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Merrick State Park for Wisconsin hunters
A hunter's summary of Merrick State Park in Buffalo County: zones and quota, rules, CWD numbers and local help.
Photo: Joshua Mayer (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Merrick State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Merrick State Park
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.4 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.
Merrick State Park: record card
Merrick State Park: a state park with hunting in its open areas, located in Buffalo County. Region on record: the DNR West Central Region. The Wisconsin DNR writes the rules on the ground. The 290 acres on record put it 40th of the 49 state parks we list. Base town: Fountain City, some 4 miles away.
From the source page (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, whole property (hunting only in areas the property hunting map shows open)); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Merrick State Park
Merrick State Park deer unit, quota and game zones
The deer unit is Buffalo, in the Central Farmland zone. The 2026 antlerless quota for that unit is 4,300. For black bear this is Zone E, with no hound hunting; 2,628 permits for 2026. Turkey hunting falls under Zone 1, which had 64,574 spring permits in 2025. The DNR counts Buffalo County among its CWD-affected counties. Buffalo County sits under the DNR deer baiting and feeding ban.
The deer unit around Merrick State Park
| DMU | Deer zone | Antlerless quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Free tags per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | Central Farmland | 4,300 | 167 | 744 | 3 |
Bear, turkey and bird zones at Merrick State Park
| Zone | Rule | Numbers | Extra | 2025 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear E | Bait only | 185 target, 2,628 permits | 1 point | 128 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 | Mississippi River | — | ||
| Geese | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| Wolf zone 6 | 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 Merrick State Park
Entry terms for Merrick State Park
Open areas follow the state parks hunting and trapping time frame: April 1 to the Tuesday nearest May 3, and Nov. 15 to Dec. 15, with archery to the Sunday nearest Jan. 6. Vehicles need a park admission pass.
Wisconsin rules that follow you to Merrick State Park
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.
Merrick State Park: licenses and tags
Go Wild carries every license. For antlerless deer on public ground, use a public-access tag for the right DMU.
Merrick State Park closed zones
Closed or limited zones on Merrick State Park: 1. Most common exception: Hunting/trapping restrictions apply, check property map(s) at link provided.
| Closed area | Type | Period | Acres | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrick State Park | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 286 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
Merrick State Park property season dates
| Game | Season | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All open seasons | Spring | April 1 through the Tuesday nearest May 3 (gun and archery hunting, limited trapping, open areas only) | |
| All open seasons | Fall/Winter | Nov. 15-Dec. 15 (gun and archery hunting and trapping in open seasons); archery through the Sunday nearest Jan. 6 | Exceptions for Buckhorn, Big Bay, Blue Mound, Governor Dodge, Rock Island and Tower Hill state parks. |
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 Merrick State Park
Raccoons, foxes and coyotes, per the property record.
Furbearers
Other legal game follows the Buffalo County season table below.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Every Merrick State Park 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 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone E | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 1/4 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 1/4 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 1/4 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 1/4 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 1/4 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 1/4 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 1/4 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 1/4 | 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 | |
| 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.
Merrick State Park described by the DNR
Quoted as published; nothing here is our wording.
Hunting and trapping are allowed in the open areas of the park during the Wisconsin state parks hunting and trapping time frame. Trapping is not permitted in closed areas as noted on the park hunting map or within 100 yards of any designated use area, including trails. Certain trap types are restricted on state park properties.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Harvest numbers for the country around Merrick State Park
2025 in Buffalo County: 2,497 bucks, 3,309 antlerless, 5,806 in all. Range since 2016: 5,148 to 7,410 deer a year. Early 2026 registrations (archery, crossbow, youth hunt): Buffalo 481. The DNR sampled 397 deer from Buffalo County in 2025; 17 had CWD. 36 positives overall, from 4,034 deer. In 2025, Buffalo County produced 19 registered bears. Figures are for the whole county unit, not Merrick State Park alone; the DNR does not report harvest by property.
