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Habitat area · West Central region
Casey Lake Wildlife Area for Wisconsin hunters
A hunter's summary of Casey Lake Wildlife Area in St. Croix County: zones and quota, rules, CWD numbers and local help.
Photo: USDAgov (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Casey Lake Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Casey Lake Wildlife Area
- Pine Lake Park Boat RampBoat ramp · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
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.
Casey Lake Wildlife Area: record card
Casey Lake Wildlife Area: a DNR habitat area, located in St. Croix County. Region on record: the DNR West Central Region. The Wisconsin DNR writes the rules on the ground. The 359 acres on record put it 16th of the 58 habitat areas we list. Base town: Emerald, some 8 miles away.
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 Casey Lake Wildlife Area
Casey Lake Wildlife Area deer unit, quota and game zones
The deer unit is St Croix, in the Central Farmland zone. The 2026 antlerless quota for that unit is 3,500. For black bear this is Zone E, with no hound hunting; 2,628 permits for 2026. Turkey hunting falls under Zone 4, which had 34,997 spring permits in 2025. St. Croix County sits under the DNR deer baiting and feeding ban.
The deer unit around Casey Lake Wildlife Area
| DMU | Deer zone | Antlerless quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Free tags per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Croix | Central Farmland | 3,500 | 494 | 1,496 | 2 |
Bear, turkey and bird zones at Casey Lake Wildlife Area
| Zone | Rule | Numbers | Extra | 2025 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear E | Bait only | 185 target, 2,628 permits | 1 point | 128 bears in 2025 |
| Wild turkey 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 | ||
| Ducks | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Geese | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf zone 6 | Closed | Federally 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.
Rules on the ground at Casey Lake Wildlife Area
Entry terms for Casey Lake Wildlife Area
Only the parcels shown open on the DNR map can be hunted; there, state seasons and NR 45 apply.
- Listed use: class 2 dog training.
Wisconsin rules that follow you to Casey Lake Wildlife Area
During any firearm deer season, everyone hunting except waterfowlers wears blaze orange or fluorescent pink on at least half the clothing above the waist, and on half of any cap. DNR land rule: 144 sq in of solid orange or pink on any ground blind in gun season. Leave no stand overnight south of Hwy. 64. North of the highway, two per hunter per county may stay from Sept. 1 to Jan. 31. GameReg registration is due by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Casey Lake Wildlife Area: licenses and tags
Go Wild carries every license. For antlerless deer on public ground, use a public-access tag for the right DMU.
Casey Lake Wildlife Area closed zones
Closed or limited zones on Casey Lake Wildlife Area: 1. Most common exception: Except trapping and deer hunting per NR 10.01(3), retrieval of legally killed or crippled game.
| Closed area | Type | Period | Acres | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakridge Lake | Waterfowl closed area | No hunting from first day of waterfowl season to first Sat. in December | 197 | NR 11.11(1)(a) |
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.
Game and bag limits at Casey Lake Wildlife Area
Whitetails, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, pheasants and raccoons, foxes and coyotes, per the property record.
White-tailed deer
Wild turkey
Ducks and geese
Pheasant
Furbearers
Other legal game follows the St. Croix County season table below.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Every Casey Lake Wildlife Area season on one table
Private and public land share these dates. A state park, refuge or Fort McCoy can close sooner, so read the property page before you go.
| Animal | Segment | Scope | Starts | Ends | Open 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 | Metro sub-unit gun | Metro sub-unit: Hudson | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 9, 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: St. Croix | 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 E | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 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.
Casey Lake Wildlife Area described by the DNR
Quoted as published; nothing here is our wording.
The Casey Lake Wildlife Area is a 364-acre property located in central St. Croix County. The property protects 0.86 miles of shoreline on Casey Lake and consists of northern hardwoods/aspen forest (155 acres), open grassland and restored prairie (176 acres) and wetland habitat (33 acres). A Class 2 dog training area is located on the northwest corner of the wildlife area. Casey Lake provides a limited fishing opportunity as it is a shallow lake that often experiences winter kills.
The property is managed as part of the Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area, a landscape-scale wetland and grassland restoration project. The property is located 6 miles northwest of Baldwin. Follow Highway 63 north out of Baldwin, then turn west on 130th Avenue for 1 mile. The property is located on the south side of 130th Avenue, where two parking lots allow easy access.
Casey Lake Wildlife Area: hunting text as published
- The property is managed to provide opportunities for public hunting, trapping, wildlife observation and other nature-based outdoor recreation.
- Hunting (noted for pheasant, deer, turkey and waterfowl)
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Harvest numbers for the country around Casey Lake Wildlife Area
2025 in St. Croix County: 2,261 bucks, 2,597 antlerless, 4,858 in all. Range since 2016: 3,825 to 4,858 deer a year. The DNR sampled 132 deer from St. Croix County in 2025; 0 had CWD. 0 positives overall, from 1,431 deer. In 2025, St. Croix County produced 31 registered bears. Figures are for the whole county unit, not Casey Lake Wildlife Area alone; the DNR does not report harvest by property.
