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Kickapoo Valley Reserve for Wisconsin hunters
A hunter's summary of Kickapoo Valley Reserve in Vernon County: zones and quota, rules, CWD numbers and local help.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Kickapoo Valley Reserve
Parking, trailheads and gates near Kickapoo Valley Reserve
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Canoe Landing 10Boat ramp · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Landing 7Boat ramp · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Canoe Landing 5Boat ramp · 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.
Kickapoo Valley Reserve: record card
Kickapoo Valley Reserve: a reserve run by the state and the Ho-Chunk Nation, located in Vernon County. Region on record: the DNR West Central Region. Kickapoo Reserve Management Board (State of Wisconsin and Ho-Chunk Nation) writes the rules on the ground. Acreage: 8,569. Base town: Cashton, some 11 miles away.
From the source page (Kickapoo Valley Reserve home page ("an 8,569-acre tract")); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Kickapoo Valley Reserve
Kickapoo Valley Reserve deer unit, quota and game zones
The deer unit is Vernon, in the Southern Farmland zone. The 2026 antlerless quota for that unit is 10,000. For black bear this is Zone E, with no hound hunting; 2,628 permits for 2026. Turkey hunting falls under Zone 1, which had 64,574 spring permits in 2025. The DNR counts Vernon County among its CWD-affected counties. Vernon County sits under the DNR deer baiting and feeding ban.
The deer unit around Kickapoo Valley Reserve
| DMU | Deer zone | Antlerless quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Free tags per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon | Southern Farmland | 10,000 | 400 | 1,300 | 3 |
Bear, turkey and bird zones at Kickapoo Valley Reserve
| Zone | Rule | Numbers | Extra | 2025 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear E | Bait only | 185 target, 2,628 permits | 1 point | 128 bears in 2025 |
| Wild turkey 1 | 64,574 spring tags (2025) | 21% success | 13,813 gobblers | 1,500 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 Kickapoo Valley Reserve
Entry terms for Kickapoo Valley Reserve
Hunting, fishing and trapping allowed under state regulations except within 300 feet of buildings (and a 1,000-foot no-hunting zone around the Visitor Center). Hunters actively hunting need no KVR day/annual permit, but a KVR pass is required to park at river landings; scouting requires a use permit. Trail cameras prohibited; stands/blinds must be removed daily.
Wisconsin rules that follow you to Kickapoo Valley Reserve
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.
Kickapoo Valley Reserve: licenses and tags
Go Wild carries every license. For antlerless deer on public ground, use a public-access tag for the right DMU.
Kickapoo Valley Reserve upland bird notes
Hens are legal here, as on all hen-and-rooster properties.
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 Kickapoo Valley Reserve
Whitetails, wild turkeys, pheasants, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes, per the property record.
White-tailed deer
Wild turkey
Pheasant
Small game
Furbearers
Other legal game follows the Vernon County season table below.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Every Kickapoo Valley Reserve 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 | 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: Vernon | 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 E | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 1 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 1 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 1 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 1 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 1 | 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 1) | Mississippi River Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 2) | Southern Goose Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 2) | Mississippi River Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 5, 2027 | |
| 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.
Kickapoo Valley Reserve described by the managing agency
Quoted as published; nothing here is our wording.
Between La Farge and Ontario in Vernon County. Pheasant release zone (no pheasant tag required on the KVR). Deer archery and gun seasons; turkey spring and fall.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Harvest numbers for the country around Kickapoo Valley Reserve
2025 in Vernon County: 3,877 bucks, 5,684 antlerless, 9,561 in all. Range since 2016: 6,948 to 9,561 deer a year. Early 2026 registrations (archery, crossbow, youth hunt): Vernon 513. The DNR sampled 850 deer from Vernon County in 2025; 120 had CWD. 347 positives overall, from 8,319 deer. Figures are for the whole county unit, not Kickapoo Valley Reserve alone; the DNR does not report harvest by property.
Vernon County unit harvest
| Season | Bucks | Does and fawns | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,877 | 5,684 | 9,561 |
| 2024 | 3,746 | 5,254 | 9,000 |
| 2023 | 3,768 | 5,019 | 8,787 |
| 2022 | 3,643 | 5,190 | 8,833 |
| 2021 | 3,464 | 4,411 | 7,875 |
| 2020 | 3,780 | 5,080 | 8,860 |
CWD samples, Vernon County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 61 | 13 |
| 2025 | 850 | 120 |
| 2024 | 807 | 79 |
| 2023 | 712 | 47 |
| 2022 | 637 | 31 |
| 2021 | 671 | 20 |
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 Kickapoo Valley Reserve
Where to sleep, where to buy shells, where to drop off a deer.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cashton | Monroe | 11 mi | 1,157 | 1,868 |
| Westby | Vernon | 12 mi | 2,414 | 3,490 |
| Viroqua | Vernon | 15 mi | 4,407 | 2,829 |
| Sparta | Monroe | 23 mi | 9,963 | 32,616 |
Season and zone pages by county: Vernon County.
