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Sauk County · State park
Devil's Lake State Park hunting guide
Everything we could verify about Devil's Lake State Park: acreage, zones, property rules, harvest around it and nearby ground.
Photo: sporst (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Devil’s Lake State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Devil’s Lake State Park
- CCC TrailTrailhead · 0.3 mi from the centreDirections
- CCC Parking lotParking · 0.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.1 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.
The short version on Devil's Lake State Park
In Sauk County you will find Devil's Lake State Park, a state park with hunting in its open areas. On the DNR map it belongs to the South Central Region. The managing body is the Wisconsin DNR. At 9,785 acres it sits 1st by area in a field of 49 state parks. About 4 miles south of Baraboo. Inside it are 3 separate records.
From the source page (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, whole property (hunting only in areas the property hunting map shows open)); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Devil’s Lake State Park
Devil's Lake State Park, as the managers tell it
Word for word from the property page.
Hunting Devil's Lake State Park Hunting and trapping are allowed in the open areas of the park during the Wisconsin state parks hunting and trapping time frame. Trapping is not permitted in closed areas as noted on the park hunting map or within 100 yards of any designated use area, including trails. Certain trap types are restricted on state park properties.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Devil's Lake State Park: what is allowed
How access works on Devil's Lake State Park
Two windows apply here: April 1 to the Tuesday nearest May 3, and Nov. 15 to Dec. 15; archery hunters keep going to the Sunday nearest Jan. 6. Bring a state park vehicle sticker.
Devil's Lake State Park: rules from the regulations
From the October youth hunt through the Holiday Hunt, blaze orange or pink covers half of your upper clothing and cap. Mark a ground blind with 144 square inches of blaze orange or pink while firearm deer seasons run. Tree stands: no tree damage, ID on unattended stands, overnight only north of Hwy. 64 during Sept. 1-Jan. 31. Register deer, turkeys and bears through GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
What Devil's Lake State Park costs in licenses
Buy through Go Wild; the free Farmland tags and bonus tags are marked public-access or private-land, and only public-access ones work here.
Posted closures at Devil's Lake State Park
2 rows of closures apply to Devil's Lake State Park. Exception: Hunting/trapping restrictions apply, check property map(s) at link provided.
| Closed area | Type | Period | Acres | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devil's Lake State Park – Iansr | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 9,449 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
| Devil's Lake State Park – Iansr | Closed to Public Access/Entry | Jan 1–Dec 31 | 18 | NR 45.04(1)(b)(2) |
Hunting windows set for Devil's Lake State Park
| Species | Period | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All open seasons | Spring | April 1 through the Tuesday nearest May 3 (gun and archery hunting, limited trapping, open areas only) | |
| All open seasons | Fall/Winter | Nov. 15-Dec. 15 (gun and archery hunting and trapping in open seasons); archery through the Sunday nearest Jan. 6 | Exceptions for Buckhorn, Big Bay, Blue Mound, Governor Dodge, Rock Island and Tower Hill state parks. |
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.
Tags and zones for Devil's Lake State Park
For deer it lies in the Southern Farmland zone (Sauk). This season the unit quota is 11,000 antlerless deer. Zone F bear permits took 1 preference point in 2026; the target is 50 bears. The 2025 spring level for Turkey Zone 1 was 64,574 authorizations; 13,813 birds were registered. Sauk County: CWD found in wild deer, and a CWD-positive deer earns a replacement authorization. No deer bait or feed: Sauk County is a ban county.
Devil's Lake State Park: antlerless quota and bonus tags
| Deer unit | Zone | 2026 quota | Public bonus left | Private bonus left | Free farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sauk | Southern Farmland | 11,000 | 750 | 3,950 | 2 |
Every other zone Devil's Lake State Park touches
| Zone | Detail | Figures | Points or note | Taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bear F | Hounds barred | 50 target, 764 permits | 1 point | 27 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 1 | 64,574 spring tags (2025) | 21% success | 13,813 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse B | Oct 17–Dec 8 | 2 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Goose zone | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| Gray wolf zone 6 | No season | Federally listed |
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.
Quarry and limits, Devil's Lake State Park
The list for Devil's Lake State Park reads: raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Furbearers
The list is what the agency names, not a limit: other Sauk County seasons apply under the same rules.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Devil's Lake State Park season calendar, 2026-27
Archery, the nine-day gun hunt, muzzleloader, bear, turkey, upland birds, rabbits, furbearers and the duck and goose splits for Devil's Lake State Park.
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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: Sauk | 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 E/F | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 1 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 1 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 1 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 1 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 1 | 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.
