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2026-27 · Fishery area
Love & Strutt Creeks, a hunter's guide
Who runs it, which deer unit and bear zone cover it, what it holds (raccoons, foxes and coyotes), and the public land and towns around it in Iowa County.
Photo: aliivibrio (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Love & Strutt Creeks
Parking, trailheads and gates near Love & Strutt Creeks
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 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 Love & Strutt Creeks
On paper it is a DNR fishery area that is open to hunting; on the map it is in Iowa County. DNR staff of the South Central Region cover this part of south-central Wisconsin. Manager: the Wisconsin DNR. Its 578 acres rank 43rd of the 245 Wisconsin fishery areas with an acreage on file. From Dodgeville, our closest town page, it is roughly 8 miles to the northeast.
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 Love & Strutt Creeks
Love & Strutt Creeks in the agency's words
Unedited text from the official page.
Love & Strutt Creeks are class 1 brown trout streams and codified as Exceptional Resource Waters (ERW). The site contains numerous sandstone outcrops and prairie remnants that harbor several rare species. Picture Title (picture optional) © photographer –> Location/Directions Love & Strutt Creeks Fishery Area starts at the junction with Mill Creek in Iowa Coounty, (T 7N, R 4E, section 34), upstream to headwater springs in Iowa County, (T 6N, R 4E, sections 11 and 12).
Love & Strutt Creeks hunting wording
- The Love & Strutt Creeks Fishery Area is managed to protect and enhance the habitat associated with the class 1 brown trout fishery and associated other aquatic organisms, provide public access to this fishery, and provide for upland public hunting and other compatible upland outdoor recreational pursuits.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Love & Strutt Creeks rules and licenses
Access rules at Love & Strutt Creeks
State seasons on the open parcels only. The DNR map shows which pieces of this fishery land those are.
State law on Love & Strutt Creeks
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 Love & Strutt Creeks 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.
Love & Strutt Creeks: DMU, bear zone and turkey zone
Deer management: Iowa, Southern Farmland zone. The Natural Resources Board set 3,000 antlerless deer as the 2026 quota there. Bear Zone E has a 2026 harvest target of 185 with 2,628 Class A permits drawn; it took 1 preference point to win one. Spring turkey tags are sold for Zone 1; the DNR issued 64,574 there in 2025, the newest level published. Chronic wasting disease has turned up in wild deer in Iowa County; DNR testing is free and voluntary statewide. The deer baiting ban covers Iowa County.
Deer units that cover Love & Strutt Creeks
| Deer unit | Zone | Antlerless goal | Public tags left | Private tags left | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | Southern Farmland | 3,000 | 650 | 2,000 | 1 |
Zones beyond deer for Love & Strutt Creeks
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear E | Dogs barred | 185 target, 2,628 permits | 1 point | 128 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 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 | ||
| Duck zone | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Goose zone | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| 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.
Love & Strutt Creeks: species with bag limits
Listed game at Love & Strutt Creeks: raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Furbearers
The Iowa 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 Love & Strutt Creeks
Love & Strutt Creeks sits in the Southern Farmland deer zone. These 39 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 | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | December antlerless hunt | Statewide | Dec 10, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone E/F | 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 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.
Public property near Love & Strutt Creeks
The large pin is Love & Strutt Creeks; the others are the 10 closest public properties. Together they hold 9,187 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridgeway Pine Relict | State natural area | 542 | 2.0 mi | southwest |
| Trout Creek (Iowa County) | Fishery area | 953 | 2.9 mi | northeast |
| Governor Dodge | State park | 5,278 | 5.9 mi | west |
| Pine Cliff | State natural area | 23 | 6.0 mi | west |
| Smith-Conley Creek | Wildlife area | 10 | 6.8 mi | southeast |
| Military Ridge | State trail | 518 | 7.0 mi | east |
| Cox Hollow Streambank Protection Area | Habitat area | 124 | 7.1 mi | west |
| Blue Mound | State park | 1,162 | 7.3 mi | east |
| Tower Hill | State park | 96 | 8.6 mi | north |
| Tower Hill Bottoms | State natural area | 481 | 9.1 mi | north |
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) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
How the land around Love & Strutt Creeks hunts, by the numbers
Iowa County hunters registered 2,948 deer in 2025, 1,578 of them bucks. Totals swing between 2,948 and 5,424 across the years charted. 2026 so far, still changing: Iowa, 168. CWD sampling in Iowa County, CWD year 2025: 724 wild deer sampled, 170 positive. Overall: 54,695 samples and 4,732 positives. The DNR reports deer by unit, not by property: read these as the Iowa County picture.
