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Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area for Wisconsin hunters
A hunter's summary of Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area in Dunn County: zones and quota, rules, CWD numbers and local help.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Raleigh's LandingBoat ramp · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 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.
Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area: record card
Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area: a DNR-owned State Natural Area, located in Dunn County. Region on record: the DNR West Central Region. The Wisconsin DNR writes the rules on the ground. The 633 acres on record put it 92nd of the 449 state natural areas we list. The DNR numbers it SNA 621 (legal description T26N-R12W, Sections 9, 16, 17, 20). Base town: Downsville, some 4 miles away. Dunnville Wildlife Area is the larger unit around it.
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 Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area
Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area deer unit, quota and game zones
The deer unit is Dunn, in the Central Farmland zone. The 2026 antlerless quota for that unit is 15,000. For black bear this is Zone E, with no hound hunting; 2,628 permits for 2026. Turkey hunting falls under Zone 4, which had 34,997 spring permits in 2025. The DNR counts Dunn County among its CWD-affected counties. Dunn County sits under the DNR deer baiting and feeding ban.
The deer unit around Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area
| DMU | Deer zone | Antlerless quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Free tags per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunn | Central Farmland | 15,000 | 492 | 2,993 | 3 |
Bear, turkey and bird zones at Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area
| Zone | Rule | Numbers | Extra | 2025 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear E | Bait only | 185 target, 2,628 permits | 1 point | 128 bears in 2025 |
| Wild turkey 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 | ||
| Ducks | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Geese | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf zone 6 | Closed | Federally 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.
Rules on the ground at Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area
Entry terms for Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area
Hunting and trapping are generally allowed on DNR-owned State Natural Area land unless a spot is posted closed. Camping, vehicles, drones and collecting plants are not (NR 45).
Wisconsin rules that follow you to Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area
During any firearm deer season, everyone hunting except waterfowlers wears blaze orange or fluorescent pink on at least half the clothing above the waist, and on half of any cap. DNR land rule: 144 sq in of solid orange or pink on any ground blind in gun season. Leave no stand overnight south of Hwy. 64. North of the highway, two per hunter per county may stay from Sept. 1 to Jan. 31. GameReg registration is due by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area: licenses and tags
Go Wild carries every license. For antlerless deer on public ground, use a public-access tag for the right DMU.
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.
Game and bag limits at Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area
With no species list from the source, read it this way: every open Wisconsin season applies here under the property rules.
Use the Dunn County season list (40 rows) 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.
Every Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area season on one table
Private and public land share these dates. A state park, refuge or Fort McCoy can close sooner, so read the property page before you go.
| Animal | Segment | Scope | Starts | Ends | Open 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 | 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: Dunn | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 1, 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.
Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area described by the DNR
Quoted as published; nothing here is our wording.
Situated on a broad, sandy terrace of the Chippewa River, Dunnville Barrens supports a pine barrens community dominated by scattered jack pine with black oak. The scattered trees or groves are interspersed with openings in which shrubs such as hazelnuts are prominent, along with prairie grasses and forbs. The ground layer contains species characteristic of "heaths", such as blueberries, and sweet ferns. Other characteristic plants include dry sand prairie species such as June grass, little bluestem, asters, fame flower, small green milkweed, purple prairie clover and leadplant.
Also present is an open area of river and swale topography with fairly extensive, very good quality dry-mesic prairie with wet-mesic swales which is being managed with prescribed burns. The herbaceous layer is quite diverse and includes big bluestem, Virginia panic-grass, Indian grass, white baptisia, cream baptisia, Michigan lily, downy gentian, prairie alum-root, western sage-wort, culver's-root and stiff goldenrod. Dunnville Barrens is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2010.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area and the land it belongs with
Parent property: Dunnville Wildlife Area, which has 1 listed part.
Harvest numbers for the country around Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area
2025 in Dunn County: 3,858 bucks, 5,260 antlerless, 9,118 in all. Range since 2016: 6,526 to 9,118 deer a year. Early 2026 registrations (archery, crossbow, youth hunt): Dunn 790. The DNR sampled 357 deer from Dunn County in 2025; 7 had CWD. 15 positives overall, from 3,643 deer. In 2025, Dunn County produced 46 registered bears. Figures are for the whole county unit, not Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area alone; the DNR does not report harvest by property.