Devil's Lake State Park: the units it holds
3,812 acres across 3 units make up the listed parts of Devil's Lake State Park.
| Name | Type | County | Acreage | Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bluff/Devil's Nose | State natural area | Sauk | 3,492 | — |
| East Bluff | State natural area | Sauk | 254 | — |
| Devil's Lake Oak Forest | State natural area | Sauk | 66 | — |
Nearest public ground to Devil's Lake State Park, mapped
10 more properties lie close to Devil's Lake State Park, shown with smaller pins. Acres across them: 5,748.
| Neighbour | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baraboo River (Remnant) | Fishery area | 1 | 3.1 mi | north |
| Parfrey's Glen | State natural area | 509 | 3.8 mi | east |
| Sauk Prairie | Recreation area | 3,370 | 3.8 mi | south |
| Pewits Nest | State natural area | 34 | 4.5 mi | northwest |
| Baraboo Hills | Recreation area | 1,142 | 5.0 mi | northeast |
| Fairfield Marsh | WPA | 239 | 5.1 mi | northeast |
| McGilvra Woods | State natural area | 72 | 5.6 mi | northwest |
| Lower Narrows | State natural area | 146 | 7.0 mi | northeast |
| Gibraltar Rock | State natural area | 66 | 7.6 mi | southeast |
| Lost Lake | State natural area | 169 | 10 mi | northeast |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS (polygon centroid) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Registered deer and bears near Devil's Lake State Park
The 2025 registered deer total for the Sauk County unit was 6,025 (2,846 antlered). 2016 was the busiest year shown (7,764 deer) and 2024 the leanest (5,739). The 2026 season to date shows 409 deer in Sauk; the DNR calls it preliminary. 872 samples, 288 positive: that is Sauk County in CWD year 2025. All years combined: 2,530 of 23,859. These numbers describe the county around Devil's Lake State Park, not the property alone.
Deer registered near Devil's Lake State Park
| Year | Bucks registered | Antlerless registered | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,846 | 3,179 | 6,025 |
| 2024 | 2,933 | 2,806 | 5,739 |
| 2023 | 3,017 | 3,245 | 6,262 |
| 2022 | 3,100 | 3,710 | 6,810 |
| 2021 | 2,918 | 3,197 | 6,115 |
| 2020 | 3,360 | 4,274 | 7,634 |
Sauk County CWD by year
| CWD year | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 66 | 17 |
| 2025 | 872 | 288 |
| 2024 | 848 | 278 |
| 2023 | 858 | 247 |
| 2022 | 866 | 228 |
| 2021 | 900 | 227 |
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.
Devil's Lake State Park: nearest ranges
About 24 miles separates Devil's Lake State Park from Columbia County Shooting Range, the nearest public map range. Closer club options sit beside it.
rifle, shotgun on file
shotgun, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
trap, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Towns, offices and services around Devil's Lake State Park
Towns, then services in this county and the next one over.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baraboo | Sauk | 3.9 mi | 13,096 | 21,451 |
| Sauk City | Sauk | 9.7 mi | 3,471 | 18,230 |
| Lake Delton | Sauk | 13 mi | 3,466 | 8,780 |
| Dekorra | Columbia | 13 mi | — | 14,996 |
Our county write-ups: Sauk County.
Butchers, mounts and gun counters near Devil's Lake State Park
Service centers near Devil's Lake State Park
For Sauk County, the DNR points to its DNR Fitchburg 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.
When the shooting day opens and closes at Devil's Lake State Park
The DNR tables are worked out for Zone A in the east; Devil's Lake State Park lies in longitude Zone C, so add 8 minutes to each table time.
| Day | Reason | Northern table | Southern 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 89.72 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Devil's Lake State Park in questions and answers
What neighbours Devil's Lake State Park?
Closest first: Baraboo River Fishery Area (Remnant) (3 miles), Parfrey's Glen State Natural Area (4 miles) and Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area (4 miles).
When does Devil's Lake State Park open for hunters?
Hunt April 1 to early May and Nov. 15-Dec. 15 in open areas; bows stay legal to about Jan. 6.
Who is the land manager for Devil's Lake State Park?
The Wisconsin DNR manages it; the land is a state park with hunting in its open areas.
What pages sit under Devil's Lake State Park?
It has 3 units with their own pages.
How far is the drive from Baraboo to Devil's Lake State Park?
Sauk County, roughly 4 miles out of Baraboo.
How large is Devil's Lake State Park, in acres?
Acreage on record: 9,785.
Is Devil's Lake State Park forest or farmland deer country?
Sauk in the Southern Farmland zone. The unit quota stands at 11,000 antlerless deer this year.
Which game does Devil's Lake State Park list?
The source lists raccoons, foxes and coyotes. Other open seasons apply too, within the property rules.
Is Devil's Lake State Park good turkey ground?
Apply for Zone 1; spring periods A-F run in 2027 from April 21.
Are hounds allowed for bear at Devil's Lake State Park?
Bear Zone F: 764 permits drawn for 2026.
What are the CWD and bait rules for Devil's Lake State Park?
Deer bait is illegal in Sauk County. Sauk County: CWD-positive deer on record.
Is Devil's Lake State Park in the northern or southern duck zone?
Southern duck zone and Southern goose zone. First regular duck day in the Southern Zone: Oct 3.
How fast must I register a kill on Devil's Lake State Park?
GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Devil's Lake State Park, final notes
Print the Devil's Lake State Park map, carry your tags, and check the manager page the week you go.
Sources for this page: DNR: hunt · DNR: hunting · DNR: devilslake · DNR GIS · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: xulescu_g (CC BY-SA 2.0); Wesley Fryer (CC BY 2.0).