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Adams County, Wisconsin
Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area: the hunter's file
Deer unit Adams and Columbia, bear and turkey zones, closures, licenses and the nearest towns and services.
Photo: Mobilus In Mobili (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.3 mi from the centreDirections
- GateGate · 0.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 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.
Key facts for Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area
Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area is a DNR-owned State Natural Area in Adams, Columbia, Juneau and Sauk counties. The DNR files it under its West Central Region (west-central Wisconsin). Management sits with the Wisconsin DNR. Acreage: 1,286, which places it 38th of 449 state natural areas. Listed as SNA 283; survey location T13N-R6E, Sections 3, 4, 10, 15, 16. T14N-R6E, Sections 20, 21, 28, 29, 33, 34. The closest covered town is Lyndon Station, around 6 miles off as the crow flies.
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 Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area
Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area by zone and unit
Deer: Central Farmland and Southern Farmland zones, Adams, Columbia, Juneau and Sauk. 8,000, 8,800, 4,500 and 11,000 antlerless deer: the 2026 quota for the units. Bear hunters here apply for Zone E: 2,628 applied for 2026 and 2,628 permits went out. In Zone 3 turkey hunters held 55,612 spring tags in 2025 (spring 2027 levels are not out yet). CWD-positive deer have been recorded in Adams, Columbia, Juneau and Sauk counties; free testing is offered statewide. Baiting and feeding deer are banned in Adams, Columbia, Juneau and Sauk counties.
DMU figures for Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area
| Unit | Deer zone | Quota | Public-access bonus | Private bonus | Farmland per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | Central Farmland | 8,000 | 2,935 | 6,949 | 2 |
| Columbia | Southern Farmland | 8,800 | 1,000 | 4,000 | 4 |
| Juneau Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 4,500 | 625 | 3,954 | 2 |
| Sauk | Southern Farmland | 11,000 | 750 | 3,950 | 2 |
Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area zone table
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone E | No dogs | 185 target, 2,628 permits | 1 point | 128 bears in 2025 |
| Bear zone F | No dogs | 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 |
| Turkey 1 | 64,574 spring tags (2025) | 21% success | 13,813 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Ruffed grouse B | Oct 17–Dec 8 | 2 a day | ||
| Duck | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Goose | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| Wolf 5/6 | No hunt | Endangered status |
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.
Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area: the property description
Copied from the official listing.
The Dells of the Wisconsin River encompasses over five miles of the Wisconsin River corridor with a spectacular gorge, cliffs, tributary canyons and rock formations carved into Cambrian sandstone. Formed between 510-520 million years ago, some cliffs rise over one hundred feet above the water and have been shaped by the erosive processes of water and wind. With a variety of exposures and moisture regimes, the cliffs afford many different niches for plants, some of which are very rare in Wisconsin.
One species is known from only two places on Earth – here and in the Kickapoo Valley, and grows on protected rock ledges. Other rarities are also present. This area contains a mosaic of plant communities including northern and southern oak/pine forests, oak savanna, and moist and dry cliffs. Rare animals include six dragonfly species, six rare mussels and numerous birds. While set aside to protect rare plants and animals, the Dells also have an important cultural history that spans several thousand years.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Access, closures and licenses for Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area
Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area: open to whom, and how
Expect open hunting and trapping on the DNR-owned parcels, with no camping, motor vehicles, drones or plant collecting allowed.
Orange, stands and GameReg at Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area
Bowhunters too: when a gun deer season is on, 50% of the coat and hat must be orange or pink, unless you are hunting waterfowl. A ground blind on DNR property needs 144 sq in of orange or pink during gun deer seasons. South of Hwy. 64 every stand and blind leaves with you; north of it, two portable stands per county may stay out Sept. 1-Jan. 31. Use GameReg (online or 844-426-3734) before 5 p.m. the day after the harvest.
Tags and licenses for Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area
Licenses sell on Go Wild. On public land, antlerless deer need a public-access authorization for the unit.
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.
Which animals Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area lists
The agency names no particular game for Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area: all open seasons apply, within the property rules.
The Adams County dates (42 rows) follow.
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.
Which seasons are open in Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area
Deer dates are statewide in Wisconsin; bear, turkey, grouse, cottontail and waterfowl dates follow zone lines, so only the rows for Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area are listed.
| Species | Season | Where it applies | Opens | Closes | 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: 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.
Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area: county harvest and CWD tests
Hunters registered 6,148 deer in the Adams County unit in 2025: 3,066 bucks and 3,082 antlerless. High year on the chart: 2024 at 6,658; low year: 2019 at 4,490. Preliminary 2026 count to Oct. 19: 533 in Adams, 571 in Columbia and 301 in Juneau Central Farmland. Adams County CWD testing (2025): 53 positives out of 408 samples. Cumulative total 200 positives in 5,658 tests. Adams County bear harvest, 2024: 1. Harvest and CWD figures cover Adams County as a whole.
