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State natural area · West Central region
Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area for Wisconsin hunters
A hunter's summary of Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area in Juneau County: zones and quota, rules, CWD numbers and local help.
Photo: Aaron Volkening (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area
Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area: record card
Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area: a DNR-owned State Natural Area, located in Juneau County. Region on record: the DNR West Central Region. The Wisconsin DNR writes the rules on the ground. The 631 acres on record put it 94th of the 449 state natural areas we list. The DNR numbers it SNA 576 (legal description T19N-R2E, Sections 8, 21, 28, 29). Base town: Necedah, some 11 miles away. Meadow Valley Wildlife Area is the larger unit around it.
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 Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area
Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area deer unit, quota and game zones
The deer unit is DMU 206, in the Central Forest zone. The 2026 antlerless quota for that unit is 400. For black bear this is Zone C, with no hound hunting; 4,465 permits for 2026. Turkey hunting falls under Zone 1, which had 64,574 spring permits in 2025. The DNR counts Juneau County among its CWD-affected counties. Juneau County sits under the DNR deer baiting and feeding ban.
The deer unit around Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area
| DMU | Deer zone | Antlerless quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Free tags per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 206 | Central Forest | 400 | 0 | 940 | — |
Bear, turkey and bird zones at Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area
| Zone | Rule | Numbers | Extra | 2025 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear C | Bait only | 875 target, 4,465 permits | 2 points | 663 bears in 2025 |
| Wild turkey 1 | 64,574 spring tags (2025) | 21% success | 13,813 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse zone A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 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 | ||
| Elk zone | Central (Black River Elk Range) | 6 bull and 6 antlerless | Public land nearly 70% | |
| Wolf zone 5 | 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 Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area
Entry terms for Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area
Hunting and trapping are generally allowed on DNR-owned State Natural Area land unless a spot is posted closed. Camping, vehicles, drones and collecting plants are not (NR 45).
Wisconsin rules that follow you to Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area
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.
Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area: licenses and tags
Go Wild carries every license. For antlerless deer on public ground, use a public-access tag for the right DMU.
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 Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area
With no species list from the source, read it this way: every open Wisconsin season applies here under the property rules.
Use the Juneau County season list (43 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 Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area 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, Juneau | 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 C/E | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Elk | Elk, all weapons | Central Elk Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 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 A | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 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.
Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area described by the DNR
Quoted as published; nothing here is our wording.
Situated in the bed of Glacial Lake Wisconsin, Meadow Valley Barrens supports a Hill's and oak dominated barrens with scattered jack pine throughout. White and red pine are also present. Shrubs are moderately dense with early low blueberry, huckleberry, and sweet fern. Pennsylvania sedge is dominant in many areas. However, with canopy thinning and prescribed fire many barrens plants are favorably competing including big bluestem, little bluestem, gray goldenrod, sky-blue aster, flowering spurge and poverty panic grass.
Three rare insects occur here including a barrens specialist. Meadow Valley Barrens is owned by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and leased by the DNR. It was designated a State Natural Area in 2008.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area and the land it belongs with
Parent property: Meadow Valley Wildlife Area, which has 4 listed parts.
The rest of Meadow Valley Wildlife Area
| Page | Type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suk Cerney Peatlands | State natural area | Juneau | 3,611 |
| Kingston Pines | State natural area | Juneau | 535 |
| Blueberry Trail | State natural area | Juneau | 251 |
Harvest numbers for the country around Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area
2025 in Juneau County: 1,902 bucks, 2,393 antlerless, 4,295 in all. Range since 2016: 3,790 to 4,858 deer a year. Early 2026 registrations (archery, crossbow, youth hunt): DMU 206 47. The DNR sampled 370 deer from Juneau County in 2025; 61 had CWD. 224 positives overall, from 4,925 deer. In 2025, Juneau County produced 8 registered bears. Figures are for the whole county unit, not Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area alone; the DNR does not report harvest by property.
