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Chippewa County · Fishery area
Hunting at Hay Creek Fishery Area
Hay Creek Fishery Area, 107 acres in Chippewa County: whitetails, wild turkeys, pheasants and squirrels, cottontails and hares, zones and tags, property rules, county harvest and the land nearby.
Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Hay Creek Fishery Area
Hay Creek Fishery Area on one card
Hunters reach Hay Creek Fishery Area in Chippewa County; it is a DNR fishery area that is open to hunting. This is west-central Wisconsin, in the DNR West Central Region. Day-to-day it is in the hands of the Wisconsin DNR. Measured at 107 acres, it comes in 113th of 245 fishery areas. Chippewa Falls is the nearest town with a guide on this site, about 11 miles away; the land lies northwest 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 Hay Creek Fishery Area
Zones that take in Hay Creek Fishery Area
Hay Creek Fishery Area is Central Farmland deer country, unit Chippewa. Antlerless quota, 2026: 5,000. The Zone E bear quota for 2026 is 185, spread over 2,628 drawn permits. Zone 4 turkey numbers for 2025: 34,997 spring tags, 24% success. Wild deer with CWD have been confirmed in Chippewa County. Leave the corn at home; Chippewa County bans deer baiting.
Antlerless tags near Hay Creek Fishery Area
| Unit | Zone | Quota 2026 | Bonus, public | Bonus, private | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 5,000 | 592 | 3,178 | 2 |
Hay Creek Fishery Area: other game zones
| Zone | Detail | Numbers | More | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone E | No hounds | 185 target, 2,628 permits | 1 point | 128 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 4 | 34,997 spring tags (2025) | 24% success | 8,472 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Ruffed grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Canada goose | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| 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.
How the DNR describes Hay Creek Fishery Area
The managing agency's own text.
The Hay Creek Fishery Area includes 94 acres of land in fee title, which covers approximately 1.3 miles of stream. Fisheries easements provide public access along an additional 5.5 miles of stream. The combination of easements and fee title lands cover a majority of the stream frontage in the fishery area. Hay Creek originates in agricultural lands and flows through wetlands surrounded by agricultural lands. Water quality of the stream is considered good, but agricultural activities do contribute a moderate level of nutrients.
The stream is a very-low-gradient stream bordered by open wetlands in the upper half of the stream and tag alder and lowland hardwood trees in the lower portion. The Hay Creek Fishery Area was initially approved for land acquisition in 1969. The current master plan for acquisition boundaries and management objectives was approved in 1981. Directions: Hay Creek Fishery Area is located in west-central Chippewa County, approximately 4 miles south of Bloomer.
Hunting notes printed for Hay Creek Fishery Area
- Hunting – deer, turkey, pheasant, and small game
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
What Hay Creek Fishery Area requires of hunters
Hay Creek Fishery Area access terms
Where the managed-lands map marks it open, this fishery land takes hunters and trappers in season (NR 45).
The rule book on Hay Creek Fishery Area
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 Hay Creek Fishery Area
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 Hay Creek Fishery Area
Species the agency lists here: whitetails, wild turkeys, pheasants, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
White-tailed deer
Wild turkey
Pheasant
Small game
Furbearers
Unlisted species follow the Chippewa County dates below, subject to the property rules.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Hay Creek Fishery Area: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 42 season segments apply to Hay Creek Fishery Area.
| 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 | Metro sub-unit gun | Metro sub-unit: Eau Claire | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 9, 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, Chippewa | 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 D/A | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone C/E | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D/A | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D/A | 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.
Chippewa County harvest near Hay Creek Fishery Area
Deer registered in the Chippewa County unit, 2025: 6,315. The decade peaked at 6,783 in 2022 and bottomed at 4,095 in 2016. Through Oct. 19, 2026: 223 antlered and 296 antlerless in Chippewa Central Farmland (preliminary). CWD year 2025 brought 162 Chippewa County samples and 0 positives. Running total since 1999: 2,024 tested. The 2025 bear count for Chippewa County was 127. No harvest is published for Hay Creek Fishery Area itself, so the county unit is the finest level.
