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Waupaca County · Fishery area
Hunting at Radley Creek Fishery Area
Radley Creek Fishery Area, 1,425 acres in Waupaca and Portage counties: whitetails, wild turkeys, ducks and geese and squirrels, cottontails and hares, zones and tags, property rules, county harvest and the land nearby.
Photo: m01229 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Radley Creek Fishery Area
Radley Creek Fishery Area on one card
Hunters reach Radley Creek Fishery Area in Waupaca and Portage counties; it is a DNR fishery area that is open to hunting. This is northeast Wisconsin, in the DNR Northeast Region. Day-to-day it is in the hands of the Wisconsin DNR. Measured at 1,425 acres, it comes in 19th of 245 fishery areas. Waupaca is the nearest town with a guide on this site, about 8 miles away; the land lies southwest of it. Below are the 1 units it contains.
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 Radley Creek Fishery Area
Zones that take in Radley Creek Fishery Area
Radley Creek Fishery Area is Central Farmland deer country, unit Waupaca and Portage. Antlerless quota, 2026: 8,550 and 6,000. The Zone F bear quota for 2026 is 50, spread over 764 drawn permits. Zone 3 turkey numbers for 2025: 55,612 spring tags, 22% success. Wild deer with CWD have been confirmed in Waupaca and Portage counties. Leave the corn at home; Waupaca and Portage counties bans deer baiting.
Antlerless tags near Radley Creek Fishery Area
| Unit | Zone | Quota 2026 | Bonus, public | Bonus, private | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waupaca | Central Farmland | 8,550 | 492 | 1,487 | 3 |
| Portage | Central Farmland | 6,000 | 932 | 5,041 | 3 |
Radley Creek Fishery Area: other game zones
| Zone | Detail | Numbers | More | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone F | No hounds | 50 target, 764 permits | 1 point | 27 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 3 | 55,612 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 12,324 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Ruffed grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 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 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.
How the DNR describes Radley Creek Fishery Area
The managing agency's own text.
Radley Creek Fishery Area is in the Central Sand Hills ecological landscape of southwestern Waupaca and southeastern Portage counties. Habitat types present include open grass fields, pine plantations, remnant oak savanna, red and white pine plantations, oak woods, and marsh. Upland grass and other herbaceous vegetation cover 312 acres. Alder and willow brush cover an additional 84 acres. The north branch (Murray Creek) and south branch (Pearl Creek) of the Radley begin in Portage County. These two main branches along with other smaller feeder streams join together to form Radley Creek in Waupaca County.
The varied habitat on the fishery area provides homes for a wide range of both game and non-game species. Management of upland sites ranges from habitat improvement to benefit grassland nesting birds to habitat for the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly. A snowmobile trail crosses the property near the intersection of Suhs and West Roads. A portion of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs through the fishery area in Portage County south of 2nd Avenue.
The Mud Lake – Radley Creek Savanna State Natural Area covers 100 acres of the Radley Creek Fishery Area.
Hunting notes printed for Radley Creek Fishery Area
- Hunting – white tailed deer, rabbits, squirrel, waterfowl, turkey, fox, coyote, raccoon
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
What Radley Creek Fishery Area requires of hunters
Radley Creek Fishery Area access terms
Where the managed-lands map marks it open, this fishery land takes hunters and trappers in season (NR 45).
- It is one of the properties with dog training.
The rule book on Radley Creek Fishery Area
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 Radley Creek Fishery Area
A gun deer or archery license comes with a buck authorization; antlerless deer on this land need a public-access authorization.
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 Radley Creek Fishery Area
1 units sit inside Radley Creek Fishery Area, 100 acres in total.
| Name | Kind | Counties | Acres | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mud Lake-Radley Creek Savanna | State natural area | Waupaca | 100 | — |
What hunters pursue at Radley Creek Fishery Area
Species the agency lists here: whitetails, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
White-tailed deer
Wild turkey
Ducks and geese
Small game
Furbearers
Unlisted species follow the Waupaca County dates below, subject to the property rules.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Radley Creek Fishery Area: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 43 season segments apply to Radley Creek Fishery Area.
| 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: Waupaca | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone F/C | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 3 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 3 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 3 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 3 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 3 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 3 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 3 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 3 | 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 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.
Waupaca County harvest near Radley Creek Fishery Area
Deer registered in the Waupaca County unit, 2025: 10,740. The decade peaked at 13,075 in 2016 and bottomed at 9,097 in 2023. Through Oct. 19, 2026: 519 antlered and 552 antlerless in Waupaca and 341 antlered and 408 antlerless in Portage (preliminary). CWD year 2025 brought 331 Waupaca County samples and 1 positives. Running total since 1999: 3,482 tested. The 2025 bear count for Waupaca County was 6. No harvest is published for Radley Creek Fishery Area itself, so the county unit is the finest level.
