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2026-27 · Wildlife area
Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area, a hunter's guide
Who runs it, which deer unit and bear zone cover it, what it holds (pheasants and raccoons, foxes and coyotes), and the public land and towns around it in St. Croix County.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Pine Lake Park Boat RampBoat ramp · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 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.
What the record says about Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area
On paper it is a DNR state wildlife area; on the map it is in St. Croix County. DNR staff of the West Central Region cover this part of west-central Wisconsin. Manager: the Wisconsin DNR. Its 289 acres rank 168th of the 285 Wisconsin state wildlife areas with an acreage on file. No parcel point is published, so distances on this page run from the St. Croix County centre; Emerald is the nearest covered town to it.
From the source page (DNR property page (289-acre)); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area
Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area in the agency's words
Unedited text from the official page.
The Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area is a 289-acre property located in southern St. Croix County. The first purchase of the property occurred in 1962, with additional acquisitions still ongoing as a part of the Kinnickinnic River Fisheries Area. Acquisitions were made possible through generous donations from the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust and the Kinnickinnic Chapter of Pheasants Forever. The property consists of grassland and riverine floodplain habitat with the headwaters of the Kinnickinnic River, a world-class trout stream, bisecting the property.
The property is managed as part of the Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area, a landscape-scale wetland and grassland restoration project. The property is 2 miles east of Roberts. From Exit 10 on I-94, take Highway 65 north for 1/4 mile, then travel east on 70th Avenue for 3 miles. Turn south on 150th Street for 1/4 mile. The property is on the west side of 150th Street, with parking lots on 150th Street and 60th Avenue.
Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area hunting wording
- The property is managed to provide opportunities for public hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife observation and other nature-based outdoor recreation.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area rules and licenses
Access rules at Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area
Buy the license, hunt in season, and respect posted refuges and the NR 45 code.
State law on Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area
Orange or pink, 50% above the waist and 50% of the head covering, is the rule while gun deer seasons run; duck and goose hunters are exempt. Gun-season ground blinds on DNR property display 144 sq in of orange or pink from every direction. No screw-in steps or cut shooting lanes on DNR land. Overnight stands are legal north of Hwy. 64 from Sept. 1 to Jan. 31; south of it, remove them every day. By 5 p.m. the following day, register the deer on GameReg (online, phone or station).
Which licenses Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area needs
Get licenses on Go Wild or at an agent. Antlerless tags are unit-specific and labelled public or private land.
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.
Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area: DMU, bear zone and turkey zone
Deer management: St Croix, Central Farmland zone. The Natural Resources Board set 3,500 antlerless deer as the 2026 quota there. Spring turkey tags are sold for Zone 4; the DNR issued 34,997 there in 2025, the newest level published. The deer baiting ban covers St. Croix County.
Deer units that cover Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area
| Deer unit | Zone | Antlerless goal | Public tags left | Private tags left | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Croix | Central Farmland | 3,500 | 494 | 1,496 | 2 |
Zones beyond deer for Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey zone 4 | 34,997 spring tags (2025) | 24% success | 8,472 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse zone A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose zone | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf zone 6 | No season | Listed 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.
Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area: species with bag limits
Listed game at Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area: pheasants and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Pheasant
Furbearers
The St. Croix County calendar below covers the rest.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Season dates that cover Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area
Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area sits in the Central Farmland deer zone. These 42 rows are the dated hunting segments the DNR schedule puts there, from the September archery opener into spring turkey.
| Game | Season | Applies in | Begins | Through | Right 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: Hudson | 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: St. Croix | 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 E | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 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.