Iowa County bucks and antlerless
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,578 | 1,370 | 2,948 |
| 2024 | 1,555 | 1,465 | 3,020 |
| 2023 | 1,879 | 1,654 | 3,533 |
| 2022 | 1,731 | 1,919 | 3,650 |
| 2021 | 1,780 | 1,963 | 3,743 |
| 2020 | 2,325 | 3,085 | 5,410 |
Iowa County CWD sampling
| Year | Sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 34 | 12 |
| 2025 | 724 | 170 |
| 2024 | 694 | 175 |
| 2023 | 885 | 243 |
| 2022 | 934 | 264 |
| 2021 | 1,047 | 324 |
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.
Ranges within reach of Love & Strutt Creeks
No range sits on Love & Strutt Creeks; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Yellowstone Shooting Range, about 18 miles away. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle, handgun, archery, shotgun on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
archery, 3D archery on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Home bases for a Love & Strutt Creeks trip
Closest towns, measured as the crow flies, then the businesses around them.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodgeville | Iowa | 8.3 mi | 5,077 | 8,926 |
| Arena | Iowa | 10 mi | 894 | 13,858 |
| Spring Green | Sauk | 11 mi | 1,573 | 12,279 |
| Mazomanie | Dane | 14 mi | 1,769 | 10,420 |
Read up on the county: Iowa County.
Taxidermy and supplies for Love & Strutt Creeks hunters
Phone numbers for Love & Strutt Creeks questions
The DNR service center listed for Iowa County is DNR Fitchburg Service Center, 608-275-3266.
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.
Love & Strutt Creeks: 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 | 6:03 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:47 a.m. to 6:29 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:32 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:08 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:36 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:48 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:07 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:09 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 4:54 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 C offset of 8 minutes for longitude 89.99 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on Love & Strutt Creeks
Is blaze pink legal at Love & Strutt Creeks?
Orange or pink, half of the upper clothing, whenever a gun deer season runs (not for waterfowl).
Where do I register game taken on Love & Strutt Creeks?
Register on GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; the confirmation number starts with W.
Is there a separate permit for Love & Strutt Creeks?
The standard license for your game; no landowner permission on public ground.
Which public properties lie near Love & Strutt Creeks?
Three to try: Ridgeway Pine Relict State Natural Area (2 miles), Trout Creek Fishery Area (Iowa County) (3 miles) and Governor Dodge State Park (6 miles).
How is Love & Strutt Creeks classified?
DNR fishery area that is open to hunting, under the Wisconsin DNR.
How much land is in Love & Strutt Creeks?
It covers 578 acres by the recorded figure.
Where in the state does Love & Strutt Creeks lie?
Iowa County holds it, 8 miles from Dodgeville.
What is Love & Strutt Creeks hunted for?
The agency names raccoons, foxes and coyotes; other legal game follows the county dates.
Which deer management unit holds Love & Strutt Creeks?
The Southern Farmland zone, Iowa. Quota for 2026: 3,000 antlerless.
Is bear hunting possible at Love & Strutt Creeks?
Zone E; hound hunting is not allowed there.
Can I turkey hunt Love & Strutt Creeks in spring?
Zone 1; 2025 saw 13,813 birds registered in the zone.
When can I hunt ducks at Love & Strutt Creeks?
Southern for ducks, Southern for geese. The regular Southern Zone duck season opens Oct 3.
Has CWD turned up in the county around Love & Strutt Creeks?
The deer baiting ban applies in Iowa County. CWD: yes, in Iowa County.
Last checks on Love & Strutt Creeks before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of Love & Strutt Creeks has the final say on closures and maps.
Sources for this page: DNR: 4090lovecreek · DNR GIS · DNR: county; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: xulescu_g (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region (Public domain).