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2026-27 · Wildlife area
Cylon Wildlife Area, a hunter's guide
Who runs it, which deer unit and bear zone cover it, what it holds (whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys and ducks and geese), and the public land and towns around it in St. Croix County.
Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Cylon Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Cylon Wildlife Area
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- US 63 & WIS 64 (St. Croix Co)Parking · 3.6 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.
What the record says about Cylon Wildlife Area
On paper it is a DNR state wildlife area; on the map it is in St. Croix County. DNR staff of the West Central Region cover this part of west-central Wisconsin. Manager: the Wisconsin DNR. Its 2,795 acres rank 55th of the 285 Wisconsin state wildlife areas with an acreage on file. From Clear Lake, our closest town page, it is roughly 6 miles to the southwest. It is the parent of 1 page on this site.
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 Cylon Wildlife Area
Cylon Wildlife Area in the agency's words
Unedited text from the official page.
Cylon Wildlife Area is a 2,621-acre property located in St. Croix County and was established in 1975. The property consists of two separate units with the majority of the acreage on the southern unit. The northern unit consists of 228 acres owned by the DNR, with an additional 279 acres protected for public use under perpetual easements. This property was chosen as a Wildlife area due to its uniqueness of being one of the last remaining large tract of wild land in St. Croix County.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources set an acreage goal for Cylon WA of 2,980 acres and is still working on reaching this goal by purchasing land from willing sellers. The public land forming the project's nucleus is at the confluence of the North Fork of the Willow River and Black Brook stream, eight miles of the river along with one mile of stream flow through the property. The Cylon Wildlife Area is located in the Western Prairie Ecological landscape and is part of the Prairie Pothole Conservation Opportunity Area in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan.
The property provides great opportunities for hunting deer, bear, grouse, turkey and other small game.
Cylon Wildlife Area hunting wording
- There are also many trapping opportunities as well as fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing.
- The property is managed to provide opportunities for public hunting, trapping, wildlife observation and other nature-based outdoor recreation.
- Hunting (noted for deer, turkey, grouse, bear, waterfowl, pheasant and small game)
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Cylon Wildlife Area rules and licenses
Access rules at Cylon Wildlife Area
Buy the license, hunt in season, and respect posted refuges and the NR 45 code.
State law on Cylon Wildlife Area
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 Cylon Wildlife Area needs
Get licenses on Go Wild or at an agent. Antlerless tags are unit-specific and labelled public or private land.
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.
Cylon Wildlife Area: DMU, bear zone and turkey zone
Deer management: St Croix, Central Farmland zone. The Natural Resources Board set 3,500 antlerless deer as the 2026 quota there. Bear Zone D has a 2026 harvest target of 1,100 with 3,855 Class A permits drawn; it took 2 preference points to win one. Spring turkey tags are sold for Zone 4; the DNR issued 34,997 there in 2025, the newest level published. The deer baiting ban covers St. Croix County.
Deer units that cover Cylon Wildlife Area
| Deer unit | Zone | Antlerless goal | Public tags left | Private tags left | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Croix | Central Farmland | 3,500 | 494 | 1,496 | 2 |
Zones beyond deer for Cylon Wildlife Area
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear D | Dogs legal | 1,100 target, 3,855 permits | 2 points | 931 bears in 2025 |
| 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 | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose zone | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf zone 6 | 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.
Cylon Wildlife Area: species with bag limits
Listed game at Cylon Wildlife Area: whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, pheasants, ruffed grouse, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
White-tailed deer
Black bear
Wild turkey
Ducks and geese
Pheasant
Ruffed grouse
Small game
Furbearers
The St. Croix County calendar below covers the rest.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Season dates that cover Cylon Wildlife Area
Cylon Wildlife Area sits in the Central Farmland deer zone. These 42 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 | 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.
