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State natural area, southeast Wisconsin
Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area hunting notes
568 acres of state natural area in Kenosha County, with 2026-27 zones, quotas, rules, CWD testing and a map.
Photo: newagecrap (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 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.
Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area, by its record
Count Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area among the state natural areas of Kenosha County. It falls in the DNR Southeast Region, southeast Wisconsin. The Wisconsin DNR manages the land. By size (568 acres) it is number 105 among 449 state natural areas on our list. Natural area 54 on the DNR list. Head southeast from Kenosha for about 6 miles.
From the source page (WI DNR SNA parcel ownership GIS OWNER_ACRE_AMT, WDNR-owned parcels); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area
Zone lines at Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area
Deer rules follow the Southern Farmland zone and Kenosha. For 2026 the antlerless quota stands at 300. In Bear Zone F the DNR drew 764 permits for a target of 50 bears; drawn hunters needed 1 point. Turkey Zone 2: 51,056 spring authorizations in 2025 and 22% hunter success. Kenosha County is on the CWD list: a positive wild deer has been found. Deer may not be baited or fed in Kenosha County.
Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area deer management units
| DMU | Zone | 2026 antlerless | Public bonus | Private bonus | Free per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha | Southern Farmland | 300 | 100 | 265 | 1 |
| Kenosha County Metro Sub-Unit | Metro | Parent quota | 150 | 150 | 1 |
Bear, turkey, grouse and waterfowl lines through Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear F | No hound hunting | 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 |
| Grouse B | Oct 17–Dec 8 | 2 a day | ||
| Ducks | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Canada geese | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| Wolf zone 6 | Closed | Federal protection |
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.
Hunting Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area within the rules
Who may hunt Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area
The DNR keeps SNA land open to hunting and trapping by default; posted closures, and NR 45 bans on camping, vehicles, drones and plant collecting, still apply.
Statewide rules that reach Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area
Wisconsin asks for 50% blaze orange or fluorescent pink above the waist in firearm deer seasons, archers included, waterfowlers not. Ground blinds on DNR land in a firearm deer season show at least 144 square inches of solid orange or pink, visible from all sides. Unattended stands carry your name or customer ID; they may be left out north of State Hwy. 64 (up to two per county), never south of it. Registration through GameReg closes at 5 p.m. on the day after recovery.
Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area license list
Residents often take the Conservation Patron, which bundles the hunting licenses. Antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
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.
Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area: the game on record
No species list is published for Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area, so every open season applies under the property rules.
See the 42 seasons listed for Kenosha County below.
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.
Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area hunting dates, fall 2026 to spring 2027
20 species and 42 segments reach Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area. The last column compares each one with today.
| Quarry | Season | Zone | From | To | Status 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 | Metro sub-unit gun | Metro sub-unit: Milwaukee | 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 | Extended archery and crossbow | Metro sub-unit | 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 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 | 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.
The land at Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area
This is the agency description, quoted.
Chiwaukee Prairie is situated on a gently undulating ridge and swale topography created when the level of glacial Lake Michigan was lowered in stages. It is one of the largest prairie complexes in the state and the most intact coastal wetland in southeastern Wisconsin. The prairie contains an exceptional diversity of plants and animals — more than 400 species of vascular plants have been found here. The natural area features a mosaic of plant communities, ranging from southern sedge meadow, wet prairie and wet-mesic prairie in the low areas, to dry-mesic prairie on the slightly elevated sandy ridges.
Portions of the site are classified as calcareous fen, inhabited by calcium-loving plants. Oak opening dominated by bur and black oaks occupies higher, drier ground along the southern and western parts of the preserve. The northernmost portion, Kenosha Dunes, contains open and stabilized sand dunes. This variety of habitats, coupled with their location in the extreme southeastern corner of the state, allows several rare and geographically restricted plants, birds, invertebrates and mammals to thrive here.
The hunting sentence for Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area
- The map areas in green (see Maps tab) are larger parcels and offer the best hunting opportunities.
- The map areas in black (see Maps tab) are small parcels (usually less than 2 acres) that have limited hunting opportunities based on parcel size and state laws restricting the discharge of firearms such as distance from roads and residences.
- Hunters should always follow the 4 Rules of Firearm Safety (TABK):
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Deer, bears and CWD around Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area
Last full season (2025) the Kenosha County unit gave up 510 deer. Since 2016 the yearly total has ranged from 318 (2019) to 510 (2025). So far in 2026 (preliminary, Oct. 19): Kenosha 26 deer. In CWD year 2025, 35 Kenosha County deer were tested and 1 came back positive. Since 1999: 1,320 sampled, 7 positive. Property-level harvest does not exist for Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area; county numbers stand in.
