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Hunting at Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area
Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area, 81 acres in Adams County: whitetails, wild turkeys, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes, zones and tags, property rules, county harvest and the land nearby.
Photo: newagecrap (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 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.
Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area on one card
Hunters reach Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area in Adams County; it is a DNR state wildlife area. This is west-central Wisconsin, in the DNR West Central Region. Day-to-day it is in the hands of the Wisconsin DNR. Measured at 81 acres, it comes in 223rd of 285 state wildlife areas. Lake Camelot is the nearest town with a guide on this site, about 4 miles away; the land lies east of it.
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 Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area
Zones that take in Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area
Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area is Central Farmland deer country, unit Adams. Antlerless quota, 2026: 8,000. The Zone C bear quota for 2026 is 875, spread over 4,465 drawn permits. Zone 3 turkey numbers for 2025: 55,612 spring tags, 22% success. Wild deer with CWD have been confirmed in Adams County. Leave the corn at home; Adams County bans deer baiting.
Antlerless tags near Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area
| Unit | Zone | Quota 2026 | Bonus, public | Bonus, private | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | Central Farmland | 8,000 | 2,935 | 6,949 | 2 |
Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area: other game zones
| Zone | Detail | Numbers | More | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone C | No hounds | 875 target, 4,465 permits | 2 points | 663 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 3 | 55,612 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 12,324 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Ruffed grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| 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 | ||
| Wolf 5 | No harvest | Federal listing |
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 Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area
The managing agency's own text.
The Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area (CWGCA) is a landscape-scale grassland protection project proposed by the DNR and approved by the Natural Resources Board in 2004. The CWGCA currently stretches from southeastern Taylor County, through parts of Clark and Marathon counties, between Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids and south to northeastern Adams County. DNR properties within the CWGCA include the Leola Marsh Wildlife Area, Buena Vista Marsh Wildlife Area, Paul J. Olson Wildlife Area and George W. Mead Wildlife Area.
Within this area, the department proposes to protect, primarily through acquisition and easements, up to 15,000 acres of additional grassland habitat. The primary goal of the CWGCA is to improve these existing protected lands' ability to harbor viable populations of grassland-dependent species, including the greater prairie chicken. To achieve this goal, the CWGCA's primary objectives are to establish permanent grassland habitat and to maintain a predominantly open, non-forested, undeveloped landscape where row crop agriculture and grazing are the dominant land uses, particularly in areas critical to the life history needs of grassland species.
Hunting notes printed for Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area
- hunting (especially noted for white-tailed deer, turkey and small game)
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
What Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area requires of hunters
Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation 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 Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation 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 Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area
A gun deer or archery license comes with a buck authorization; antlerless deer on this land need a public-access authorization.
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 Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area
Species the agency lists here: whitetails, wild turkeys, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
White-tailed deer
Wild turkey
Small game
Furbearers
Unlisted species follow the Adams 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.
Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 42 season segments apply to Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation 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: Adams | 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 C/F | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 3 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 3 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 3 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 3 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 3 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 3 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 3 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 3 | May 26, 2027 | Jun 1, 2027 | |
| Ruffed Grouse | Ruffed grouse | Grouse Zone A | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Ruffed Grouse | Ruffed grouse | Grouse Zone B | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 | |
| 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 | 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 (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.
Adams County harvest near Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area
Deer registered in the Adams County unit, 2025: 6,148. The decade peaked at 6,658 in 2024 and bottomed at 4,490 in 2019. Through Oct. 19, 2026: 240 antlered and 293 antlerless in Adams (preliminary). CWD year 2025 brought 408 Adams County samples and 53 positives. Running total since 1999: 5,658 tested. The 2024 bear count for Adams County was 1. No harvest is published for Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area itself, so the county unit is the finest level.