Registered deer in the Radley Creek Fishery Area county unit
| Year | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5,202 | 5,538 | 10,740 |
| 2024 | 5,192 | 5,157 | 10,349 |
| 2023 | 4,315 | 4,782 | 9,097 |
| 2022 | 4,556 | 5,814 | 10,370 |
| 2021 | 4,454 | 4,893 | 9,347 |
| 2020 | 4,466 | 5,849 | 10,315 |
CWD tests in Waupaca County
| CWD year | Wild deer sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 13 | 0 |
| 2025 | 331 | 1 |
| 2024 | 288 | 1 |
| 2023 | 356 | 0 |
| 2022 | 270 | 2 |
| 2021 | 234 | 0 |
Bear numbers near Radley Creek Fishery Area
| Year | Total | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| 2025 | 6 | 2 | 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.
Around Radley Creek Fishery Area: more places to hunt
The big marker is Radley Creek Fishery Area. Smaller ones are its 10 closest neighbours. The neighbours add 5,794 acres between them.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Fork Radley Creek (Remnant) | Fishery area | 188 | 2.3 mi | west |
| Emmons Creek Barrens | State natural area | 44 | 2.8 mi | northwest |
| Emmons Creek | Fishery area | 1,465 | 2.9 mi | northwest |
| Hartman Creek | State park | 1,470 | 3.6 mi | north |
| Pope Lake | State natural area | 54 | 3.7 mi | north |
| Pine River System | Fishery area | 2,075 | 4.6 mi | south |
| Wild Rose Hatchery | Fishery area | 245 | 6.2 mi | southwest |
| Karner Blue Meadow | State natural area | 41 | 6.8 mi | south |
| Pickerel Lake | State natural area | 143 | 6.9 mi | northwest |
| Waupaca River | Fishery area | 69 | 7.1 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 of hunting-open parcels) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Radley Creek Fishery Area: nearby towns and businesses
Town pages first, then shops, processors and DNR desks.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waupaca | Waupaca | 8.3 mi | 6,231 | 4,843 |
| Poy Sippi | Waushara | 14 mi | — | 8,114 |
| Wautoma | Waushara | 15 mi | 2,371 | 15,214 |
| Plainfield | Waushara | 15 mi | 920 | 12,388 |
County-level hunting pages: Waupaca County, Portage County.
Shops a short drive from Radley Creek Fishery Area
DNR desks closest to Radley Creek Fishery Area
Service center for Waupaca County business: DNR Oshkosh 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.
Radley Creek Fishery Area: nearest ranges
About 15 miles separates Radley Creek Fishery Area from Wautoma Shooting Range, the nearest public map range. Nearby rod and gun clubs round out the list.
rifle, handgun, shotgun on file
rifle, handgun, shotgun on file
trap, skeet, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Shooting light at Radley Creek Fishery Area by date
At Radley Creek Fishery Area the offset is 8 minutes (Zone C). 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 | 6:03 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:47 a.m. to 6:29 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:32 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:08 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:36 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:48 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:07 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:09 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 4:54 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 C offset of 8 minutes for longitude 89.20 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
What people ask about hunting Radley Creek Fishery Area
Where do Radley Creek Fishery Area hunters spend the night?
Start from Waupaca; the land is 8 miles off, in Waupaca and Portage counties.
What acreage is listed for Radley Creek Fishery Area?
Roughly 1,425 acres.
Which DMU takes in Radley Creek Fishery Area?
Deer unit Waupaca and Portage; zone Central Farmland. The 2026 antlerless quota is 8,550 (Waupaca) and 6,000 (Portage); use a public-access antlerless tag here.
Which species are hunted on Radley Creek Fishery Area?
Listed: whitetails, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Which turkey zone is Radley Creek Fishery Area in?
Zone 3, one bird per spring authorization.
Which bear management zone holds Radley Creek Fishery Area?
Bear Zone F. Zone F took 1 preference point in 2026.
Is deer baiting legal near Radley Creek Fishery Area?
No: Waupaca and Portage counties ban deer baiting and feeding. Wild deer with CWD are documented in Waupaca and Portage counties.
What are the waterfowl zones for Radley Creek Fishery Area?
It sits in the Southern duck and Southern goose zones. In the Southern Zone the regular duck split begins Oct 3.
How do I register a deer from Radley Creek Fishery Area?
Through GameReg (online, phone or a station) by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
Do I need blaze orange at Radley Creek Fishery Area?
In any open firearm deer season, wear blaze orange or pink on at least half your coat and cap.
If Radley Creek Fishery Area is full, where next?
Within a short drive: North Fork Radley Creek Fishery Area (Remnant) (2 miles), Emmons Creek Barrens State Natural Area (3 miles) and Emmons Creek Fishery Area (3 miles).
Which Wisconsin license covers Radley Creek Fishery Area?
Go Wild sells everything needed; antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
Which agency sets the rules on Radley Creek Fishery Area?
The Wisconsin DNR treats it as a DNR fishery area that is open to hunting.
Check Radley Creek Fishery Area once more
Refuges, closed areas and park windows at Radley Creek Fishery Area can shift mid-season; the property page and the DNR map have the current picture.
Sources for this page: DNR: 2070radleycreek · DNR GIS · DNR: county; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Danielle Brigida (CC BY 2.0); Calistemon (CC BY-SA 4.0).