Home › Wisconsin › Public land › Meadow Valley Wildlife Area
Public land · Wildlife area
Meadow Valley Wildlife Area hunting guide
Everything we could verify about Meadow Valley Wildlife Area: acreage, zones, property rules, harvest around it and nearby ground.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Meadow Valley Wildlife Area
The short version on Meadow Valley Wildlife Area
In Juneau, Monroe, Wood and Jackson counties you will find Meadow Valley Wildlife Area, a DNR state wildlife area. On the DNR map it belongs to the West Central Region. The managing body is the Wisconsin DNR. At 58,071 acres it sits 1st by area in a field of 285 state wildlife areas. About 12 miles east of Warrens. Inside it are 4 separate records.
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 Meadow Valley Wildlife Area
Meadow Valley Wildlife Area, as the managers tell it
Word for word from the property page.
Meadow Valley Wildlife Area encompasses approximately 56,000 acres and is located in between Babcock and Necedah, about two hours north of Madison. It is 25 miles southwest of Wisconsin Rapids and 20 miles north of Mauston. Access can also be found 1 mile west of Babcock on Highway X. Most of the land that makes up Meadow Valley Wildlife Area is federally owned land that is managed by the Department under a Cooperative Agreement with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
DNR staff manage the Sandhill Wildlife Area, Wood County Wildlife Area and the Meadow Valley Wildlife Area collectively. Together, these three Wildlife Areas are referred to as the Sandhill-Meadow Valley Work Unit. They make up the largest block of state-managed wildlife lands in Wisconsin. Nearly 150 square miles of public lands lie within the work unit. Meadow Valley Wildlife Area provides a unique experience as it offers an exceptional variety of hunting and recreational opportunities. The diverse habitat management practices implemented on the property provide ample opportunities for hunting deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, small game, waterfowl, and trapping furbearers.
What the Meadow Valley Wildlife Area page says about hunting
- In addition to hunting opportunities, the size and diversity of the property provide opportunities for hiking, berry picking and observing wildlife in a truly natural setting.
- Public hunting and other compatible recreation will be the primary uses.
- Hunting (noted for waterfowl and turkey)
- Meadow Valley Wildlife Area is attractive to hunters and trappers because of its remote landscape.
- In addition to excellent hunting, the size and diversity of the property provide opportunities for hiking, berry picking, bird watching and observing wildlife in a natural setting.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Meadow Valley Wildlife Area: what is allowed
How access works on Meadow Valley Wildlife Area
State seasons and Wisconsin licenses are all you need, except in posted refuges and closed zones; NR 45 governs use of the property.
Meadow Valley Wildlife 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 Meadow Valley Wildlife 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.
Posted closures at Meadow Valley Wildlife Area
1 row of closures apply to Meadow Valley Wildlife Area. Exception: Except gun and muzzleloader deer, retrieval of legally killed or crippled game in posted zones.
| Closed area | Type | Period | Acres | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meadow Valley | No entry wildlife refuge | SEP 1–NOV 30 | 1,119 | NR 11.07(7)(a) |
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 Meadow Valley Wildlife Area
For deer it lies in the Central Forest zone (DMU 206, DMU 205, DMU 204 and DMU 203). This season the unit quota is 400, 1,600, 500 and 450 antlerless deer. Zone C bear permits took 2 preference points in 2026; the target is 875 bears. The 2025 spring level for Turkey Zone 1 was 64,574 authorizations; 13,813 birds were registered. Juneau, Monroe, Wood and Jackson counties: CWD found in wild deer, and a CWD-positive deer earns a replacement authorization. No deer bait or feed: Juneau, Monroe, Wood and Jackson counties are a ban county.
Meadow Valley Wildlife Area: antlerless quota and bonus tags
| Deer unit | Zone | 2026 quota | Public bonus left | Private bonus left | Free farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 206 | Central Forest | 400 | 0 | 940 | — |
| DMU 205 | Central Forest | 1,600 | 533 | 936 | — |
| DMU 204 | Central Forest | 500 | 16 | 355 | — |
| DMU 203 | Central Forest | 450 | 0 | 268 | — |
Every other zone Meadow Valley Wildlife Area touches
| Zone | Detail | Figures | Points or note | Taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bear C | Hounds barred | 875 target, 4,465 permits | 2 points | 663 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 1 | 64,574 spring tags (2025) | 21% success | 13,813 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 | ||
| Elk zone | Central (Black River Elk Range) | 6 bull and 6 antlerless | Public land nearly 70% | |
| Gray wolf zone 5 | 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, Meadow Valley Wildlife Area
The list for Meadow Valley Wildlife Area reads: whitetails, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
White-tailed deer
Wild turkey
Ducks and geese
Ruffed grouse
Small game
Furbearers
The list is what the agency names, not a limit: other Juneau 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.
