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Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area hunting guide
Everything we could verify about Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area: acreage, zones, property rules, harvest around it and nearby ground.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 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 Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area
In Polk and St. Croix counties you will find Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area, a federal waterfowl production area. On the DNR map it belongs to the Northern Region. The managing body is the Fish and Wildlife Service. At 155 acres it sits 45th by area in a field of 103 waterfowl production areas. About 10 miles west of Clear Lake. Look up St. Croix Wetland Management District for the wider property it sits in.
From the source page (FWS Realty GIS acres (SUM_GISACRES) for the unit); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area
Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area: what is allowed
How access works on Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area
WPA rules: state seasons for ducks, geese, upland birds and deer; nothing left overnight, so blinds, stands, decoys and boats go home daily. Two St. Croix County WPAs have posted closed portions, and Oak Ridge WPA is open in fall for deer alone.
Plum Brush Waterfowl Production 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. Register deer, turkeys and bears through GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
What Plum Brush Waterfowl Production 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 Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area
For deer it lies in the Central Farmland zone (Polk and St Croix). This season the unit quota is 11,200 and 3,500 antlerless deer. Zone D bear permits took 2 preference points in 2026; the target is 1,100 bears. The 2025 spring level for Turkey Zone 4 was 34,997 authorizations; 8,472 birds were registered. Polk County: CWD found in wild deer, and a CWD-positive deer earns a replacement authorization. No deer bait or feed: Polk and St. Croix counties are a ban county.
Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area: antlerless quota and bonus tags
| Deer unit | Zone | 2026 quota | Public bonus left | Private bonus left | Free farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 11,200 | 987 | 5,191 | 2 |
| St. Croix | Central Farmland | 3,500 | 494 | 1,496 | 2 |
Every other zone Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area touches
| Zone | Detail | Figures | Points or note | Taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bear D | Hounds legal | 1,100 target, 3,855 permits | 2 points | 931 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 | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose zone | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| 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, Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area
The list for Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area reads: ducks and geese, whitetails, wild turkeys, pheasants, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Ducks and geese
White-tailed deer
Wild turkey
Pheasant
Small game
Furbearers
The list is what the agency names, not a limit: other Polk 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.
Plum Brush Waterfowl Production 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 Plum Brush Waterfowl Production 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, Polk | 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 D | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 4 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 4 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 4 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 4 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose | Northern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| 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.
Units connected to Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area
Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area is one of 46 units that St. Croix Wetland Management District lists.
St. Croix Wetland Management District units beside Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area
| Unit | Type | Where | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Creek | WPA | Dunn | 672 |
| Oak Ridge | WPA | St. Croix | 632 |
| Ten Mile | WPA | St. Croix | 516 |
| Prairie Flats – South | WPA | St. Croix | 501 |
| Betterly | WPA | St. Croix | 485 |
| Erickson | WPA | St. Croix | 476 |
| Bass Lake | WPA | St. Croix | 423 |
| Stanton Prairie | WPA | St. Croix | 353 |
| Deer Park | WPA | St. Croix | 351 |
| Kostka | WPA | St. Croix | 350 |
| Red Cedar | WPA | Dunn | 336 |
| Star Prairie | WPA | St. Croix | 312 |
| Bierbrauer | WPA | St. Croix, Polk | 275 |
| Three Lakes | WPA | St. Croix | 249 |
| Clapp | WPA | St. Croix | 239 |
Nearest public ground to Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area, mapped
10 more properties lie close to Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area, shown with smaller pins. Acres across them: 1,715.
| Neighbour | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bierbrauer | Habitat area | 69 | 0.7 mi | west |
| Star Prairie Seed Farm | Habitat area | 58 | 0.9 mi | southwest |
| Oak Ridge State Habitat Area-Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area | Habitat area | 196 | 1.6 mi | south |
| Spring Meadow State Habitat Area-Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area | Habitat area | 169 | 2.4 mi | north |
| Deer Park | Habitat area | 213 | 2.5 mi | east |
| Wagon Landing Statewide Spring Pond | Fishery area | 69 | 3.0 mi | north |
| New Richmond | Habitat area | 77 | 3.8 mi | southwest |
| Parker Creek | Habitat area | 587 | 4.2 mi | northeast |
| Oden | Habitat area | 250 | 4.9 mi | southeast |
| Apple River (Remnant) | Fishery area | 27 | 5.1 mi | northeast |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (FWS National Realty FWSInterest_Simplified_Authoritative (unit centroid) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside))). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Registered deer and bears near Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area
The 2025 registered deer total for the Polk County unit was 8,091 (3,702 antlered). 2016 was the busiest year shown (9,066 deer) and 2023 the leanest (7,275). The 2026 season to date shows 763 deer in Polk Central Farmland; the DNR calls it preliminary. 340 samples, 2 positive: that is Polk County in CWD year 2025. All years combined: 5 of 3,006. 149 bears came out of Polk County in 2025. These numbers describe the county around Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area, not the property alone.
