Home › Wisconsin › Public land › Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area
State natural area, northeast Wisconsin
Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area hunting notes
655 acres of state natural area in Marquette County, with 2026-27 zones, quotas, rules, CWD testing and a map.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area
Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area, by its record
Count Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area among the state natural areas of Marquette County. It falls in the DNR Northeast Region, northeast Wisconsin. The Wisconsin DNR manages the land. By size (655 acres) it is number 86 among 449 state natural areas on our list. Natural area 123 lies in T16N-R10E, Sections 10, 11, 14, 15. Head east from Harrisville 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 Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area
Zone lines at Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area
Deer rules follow the Central Farmland zone and Marquette. For 2026 the antlerless quota stands at 10,000. In Bear Zone F the DNR drew 764 permits for a target of 50 bears; drawn hunters needed 1 point. Turkey Zone 3: 55,612 spring authorizations in 2025 and 22% hunter success. Marquette County is on the CWD list: a positive wild deer has been found. Deer may not be baited or fed in Marquette County.
Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area deer management units
| DMU | Zone | 2026 antlerless | Public bonus | Private bonus | Free per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette | Central Farmland | 10,000 | 1,996 | 7,993 | 4 |
Bear, turkey, grouse and waterfowl lines through Comstock Bog-Meadow 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 3 | 55,612 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 12,324 gobblers | 1,500 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 Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area within the rules
Who may hunt Comstock Bog-Meadow 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 Comstock Bog-Meadow 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.
Comstock Bog-Meadow 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.
Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area: the game on record
No species list is published for Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area, so every open season applies under the property rules.
See the 41 seasons listed for Marquette 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.
Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area hunting dates, fall 2026 to spring 2027
20 species and 41 segments reach Comstock Bog-Meadow 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 | 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: Marquette | 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/C | 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 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.
The land at Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area
This is the agency description, quoted.
Lying within a 1000-acre natural basin in the glaciated Central Plain, Comstock Bog-Meadow features a large, quaking sedge meadow marsh with a high diversity of unusual plants. The undisturbed marsh is permanently wet and relatively free of water fluctuations. The south end lies on a drainage divide and is dominated by narrow-leaved sedges with many acid bog plants occurring on the quaking, rhizomatous mat. Of particular interest is the unique assemblage of plants with many characteristic calcareous wetland species growing in association with bog species including twig rush, grass-of-Parnassus, marsh fern, pitcher plant, bladderworts, and sundews.
Northward and westward the species composition changes to more closely resemble a sedge meadow. Except for a small area of tamarack, poison sumac, and bog birch, the entire tract is treeless. The marsh is used by a variety of small mammals, muskrats, mink, and birds. Sandhill cranes nest in the marsh and use the area as a fall staging site.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Deer, bears and CWD around Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area
Last full season (2025) the Marquette County unit gave up 7,790 deer. Since 2016 the yearly total has ranged from 5,998 (2017) to 7,790 (2025). So far in 2026 (preliminary, Oct. 19): Marquette 720 deer. In CWD year 2025, 559 Marquette County deer were tested and 45 came back positive. Since 1999: 5,015 sampled, 99 positive. Bear hunters registered 3 bears in Marquette County in 2025. Property-level harvest does not exist for Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area; county numbers stand in.
Deer table, Marquette County
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,204 | 4,586 | 7,790 |
| 2024 | 3,410 | 4,334 | 7,744 |
| 2023 | 2,848 | 3,702 | 6,550 |
| 2022 | 2,827 | 4,396 | 7,223 |
| 2021 | 2,795 | 3,782 | 6,577 |
| 2020 | 2,808 | 4,276 | 7,084 |
CWD results near Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area
| CWD year | Sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 26 | 6 |
| 2025 | 559 | 45 |
| 2024 | 568 | 26 |
| 2023 | 578 | 6 |
| 2022 | 515 | 5 |
| 2021 | 504 | 8 |
Bear table, Marquette County
| Season | Total bears | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
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 Comstock Bog-Meadow 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisville | Marquette | 5.9 mi | — | 10,739 |
| Montello | Marquette | 6.2 mi | 1,437 | 13,678 |
| Neshkoro | Marquette | 7.1 mi | 410 | 23,536 |
| Princeton | Green Lake | 8.5 mi | 1,270 | 17,836 |
County hunting overviews: Marquette County.
Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area: businesses in the area
Offices that answer for Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area
Marquette County is served by the 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.
The closest public land to Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area
Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area is the large pin, with 10 neighbours around it. Their acreage adds up to 7,056.
| Property | Type | Acres | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germania Wet Prairie | State natural area | 102 | 1.5 mi | north |
| Germania Marsh | Wildlife area | 2,413 | 1.9 mi | northeast |
| Mecan River Pine Oak Forest | State natural area | 142 | 5.9 mi | northwest |
| Andrew Krakow Public Access and | Fishery area | 23 | 6.5 mi | south |
| Wedde Creek Savanna | State natural area | 38 | 7.1 mi | northwest |
| Duffy's Marsh | WPA | 182 | 8.6 mi | south |
| Bass Lake Fen | State natural area | 97 | 8.7 mi | north |
| White River Prairie/Tamaracks | State natural area | 748 | 8.9 mi | northeast |
| White River Sedge Meadow | State natural area | 3,103 | 9.7 mi | east |
| John A Lawton Fishery | Fishery area | 208 | 9.9 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 Comstock Bog-Meadow 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 | 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 89.29 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area: nearest ranges
Wautoma Shooting Range in Waushara County is the nearest DNR-map range, 15 miles out. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle, handgun, shotgun on file
sporting clays, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, shotgun on file
sporting clays, 5-stand, archery, 3D archery, muzzleloader on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area: the questions that come up
Whose property is Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area?
The Wisconsin DNR oversees this DNR-owned State Natural Area.
Which properties are close to Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area?
Nearest on the list: Germania Wet Prairie State Natural Area (1 mile), Germania Marsh Wildlife Area (2 miles) and Mecan River Pine Oak Forest State Natural Area (6 miles).
In which Wisconsin county is Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area?
Harrisville is closest (6 miles); the property is in Marquette County.
How many acres does Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area cover?
655 acres, per WI DNR SNA parcel ownership GIS OWNER_ACRE_AMT, WDNR-owned parcels.
Can I shoot antlerless deer on Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area?
Central Farmland zone; unit Marquette. 10,000 antlerless deer is the 2026 quota.
Which game seasons apply on Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area?
All open seasons apply, subject to the property rules; the source names no species.
What turkey tag do I need for Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area?
Your spring tag must be for Zone 3 and a period A-F.
What are the bear rules around Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area?
It is in Bear Zone F, target 50 bears in 2026.
Does the baiting ban cover Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area?
Banned in Marquette County. Marquette County has had CWD-positive wild deer.
Which duck and goose zones cover Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area?
Use the Southern duck dates and the Southern goose dates. Regular duck hunting in the Southern Zone starts Oct 3.
Is there a check station for Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area?
Use GameReg online or call 844-426-3734 by 5 p.m. the day after.
What does the orange rule mean at Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area?
Yes, 50% orange or pink above the waist from the youth deer hunt through the Holiday Hunt.
How do I get permission to hunt Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area?
A regular Wisconsin license from Go Wild (gun deer $24 for residents); antlerless deer need a public-access tag.
Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area: confirm on the ground
A last look before the drive: the Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area map, your Go Wild licenses and any posted closures.
Sources for this page: DNR: ComstockBogMeadow · DNR GIS · DNR: StateNaturalAreas; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: GlacierNPS (Public domain); bgautrea (CC BY-SA 2.0).