Buffalo County unit harvest
| Season | Bucks | Does and fawns | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,497 | 3,309 | 5,806 |
| 2024 | 2,347 | 2,974 | 5,321 |
| 2023 | 2,301 | 2,847 | 5,148 |
| 2022 | 2,401 | 3,317 | 5,718 |
| 2021 | 2,646 | 2,919 | 5,565 |
| 2020 | 2,676 | 3,626 | 6,302 |
CWD samples, Buffalo County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 39 | 2 |
| 2025 | 397 | 17 |
| 2024 | 360 | 9 |
| 2023 | 420 | 4 |
| 2022 | 238 | 4 |
| 2021 | 231 | 0 |
Bears registered in Buffalo County
| Season | Bears | Boars | Sows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | 8 | 2 |
| 2025 | 19 | 13 | 6 |
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 Merrick State Park
Where to sleep, where to buy shells, where to drop off a deer.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fountain City | Buffalo | 4.0 mi | 785 | 12,377 |
| Cochrane | Buffalo | 6.6 mi | 424 | 7,761 |
| Buffalo City | Buffalo | 7.3 mi | 1,023 | 7,934 |
| Dodge | Trempealeau | 10 mi | — | 11,905 |
Season and zone pages by county: Buffalo County.
Who processes a deer from Merrick State Park
Where to ask about Merrick State Park
Licenses and questions for Buffalo County go through the 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.
Merrick State Park and nearby public ground
Merrick State Park at the big pin; the nearest 10 public places around it. Combined, 10,383 acres are on record.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitman Dam | Wildlife area | 2,095 | 2.1 mi | northwest |
| Whitman Bottoms Floodplain Forest | State natural area | 164 | 2.3 mi | west |
| Trempealeau River Meadows | State natural area | 412 | 7.6 mi | east |
| Trempealeau River Meadow | State natural area | 417 | 7.6 mi | east |
| Mississippi River Public Access (Remnant) | Fishery area | 2 | 9.6 mi | northwest |
| Trempealeau | Wildlife refuge | 6,446 | 12 mi | southeast |
| Tamarack Creek Bog | State natural area | 141 | 15 mi | east |
| Tamarack Creek | Wildlife area | 588 | 15 mi | east |
| Trempealeau Mountain | State natural area | 61 | 16 mi | southeast |
| Brady's Bluff Prairie | State natural area | 57 | 16 mi | southeast |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS (polygon centroid) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside))). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Shooting-hour table for Merrick State Park
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 | 6:11 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:55 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:16 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:44 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:56 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:15 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:17 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:02 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 E offset of 16 minutes for longitude 91.75 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Merrick State Park: nearest ranges
About 34 miles separates Merrick State Park from Pierce County Public Range, the nearest public map range. Club ranges within 30 miles are included.
trap, sporting clays, shotgun on file
trap, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Before-the-trip answers for Merrick State Park
Can I bait deer at Merrick State Park?
No bait or feed in Buffalo County. The county list for CWD includes Buffalo County.
When does orange apply at Merrick State Park?
Pink counts the same as orange: 50% above the waist in firearm deer seasons.
Does a Merrick State Park 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 Merrick State Park need?
Gun deer ($24), archer ($24) or small game ($18) for residents; nonresident gun deer is $200.
Are there hunting dates for Merrick State Park?
In open areas only: April 1 to the Tuesday nearest May 3, and Nov. 15 to Dec. 15, with archery to the Sunday nearest Jan. 6.
Which public land sits closest to Merrick State Park?
Whitman Dam Wildlife Area (2 miles), Whitman Bottoms Floodplain Forest State Natural Area (2 miles) and Trempealeau River Meadows State Natural Area (8 miles), each with a page here.
Is Merrick State Park DNR, county or federal ground?
A state park with hunting in its open areas; the manager is the Wisconsin DNR.
Is Merrick State Park a big property?
290 acres in the source data.
Which town works as a base for Merrick State Park?
Buffalo County; Fountain City, the nearest town we cover, is 4 miles away.
Which species does the record give for Merrick State Park?
Raccoons, foxes and coyotes, plus any other season open in the county.
What deer tags work on Merrick State Park?
It is in Buffalo (Central Farmland). This year the antlerless quota is 4,300.
How hard is a bear permit for Merrick State Park?
Zone E; hounds may not be used there.
Which zone do I apply for to hunt turkeys at Merrick State Park?
Zone 1. Success in 2025 was 21%.
Signing off on Merrick State Park
Gates, refuges and open areas at Merrick State Park are the manager's call; confirm them before opening day.
Sources for this page: DNR: hunt · DNR: recreation · DNR: merrick · DNR GIS · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: The Hidden Hide with Ray (CC BY 2.0); USFWSmidwest (Public domain).