Dunn County unit harvest
| Season | Bucks | Does and fawns | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,858 | 5,260 | 9,118 |
| 2024 | 3,540 | 4,279 | 7,819 |
| 2023 | 3,040 | 3,939 | 6,979 |
| 2022 | 3,492 | 4,590 | 8,082 |
| 2021 | 3,260 | 3,727 | 6,987 |
| 2020 | 3,547 | 4,586 | 8,133 |
CWD samples, Dunn County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 24 | 0 |
| 2025 | 357 | 7 |
| 2024 | 318 | 2 |
| 2023 | 274 | 1 |
| 2022 | 345 | 1 |
| 2021 | 333 | 1 |
Bears registered in Dunn County
| Season | Bears | Boars | Sows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 51 | 30 | 21 |
| 2025 | 46 | 26 | 20 |
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.
Bed, fuel and a butcher near Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area
Where to sleep, where to buy shells, where to drop off a deer.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downsville | Dunn | 4.4 mi | — | 8,528 |
| Rock Falls | Dunn | 7.9 mi | — | 9,360 |
| Durand | Pepin | 9.3 mi | 1,873 | 14,689 |
| Arkansaw | Pepin | 11 mi | — | 12,768 |
Season and zone pages by county: Dunn County.
Who processes a deer from Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area
Where to ask about Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area
Licenses and questions for Dunn County go through the DNR Eau Claire 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.
Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area and nearby public ground
Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area at the big pin; the nearest 10 public places around it. Combined, 7,454 acres are on record.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Cedar | State trail | 393 | 3.0 mi | west |
| Nine Mile Island | State natural area | 1,361 | 4.8 mi | southwest |
| Rock Falls | Wildlife area | 116 | 7.7 mi | east |
| Iron Creek | WPA | 47 | 9.0 mi | north |
| Cook's Pond | WPA | 140 | 9.1 mi | north |
| Rock Creek | WPA | 672 | 9.7 mi | east |
| Muddy Creek Sedge Meadow | State natural area | 195 | 9.8 mi | northeast |
| Big Swamp | Wildlife area | 799 | 11 mi | south |
| Big Swamp Tamarack Fen | State natural area | 354 | 11 mi | south |
| Lower Chippewa River | State natural area | 3,377 | 11 mi | east |
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.
Shooting-hour table for Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area
Two tables cover the state, one for the Northern Area and one for the Southern Area, each for Zone A. West of 88 degrees you add 4 minutes per degree of longitude.
| Date | Why it matters | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, grouse opener | 6:11 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:55 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:16 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:44 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:56 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:15 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:17 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:02 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 E offset of 16 minutes for longitude 91.86 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area: nearest ranges
About 9 miles separates Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area from Menomonie Shooting Range, the nearest public map range. Club ranges within 30 miles are included.
rifle, handgun on file
sporting clays, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, muzzleloader on file
sporting clays, 5-stand, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Before-the-trip answers for Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area
Which town works as a base for Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area?
Dunn County; Downsville, the nearest town we cover, is 4 miles away.
Can I hunt any species on Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area?
Every open Wisconsin season applies under the property rules; no list narrows it.
What deer tags work on Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area?
It is in Dunn (Central Farmland). This year the antlerless quota is 15,000.
How hard is a bear permit for Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area?
Zone E; hounds may not be used there.
Which zone do I apply for to hunt turkeys at Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area?
Zone 4. Success in 2025 was 24%.
Which goose zone is Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area in?
Ducks follow the Northern zone, Canada geese the Northern zone. Opening day for Northern Zone ducks is Sep 26.
Can I bait deer at Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area?
No bait or feed in Dunn County. The county list for CWD includes Dunn County.
When does orange apply at Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area?
Pink counts the same as orange: 50% above the waist in firearm deer seasons.
Does a Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area deer go into GameReg?
By 5 p.m. the following day, through GameReg; bears also go to a station or online the same way.
What paperwork does Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area need?
Gun deer ($24), archer ($24) or small game ($18) for residents; nonresident gun deer is $200.
Which public land sits closest to Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area?
Red Cedar State Trail (3 miles), Nine Mile Island State Natural Area (5 miles) and Rock Falls Wildlife Area (8 miles), each with a page here.
What does Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area belong to?
A piece of Dunnville Wildlife Area.
Is Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area DNR, county or federal ground?
A DNR-owned State Natural Area; the manager is the Wisconsin DNR.
Signing off on Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area
Gates, refuges and open areas at Dunnville Barrens State Natural Area are the manager's call; confirm them before opening day.
Sources for this page: DNR: DunnvilleBarrens · 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).