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2026-27 · State trail
Buffalo River State Trail, a hunter's guide
Who runs it, which deer unit and bear zone cover it, and the public land and towns around it in Trempealeau, Jackson, Buffalo and Eau Claire counties.
Photo: Joshua Mayer (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Buffalo River State Trail
What the record says about Buffalo River State Trail
On paper it is a state trail with open hunting stretches; on the map it is in Trempealeau, Jackson, Buffalo and Eau Claire counties. DNR staff of the West Central Region cover this part of west-central Wisconsin. Manager: the Wisconsin DNR. Its 450 acres rank 8th of the 14 Wisconsin state trails with an acreage on file. From Augusta, our closest town page, it is roughly 7 miles to the southwest.
From the source page (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, whole trail corridor (only partial areas are open)); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Buffalo River State Trail
Buffalo River State Trail rules and licenses
Access rules at Buffalo River State Trail
The park time frame applies in open areas only: April 1 through the Tuesday nearest May 3, then Nov. 15-Dec. 15 (bows to the Sunday nearest Jan. 6). Open stretches are marked on the trail hunting map.
State law on Buffalo River State Trail
Orange or pink, 50% above the waist and 50% of the head covering, is the rule while gun deer seasons run; duck and goose hunters are exempt. Gun-season ground blinds on DNR property display 144 sq in of orange or pink from every direction. No screw-in steps or cut shooting lanes on DNR land. Overnight stands are legal north of Hwy. 64 from Sept. 1 to Jan. 31; south of it, remove them every day. By 5 p.m. the following day, register the deer on GameReg (online, phone or station).
Which licenses Buffalo River State Trail needs
Get licenses on Go Wild or at an agent. Antlerless tags are unit-specific and labelled public or private land.
Closed and restricted areas inside Buffalo River State Trail
1 closed or restricted area appear for Buffalo River State Trail in the DNR layer. Usual exception: Hunting/trapping restrictions apply, check property map(s) at link provided.
| Name | Restriction | Closed | Acres | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo River State Trail | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 447 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
Buffalo River State Trail: its own time frame
| Game | Period | When | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| All open seasons | Spring | April 1 through the Tuesday nearest May 3 (gun and archery hunting, limited trapping, open areas only) | |
| All open seasons | Fall/Winter | Nov. 15-Dec. 15 (gun and archery hunting and trapping in open seasons); archery through the Sunday nearest Jan. 6 | Exceptions for Buckhorn, Big Bay, Blue Mound, Governor Dodge, Rock Island and Tower Hill state parks. |
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.
Buffalo River State Trail: DMU, bear zone and turkey zone
Deer management: Trempealeau, Jackson, Buffalo, Eau Claire and 1 more units, Central Farmland and Central Forest zones. Across its 5 deer units the 2026 antlerless quotas run from 700 to 5,000. Bear Zone C has a 2026 harvest target of 875 with 4,465 Class A permits drawn; it took 2 preference points to win one. Spring turkey tags are sold for Zone 1; the DNR issued 64,574 there in 2025, the newest level published. Chronic wasting disease has turned up in wild deer in Trempealeau, Jackson, Buffalo and Eau Claire counties; DNR testing is free and voluntary statewide. The deer baiting ban covers Trempealeau, Jackson, Buffalo and Eau Claire counties.
Deer units that cover Buffalo River State Trail
| Deer unit | Zone | Antlerless goal | Public tags left | Private tags left | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trempealeau | Central Farmland | 4,800 | 241 | 994 | 3 |
| Jackson Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 5,000 | 0 | 1,481 | 2 |
| Buffalo | Central Farmland | 4,300 | 167 | 744 | 3 |
| Eau Claire Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 2,600 | 279 | 986 | 2 |
| DMU 201 | Central Forest | 700 | 103 | 1,414 | — |
Zones beyond deer for Buffalo River State Trail
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear C | Dogs barred | 875 target, 4,465 permits | 2 points | 663 bears in 2025 |
| Bear E | Dogs barred | 185 target, 2,628 permits | 1 point | 128 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 1 | 64,574 spring tags (2025) | 21% success | 13,813 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Turkey zone 4 | 34,997 spring tags (2025) | 24% success | 8,472 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse zone A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Duck zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose zone | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| Goose zone | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf zone 6/5 | No season | Listed endangered |
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.
Buffalo River State Trail: species with bag limits
The record lists no species. Every season open in Trempealeau County works here within the rules above.
That makes the Trempealeau County calendar (44 rows) the one to read.
Species from the property record (No species list published for this property; open seasons follow statewide/zone regulations where hunting is allowed.); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Season dates that cover Buffalo River State Trail
Buffalo River State Trail sits in the Central Farmland deer zone. These 44 rows are the dated hunting segments the DNR schedule puts there, from the September archery opener into spring turkey.
| Game | Season | Applies in | Begins | Through | Right 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: Trempealeau | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone E/C | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Elk | Elk, all weapons | Central Elk Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 1/4 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 1/4 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 1/4 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 1/4 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 1/4 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 1/4 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 1/4 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 1/4 | 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 | |
| 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 | Northern Duck Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 1) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 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 | Northern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Dec 16, 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.
