Home › Wisconsin › Public land › Hartman Creek State Park
Waupaca County, Wisconsin
Hartman Creek State Park: the hunter's file
Deer unit Waupaca and Portage, bear and turkey zones, closures, licenses and the nearest towns and services.
Photo: m01229 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Hartman Creek State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Hartman Creek State Park
- Parking areaParking · 0.1 mi from the centreDirections
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- Parking areaParking · 0.3 mi from the centreDirections
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- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 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 Hartman Creek State Park
Hartman Creek State Park is a state park with hunting in its open areas in Waupaca and Portage counties. The DNR files it under its Northeast Region (northeast Wisconsin). Management sits with the Wisconsin DNR. Acreage: 1,470, which places it 17th of 49 state parks. The closest covered town is Waupaca, around 7 miles off as the crow flies. It holds 1 listed unit, linked below.
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 Hartman Creek State Park
Hartman Creek State Park by zone and unit
Deer: Central Farmland zone, Waupaca and Portage. 8,550 and 6,000 antlerless deer: the 2026 quota for the units. Bear hunters here apply for Zone F: 764 applied for 2026 and 764 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 Waupaca and Portage counties; free testing is offered statewide. Baiting and feeding deer are banned in Waupaca and Portage counties.
DMU figures for Hartman Creek State Park
| Unit | Deer zone | Quota | Public-access bonus | Private bonus | Farmland per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waupaca | Central Farmland | 8,550 | 492 | 1,487 | 3 |
| Portage | Central Farmland | 6,000 | 932 | 5,041 | 3 |
Hartman Creek State Park zone table
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Ruffed grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 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 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.
Hartman Creek State Park: the property description
Copied from the official listing.
Hunting Hartman Creek 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.
Access, closures and licenses for Hartman Creek State Park
Hartman Creek State Park: open to whom, and how
State park rules limit hunting to the open zones and two windows, April 1 to early May and Nov. 15 to Dec. 15, plus archery until about Jan. 6. A state park vehicle admission pass is required.
Orange, stands and GameReg at Hartman Creek State Park
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 Hartman Creek State Park
Licenses sell on Go Wild. On public land, antlerless deer need a public-access authorization for the unit.
Where you cannot hunt at Hartman Creek State Park
Mind these 1 area before you set up. The common carve-out: Hunting/trapping restrictions apply, check property map(s) at link provided.
| Area | Restriction | Dates | Acres | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartman Creek State Park | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 1,456 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
Dates specific to Hartman Creek State Park
| Game | Window | Dates | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
What Hartman Creek State Park is made of
Together its 1 units cover 54 acres.
| Unit | Category | County | Acres | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pope Lake | State natural area | Waupaca | 54 | — |
Which animals Hartman Creek State Park lists
Game on the record for Hartman Creek State Park: raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Furbearers
Seasons not named here still apply if they are open in Waupaca County and the property rules allow.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Which seasons are open in Hartman Creek State Park
Deer dates are statewide in Wisconsin; bear, turkey, grouse, cottontail and waterfowl dates follow zone lines, so only the rows for Hartman Creek State Park 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: Waupaca | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone F/C | 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | Northern Duck Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Nov 24, 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 | Northern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Dec 16, 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.
Hartman Creek State Park: county harvest and CWD tests
Hunters registered 10,740 deer in the Waupaca County unit in 2025: 5,202 bucks and 5,538 antlerless. High year on the chart: 2016 at 13,075; low year: 2023 at 9,097. Preliminary 2026 count to Oct. 19: 1,071 in Waupaca and 749 in Portage. Waupaca County CWD testing (2025): 1 positives out of 331 samples. Cumulative total 4 positives in 3,482 tests. Waupaca County bear harvest, 2025: 6. Harvest and CWD figures cover Waupaca County as a whole.
Waupaca County deer by year
| Year | Buck | Antlerless | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5,202 | 5,538 | 10,740 |
| 2024 | 5,192 | 5,157 | 10,349 |
| 2023 | 4,315 | 4,782 | 9,097 |
| 2022 | 4,556 | 5,814 | 10,370 |
| 2021 | 4,454 | 4,893 | 9,347 |
| 2020 | 4,466 | 5,849 | 10,315 |
Testing for CWD, Waupaca County
| Year | Deer tested | CWD positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 13 | 0 |
| 2025 | 331 | 1 |
| 2024 | 288 | 1 |
| 2023 | 356 | 0 |
| 2022 | 270 | 2 |
| 2021 | 234 | 0 |
Bears by year, Waupaca County
| Year | Bears | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| 2025 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
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.