Juneau County unit harvest
| Season | Bucks | Does and fawns | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,902 | 2,393 | 4,295 |
| 2024 | 2,517 | 2,341 | 4,858 |
| 2023 | 2,393 | 2,079 | 4,472 |
| 2022 | 2,558 | 2,268 | 4,826 |
| 2021 | 2,282 | 2,050 | 4,332 |
| 2020 | 2,377 | 2,408 | 4,785 |
CWD samples, Juneau County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 39 | 3 |
| 2025 | 370 | 61 |
| 2024 | 360 | 56 |
| 2023 | 322 | 35 |
| 2022 | 299 | 24 |
| 2021 | 326 | 17 |
Bears registered in Juneau County
| Season | Bears | Boars | Sows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 22 | 16 | 6 |
| 2025 | 8 | 4 | 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.
Bed, fuel and a butcher near Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area
Where to sleep, where to buy shells, where to drop off a deer.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Necedah | Juneau | 11 mi | 914 | 50,600 |
| Oakdale | Monroe | 11 mi | 303 | 18,411 |
| Warrens | Monroe | 13 mi | 541 | 79,341 |
| Tunnel City | Monroe | 16 mi | — | 53,299 |
Season and zone pages by county: Juneau County.
Who processes a deer from Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area
Where to ask about Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area
Licenses and questions for Juneau 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.
Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area and nearby public ground
Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area at the big pin; the nearest 10 public places around it. Combined, 113,253 acres are on record.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Necedah | Wildlife refuge | 45,000 | 5.1 mi | northeast |
| Mill Bluff | State natural area | 82 | 10 mi | south |
| Mill Bluff | State park | 1,613 | 11 mi | south |
| Cranberry Creek Mound Group | State natural area | 675 | 11 mi | northeast |
| Wood | County forest | 37,826 | 12 mi | north |
| Jay Creek Pine Forest | State natural area | 441 | 13 mi | northwest |
| Mill Creek | Fishery area | 35 | 13 mi | west |
| Monroe | County forest | 7,443 | 14 mi | west |
| Wood County | Wildlife area | 19,240 | 14 mi | north |
| Yellow River Oxbows | State natural area | 898 | 14 mi | southeast |
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.
Shooting-hour table for Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area
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 90.27 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area: nearest ranges
The DNR-map range closest to Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area is M&M Sportshop & Shooting Range (16 miles). Club ranges within 30 miles are included.
archery on file
trap, shotgun on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Before-the-trip answers for Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area
Which town works as a base for Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area?
Juneau County; Necedah, the nearest town we cover, is 11 miles away.
Can I hunt any species on Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area?
Every open Wisconsin season applies under the property rules; no list narrows it.
What deer tags work on Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area?
It is in DMU 206 (Central Forest). This year the antlerless quota is 400.
How hard is a bear permit for Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area?
Zone C; hounds may not be used there.
Which zone do I apply for to hunt turkeys at Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area?
Zone 1. Success in 2025 was 21%.
Which goose zone is Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area 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 Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area?
No bait or feed in Juneau County. The county list for CWD includes Juneau County.
When does orange apply at Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area?
Pink counts the same as orange: 50% above the waist in firearm deer seasons.
Does a Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area 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 Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area need?
Gun deer ($24), archer ($24) or small game ($18) for residents; nonresident gun deer is $200.
Which public land sits closest to Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area?
Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (5 miles), Mill Bluff State Natural Area (10 miles) and Mill Bluff State Park (11 miles), each with a page here.
What does Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area belong to?
A piece of Meadow Valley Wildlife Area.
Is Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area DNR, county or federal ground?
A DNR-owned State Natural Area; the manager is the Wisconsin DNR.
Signing off on Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area
Gates, refuges and open areas at Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area are the manager's call; confirm them before opening day.
Sources for this page: DNR: MeadowValleyBarrens · DNR GIS · DNR: StateNaturalAreas; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USDA NRCS Montana (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USDAgov (Public domain).