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Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area for Wisconsin hunters
A hunter's summary of Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area in Manitowoc County: zones and quota, rules, CWD numbers and local help.
Photo: John Begalke (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 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.
Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area: record card
Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area: a DNR-owned State Natural Area, located in Manitowoc County. Region on record: the DNR Northeast Region. The Wisconsin DNR writes the rules on the ground. The 558 acres on record put it 108th of the 449 state natural areas we list. The DNR numbers it SNA 87 (legal description T20N-R25E, Sections 21, 28, 29, 31, 32). Base town: Two Rivers, some 2 miles away. Point Beach State Forest 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 Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area
Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area deer unit, quota and game zones
The deer unit is Manitowoc, in the Central Farmland zone. The 2026 antlerless quota for that unit is 5,400. For black bear this is Zone F, with no hound hunting; 764 permits for 2026. Turkey hunting falls under Zone 2, which had 51,056 spring permits in 2025. The DNR counts Manitowoc County among its CWD-affected counties. Manitowoc County sits under the DNR deer baiting and feeding ban.
The deer unit around Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area
| DMU | Deer zone | Antlerless quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Free tags per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manitowoc | Central Farmland | 5,400 | 296 | 2,193 | 2 |
| Manitowoc County Metro Sub-Unit | Metro sub-unit | Parent unit | 100 | 200 | 2 |
Bear, turkey and bird zones at Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area
| Zone | Rule | Numbers | Extra | 2025 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear F | Bait only | 50 target, 764 permits | 1 point | 27 bears in 2025 |
| Wild turkey 2 | 51,056 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 11,024 gobblers | 2,500 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 | ||
| 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 Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area
Entry terms for Point Beach Ridges 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 Point Beach Ridges 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.
Point Beach Ridges 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 Point Beach Ridges 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 Manitowoc County season list (44 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 Point Beach Ridges 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 | Metro sub-unit gun | Metro sub-unit: Milwaukee | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 9, 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: Manitowoc | 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 F | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 2 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 2 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 2 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 2 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 2 | 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 | Open Water Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 15, 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.
Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area described by the DNR
Quoted as published; nothing here is our wording.
Point Beach Ridges features a topography of 11 alternating ridges and swales paralleling the present Lake Michigan shoreline. Formed through the protracted lowering of glacial Lake Nipissing, the ridges and swales are old beaches deposited during the last 8,000 years. Except for a strip of dunes and beach along the lake, the area is forested with a variety of conifers and hardwoods. A range of successional stages is exhibited, varying from shifting sand to open swales and wooded ridges.
The 11th swale from Lake Michigan is lightly forested with black ash and tamarack, and the 9th ridge has white pine, hemlock, white cedar and yellow birch. Ridges eight to five have more red maple and white birch. The transition to a sandier, drier and sunnier environment continues to the east. Ridge 2 is stabilized by junipers, bearberry and a host of sand plants. The first ridge and the sand beach east of it are vegetated with the unique and specialized flora of coastal beaches, of which undisturbed examples are rare.
Several rare and uncommon plants inhabit the dunes. Point Beach Ridges is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1971.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area and the land it belongs with
Parent property: Point Beach State Forest, which has 2 listed parts.
The rest of Point Beach State Forest
| Page | Type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nipissing Swamp | State natural area | Manitowoc | 243 |
Harvest numbers for the country around Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area
2025 in Manitowoc County: 2,195 bucks, 2,318 antlerless, 4,513 in all. Range since 2016: 4,021 to 4,567 deer a year. Early 2026 registrations (archery, crossbow, youth hunt): Manitowoc 337. The DNR sampled 191 deer from Manitowoc County in 2025; 0 had CWD. 1 positives overall, from 1,554 deer. Figures are for the whole county unit, not Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area alone; the DNR does not report harvest by property.