Who processes a deer from Kickapoo Valley Reserve
Where to ask about Kickapoo Valley Reserve
Licenses and questions for Vernon County go through the DNR La Crosse 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.
Kickapoo Valley Reserve and nearby public ground
Kickapoo Valley Reserve at the big pin; the nearest 10 public places around it. Combined, 5,938 acres are on record.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pisgah Hemlock-Hardwoods | State natural area | 74 | 4.1 mi | northeast |
| Wildcat Mountain | State park | 3,701 | 5.1 mi | northeast |
| Champion Valley Timber Demonstration Forest | Demonstration forest | 53 | 7.8 mi | east |
| West Fork of the Kickapoo River | Fishery area | 43 | 8.5 mi | west |
| Camp Creek (Remnant) | Fishery area | 382 | 9.4 mi | south |
| Tainter and McGraw Creeks | Fishery area | 1,385 | 11 mi | southwest |
| Pinnacle Rock Rearing Station | Fishery area | 55 | 12 mi | northwest |
| Bishop Branch Creek | Fishery area | 122 | 12 mi | southwest |
| Maple Dale Creek | Fishery area | 19 | 12 mi | southwest |
| Elk Creek (Remnant) | Fishery area | 104 | 13 mi | south |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Recreation Opportunities GIS, Conservation Reserve Land layer (polygon centroid) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Shooting-hour table for Kickapoo Valley Reserve
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 | 6:07 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:51 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:12 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:40 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:52 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:11 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:13 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 4:58 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 D offset of 12 minutes for longitude 90.61 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Kickapoo Valley Reserve: nearest ranges
About 10 miles separates Kickapoo Valley Reserve from Viola Sportsman's Club, the nearest public map range. Club ranges within 30 miles are included.
rifle, trap, shotgun, air gun, smallbore rimfire on file
trap, archery, shotgun on file
trap, skeet, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Before-the-trip answers for Kickapoo Valley Reserve
Does a Kickapoo Valley Reserve deer go into GameReg?
By 5 p.m. the following day, through GameReg; bears also go to a station or online the same way.
What paperwork does Kickapoo Valley Reserve need?
Gun deer ($24), archer ($24) or small game ($18) for residents; nonresident gun deer is $200.
Which public land sits closest to Kickapoo Valley Reserve?
Mount Pisgah Hemlock-Hardwoods State Natural Area (4 miles), Wildcat Mountain State Park (5 miles) and Champion Valley Timber Demonstration Forest (8 miles), each with a page here.
Is Kickapoo Valley Reserve DNR, county or federal ground?
A reserve run by the state and the Ho-Chunk Nation; the manager is Kickapoo Reserve Management Board (State of Wisconsin and Ho-Chunk Nation).
Is Kickapoo Valley Reserve a big property?
8,569 acres in the source data.
Which town works as a base for Kickapoo Valley Reserve?
Vernon County; Cashton, the nearest town we cover, is 11 miles away.
Which species does the record give for Kickapoo Valley Reserve?
Whitetails, wild turkeys, pheasants, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes, plus any other season open in the county.
What deer tags work on Kickapoo Valley Reserve?
It is in Vernon (Southern Farmland). This year the antlerless quota is 10,000.
How hard is a bear permit for Kickapoo Valley Reserve?
Zone E; hounds may not be used there.
Which zone do I apply for to hunt turkeys at Kickapoo Valley Reserve?
Zone 1. Success in 2025 was 21%.
Which goose zone is Kickapoo Valley Reserve 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 Kickapoo Valley Reserve?
No bait or feed in Vernon County. The county list for CWD includes Vernon County.
When does orange apply at Kickapoo Valley Reserve?
Pink counts the same as orange: 50% above the waist in firearm deer seasons.
Signing off on Kickapoo Valley Reserve
Gates, refuges and open areas at Kickapoo Valley Reserve are the manager's call; confirm them before opening day.
Sources for this page: Kickapoo Valley Reserve: Hunt Fish Trap · Kickapoo Valley Reserve · Kickapoo Valley Reserve: Permits Fees · DNR GIS · DNR: alpha; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain-Prairie (CC BY 2.0); Peter Sheik (CC BY 2.0).