Adams County deer by year
| Year | Buck | Antlerless | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Testing for CWD, Adams County
| Year | Deer tested | CWD positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 26 | 4 |
| 2025 | 408 | 53 |
| 2024 | 424 | 41 |
| 2023 | 343 | 23 |
| 2022 | 306 | 20 |
| 2021 | 273 | 12 |
Bears by year, Adams County
| Year | Bears | 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.
Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area pinned among its neighbours
Map of Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area and the 10 nearest public places. That is 6,769 acres of public ground.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Arbor | State park | 264 | 2.2 mi | south |
| Hulburt Creek | Fishery area | 572 | 3.3 mi | southwest |
| Hulburt Creek Woods | State natural area | 179 | 3.4 mi | southwest |
| Mirror Lake Pine Oak Forest | State natural area | 525 | 7.2 mi | south |
| Dell Creek | Wildlife area | 2,704 | 7.5 mi | southwest |
| Mirror Lake | State park | 2,150 | 7.6 mi | south |
| Lemonweir Bottomland Hardwood Forest | State natural area | 321 | 7.7 mi | northwest |
| Fern Dell Gorge | State natural area | 8 | 7.8 mi | south |
| Brooks Bluff | State natural area | 20 | 11 mi | north |
| Campbell Creek-White Creek | Habitat area | 26 | 11 mi | north |
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) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside))). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns, processors and DNR desks near Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area
Start with a town, then line up a cooler, a butcher and a mount.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyndon Station | Juneau | 5.5 mi | 477 | 5,955 |
| Lake Delton | Sauk | 5.7 mi | 3,466 | 8,780 |
| Baraboo | Sauk | 15 mi | 13,096 | 21,451 |
| Endeavor | Marquette | 16 mi | 433 | 7,232 |
For the wider county picture: Adams County, Columbia County, Juneau County, Sauk County.
Venison, mounts and ammo near Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area
Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area: agency contacts
County service center: DNR Oshkosh Service Center (920-424-3050).
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.
Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area: nearest ranges
M&M Sportshop & Shooting Range in Juneau County is the nearest DNR-map range, 22 miles out. Two nearby club ranges follow.
archery on file
skeet, shotgun on file
trap, sporting clays, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
First and last legal minute at Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area
Deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey: 30 minutes before sunrise until 20 minutes after sunset. Ducks, geese, doves and spring turkey: same start, done at sunset.
| Date | Season moment | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 89.79 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Questions hunters raise about Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area
Is there other public ground around Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area?
By straight-line distance: Rocky Arbor State Park (2 miles), Hulburt Creek Fishery Area (3 miles) and Hulburt Creek Woods State Natural Area (3 miles).
What type of property is Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area on the record?
It is a DNR-owned State Natural Area, managed by the Wisconsin DNR.
What size is Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area on the record?
About 1,286 acres.
What is the nearest town to Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area?
Base in Lyndon Station, 6 miles away; the ground is in Adams, Columbia, Juneau and Sauk counties.
Which species are allowed at Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area?
There is no species list. Any season open in the county works here within the rules.
What is the antlerless quota at Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area?
Adams, Columbia and Juneau, part of the Central Farmland and Southern Farmland zones. Antlerless goal for 2026: 8,000, 8,800, 4,500 and 11,000.
Which bear permit zone holds Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area?
E/F. You need a Class A license from the drawing.
How many turkey permits go to the Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area zone?
Turkey Zone 3/1. 55,612 spring tags were issued there in 2025.
What waterfowl dates apply at Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area?
Duck zone: Southern; goose zone: Southern. Southern Zone ducks open Oct 3, 2026-27.
Can I put out corn for deer at Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area?
Not here: Adams, Columbia, Juneau and Sauk counties is under the ban. CWD has been found in wild deer in Adams, Columbia, Juneau and Sauk counties.
How much orange do I wear at Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area?
During any firearm deer season: 50% of your outer clothing above the waist and 50% of any cap, blaze orange or pink. Waterfowl hunters are exempt.
When must I register a turkey from Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area?
Deer: online, phone or station by 5 p.m. next day. Turkeys: online or phone only.
Which tags work on Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area?
No special permit for most of it; buy the license on Go Wild and carry public-access antlerless tags.
Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area: one more look before the drive
Signs on the ground beat any web page. Read the posted boundaries at Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area when you arrive.
Sources for this page: DNR: DellsoftheWisconsinRiver · DNR GIS · DNR: StateNaturalAreas; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0); nugefishes (CC BY 2.0).