Manitowoc County unit harvest
| Season | Bucks | Does and fawns | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,195 | 2,318 | 4,513 |
| 2024 | 2,077 | 2,185 | 4,262 |
| 2023 | 1,981 | 2,149 | 4,130 |
| 2022 | 1,863 | 2,437 | 4,300 |
| 2021 | 1,755 | 2,266 | 4,021 |
| 2020 | 1,898 | 2,669 | 4,567 |
CWD samples, Manitowoc County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 10 | 0 |
| 2025 | 191 | 0 |
| 2024 | 58 | 1 |
| 2023 | 63 | 0 |
| 2022 | 57 | 0 |
| 2021 | 104 | 0 |
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 Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area
Where to sleep, where to buy shells, where to drop off a deer.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Rivers | Manitowoc | 2.3 mi | 11,214 | 3,349 |
| Mishicot | Manitowoc | 6.6 mi | 1,423 | 3,432 |
| Manitowoc | Manitowoc | 8.7 mi | 34,616 | 883 |
| Clarks Mills | Manitowoc | 17 mi | — | 6,690 |
Season and zone pages by county: Manitowoc County.
Who processes a deer from Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area
Where to ask about Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area
Licenses and questions for Manitowoc County go through the DNR Green Bay 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.
Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area and nearby public ground
Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area at the big pin; the nearest 10 public places around it. Combined, 8,121 acres are on record.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pietroske | WPA | 120 | 4.3 mi | north |
| Two Creeks | WPA | 136 | 8.6 mi | north |
| Manitowoc River | Fishery area | 3 | 9.8 mi | southwest |
| Two Creeks | State park | 29 | 11 mi | north |
| Two Creeks Buried Forest | State natural area | 16 | 11 mi | north |
| Collins Marsh | Wildlife area | 4,317 | 22 mi | west |
| C.D. Besadny Fish and | Wildlife area | 2,749 | 22 mi | north |
| Wilke Lake (Remnant) | Fishery area | 9 | 25 mi | southwest |
| Holland | Wildlife area | 536 | 27 mi | west |
| Holland Red Maple Swamp | State natural area | 206 | 27 mi | west |
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 Point Beach Ridges 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 | 5:55 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:39 a.m. to 6:21 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 6:24 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:00 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:28 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:40 a.m. to 4:28 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 6:59 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:01 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:46 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 A offset of 0 minutes for longitude 87.53 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area: nearest ranges
About 39 miles separates Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area from Brown County Sportsmen's Club, the nearest public map range. Club ranges within 30 miles are included.
trap, skeet, sporting clays, shotgun on file
trap, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery on file
trap, 5-stand, archery, 3D archery, muzzleloader on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Before-the-trip answers for Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area
Which town works as a base for Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area?
Manitowoc County; Two Rivers, the nearest town we cover, is 2 miles away.
Can I hunt any species on Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area?
Every open Wisconsin season applies under the property rules; no list narrows it.
What deer tags work on Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area?
It is in Manitowoc (Central Farmland). This year the antlerless quota is 5,400.
How hard is a bear permit for Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area?
Zone F; hounds may not be used there.
Which zone do I apply for to hunt turkeys at Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area?
Zone 2. Success in 2025 was 22%.
Which goose zone is Point Beach Ridges 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 Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area?
No bait or feed in Manitowoc County. The county list for CWD includes Manitowoc County.
When does orange apply at Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area?
Pink counts the same as orange: 50% above the waist in firearm deer seasons.
Does a Point Beach Ridges 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 Point Beach Ridges 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 Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area?
Pietroske Waterfowl Production Area (4 miles), Two Creeks Waterfowl Production Area (9 miles) and Manitowoc River Public Access (10 miles), each with a page here.
What does Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area belong to?
A piece of Point Beach State Forest.
Is Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area DNR, county or federal ground?
A DNR-owned State Natural Area; the manager is the Wisconsin DNR.
Signing off on Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area
Gates, refuges and open areas at Point Beach Ridges State Natural Area are the manager's call; confirm them before opening day.
Sources for this page: DNR: PointBeachRidges · DNR GIS · DNR: StateNaturalAreas; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).