Public property near Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area
No map pin is possible for Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area. Miles are counted from the centre of St. Croix County. Together they hold 1,808 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casey Lake | Habitat area | 359 | 2.3 mi | northeast |
| Nagel | Habitat area | 208 | 2.8 mi | north |
| Hammond | WPA | 26 | 3.9 mi | south |
| Kerber | WPA | 156 | 4.4 mi | west |
| Risberg | WPA | 38 | 5.0 mi | southwest |
| Erin Prairie | Habitat area | 148 | 5.1 mi | north |
| Baldwin State Habitat Area-Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area | Habitat area | 40 | 5.4 mi | east |
| Ten Mile Creek State Habitat Area-Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area | Habitat area | 216 | 5.7 mi | west |
| Lundy | WPA | 132 | 5.7 mi | northwest |
| Betterly | WPA | 485 | 5.9 mi | north |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (county centre, no point published). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
How the land around Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area hunts, by the numbers
St. Croix County hunters registered 4,858 deer in 2025, 2,261 of them bucks. Totals swing between 3,825 and 4,858 across the years charted. CWD sampling in St. Croix County, CWD year 2025: 132 wild deer sampled, 0 positive. Overall: 1,431 samples and 0 positives. St. Croix County: 31 bears in 2025. The DNR reports deer by unit, not by property: read these as the St. Croix County picture.
St. Croix County bucks and antlerless
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,261 | 2,597 | 4,858 |
| 2024 | 1,922 | 2,280 | 4,202 |
| 2023 | 1,762 | 2,338 | 4,100 |
| 2022 | 2,051 | 2,604 | 4,655 |
| 2021 | 1,970 | 2,257 | 4,227 |
| 2020 | 2,083 | 2,632 | 4,715 |
St. Croix County CWD sampling
| Year | Sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 7 | 0 |
| 2025 | 132 | 0 |
| 2024 | 119 | 0 |
| 2023 | 78 | 0 |
| 2022 | 94 | 0 |
| 2021 | 80 | 0 |
St. Croix County bears
| Year | Bears registered | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20 | 14 | 6 |
| 2025 | 31 | 22 | 9 |
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.
Home bases for a Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area trip
Closest towns, measured as the crow flies, then the businesses around them.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald | St. Croix | 10 mi | — | 4,756 |
| Somerset | St. Croix | 13 mi | 3,382 | 12,025 |
| Hudson | St. Croix | 15 mi | 15,031 | 6,712 |
| Houlton | St. Croix | 17 mi | — | 6,454 |
Read up on the county: St. Croix County.
Taxidermy and supplies for Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area hunters
Phone numbers for Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area questions
The DNR service center listed for St. Croix County is DNR Eau Claire Service Center, 715-839-3700.
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.
Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area: legal shooting time, table by date
Big game and small game hunters get 20 minutes after sunset in Wisconsin, not 30. Waterfowl and spring gobbler hunters quit at sunset.
| Date | Hunt | Northern Area hours | Southern Area hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 92.45 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area
When can I hunt ducks at Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area?
Northern for ducks, Northern for geese. The regular Northern Zone duck season opens Sep 26.
Has CWD turned up in the county around Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area?
The deer baiting ban applies in St. Croix County. CWD has not been found in this county's wild deer.
Is blaze pink legal at Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area?
Orange or pink, half of the upper clothing, whenever a gun deer season runs (not for waterfowl).
Where do I register game taken on Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area?
Register on GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; the confirmation number starts with W.
Is there a separate permit for Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area?
The standard license for your game; no landowner permission on public ground.
Which public properties lie near Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area?
Three to try: Casey Lake Wildlife Area (2 miles), Nagel Wildlife Area (3 miles) and Hammond Waterfowl Production Area (4 miles).
How is Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area classified?
DNR state wildlife area, under the Wisconsin DNR.
How much land is in Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area?
It covers 289 acres by the recorded figure.
Where in the state does Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area lie?
St. Croix County holds it, 10 miles from Emerald. That figure uses the St. Croix County centre.
What is Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area hunted for?
The agency names pheasants and raccoons, foxes and coyotes; other legal game follows the county dates.
Which deer management unit holds Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area?
The Central Farmland zone, St Croix. Quota for 2026: 3,500 antlerless.
Can I turkey hunt Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area in spring?
Zone 4; 2025 saw 8,472 birds registered in the zone.
Last checks on Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of Kinnickinnic River Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area has the final say on closures and maps.
Sources for this page: DNR: Kinnickinicheadwaters · DNR: alpha · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (CC BY-SA 2.0); Dana Beveridge (CC BY 2.0).