Registered deer in the Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area county unit
| Year | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,066 | 3,082 | 6,148 |
| 2024 | 3,418 | 3,240 | 6,658 |
| 2023 | 2,762 | 2,666 | 5,428 |
| 2022 | 2,923 | 3,097 | 6,020 |
| 2021 | 2,425 | 2,432 | 4,857 |
| 2020 | 2,609 | 3,002 | 5,611 |
CWD tests in Adams County
| CWD year | Wild deer sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 26 | 4 |
| 2025 | 408 | 53 |
| 2024 | 424 | 41 |
| 2023 | 343 | 23 |
| 2022 | 306 | 20 |
| 2021 | 273 | 12 |
Bear numbers near Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area
| Year | Total | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | 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 Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area: more places to hunt
The big marker is Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area. Smaller ones are its 10 closest neighbours. The neighbours add 9,817 acres between them.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leola Marsh | Wildlife area | 2,515 | 1.2 mi | northeast |
| Lake Camelot | Habitat area | 160 | 2.7 mi | northwest |
| Big Roche A Cri | Fishery area | 844 | 4.8 mi | east |
| Lake Camelot | Fishery area | — | 6.1 mi | west |
| Adams | County forest | 140 | 6.8 mi | southwest |
| Colburn | Wildlife area | 5,062 | 6.9 mi | south |
| Lake Arrowhead | Habitat area | 110 | 7.2 mi | west |
| Beaver Avenue | Wildlife area | 80 | 8.2 mi | southwest |
| Carter Creek | Habitat area | 395 | 8.2 mi | southeast |
| Ten Mile Creek (St. Croix County) | Habitat area | 511 | 8.6 mi | northwest |
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.
Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area: nearby towns and businesses
Town pages first, then shops, processors and DNR desks.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Camelot | Adams | 4.2 mi | — | 18,685 |
| Lake Sherwood | Adams | 5.3 mi | — | 17,180 |
| Hancock | Waushara | 9.0 mi | 398 | 14,070 |
| Plainfield | Waushara | 9.4 mi | 920 | 12,388 |
County-level hunting pages: Adams County.
Shops a short drive from Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area
DNR desks closest to Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area
Service center for Adams County business: DNR Oshkosh 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.
Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area: nearest ranges
About 18 miles separates Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area from Wautoma Shooting Range, the nearest public map range. Nearby rod and gun clubs round out the list.
rifle, handgun, shotgun on file
trap, shotgun on file
archery, 3D archery on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Shooting light at Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area by date
At Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area the offset is 8 minutes (Zone C). 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 | 6:03 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:47 a.m. to 6:29 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:32 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:08 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:36 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:48 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:07 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:09 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 4:54 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 C offset of 8 minutes for longitude 89.68 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
What people ask about hunting Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area
Which bear management zone holds Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area?
Bear Zone C. Zone C took 2 preference points in 2026.
Which DMU takes in Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area?
Deer unit Adams; zone Central Farmland. The 2026 antlerless quota is 8,000 (Adams); use a public-access antlerless tag here.
What are the waterfowl zones for Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area?
It sits in the Southern duck and Southern goose zones. In the Southern Zone the regular duck split begins Oct 3.
Which turkey zone is Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area in?
Zone 3, one bird per spring authorization.
Do I need blaze orange at Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation 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 Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area?
No: Adams County bans deer baiting and feeding. Wild deer with CWD are documented in Adams County.
Which Wisconsin license covers Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area?
Go Wild sells everything needed; antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
How do I register a deer from Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area?
Through GameReg (online, phone or a station) by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
Which agency sets the rules on Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area?
The Wisconsin DNR treats it as a DNR state wildlife area.
If Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area is full, where next?
Within a short drive: Leola Marsh Wildlife Area (1 mile), Lake Camelot State Habitat Area (3 miles) and Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area (5 miles).
Where do Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area hunters spend the night?
Start from Lake Camelot; the land is 4 miles off, in Adams County.
What acreage is listed for Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area?
Roughly 81 acres.
Which species are hunted on Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area?
Listed: whitetails, wild turkeys, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Check Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area once more
Refuges, closed areas and park windows at Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area can shift mid-season; the property page and the DNR map have the current picture.
Sources for this page: DNR: cwgca · DNR GIS · DNR: alpha; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0); bgautrea (CC BY-SA 2.0).