Hartman Creek State Park pinned among its neighbours
Map of Hartman Creek State Park and the 10 nearest public places. That is 3,812 acres of public ground.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmons Creek Barrens | State natural area | 44 | 1.3 mi | southwest |
| Emmons Creek | Fishery area | 1,465 | 2.1 mi | southwest |
| North Fork Radley Creek (Remnant) | Fishery area | 188 | 3.5 mi | southwest |
| Radley Creek | Fishery area | 1,425 | 3.6 mi | south |
| Mud Lake-Radley Creek Savanna | State natural area | 100 | 3.8 mi | southeast |
| Waupaca River (Remnant) | Fishery area | 73 | 3.9 mi | north |
| Waupaca River | Fishery area | 69 | 5.5 mi | northeast |
| Pickerel Lake | State natural area | 143 | 5.5 mi | west |
| Skunk and Foster Lakes | State natural area | 265 | 7.2 mi | north |
| Mack Creek (Remnant) | Fishery area | 40 | 7.6 mi | northwest |
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.
Towns, processors and DNR desks near Hartman Creek State Park
Start with a town, then line up a cooler, a butcher and a mount.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waupaca | Waupaca | 7.4 mi | 6,231 | 4,843 |
| Bancroft | Portage | 14 mi | — | 13,258 |
| Plainfield | Waushara | 16 mi | 920 | 12,388 |
| Poy Sippi | Waushara | 17 mi | — | 8,114 |
For the wider county picture: Waupaca County, Portage County.
Venison, mounts and ammo near Hartman Creek State Park
Hartman Creek State Park: 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.
Hartman Creek State Park: nearest ranges
Wautoma Shooting Range in Waushara County is the nearest DNR-map range, 18 miles out. Two nearby club ranges follow.
rifle, handgun, shotgun on file
rifle, handgun, shotgun on file
handgun, rifle, archery, 3D archery on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
First and last legal minute at Hartman Creek State Park
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 89.22 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Questions hunters raise about Hartman Creek State Park
What is the nearest town to Hartman Creek State Park?
Base in Waupaca, 7 miles away; the ground is in Waupaca and Portage counties.
Which game is named for Hartman Creek State Park?
The property record lists raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
What is the antlerless quota at Hartman Creek State Park?
Waupaca and Portage, part of the Central Farmland zone. Antlerless goal for 2026: 8,550 and 6,000.
Which bear permit zone holds Hartman Creek State Park?
F. You need a Class A license from the drawing.
How many turkey permits go to the Hartman Creek State Park zone?
Turkey Zone 3. 55,612 spring tags were issued there in 2025.
What waterfowl dates apply at Hartman Creek State Park?
Duck zone: Southern; goose zone: Southern. Southern Zone ducks open Oct 3, 2026-27.
Can I put out corn for deer at Hartman Creek State Park?
Not here: Waupaca and Portage counties is under the ban. CWD has been found in wild deer in Waupaca and Portage counties.
How much orange do I wear at Hartman Creek State Park?
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 Hartman Creek State Park?
Deer: online, phone or station by 5 p.m. next day. Turkeys: online or phone only.
Which tags work on Hartman Creek State Park?
No special permit for most of it; buy the license on Go Wild and carry public-access antlerless tags.
Does the state park time frame apply at Hartman Creek State Park?
Two windows, spring and late fall, plus archery to the Sunday nearest Jan. 6, and only in open areas.
Is there other public ground around Hartman Creek State Park?
By straight-line distance: Emmons Creek Barrens State Natural Area (1 mile), Emmons Creek Fishery Area (2 miles) and North Fork Radley Creek Fishery Area (Remnant) (4 miles).
How is Hartman Creek State Park divided?
1 listed units, such as Pope Lake State Natural Area.
Hartman Creek State Park: one more look before the drive
Signs on the ground beat any web page. Read the posted boundaries at Hartman Creek State Park when you arrive.
Sources for this page: DNR: hunt · DNR: hunting · DNR: hartmancreek · 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); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).