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Polk County · WPA
Hunting at Houghdahl – South Waterfowl Production Area
Houghdahl – South Waterfowl Production Area, 59 acres in Polk County: ducks and geese, whitetails, wild turkeys and pheasants, zones and tags, property rules, county harvest and the land nearby.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Houghdahl – South Waterfowl Production Area
Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area on one card
Hunters reach Houghdahl – South Waterfowl Production Area in Polk County; it is a federal waterfowl production area. This is the Northwoods, in the DNR Northern Region. Day-to-day it is in the hands of the Fish and Wildlife Service. Measured at 59 acres, it comes in 81st of 103 waterfowl production areas. Clear Lake is the nearest town with a guide on this site, about 7 miles away; the land lies west of it. It sits within St. Croix Wetland Management District.
From the source page (FWS Realty GIS acres (SUM_GISACRES) for the unit); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Houghdahl – South Waterfowl Production Area
Zones that take in Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area
Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area is Central Farmland deer country, unit Polk. Antlerless quota, 2026: 11,200. The Zone D bear quota for 2026 is 1,100, spread over 3,855 drawn permits. Zone 4 turkey numbers for 2025: 34,997 spring tags, 24% success. Wild deer with CWD have been confirmed in Polk County. Leave the corn at home; Polk County bans deer baiting.
Antlerless tags near Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area
| Unit | Zone | Quota 2026 | Bonus, public | Bonus, private | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 11,200 | 987 | 5,191 | 2 |
Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area: other game zones
| Zone | Detail | Numbers | More | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone D | Hounds allowed | 1,100 target, 3,855 permits | 2 points | 931 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.
What Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area requires of hunters
Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area access terms
The Fish and Wildlife Service opens WPAs to state-season hunting; stands and blinds may not stay overnight. Parts of St. Croix Prairie WPA and Prairie Flats-South WPA are posted closed, and Oak Ridge WPA is closed for most fall hunting but open for deer.
The rule book on Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production 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). Deer and turkeys go into GameReg online or by phone by 5 p.m. the next day.
Go Wild shopping list for Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production 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.
Where Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area sits in the larger property
St. Croix Wetland Management District takes in Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area and 45 other units.
Sibling pages of Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area
| Unit | Category | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Creek | WPA | Dunn | 672 |
| Oak Ridge | WPA | St. Croix | 632 |
| Ten Mile | WPA | St. Croix | 516 |
| Prairie Flats – South | WPA | St. Croix | 501 |
| Betterly | WPA | St. Croix | 485 |
| Erickson | WPA | St. Croix | 476 |
| Bass Lake | WPA | St. Croix | 423 |
| Stanton Prairie | WPA | St. Croix | 353 |
| Deer Park | WPA | St. Croix | 351 |
| Kostka | WPA | St. Croix | 350 |
| Red Cedar | WPA | Dunn | 336 |
| Star Prairie | WPA | St. Croix | 312 |
| Bierbrauer | WPA | St. Croix, Polk | 275 |
| Three Lakes | WPA | St. Croix | 249 |
| Clapp | WPA | St. Croix | 239 |
What hunters pursue at Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area
Species the agency lists here: ducks and geese, whitetails, wild turkeys, pheasants, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Ducks and geese
White-tailed deer
Wild turkey
Pheasant
Small game
Furbearers
Unlisted species follow the Polk 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.
Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 40 season segments apply to Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production 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 | 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, Polk | 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 | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 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.
Polk County harvest near Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area
Deer registered in the Polk County unit, 2025: 8,091. The decade peaked at 9,066 in 2016 and bottomed at 7,275 in 2023. Through Oct. 19, 2026: 316 antlered and 447 antlerless in Polk Central Farmland (preliminary). CWD year 2025 brought 340 Polk County samples and 2 positives. Running total since 1999: 3,006 tested. The 2025 bear count for Polk County was 149. No harvest is published for Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area itself, so the county unit is the finest level.
