Home › Wisconsin › Public land › Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area
Public land · State natural area
Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area hunting guide
Everything we could verify about Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area: acreage, zones, property rules, harvest around it and nearby ground.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area
- Parking areaParking ยท 0.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking ยท 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking ยท 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking ยท 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking ยท 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking ยท 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Hwy 61 north of Lake CityParking ยท 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking ยท 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp ยท 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking ยท 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking ยท 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Overflow Parking LotParking ยท 2.4 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.
The short version on Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area
In Pepin County you will find Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area, a DNR-owned State Natural Area. On the DNR map it belongs to the West Central Region. The managing body is the Wisconsin DNR. At 263 acres it sits 203rd by area in a field of 449 state natural areas. It is State Natural Area No. 410, in T23N-R16W, Sections 1, 2. About 15 miles northwest of Nelson.
From the source page (WI DNR SNA parcel ownership GIS OWNER_ACRE_AMT, WDNR-owned parcels); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area
Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area, as the managers tell it
Word for word from the property page.
Maiden Rock Bluff protects one of Wisconsin's most notable limestone-capped cliff faces on a bluff high above the Mississippi River overlooking Lake Pepin. Extending for nearly a mile, the 400-foot high bluff is especially noteworthy for the presence of a rare bird. The cliff is one of only six bluffs where they are successfully nesting on natural substrate. The rocky bluff also provides hunting perches and habitat for a variety of raptors including gyrfalcon, golden eagle, bald eagle and turkey vulture.
Representative cliff plant species include 250-year-old red cedar, harebell, slender lip fern, smooth cliff brake, slender cliff brake, white-flowered leaf-cup and plains muhly grass. The open cliff and adjacent narrow band of dry prairie provide habitat for several rare plants. Many dry prairie species are present including little bluestem, wild bergamot, columbine, leadplant, mountain mint, alumroot, pasqueflower and silky aster. Larger blocks of restorable oak savanna are found on the deep soils of the lower slopes and support such species as arrow-leaved aster, zigzag goldenrod, bare-stemmed tick-trefoil, round-leaved shinleaf, sweet cicely and wild yam.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area: what is allowed
How access works on Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area
Hunters and trappers are welcome on DNR-owned SNA acres unless posted; leave vehicles, drones and tents outside and take no plants.
Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area: rules from the regulations
From the October youth hunt through the Holiday Hunt, blaze orange or pink covers half of your upper clothing and cap. Mark a ground blind with 144 square inches of blaze orange or pink while firearm deer seasons run. Tree stands: no tree damage, ID on unattended stands, overnight only north of Hwy. 64 during Sept. 1-Jan. 31. Register deer, turkeys and bears through GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
What Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area costs in licenses
Buy through Go Wild; the free Farmland tags and bonus tags are marked public-access or private-land, and only public-access ones work here.
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.
Tags and zones for Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area
For deer it lies in the Central Farmland zone (Pepin). This season the unit quota is 2,500 antlerless deer. Zone E bear permits took 1 preference point in 2026; the target is 185 bears. The 2025 spring level for Turkey Zone 4 was 34,997 authorizations; 8,472 birds were registered. No deer bait or feed: Pepin County is a ban county.
Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area: antlerless quota and bonus tags
| Deer unit | Zone | 2026 quota | Public bonus left | Private bonus left | Free farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepin | Central Farmland | 2,500 | 249 | 800 | 2 |
Every other zone Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area touches
| Zone | Detail | Figures | Points or note | Taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bear E | Hounds barred | 185 target, 2,628 permits | 1 point | 128 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 4 | 34,997 spring tags (2025) | 24% success | 8,472 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 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 | ||
| Goose zone | Mississippi River | — | ||
| Gray wolf zone 6 | No season | Federally listed |
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.
Quarry and limits, Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area
The list for Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area reads: wild turkeys.
Wild turkey
The list is what the agency names, not a limit: other Pepin County seasons apply under the same rules.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area season calendar, 2026-27
Archery, the nine-day gun hunt, muzzleloader, bear, turkey, upland birds, rabbits, furbearers and the duck and goose splits for Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area.
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 4/1 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 4/1 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 4/1 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 4/1 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 4/1 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 4/1 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 4/1 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 4/1 | 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 | |
| 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 | Northern Duck Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Nov 24, 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 | Northern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Dec 16, 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.