Meadow Valley Wildlife 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 Meadow Valley Wildlife 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 | |
| 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 Wildlife Area: the units it holds
5,028 acres across 4 units make up the listed parts of Meadow Valley Wildlife Area.
| Name | Type | County | Acreage | Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suk Cerney Peatlands | State natural area | Juneau | 3,611 | — |
| Meadow Valley Barrens | State natural area | Juneau | 631 | — |
| Kingston Pines | State natural area | Juneau | 535 | — |
| Blueberry Trail | State natural area | Juneau | 251 | — |
Nearest public ground to Meadow Valley Wildlife Area, mapped
10 more properties lie close to Meadow Valley Wildlife Area, shown with smaller pins. Acres across them: 120,470.
| Neighbour | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Necedah | Wildlife refuge | 45,000 | 5.6 mi | east |
| Wood | County forest | 37,826 | 8.8 mi | north |
| Wood County | Wildlife area | 19,240 | 9.9 mi | north |
| Cranberry Creek Mound Group | State natural area | 675 | 11 mi | east |
| Jay Creek Pine Forest | State natural area | 441 | 11 mi | west |
| Monroe | County forest | 7,443 | 12 mi | west |
| Yellow River Floodplain Forest | State natural area | 86 | 13 mi | northeast |
| Mill Creek | Fishery area | 35 | 14 mi | southwest |
| Sandhill | Wildlife area | 9,642 | 14 mi | northeast |
| Mill Bluff | State natural area | 82 | 14 mi | south |
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.
Registered deer and bears near Meadow Valley Wildlife Area
The 2025 registered deer total for the Juneau County unit was 4,295 (1,902 antlered). 2024 was the busiest year shown (4,858 deer) and 2019 the leanest (3,790). The 2026 season to date shows 47 deer in DMU 206, 22 deer in DMU 205 and 43 deer in DMU 204; the DNR calls it preliminary. 370 samples, 61 positive: that is Juneau County in CWD year 2025. All years combined: 224 of 4,925. 8 bears came out of Juneau County in 2025. These numbers describe the county around Meadow Valley Wildlife Area, not the property alone.
Deer registered near Meadow Valley Wildlife Area
| Year | Bucks registered | Antlerless registered | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Juneau County CWD by year
| CWD year | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 39 | 3 |
| 2025 | 370 | 61 |
| 2024 | 360 | 56 |
| 2023 | 322 | 35 |
| 2022 | 299 | 24 |
| 2021 | 326 | 17 |
Juneau County bear harvest
| Year | Bear harvest | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Meadow Valley Wildlife Area: nearest ranges
For a public range, drive about 20 miles to M&M Sportshop & Shooting Range. Closer club options sit beside it.
archery on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
trap, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Towns, offices and services around Meadow Valley Wildlife Area
Towns, then services in this county and the next one over.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warrens | Monroe | 12 mi | 541 | 79,341 |
| Babcock | Wood | 13 mi | — | 85,496 |
| Necedah | Juneau | 14 mi | 914 | 50,600 |
| Oakdale | Monroe | 14 mi | 303 | 18,411 |
Our county write-ups: Juneau County, Monroe County, Wood County, Jackson County.
Butchers, mounts and gun counters near Meadow Valley Wildlife Area
Service centers near Meadow Valley Wildlife Area
For Juneau County, the DNR points to its 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.
When the shooting day opens and closes at Meadow Valley Wildlife Area
The DNR tables are worked out for Zone A in the east; Meadow Valley Wildlife Area lies in longitude Zone D, so add 12 minutes to each table time.
| Day | Reason | Northern table | Southern table |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 90.28 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Meadow Valley Wildlife Area in questions and answers
How large is Meadow Valley Wildlife Area, in acres?
Acreage on record: 58,071.
Who is the land manager for Meadow Valley Wildlife Area?
The Wisconsin DNR manages it; the land is a DNR state wildlife area.
Which game does Meadow Valley Wildlife Area list?
The source lists whitetails, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes. Other open seasons apply too, within the property rules.
How far is the drive from Warrens to Meadow Valley Wildlife Area?
Juneau, Monroe, Wood and Jackson counties, roughly 12 miles out of Warrens.
Are hounds allowed for bear at Meadow Valley Wildlife Area?
Bear Zone C: 4,465 permits drawn for 2026.
Is Meadow Valley Wildlife Area forest or farmland deer country?
DMU 206, DMU 205 and DMU 204 in the Central Forest zone. The unit quota stands at 400, 1,600, 500 and 450 antlerless deer this year.
Is Meadow Valley Wildlife Area in the northern or southern duck zone?
Southern duck zone and Southern goose zone. First regular duck day in the Southern Zone: Oct 3.
Is Meadow Valley Wildlife Area good turkey ground?
Apply for Zone 1; spring periods A-F run in 2027 from April 21.
Can pink replace orange at Meadow Valley Wildlife Area?
Yes while gun deer seasons are open; half your upper clothing and hat in orange or fluorescent pink.
What are the CWD and bait rules for Meadow Valley Wildlife Area?
Deer bait is illegal in Juneau, Monroe, Wood and Jackson counties. Juneau, Monroe, Wood and Jackson counties: CWD-positive deer on record.
Is a permit required for Meadow Valley Wildlife Area?
Your Wisconsin license is enough; residents pay $24 for gun deer, $18 for small game.
How fast must I register a kill on Meadow Valley Wildlife Area?
GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
What neighbours Meadow Valley Wildlife Area?
Closest first: Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (6 miles), Wood County Forest (9 miles) and Wood County Wildlife Area (10 miles).
Meadow Valley Wildlife Area, final notes
Print the Meadow Valley Wildlife Area map, carry your tags, and check the manager page the week you go.
Sources for this page: DNR: Meadowvalley · DNR GIS · DNR: alpha · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); scostello22 (CC BY 2.0).