Registered deer in the Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area county unit
| Year | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,702 | 4,389 | 8,091 |
| 2024 | 3,564 | 4,408 | 7,972 |
| 2023 | 3,266 | 4,009 | 7,275 |
| 2022 | 3,874 | 5,155 | 9,029 |
| 2021 | 3,584 | 4,434 | 8,018 |
| 2020 | 3,759 | 5,074 | 8,833 |
CWD tests in Polk County
| CWD year | Wild deer sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 32 | 0 |
| 2025 | 340 | 2 |
| 2024 | 265 | 2 |
| 2023 | 252 | 1 |
| 2022 | 174 | 0 |
| 2021 | 170 | 0 |
Bear numbers near Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area
| Year | Total | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 187 | 84 | 103 |
| 2025 | 149 | 91 | 58 |
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 Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area: more places to hunt
The big marker is Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area. Smaller ones are its 10 closest neighbours. The neighbours add 1,794 acres between them.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parker Creek | Habitat area | 587 | 1.2 mi | north |
| Deer Park | Habitat area | 213 | 2.1 mi | south |
| Spring Meadow State Habitat Area-Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area | Habitat area | 169 | 2.6 mi | west |
| Apple River (Remnant) | Fishery area | 27 | 2.7 mi | north |
| Wagon Landing Statewide Spring Pond | Fishery area | 69 | 3.8 mi | west |
| Snake Creek Spring | Wildlife area | 199 | 3.9 mi | northeast |
| Bierbrauer | Habitat area | 69 | 4.0 mi | southwest |
| Black Brook State Habitat Area-Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area | Habitat area | 207 | 4.2 mi | east |
| Star Prairie Seed Farm | Habitat area | 58 | 4.4 mi | southwest |
| Oak Ridge State Habitat Area-Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area | Habitat area | 196 | 4.7 mi | southwest |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (FWS National Realty FWSInterest_Simplified_Authoritative (unit centroid) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area: nearby towns and businesses
Town pages first, then shops, processors and DNR desks.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Lake | Polk | 7.1 mi | 1,103 | 7,120 |
| Emerald | St. Croix | 13 mi | — | 4,756 |
| Somerset | St. Croix | 15 mi | 3,382 | 12,025 |
| Osceola | Polk | 15 mi | 2,880 | 5,877 |
County-level hunting pages: Polk County.
Shops a short drive from Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area
DNR desks closest to Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area
Service center for Polk County business: DNR Spooner 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 Houghdahl – South Waterfowl Production Area
About 21 miles separates Houghdahl – South Waterfowl Production Area from Owen-Anderson Rifle Range, the nearest public map range. Nearby rod and gun clubs round out the list.
rifle on file
trap, rifle, archery, 3D archery, shotgun on file
trap, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Shooting light at Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area by date
At Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area the offset is 20 minutes (Zone F). 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 | 6:15 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:59 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:20 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:48 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 7:00 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:19 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:21 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 5:06 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 F offset of 20 minutes for longitude 92.41 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
What people ask about hunting Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area
If Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area is full, where next?
Within a short drive: Parker Creek Fishery Area (1 mile), Deer Park Wildlife Area (2 miles) and Spring Meadow State Habitat Area-Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area (3 miles).
Which Wisconsin license covers Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area?
Go Wild sells everything needed; antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
Which agency sets the rules on Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area?
The Fish and Wildlife Service treats it as a federal waterfowl production area.
Which property holds Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area?
The parent is St. Croix Wetland Management District.
Where do Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area hunters spend the night?
Start from Clear Lake; the land is 7 miles off, in Polk County.
What acreage is listed for Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area?
Roughly 59 acres.
Which DMU takes in Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area?
Deer unit Polk; zone Central Farmland. The 2026 antlerless quota is 11,200 (Polk Central Farmland); use a public-access antlerless tag here.
Which species are hunted on Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area?
Listed: ducks and geese, whitetails, wild turkeys, pheasants, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Which turkey zone is Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area in?
Zone 4, one bird per spring authorization.
Which bear management zone holds Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area?
Bear Zone D. Zone D took 2 preference points in 2026.
Is deer baiting legal near Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area?
No: Polk County bans deer baiting and feeding. Wild deer with CWD are documented in Polk County.
What are the waterfowl zones for Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area?
It sits in the Northern duck and Northern goose zones. In the Northern Zone the regular duck split begins Sep 26.
How do I register a deer from Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area?
Through GameReg (online, phone or a station) by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
Check Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area once more
Refuges, closed areas and park windows at Houghdahl South Waterfowl Production Area can shift mid-season; the property page and the DNR map have the current picture.
Sources for this page: FWS realty layer · USFWS: hunting · USFWS: st croix wetland management district · eCFR: section 32.68; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); Intermountain Region US Forest Service (Public domain).