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Hunting at Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area – Public Access
Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area – Public Access, 7 acres in Jefferson County: zones and tags, property rules, county harvest and the land nearby.
Photo: Wanderer 86 (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area – Public Access
Parking, trailheads and gates near Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area – Public Access
- Parking areaParking · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
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- Parking areaParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
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- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 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.
Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access on one card
Hunters reach Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area – Public Access in Jefferson County; it is a DNR state wildlife area. This is south-central Wisconsin, in the DNR South Central Region. Day-to-day it is in the hands of the Wisconsin DNR. Measured at 7 acres, it comes in 279th of 285 state wildlife areas. Johnson Creek is the nearest town with a guide on this site, about 6 miles away; the land lies north of it.
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 Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area – Public Access
Zones that take in Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access
Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access is Southern Farmland deer country, unit Jefferson. Antlerless quota, 2026: 3,000. The Zone F bear quota for 2026 is 50, spread over 764 drawn permits. Zone 2 turkey numbers for 2025: 51,056 spring tags, 22% success. Wild deer with CWD have been confirmed in Jefferson County. Leave the corn at home; Jefferson County bans deer baiting.
Antlerless tags near Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access
| Unit | Zone | Quota 2026 | Bonus, public | Bonus, private | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson | Southern Farmland | 3,000 | 700 | 2,500 | 3 |
Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access: other game zones
| Zone | Detail | Numbers | More | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone F | No hounds | 50 target, 764 permits | 1 point | 27 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 2 | 51,056 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 11,024 gobblers | 2,500 fall bonus |
| Ruffed grouse B | Oct 17–Dec 8 | 2 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Canada goose | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| Wolf 6 | No harvest | Federal listing |
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.
What Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access requires of hunters
Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access access terms
Public hunting and trapping run on the statewide calendar; refuges and closed areas are posted, and the NR 45 code covers everything else.
The rule book on Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access
Half of your outer clothing above the waist, and half of your hat, must be blaze orange or pink whenever a firearm deer season is open (waterfowl hunters excepted). Ground blinds need a 144-square-inch orange or pink patch in gun deer seasons on DNR ground. Stands may not damage trees. North of Hwy. 64 they can stay overnight Sept. 1, 2026 to Jan. 31, 2027 (two per hunter per county); south of Hwy. 64 they come down daily. Deer and turkeys go into GameReg online or by phone by 5 p.m. the next day.
Go Wild shopping list for Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access
A gun deer or archery license comes with a buck authorization; antlerless deer on this land need a public-access authorization.
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.
What hunters pursue at Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access
Nothing narrows the game at Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access; all open seasons apply as long as the property rules are followed.
The Jefferson County season table below has 41 dated rows for that reason.
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.
Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 41 season segments apply to Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access.
| Species | Hunt type | Zone or unit | Opening | Closing | 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: Jefferson | 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 | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 2 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 2 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 2 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 2 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 2 | 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.
Jefferson County harvest near Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access
Deer registered in the Jefferson County unit, 2025: 3,843. The decade peaked at 3,843 in 2025 and bottomed at 2,451 in 2017. Through Oct. 19, 2026: 119 antlered and 191 antlerless in Jefferson (preliminary). CWD year 2025 brought 191 Jefferson County samples and 16 positives. Running total since 1999: 8,499 tested. No harvest is published for Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access itself, so the county unit is the finest level.
Registered deer in the Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access county unit
| Year | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,772 | 2,071 | 3,843 |
| 2024 | 1,757 | 2,059 | 3,816 |
| 2023 | 1,647 | 1,932 | 3,579 |
| 2022 | 1,459 | 1,895 | 3,354 |
| 2021 | 1,440 | 1,627 | 3,067 |
| 2020 | 1,500 | 2,093 | 3,593 |
CWD tests in Jefferson County
| CWD year | Wild deer sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 20 | 0 |
| 2025 | 191 | 16 |
| 2024 | 170 | 12 |
| 2023 | 175 | 10 |
| 2022 | 167 | 4 |
| 2021 | 150 | 6 |
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.
