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Monroe County · State park
Hunting at Mill Bluff State Park
Mill Bluff State Park, 1,613 acres in Monroe and Juneau counties: zones and tags, property rules, county harvest and the land nearby.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Mill Bluff State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Mill Bluff State Park
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Castle Rock parkingParking · 3.4 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.
Mill Bluff State Park on one card
Hunters reach Mill Bluff State Park in Monroe and Juneau counties; it is a state park with hunting in its open areas. This is west-central Wisconsin, in the DNR West Central Region. Day-to-day it is in the hands of the Wisconsin DNR. Measured at 1,613 acres, it comes in 14th of 49 state parks. Oakdale is the nearest town with a guide on this site, about 3 miles away; the land lies east of it. Below are the 1 units it contains.
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 Mill Bluff State Park
Zones that take in Mill Bluff State Park
Mill Bluff State Park is Central Farmland deer country, unit Monroe and Juneau. Antlerless quota, 2026: 6,000 and 4,500. The Zone C bear quota for 2026 is 875, spread over 4,465 drawn permits. Zone 1 turkey numbers for 2025: 64,574 spring tags, 21% success. Wild deer with CWD have been confirmed in Monroe and Juneau counties. Leave the corn at home; Monroe and Juneau counties bans deer baiting.
Antlerless tags near Mill Bluff State Park
| Unit | Zone | Quota 2026 | Bonus, public | Bonus, private | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 6,000 | 586 | 1,495 | 4 |
| Juneau Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 4,500 | 625 | 3,954 | 2 |
Mill Bluff State Park: other game zones
| Zone | Detail | Numbers | More | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone C | No hounds | 875 target, 4,465 permits | 2 points | 663 bears in 2025 |
| Bear zone E | No hounds | 185 target, 2,628 permits | 1 point | 128 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 1 | 64,574 spring tags (2025) | 21% success | 13,813 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Ruffed grouse B | Oct 17–Dec 8 | 2 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Canada goose | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| Wolf 5/6 | No harvest | Federal listing |
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.
What Mill Bluff State Park requires of hunters
Mill Bluff State Park access terms
Hunting runs on the state park calendar: spring from April 1 to the Tuesday closest to May 3, fall from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15, and archery on to the Sunday closest to Jan. 6. Park entry requires the vehicle admission pass.
The rule book on Mill Bluff State Park
Half of your outer clothing above the waist, and half of your hat, must be blaze orange or pink whenever a firearm deer season is open (waterfowl hunters excepted). Ground blinds need a 144-square-inch orange or pink patch in gun deer seasons on DNR ground. Stands may not damage trees. North of Hwy. 64 they can stay overnight Sept. 1, 2026 to Jan. 31, 2027 (two per hunter per county); south of Hwy. 64 they come down daily. Deer and turkeys go into GameReg online or by phone by 5 p.m. the next day.
Go Wild shopping list for Mill Bluff State Park
A gun deer or archery license comes with a buck authorization; antlerless deer on this land need a public-access authorization.
Restricted parts of Mill Bluff State Park
The DNR closed-areas layer lists 1 zone on Mill Bluff State Park. Exception printed most often: Hunting/trapping restrictions apply, check property map(s) at link provided.
| Area | What applies | Dates | Size | NR rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mill Bluff State Park-Iansr | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 1,587 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
When Mill Bluff State Park opens to hunters
| Species | Window | 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.
The parts of Mill Bluff State Park
1 units sit inside Mill Bluff State Park, 82 acres in total.
| Name | Kind | Counties | Acres | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mill Bluff | State natural area | Monroe, Juneau | 82 | — |
What hunters pursue at Mill Bluff State Park
Nothing narrows the game at Mill Bluff State Park; all open seasons apply as long as the property rules are followed.
The Monroe County season table below has 43 dated rows for that reason.
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.
Mill Bluff State Park: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 43 season segments apply to Mill Bluff State Park.
| Species | Hunt type | Zone or unit | Opening | Closing | 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, Monroe | 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 E/C | 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.
Monroe County harvest near Mill Bluff State Park
Deer registered in the Monroe County unit, 2025: 8,137. The decade peaked at 8,174 in 2022 and bottomed at 6,840 in 2017. Through Oct. 19, 2026: 240 antlered and 335 antlerless in Monroe Central Farmland and 124 antlered and 177 antlerless in Juneau Central Farmland (preliminary). CWD year 2025 brought 736 Monroe County samples and 37 positives. Running total since 1999: 6,038 tested. The 2025 bear count for Monroe County was 7. No harvest is published for Mill Bluff State Park itself, so the county unit is the finest level.