Units inside Cylon Wildlife Area
Units inside Cylon Wildlife Area: 1, adding up to 155 acres.
| Unit | Type | Where | Size | Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cylon | State natural area | St. Croix | 155 | — |
Public property near Cylon Wildlife Area
The large pin is Cylon Wildlife Area; the others are the 10 closest public properties. Together they hold 1,955 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Park | WPA | 351 | 3.4 mi | west |
| Oden | Habitat area | 250 | 3.5 mi | west |
| Boe | WPA | 48 | 3.5 mi | northwest |
| Kostka | WPA | 350 | 3.6 mi | northwest |
| Kobernick | WPA | 135 | 4.6 mi | north |
| Black Brook State Habitat Area-Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area | Habitat area | 207 | 4.6 mi | north |
| Deer Park | Habitat area | 213 | 4.7 mi | northwest |
| Clear Lake | WPA | 154 | 5.4 mi | northeast |
| Houghdahl-North | WPA | 92 | 5.6 mi | northwest |
| Emerald Valley | Habitat area | 155 | 5.6 mi | south |
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.
How the land around Cylon Wildlife Area hunts, by the numbers
St. Croix County hunters registered 4,858 deer in 2025, 2,261 of them bucks. Totals swing between 3,825 and 4,858 across the years charted. CWD sampling in St. Croix County, CWD year 2025: 132 wild deer sampled, 0 positive. Overall: 1,431 samples and 0 positives. St. Croix County: 31 bears in 2025. The DNR reports deer by unit, not by property: read these as the St. Croix County picture.
St. Croix County bucks and antlerless
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
St. Croix County CWD sampling
| Year | Sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 7 | 0 |
| 2025 | 132 | 0 |
| 2024 | 119 | 0 |
| 2023 | 78 | 0 |
| 2022 | 94 | 0 |
| 2021 | 80 | 0 |
St. Croix County bears
| Year | Bears registered | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Cylon Wildlife Area: nearest ranges
No range sits on Cylon Wildlife Area; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Boyceville Shooting Range, about 18 miles away. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle, handgun, archery, trap, shotgun on file
trap, rifle, archery, 3D archery, shotgun on file
trap, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Home bases for a Cylon Wildlife Area trip
Closest towns, measured as the crow flies, then the businesses around them.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Lake | Polk | 5.8 mi | 1,103 | 7,120 |
| Emerald | St. Croix | 7.4 mi | — | 4,756 |
| Somerset | St. Croix | 17 mi | 3,382 | 12,025 |
| Turtle Lake | Barron | 17 mi | 1,036 | 9,672 |
Read up on the county: St. Croix County.
Taxidermy and supplies for Cylon Wildlife Area hunters
Phone numbers for Cylon Wildlife Area questions
The DNR service center listed for St. Croix 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.
Cylon Wildlife Area: 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 | 6:15 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 92.33 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on Cylon Wildlife Area
Where in the state does Cylon Wildlife Area lie?
St. Croix County holds it, 6 miles from Clear Lake.
What is Cylon Wildlife Area hunted for?
The agency names whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, pheasants, ruffed grouse, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes; other legal game follows the county dates.
Which deer management unit holds Cylon Wildlife Area?
The Central Farmland zone, St Croix. Quota for 2026: 3,500 antlerless.
Is bear hunting possible at Cylon Wildlife Area?
Zone D; hounds are legal there.
Can I turkey hunt Cylon Wildlife Area in spring?
Zone 4; 2025 saw 8,472 birds registered in the zone.
When can I hunt ducks at Cylon Wildlife Area?
Northern for ducks, Northern for geese. The regular Northern Zone duck season opens Sep 26.
Has CWD turned up in the county around Cylon Wildlife Area?
The deer baiting ban applies in St. Croix County. CWD has not been found in this county's wild deer.
Is blaze pink legal at Cylon Wildlife Area?
Orange or pink, half of the upper clothing, whenever a gun deer season runs (not for waterfowl).
Where do I register game taken on Cylon Wildlife Area?
Register on GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; the confirmation number starts with W.
Is there a separate permit for Cylon Wildlife Area?
The standard license for your game; no landowner permission on public ground.
Which public properties lie near Cylon Wildlife Area?
Three to try: Deer Park Waterfowl Production Area (3 miles), Oden Wildlife Area (4 miles) and Boe Waterfowl Production Area (4 miles).
Which units make up Cylon Wildlife Area?
1 units, listed in the units section.
How is Cylon Wildlife Area classified?
DNR state wildlife area, under the Wisconsin DNR.
Last checks on Cylon Wildlife Area before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of Cylon Wildlife Area has the final say on closures and maps.
Sources for this page: DNR: Cylon · DNR GIS · DNR: alpha · DNR: Cylonmarsh; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Rodney Campbell (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).