St. Croix County unit harvest
| Season | Bucks | Does and fawns | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,261 | 2,597 | 4,858 |
| 2024 | 1,922 | 2,280 | 4,202 |
| 2023 | 1,762 | 2,338 | 4,100 |
| 2022 | 2,051 | 2,604 | 4,655 |
| 2021 | 1,970 | 2,257 | 4,227 |
| 2020 | 2,083 | 2,632 | 4,715 |
CWD samples, St. Croix County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 7 | 0 |
| 2025 | 132 | 0 |
| 2024 | 119 | 0 |
| 2023 | 78 | 0 |
| 2022 | 94 | 0 |
| 2021 | 80 | 0 |
Bears registered in St. Croix County
| Season | Bears | Boars | Sows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20 | 14 | 6 |
| 2025 | 31 | 22 | 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.
Bed, fuel and a butcher near Casey Lake Wildlife Area
Where to sleep, where to buy shells, where to drop off a deer.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald | St. Croix | 8.2 mi | — | 4,756 |
| Somerset | St. Croix | 14 mi | 3,382 | 12,025 |
| Clear Lake | Polk | 16 mi | 1,103 | 7,120 |
| Hudson | St. Croix | 17 mi | 15,031 | 6,712 |
Season and zone pages by county: St. Croix County.
Who processes a deer from Casey Lake Wildlife Area
Where to ask about Casey Lake Wildlife Area
Licenses and questions for St. Croix County go through the DNR Eau Claire 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.
Casey Lake Wildlife Area and nearby public ground
Casey Lake Wildlife Area at the big pin; the nearest 10 public places around it. Combined, 1,604 acres are on record.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nagel | Habitat area | 208 | 2.7 mi | northwest |
| Baldwin State Habitat Area-Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area | Habitat area | 40 | 4.1 mi | southeast |
| Erin Prairie | Habitat area | 148 | 4.5 mi | northwest |
| Hammond | WPA | 26 | 4.8 mi | south |
| Emerald Valley | Habitat area | 155 | 5.1 mi | northeast |
| Betterly | WPA | 485 | 5.8 mi | northwest |
| Kerber | WPA | 156 | 6.6 mi | west |
| Lundy | WPA | 132 | 7.1 mi | west |
| Risberg | WPA | 38 | 7.3 mi | southwest |
| Ten Mile Creek State Habitat Area-Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area | Habitat area | 216 | 7.3 mi | west |
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.
Shooting-hour table for Casey Lake Wildlife Area
Two tables cover the state, one for the Northern Area and one for the Southern Area, each for Zone A. West of 88 degrees you add 4 minutes per degree of longitude.
| Date | Why it matters | 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 92.41 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Casey Lake Wildlife Area: nearest ranges
About 17 miles separates Casey Lake Wildlife Area from Hudson Rod Gun and Archery Club, the nearest public map range. Club ranges within 30 miles are included.
rifle, handgun, archery, trap, skeet on file
trap, rifle, archery, 3D archery, shotgun on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Before-the-trip answers for Casey Lake Wildlife Area
Which zone do I apply for to hunt turkeys at Casey Lake Wildlife Area?
Zone 4. Success in 2025 was 24%.
Which goose zone is Casey Lake Wildlife Area in?
Ducks follow the Northern zone, Canada geese the Northern zone. Opening day for Northern Zone ducks is Sep 26.
Can I bait deer at Casey Lake Wildlife Area?
No bait or feed in St. Croix County. No CWD-positive wild deer are on record for the county.
When does orange apply at Casey Lake Wildlife Area?
Pink counts the same as orange: 50% above the waist in firearm deer seasons.
Does a Casey Lake Wildlife Area deer go into GameReg?
By 5 p.m. the following day, through GameReg; bears also go to a station or online the same way.
What paperwork does Casey Lake Wildlife Area need?
Gun deer ($24), archer ($24) or small game ($18) for residents; nonresident gun deer is $200.
Are there restrictions inside Casey Lake Wildlife Area?
Not all of it. The DNR layer lists 1 zone such as Oakridge Lake.
Which public land sits closest to Casey Lake Wildlife Area?
Nagel Wildlife Area (3 miles), Baldwin State Habitat Area-Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area (4 miles) and Erin Prairie Wildlife Area (5 miles), each with a page here.
Is Casey Lake Wildlife Area DNR, county or federal ground?
A DNR habitat area; the manager is the Wisconsin DNR.
Is Casey Lake Wildlife Area a big property?
359 acres in the source data.
Which town works as a base for Casey Lake Wildlife Area?
St. Croix County; Emerald, the nearest town we cover, is 8 miles away.
Which species does the record give for Casey Lake Wildlife Area?
Whitetails, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, pheasants and raccoons, foxes and coyotes, plus any other season open in the county.
What deer tags work on Casey Lake Wildlife Area?
It is in St Croix (Central Farmland). This year the antlerless quota is 3,500.
Signing off on Casey Lake Wildlife Area
Gates, refuges and open areas at Casey Lake Wildlife Area are the manager's call; confirm them before opening day.
Sources for this page: DNR: Caseylake · DNR GIS · DNR: alpha · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Deborah Freeman (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).