Deer registered near Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area
| Year | Bucks registered | Antlerless registered | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,702 | 4,389 | 8,091 |
| 2024 | 3,564 | 4,408 | 7,972 |
| 2023 | 3,266 | 4,009 | 7,275 |
| 2022 | 3,874 | 5,155 | 9,029 |
| 2021 | 3,584 | 4,434 | 8,018 |
| 2020 | 3,759 | 5,074 | 8,833 |
Polk County CWD by year
| CWD year | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 32 | 0 |
| 2025 | 340 | 2 |
| 2024 | 265 | 2 |
| 2023 | 252 | 1 |
| 2022 | 174 | 0 |
| 2021 | 170 | 0 |
Polk County bear harvest
| Year | Bear harvest | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 187 | 84 | 103 |
| 2025 | 149 | 91 | 58 |
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.
Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area: nearest ranges
About 20 miles separates Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area from Hudson Rod Gun and Archery Club, the nearest public map range. Closer club options sit beside it.
rifle, handgun, archery, trap, skeet on file
trap, rifle, archery, 3D archery, shotgun on file
trap, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Towns, offices and services around Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area
Towns, then services in this county and the next one over.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Lake | Polk | 10 mi | 1,103 | 7,120 |
| Somerset | St. Croix | 11 mi | 3,382 | 12,025 |
| Osceola | Polk | 13 mi | 2,880 | 5,877 |
| Emerald | St. Croix | 14 mi | — | 4,756 |
Our county write-ups: Polk County, St. Croix County.
Butchers, mounts and gun counters near Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area
Service centers near Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area
For Polk County, the DNR points to its DNR Spooner 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 Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area
The DNR tables are worked out for Zone A in the east; Plum Brush Waterfowl Production 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 92.47 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area in questions and answers
What neighbours Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area?
Closest first: Bierbrauer Wildlife Area (1 mile), Star Prairie Seed Farm Wildlife Area (1 mile) and Oak Ridge State Habitat Area-Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area (2 miles).
Is a permit required for Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area?
Your Wisconsin license is enough; residents pay $24 for gun deer, $18 for small game.
Who is the land manager for Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area?
The Fish and Wildlife Service manages it; the land is a federal waterfowl production area.
Is Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area part of a larger property?
It is a unit of St. Croix Wetland Management District.
How far is the drive from Clear Lake to Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area?
Polk and St. Croix counties, roughly 10 miles out of Clear Lake.
How large is Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area, in acres?
Acreage on record: 155.
Is Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area forest or farmland deer country?
Polk and St Croix in the Central Farmland zone. The unit quota stands at 11,200 and 3,500 antlerless deer this year.
Which game does Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area list?
The source lists ducks and geese, whitetails, wild turkeys, pheasants, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes. Other open seasons apply too, within the property rules.
Is Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area good turkey ground?
Apply for Zone 4; spring periods A-F run in 2027 from April 21.
Are hounds allowed for bear at Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area?
Bear Zone D: 3,855 permits drawn for 2026.
What are the CWD and bait rules for Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area?
Deer bait is illegal in Polk and St. Croix counties. Polk County: CWD-positive deer on record.
Is Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area in the northern or southern duck zone?
Northern duck zone and Northern goose zone. First regular duck day in the Northern Zone: Sep 26.
How fast must I register a kill on Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area?
GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area, final notes
Print the Plum Brush Waterfowl Production Area map, carry your tags, and check the manager page the week you go.
Sources for this page: FWS realty layer · USFWS: hunting · USFWS: st croix wetland management district · eCFR: section 32.68; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (CC BY-SA 2.0); Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 (Public domain).