Around Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access: more places to hunt
The big marker is Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access. Smaller ones are its 10 closest neighbours. The neighbours add 12,993 acres between them.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | Wildlife area | 9,306 | 7.7 mi | northwest |
| Chub and Mud Lake Riverine Marsh | State natural area | 1,987 | 7.9 mi | northwest |
| Holzhueter Farm | State park | 108 | 8.1 mi | west |
| Chub Lake Oak Savanna | State natural area | 21 | 8.3 mi | northwest |
| Ancient Aztalan Village | State natural area | 25 | 8.4 mi | southwest |
| Aztalan | State park | 178 | 8.4 mi | southwest |
| Lake Mills Hatchery | Fishery area | 80 | 9.7 mi | southwest |
| Waterloo Prairie | State natural area | 221 | 11 mi | west |
| Waterloo Quartzite Outcrops | State natural area | 47 | 11 mi | northwest |
| Glacial Drumlin | State trail | 1,020 | 11 mi | southwest |
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.
Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access: nearby towns and businesses
Town pages first, then shops, processors and DNR desks.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson Creek | Jefferson | 5.5 mi | 3,398 | 6,072 |
| Lake Mills | Jefferson | 9.5 mi | 6,617 | 11,111 |
| Helenville | Jefferson | 10 mi | — | 11,180 |
| Jefferson | Jefferson | 11 mi | 7,766 | 9,416 |
County-level hunting pages: Jefferson County.
Shops a short drive from Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access
DNR desks closest to Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access
Service center for Jefferson County business: DNR Janesville 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.
Where to sight in near Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area – Public Access
About 3 miles separates Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area – Public Access from Milford Hills Hunt Club, the nearest public map range. Nearby rod and gun clubs round out the list.
rifle, handgun, trap, sporting clays, shotgun on file
trap, shotgun on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Shooting light at Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access by date
At Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access the offset is 4 minutes (Zone B). The times below already include it for both DNR shooting-hours areas.
| Day | Season | North table | South table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, grouse opener | 5:59 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:43 a.m. to 6:25 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 6:28 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:04 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:32 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:44 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:03 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:05 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 4:50 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 B offset of 4 minutes for longitude 88.75 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
What people ask about hunting Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access
Is deer baiting legal near Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access?
No: Jefferson County bans deer baiting and feeding. Wild deer with CWD are documented in Jefferson County.
What are the waterfowl zones for Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access?
It sits in the Southern duck and Southern goose zones. In the Southern Zone the regular duck split begins Oct 3.
How do I register a deer from Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access?
Through GameReg (online, phone or a station) by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
Do I need blaze orange at Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access?
In any open firearm deer season, wear blaze orange or pink on at least half your coat and cap.
If Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access is full, where next?
Within a short drive: Waterloo Wildlife Area (8 miles), Chub and Mud Lake Riverine Marsh State Natural Area (8 miles) and Holzhueter Farm State Park (8 miles).
Which Wisconsin license covers Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access?
Go Wild sells everything needed; antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
What acreage is listed for Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access?
Roughly 7 acres.
Which agency sets the rules on Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access?
The Wisconsin DNR treats it as a DNR state wildlife area.
What game is legal on Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access?
Any species in an open season, as long as you follow the property rules.
Where do Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access hunters spend the night?
Start from Johnson Creek; the land is 6 miles off, in Jefferson County.
Which bear management zone holds Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access?
Bear Zone F. Zone F took 1 preference point in 2026.
Which DMU takes in Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access?
Deer unit Jefferson; zone Southern Farmland. The 2026 antlerless quota is 3,000 (Jefferson); use a public-access antlerless tag here.
Which turkey zone is Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access in?
Zone 2, one bird per spring authorization.
Check Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access once more
Refuges, closed areas and park windows at Glacial Heritage Area River-Based Conservation Area Public Access can shift mid-season; the property page and the DNR map have the current picture.
Sources for this page: DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0).