Nearest public ground to Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area, mapped
10 more properties lie close to Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area, shown with smaller pins. Acres across them: 15,858.
| Neighbour | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Creek (Remnant) | Fishery area | 107 | 2.7 mi | north |
| Pine Creek | Fishery area | — | 2.7 mi | north |
| Lake Pepin | Wildlife area | 250 | 2.9 mi | southeast |
| Rush River Delta | State natural area | 400 | 4.8 mi | northwest |
| Morgan Coulee Prairie | State natural area | 58 | 7.6 mi | north |
| Bay City Mine | State natural area | 48 | 9.6 mi | northwest |
| Five-Mile Bluff Prairie | State natural area | 194 | 11 mi | east |
| Tiffany | Wildlife area | 14,004 | 12 mi | east |
| Plum Creek Woods | State natural area | 79 | 12 mi | northeast |
| Tiffany Bottoms | State natural area | 718 | 12 mi | east |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR State Natural Areas parcel ownership GIS (centroid of WDNR-owned parcels) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Registered deer and bears near Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area
The 2025 registered deer total for the Pepin County unit was 2,215 (927 antlered). 2016 was the busiest year shown (2,699 deer) and 2023 the leanest (1,904). The 2026 season to date shows 171 deer in Pepin; the DNR calls it preliminary. 61 samples, 0 positive: that is Pepin County in CWD year 2025. All years combined: 0 of 809. 5 bears came out of Pepin County in 2025. These numbers describe the county around Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area, not the property alone.
Deer registered near Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area
| Year | Bucks registered | Antlerless registered | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 927 | 1,288 | 2,215 |
| 2024 | 884 | 1,236 | 2,120 |
| 2023 | 819 | 1,085 | 1,904 |
| 2022 | 975 | 1,240 | 2,215 |
| 2021 | 911 | 1,117 | 2,028 |
| 2020 | 1,004 | 1,391 | 2,395 |
Pepin County CWD by year
| CWD year | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 61 | 0 |
| 2024 | 54 | 0 |
| 2023 | 52 | 0 |
| 2022 | 41 | 0 |
| 2021 | 53 | 0 |
Pepin County bear harvest
| Year | Bear harvest | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
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.
Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area: nearest ranges
About 14 miles separates Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area from Pierce County Public Range, the nearest public map range. Closer club options sit beside it.
trap, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Towns, offices and services around Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area
Towns, then services in this county and the next one over.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson | Buffalo | 15 mi | 319 | 20,801 |
| Arkansaw | Pepin | 16 mi | — | 12,768 |
| Durand | Pepin | 18 mi | 1,873 | 14,689 |
| Ellsworth | Pierce | 19 mi | 3,341 | 595 |
Our county write-ups: Pepin County.
Butchers, mounts and gun counters near Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area
Service centers near Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area
For Pepin County, the DNR points to its DNR Eau Claire 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.
When the shooting day opens and closes at Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area
The DNR tables are worked out for Zone A in the east; Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area lies in longitude Zone F, so add 20 minutes to each table time.
| Day | Reason | Northern table | Southern 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 92.28 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area in questions and answers
How fast must I register a kill on Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area?
GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Can pink replace orange at Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area?
Yes while gun deer seasons are open; half your upper clothing and hat in orange or fluorescent pink.
What neighbours Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area?
Closest first: Pine Creek Fishery Area (Remnant) (3 miles), Pine Creek Fishery Area (3 miles) and Lake Pepin Wildlife Area (3 miles).
Is a permit required for Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area?
Your Wisconsin license is enough; residents pay $24 for gun deer, $18 for small game.
How large is Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area, in acres?
Acreage on record: 263.
Who is the land manager for Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area?
The Wisconsin DNR manages it; the land is a DNR-owned State Natural Area.
Which game does Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area list?
The source lists wild turkeys. Other open seasons apply too, within the property rules.
How far is the drive from Nelson to Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area?
Pepin County, roughly 15 miles out of Nelson.
Are hounds allowed for bear at Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area?
Bear Zone E: 2,628 permits drawn for 2026.
Is Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area forest or farmland deer country?
Pepin in the Central Farmland zone. The unit quota stands at 2,500 antlerless deer this year.
Is Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area in the northern or southern duck zone?
Southern duck zone and Southern and Mississippi River goose zone. First regular duck day in the Southern Zone: Oct 3.
Is Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area good turkey ground?
Apply for Zone 4; spring periods A-F run in 2027 from April 21.
What are the CWD and bait rules for Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area?
Deer bait is illegal in Pepin County. The county has no CWD positives.
Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area, final notes
Print the Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area map, carry your tags, and check the manager page the week you go.
Sources for this page: DNR: MaidenRockBluff · DNR GIS · DNR: StateNaturalAreas; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Fort McCoy (Public Domain Mark 1.0); nugefishes (CC BY 2.0).