Deer table, Kenosha County
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 316 | 194 | 510 |
| 2024 | 276 | 143 | 419 |
| 2023 | 317 | 164 | 481 |
| 2022 | 269 | 176 | 445 |
| 2021 | 228 | 151 | 379 |
| 2020 | 245 | 166 | 411 |
CWD results near Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area
| CWD year | Sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 35 | 1 |
| 2024 | 24 | 3 |
| 2023 | 24 | 0 |
| 2022 | 29 | 1 |
| 2021 | 25 | 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.
Where Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area hunters stay and shop
Every town listed has a hunting guide of its own on this site.
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha | Kenosha | 5.6 mi | 99,578 | 703 |
| Racine | Racine | 14 mi | 78,057 | — |
| Mukwonago | Waukesha | 34 mi | 8,512 | 19,552 |
| Waukesha | Waukesha | 37 mi | 8,573 | 7,230 |
County hunting overviews: Kenosha County.
Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area: businesses in the area
Offices that answer for Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area
Kenosha County is served by the DNR Milwaukee 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.
The closest public land to Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area
Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area is the large pin, with 10 neighbours around it. Their acreage adds up to 6,059.
| Property | Type | Acres | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Lake | Wildlife area | 161 | 11 mi | west |
| Hooker Lake Marsh | Fishery area | 46 | 15 mi | west |
| Paddock Lake | Wildlife area | 5 | 15 mi | west |
| Camp Lake | Fishery area | 227 | 17 mi | west |
| Peat Lake | Wildlife area | 480 | 17 mi | west |
| Peat Lake | State natural area | 228 | 17 mi | west |
| Silver Lake Marsh | Fishery area | 35 | 17 mi | west |
| Richard Bong | Recreation area | 4,691 | 18 mi | northwest |
| Eagle Lake | Fishery area | 97 | 20 mi | northwest |
| Dover | Wildlife area | 89 | 20 mi | northwest |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR State Natural Areas parcel ownership GIS (centroid of WDNR-owned parcels) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
DNR shooting hours for Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area
Wisconsin prints its shooting hours as tables. For deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey the day runs from 30 minutes before sunrise to 20 minutes after sunset; migratory birds and spring turkey stop at sunset.
| When | Event | North | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 87.82 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area: nearest ranges
Closest public range: Lakeview Rod & Gun Club, roughly 29 miles from the middle of Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle, trap, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area: the questions that come up
Which duck and goose zones cover Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area?
Use the Southern duck dates and the Southern goose dates. Regular duck hunting in the Southern Zone starts Oct 3.
What turkey tag do I need for Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area?
Your spring tag must be for Zone 2 and a period A-F.
What does the orange rule mean at Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area?
Yes, 50% orange or pink above the waist from the youth deer hunt through the Holiday Hunt.
Does the baiting ban cover Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area?
Banned in Kenosha County. Kenosha County has had CWD-positive wild deer.
How do I get permission to hunt Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area?
A regular Wisconsin license from Go Wild (gun deer $24 for residents); antlerless deer need a public-access tag.
Is there a check station for Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area?
Use GameReg online or call 844-426-3734 by 5 p.m. the day after.
Whose property is Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area?
The Wisconsin DNR oversees this DNR-owned State Natural Area.
Which properties are close to Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area?
Nearest on the list: George Lake State Habitat Area (11 miles), Hooker Lake Marsh Fishery Area (15 miles) and Paddock Lake State Habitat Area (15 miles).
In which Wisconsin county is Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area?
Kenosha is closest (6 miles); the property is in Kenosha County.
How many acres does Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area cover?
568 acres, per WI DNR SNA parcel ownership GIS OWNER_ACRE_AMT, WDNR-owned parcels.
Can I shoot antlerless deer on Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area?
Southern Farmland zone; unit Kenosha. 300 antlerless deer is the 2026 quota.
Which game seasons apply on Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area?
All open seasons apply, subject to the property rules; the source names no species.
What are the bear rules around Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area?
It is in Bear Zone F, target 50 bears in 2026.
Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area: confirm on the ground
A last look before the drive: the Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area map, your Go Wild licenses and any posted closures.
Sources for this page: DNR: ChiwaukeePrairie · DNR GIS · DNR: StateNaturalAreas; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: tuchodi (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).