is allowed in this county within the 2-gallon limit. The county is not on the CWD list.
How do I register a deer from Brusky Wildlife Area?
Through GameReg (online, phone or a station) by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
Check Brusky Wildlife Area once more
Refuges, closed areas and park windows at Brusky Wildlife Area can shift mid-season; the property page and the DNR map have the current picture.
Sources for this page: DNR: brusky · DNR: alpha · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Danielle Brigida (CC BY 2.0); bgautrea (CC BY-SA 2.0).