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Kettle Moraine State Forest – Mukwonago River Unit for Wisconsin hunters
A hunter's summary of Kettle Moraine State Forest – Mukwonago River Unit in Waukesha and Walworth counties: zones and quota, rules, CWD numbers and local help.
Photo: Chris Rycroft from Madison, Wisconsin, United States (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Kettle Moraine State Forest – Mukwonago River Unit
Parking, trailheads and gates near Kettle Moraine State Forest – Mukwonago River Unit
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Army LakeBoat ramp · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 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.
Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit: record card
Kettle Moraine State Forest – Mukwonago River Unit: a Wisconsin state forest, located in Waukesha and Walworth counties. Region on record: the DNR Southeast Region. The Wisconsin DNR writes the rules on the ground. The 985 acres on record put it 15th of the 16 state forests we list. Base town: Eagle, some 4 miles away. Kettle Moraine State Forest is the larger unit around it.
From the source page (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, parcels open to hunting); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Kettle Moraine State Forest – Mukwonago River Unit
Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit deer unit, quota and game zones
The deer unit is Waukesha and Walworth, in the Southern Farmland zone. The 2026 antlerless quota for those units is 3,000 and 1,900. For black bear this is Zone F, with no hound hunting; 764 permits for 2026. Turkey hunting falls under Zone 2, which had 51,056 spring permits in 2025. The DNR counts Waukesha and Walworth counties among its CWD-affected counties. Waukesha and Walworth counties sits under the DNR deer baiting and feeding ban.
The deer unit around Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit
| DMU | Deer zone | Antlerless quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Free tags per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waukesha | Southern Farmland | 3,000 | 1,100 | 1,900 | 2 |
| Walworth | Southern Farmland | 1,900 | 900 | 1,000 | 2 |
| Waukesha County Metro Sub-Unit | Metro sub-unit | Parent unit | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Bear, turkey and bird zones at Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit
| Zone | Rule | Numbers | Extra | 2025 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear F | Bait only | 50 target, 764 permits | 1 point | 27 bears in 2025 |
| Wild turkey 2 | 51,056 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 11,024 gobblers | 2,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse zone B | Oct 17–Dec 8 | 2 a day | ||
| Ducks | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Geese | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| 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 Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit
Entry terms for Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit
The forest is open to hunting except campgrounds, picnic grounds and other posted special-use areas.
Wisconsin rules that follow you to Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit
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.
Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit: licenses and tags
Go Wild carries every license. For antlerless deer on public ground, use a public-access tag for the right DMU.
Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit closed zones
Closed or limited zones on Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit: 1.
| Closed area | Type | Period | Acres | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle Moraine State Forest-Mukwonago River Unit | No public access | Jan 1–Dec 31 | 1 | NR 45.04(1)(b)(2) |
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 Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit
With no species list from the source, read it this way: every open Wisconsin season applies here under the property rules.
Use the Waukesha County season list (42 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 Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit 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 | Metro sub-unit gun | Metro sub-unit: Milwaukee | 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: Waukesha | 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.
Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit and the land it belongs with
Parent property: Kettle Moraine State Forest, which has 5 listed parts.
The rest of Kettle Moraine State Forest
| Page | Type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle Moraine State Forest Northern Unit | State forest | Sheboygan, Fond du Lac | 30,258 |
| Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit | State forest | Waukesha, Walworth | 21,534 |
| Kettle Moraine State Forest Loew Lake Unit | State forest | Washington | 1,230 |
| Kettle Moraine State Forest Pike Lake Unit | State forest | Washington | 781 |
Harvest numbers for the country around Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit
2025 in Waukesha County: 1,649 bucks, 1,671 antlerless, 3,320 in all. Range since 2016: 2,140 to 3,320 deer a year. Early 2026 registrations (archery, crossbow, youth hunt): Waukesha 186 and Walworth 213. The DNR sampled 317 deer from Waukesha County in 2025; 26 had CWD. 78 positives overall, from 5,973 deer. Figures are for the whole county unit, not Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit alone; the DNR does not report harvest by property.