Public property near Buffalo River State Trail
The large pin is Buffalo River State Trail; the others are the 10 closest public properties. Together they hold 6,090 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King Creek (Remnant) | Fishery area | 30 | 4.3 mi | south |
| Buffalo River (Remnant) | Fishery area | 213 | 6.8 mi | west |
| Northfield Lakes (Beaver Creek) Fish Rearing Station | Fishery area | 575 | 8.0 mi | southeast |
| Buffalo River | Fishery area | 1,578 | 8.3 mi | southeast |
| Augusta | Wildlife area | 2,127 | 11 mi | northeast |
| Halls (Stockwell) Creek | Fishery area | 814 | 13 mi | southeast |
| Hawkinson Creek Wet Prairie | State natural area | 79 | 14 mi | southwest |
| Chimney Rock | Wildlife area | 627 | 15 mi | southwest |
| Clear Creek (Remnant) | Fishery area | 17 | 15 mi | northwest |
| Chimney Rock Oak Savanna | State natural area | 30 | 15 mi | southwest |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS (polygon centroid) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside))). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
How the land around Buffalo River State Trail hunts, by the numbers
Trempealeau County hunters registered 7,151 deer in 2025, 3,004 of them bucks. Totals swing between 6,247 and 7,432 across the years charted. 2026 so far, still changing: Trempealeau, 559, Jackson Central Farmland, 394 and Buffalo, 481. CWD sampling in Trempealeau County, CWD year 2025: 289 wild deer sampled, 12 positive. Overall: 2,875 samples and 22 positives. Trempealeau County: 16 bears in 2025. The DNR reports deer by unit, not by property: read these as the Trempealeau County picture.
Trempealeau County bucks and antlerless
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,004 | 4,147 | 7,151 |
| 2024 | 2,855 | 3,772 | 6,627 |
| 2023 | 2,714 | 3,646 | 6,360 |
| 2022 | 2,979 | 4,352 | 7,331 |
| 2021 | 3,002 | 4,087 | 7,089 |
| 2020 | 3,171 | 4,261 | 7,432 |
Trempealeau County CWD sampling
| Year | Sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 24 | 0 |
| 2025 | 289 | 12 |
| 2024 | 239 | 6 |
| 2023 | 288 | 4 |
| 2022 | 183 | 0 |
| 2021 | 194 | 0 |
Trempealeau County bears
| Year | Bears registered | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 33 | 19 | 14 |
| 2025 | 16 | 7 | 9 |
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.
Buffalo River State Trail: nearest ranges
No range sits on Buffalo River State Trail; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Colfax Shooting Range, about 37 miles away. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle, handgun, trap, shotgun, smallbore rimfire on file
rifle, handgun, trap, shotgun on file
rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, muzzleloader, air gun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Home bases for a Buffalo River State Trail trip
Closest towns, measured as the crow flies, then the businesses around them.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta | Eau Claire | 7.1 mi | 1,495 | 41,840 |
| Fairchild | Eau Claire | 12 mi | 433 | 78,661 |
| Fall Creek | Eau Claire | 13 mi | 1,391 | 10,837 |
| Humbird | Clark | 16 mi | — | 77,004 |
Read up on the county: Trempealeau County, Jackson County, Buffalo County, Eau Claire County.
Taxidermy and supplies for Buffalo River State Trail hunters
Phone numbers for Buffalo River State Trail questions
The DNR service center listed for Trempealeau County is DNR Eau Claire Service Center, 715-839-3700.
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.
Buffalo River State Trail: legal shooting time, table by date
Big game and small game hunters get 20 minutes after sunset in Wisconsin, not 30. Waterfowl and spring gobbler hunters quit at sunset.
| Date | Hunt | Northern Area hours | Southern Area hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, grouse opener | 6:11 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:55 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:16 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:44 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:56 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:15 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:17 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:02 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 E offset of 16 minutes for longitude 91.20 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on Buffalo River State Trail
Is Buffalo River State Trail open to hunting all season?
The park time frame applies: spring April 1-early May; fall Nov. 15-Dec. 15; archery to about Jan. 6.
Which public properties lie near Buffalo River State Trail?
Three to try: King Creek Fishery Area (Remnant) (4 miles), Buffalo River Fishery Area (Remnant) (7 miles) and Northfield Lakes (Beaver Creek) Fish Rearing Station (8 miles).
How is Buffalo River State Trail classified?
State trail with open hunting stretches, under the Wisconsin DNR.
How much land is in Buffalo River State Trail?
It covers 450 acres by the recorded figure.
Where in the state does Buffalo River State Trail lie?
Trempealeau, Jackson, Buffalo and Eau Claire counties holds it, 7 miles from Augusta.
Does Buffalo River State Trail limit which species I hunt?
No species list is published, so every open season applies under the property rules.
Which deer management unit holds Buffalo River State Trail?
The Central Farmland and Central Forest zones, Trempealeau, Jackson and Buffalo. Quota for 2026: 4,800, 5,000, 4,300, 2,600 and 700 antlerless.
Is bear hunting possible at Buffalo River State Trail?
Zone C/E; hound hunting is not allowed there.
Can I turkey hunt Buffalo River State Trail in spring?
Zone 1; 2025 saw 13,813 birds registered in the zone.
When can I hunt ducks at Buffalo River State Trail?
Southern and Northern for ducks, Southern and Northern for geese. The regular Southern Zone duck season opens Oct 3.
Has CWD turned up in the county around Buffalo River State Trail?
The deer baiting ban applies in Trempealeau, Jackson, Buffalo and Eau Claire counties. CWD: yes, in Trempealeau, Jackson, Buffalo and Eau Claire counties.
Is blaze pink legal at Buffalo River State Trail?
Orange or pink, half of the upper clothing, whenever a gun deer season runs (not for waterfowl).
Where do I register game taken on Buffalo River State Trail?
Register on GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; the confirmation number starts with W.
Last checks on Buffalo River State Trail before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of Buffalo River State Trail has the final say on closures and maps.
Sources for this page: DNR: hunt · DNR: buffalo · DNR GIS · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: James St. John (CC BY 2.0); Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 (Public domain).