Registered deer in the Hay Creek Fishery Area county unit
| Year | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,776 | 3,539 | 6,315 |
| 2024 | 3,070 | 3,552 | 6,622 |
| 2023 | 2,615 | 3,007 | 5,622 |
| 2022 | 3,201 | 3,582 | 6,783 |
| 2021 | 3,000 | 3,171 | 6,171 |
| 2020 | 2,940 | 3,533 | 6,473 |
CWD tests in Chippewa County
| CWD year | Wild deer sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 162 | 0 |
| 2024 | 105 | 1 |
| 2023 | 115 | 0 |
| 2022 | 133 | 0 |
| 2021 | 174 | 0 |
Bear numbers near Hay Creek Fishery Area
| Year | Total | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 129 | 72 | 57 |
| 2025 | 127 | 65 | 62 |
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 Hay Creek Fishery Area: more places to hunt
The big marker is Hay Creek Fishery Area. Smaller ones are its 10 closest neighbours. The neighbours add 2,393 acres between them.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Creek | Fishery area | 282 | 5.9 mi | south |
| McCann Creek | Fishery area | 318 | 9.5 mi | northeast |
| Red Cedar River Savanna | State natural area | 181 | 11 mi | west |
| Chippewa River | State trail | 306 | 11 mi | southeast |
| Sand Creek (Chippewa and Dunn Counties) | Fishery area | 214 | 11 mi | north |
| Hoffman Hills Recreation Area | Recreation area | 714 | 12 mi | southwest |
| Duncan Creek | Fishery area | 241 | 12 mi | north |
| Tainter Lake Spawning Marsh (Remnant) | Wildlife area | 40 | 12 mi | west |
| Marsh Miller Cedars | State natural area | 88 | 12 mi | northeast |
| Red Cedar River Public Access (Remnant) | Fishery area | 9 | 14 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 of hunting-open parcels) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside))). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Hay Creek Fishery Area: nearby towns and businesses
Town pages first, then shops, processors and DNR desks.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa Falls | Chippewa | 11 mi | 15,075 | 6,178 |
| Elk Mound | Dunn | 12 mi | 1,094 | 8,100 |
| Tainter Lake | Dunn | 14 mi | — | 4,589 |
| Jim Falls | Chippewa | 15 mi | — | 6,843 |
County-level hunting pages: Chippewa County.
Shops a short drive from Hay Creek Fishery Area
DNR desks closest to Hay Creek Fishery Area
Service center for Chippewa County business: 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.
Hay Creek Fishery Area: nearest ranges
About 9 miles separates Hay Creek Fishery Area from Colfax Shooting Range, the nearest public map range. Nearby rod and gun clubs round out the list.
rifle, handgun, trap, shotgun, smallbore rimfire on file
rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, air gun, action pistol on file
archery on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Shooting light at Hay Creek Fishery Area by date
At Hay Creek Fishery Area the offset is 16 minutes (Zone E). 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 | 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 91.57 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
What people ask about hunting Hay Creek Fishery Area
If Hay Creek Fishery Area is full, where next?
Within a short drive: Elk Creek Fishery Area (6 miles), McCann Creek Fishery Area (9 miles) and Red Cedar River Savanna State Natural Area (11 miles).
Which Wisconsin license covers Hay Creek Fishery Area?
Go Wild sells everything needed; antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
What acreage is listed for Hay Creek Fishery Area?
Roughly 107 acres.
Which agency sets the rules on Hay Creek Fishery Area?
The Wisconsin DNR treats it as a DNR fishery area that is open to hunting.
Which species are hunted on Hay Creek Fishery Area?
Listed: whitetails, wild turkeys, pheasants, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Where do Hay Creek Fishery Area hunters spend the night?
Start from Chippewa Falls; the land is 11 miles off, in Chippewa County.
Which bear management zone holds Hay Creek Fishery Area?
Bear Zone E. Zone E took 1 preference point in 2026.
Which DMU takes in Hay Creek Fishery Area?
Deer unit Chippewa; zone Central Farmland. The 2026 antlerless quota is 5,000 (Chippewa Central Farmland); use a public-access antlerless tag here.
What are the waterfowl zones for Hay Creek Fishery Area?
It sits in the Northern duck and Northern goose zones. In the Northern Zone the regular duck split begins Sep 26.
Which turkey zone is Hay Creek Fishery Area in?
Zone 4, one bird per spring authorization.
Do I need blaze orange at Hay Creek Fishery Area?
In any open firearm deer season, wear blaze orange or pink on at least half your coat and cap.
Is deer baiting legal near Hay Creek Fishery Area?
No: Chippewa County bans deer baiting and feeding. Wild deer with CWD are documented in Chippewa County.
How do I register a deer from Hay Creek Fishery Area?
Through GameReg (online, phone or a station) by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
Check Hay Creek Fishery Area once more
Refuges, closed areas and park windows at Hay Creek Fishery Area can shift mid-season; the property page and the DNR map have the current picture.
Sources for this page: DNR: 1090haycreek · DNR GIS · DNR: county; 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); Calistemon (CC BY-SA 4.0).