Waukesha County unit harvest
| Season | Bucks | Does and fawns | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,649 | 1,671 | 3,320 |
| 2024 | 1,504 | 1,517 | 3,021 |
| 2023 | 1,450 | 1,438 | 2,888 |
| 2022 | 1,341 | 1,478 | 2,819 |
| 2021 | 1,306 | 1,422 | 2,728 |
| 2020 | 1,354 | 1,470 | 2,824 |
CWD samples, Waukesha County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 17 | 1 |
| 2025 | 317 | 26 |
| 2024 | 268 | 5 |
| 2023 | 348 | 8 |
| 2022 | 319 | 11 |
| 2021 | 222 | 3 |
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 Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit
Where to sleep, where to buy shells, where to drop off a deer.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle | Waukesha | 3.6 mi | 2,131 | 31,736 |
| Mukwonago | Waukesha | 4.8 mi | 8,512 | 19,552 |
| Palmyra | Jefferson | 9.6 mi | 1,719 | 33,877 |
| Lauderdale Lakes | Walworth | 9.8 mi | — | 24,359 |
Season and zone pages by county: Waukesha County, Walworth County.
Who processes a deer from Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit
Where to ask about Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit
Licenses and questions for Waukesha County go through the DNR Waukesha 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.
Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit and nearby public ground
Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit at the big pin; the nearest 10 public places around it. Combined, 6,871 acres are on record.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lulu Lake | State natural area | 1,236 | 1.5 mi | west |
| Beulah Bog | State natural area | 78 | 1.7 mi | south |
| Mukwonago River | Wildlife area | 132 | 2.5 mi | northeast |
| Potters Lake | Fishery area | 1 | 4.3 mi | southeast |
| Mukwonago River | State natural area | 43 | 4.8 mi | east |
| Kettle Moraine Low Prairie | State natural area | 250 | 6.0 mi | northwest |
| Honey Creek Streambank Protection Area | Wildlife area | 506 | 6.1 mi | southeast |
| Eagle Oak Opening | State natural area | 103 | 6.2 mi | west |
| Scuppernong Prairie | State natural area | 173 | 6.3 mi | northwest |
| Vernon | Wildlife area | 4,349 | 7.4 mi | northeast |
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.
Shooting-hour table for Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit
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 | 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 88.41 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Shooting ranges near Kettle Moraine State Forest – Mukwonago River Unit
The DNR-map range closest to Kettle Moraine State Forest – Mukwonago River Unit is McMiller Sports Center (5 miles). Club ranges within 30 miles are included.
rifle, handgun, archery, trap, sporting clays on file
archery, 3D archery on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Before-the-trip answers for Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit
Which public land sits closest to Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit?
Lulu Lake State Natural Area (2 miles), Beulah Bog State Natural Area (2 miles) and Mukwonago River State Habitat Area (3 miles), each with a page here.
What does Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit belong to?
A piece of Kettle Moraine State Forest.
Is Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit DNR, county or federal ground?
A Wisconsin state forest; the manager is the Wisconsin DNR.
Is Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit a big property?
985 acres in the source data.
Which town works as a base for Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit?
Waukesha and Walworth counties; Eagle, the nearest town we cover, is 4 miles away.
Can I hunt any species on Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit?
Every open Wisconsin season applies under the property rules; no list narrows it.
What deer tags work on Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit?
It is in Waukesha and Walworth (Southern Farmland). This year the antlerless quota is 3,000 and 1,900.
How hard is a bear permit for Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit?
Zone F; hounds may not be used there.
Which zone do I apply for to hunt turkeys at Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit?
Zone 2. Success in 2025 was 22%.
Which goose zone is Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit in?
Ducks follow the Southern zone, Canada geese the Southern zone. Opening day for Southern Zone ducks is Oct 3.
Can I bait deer at Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit?
No bait or feed in Waukesha and Walworth counties. The county list for CWD includes Waukesha and Walworth counties.
When does orange apply at Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit?
Pink counts the same as orange: 50% above the waist in firearm deer seasons.
Does a Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit deer go into GameReg?
By 5 p.m. the following day, through GameReg; bears also go to a station or online the same way.
Signing off on Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit
Gates, refuges and open areas at Kettle Moraine State Forest Mukwonago River Unit are the manager's call; confirm them before opening day.
Sources for this page: DNR GIS · DNR: mukwonago · 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); seabamirum (CC BY 2.0).