Registered deer in the Mill Bluff State Park county unit
| Year | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,328 | 4,809 | 8,137 |
| 2024 | 3,479 | 4,611 | 8,090 |
| 2023 | 3,360 | 4,065 | 7,425 |
| 2022 | 3,612 | 4,562 | 8,174 |
| 2021 | 3,412 | 3,866 | 7,278 |
| 2020 | 3,733 | 4,440 | 8,173 |
CWD tests in Monroe County
| CWD year | Wild deer sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 39 | 3 |
| 2025 | 736 | 37 |
| 2024 | 711 | 19 |
| 2023 | 676 | 7 |
| 2022 | 560 | 4 |
| 2021 | 390 | 3 |
Bear numbers near Mill Bluff State Park
| Year | Total | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | 4 | 6 |
| 2025 | 7 | 6 | 1 |
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.
Around Mill Bluff State Park: more places to hunt
The big marker is Mill Bluff State Park. Smaller ones are its 10 closest neighbours. The neighbours add 70,472 acres between them.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blueberry Trail | State natural area | 251 | 8.4 mi | north |
| Suk Cerney Peatlands | State natural area | 3,611 | 8.7 mi | northeast |
| Kickapoo River | Fishery area | 28 | 9.8 mi | southwest |
| Meadow Valley Barrens | State natural area | 631 | 11 mi | north |
| Juneau | County forest | 17,799 | 11 mi | east |
| Yellow River Oxbows | State natural area | 898 | 13 mi | east |
| Yellow River | Wildlife area | 2,195 | 14 mi | east |
| Brewer Creek-Lemonweir River | Habitat area | 24 | 14 mi | southeast |
| Mill Creek | Fishery area | 35 | 14 mi | northwest |
| Necedah | Wildlife refuge | 45,000 | 14 mi | northeast |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS (polygon centroid) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Mill Bluff State Park: nearby towns and businesses
Town pages first, then shops, processors and DNR desks.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakdale | Monroe | 3.3 mi | 303 | 18,411 |
| New Lisbon | Juneau | 9.2 mi | 2,586 | 15,112 |
| Necedah | Juneau | 13 mi | 914 | 50,600 |
| Tunnel City | Monroe | 13 mi | — | 53,299 |
County-level hunting pages: Monroe County, Juneau County.
Shops a short drive from Mill Bluff State Park
DNR desks closest to Mill Bluff State Park
Service center for Monroe County business: 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.
Mill Bluff State Park: nearest ranges
About 10 miles separates Mill Bluff State Park from M&M Sportshop & Shooting Range, the nearest public map range. Nearby rod and gun clubs round out the list.
archery on file
trap, shotgun on file
trap, rifle, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Shooting light at Mill Bluff State Park by date
At Mill Bluff State Park the offset is 12 minutes (Zone D). The times below already include it for both DNR shooting-hours areas.
| Day | Season | North table | South 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 90.31 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
What people ask about hunting Mill Bluff State Park
When can I hunt Mill Bluff State Park?
Only during the state park windows: early April to early May, and Nov. 15-Dec. 15 (archery into early January).
Which Wisconsin license covers Mill Bluff State Park?
Go Wild sells everything needed; antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
What is inside Mill Bluff State Park?
1 part, each linked above.
If Mill Bluff State Park is full, where next?
Within a short drive: Blueberry Trail State Natural Area (8 miles), Suk Cerney Peatlands State Natural Area (9 miles) and Kickapoo River Fishery Area (10 miles).
What acreage is listed for Mill Bluff State Park?
Roughly 1,613 acres.
Which agency sets the rules on Mill Bluff State Park?
The Wisconsin DNR treats it as a state park with hunting in its open areas.
What game is legal on Mill Bluff State Park?
Any species in an open season, as long as you follow the property rules.
Where do Mill Bluff State Park hunters spend the night?
Start from Oakdale; the land is 3 miles off, in Monroe and Juneau counties.
Which bear management zone holds Mill Bluff State Park?
Bear Zone C/E. Zone C took 2 preference points in 2026.
Which DMU takes in Mill Bluff State Park?
Deer unit Monroe and Juneau; zone Central Farmland. The 2026 antlerless quota is 6,000 (Monroe Central Farmland) and 4,500 (Juneau Central Farmland); use a public-access antlerless tag here.
What are the waterfowl zones for Mill Bluff State Park?
It sits in the Southern duck and Southern goose zones. In the Southern Zone the regular duck split begins Oct 3.
Which turkey zone is Mill Bluff State Park in?
Zone 1, one bird per spring authorization.
Do I need blaze orange at Mill Bluff State Park?
In any open firearm deer season, wear blaze orange or pink on at least half your coat and cap.
Check Mill Bluff State Park once more
Refuges, closed areas and park windows at Mill Bluff State Park can shift mid-season; the property page and the DNR map have the current picture.
Sources for this page: DNR: hunt · DNR: millbluff · DNR GIS · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); scostello22 (CC BY 2.0).