Home › Wisconsin › Public land › Rat River Wildlife Area
2026-27 · Wildlife area
Rat River Wildlife Area, a hunter's guide
Who runs it, which deer unit and bear zone cover it, what it holds (whitetails, wild turkeys, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes), and the public land and towns around it in Winnebago County.
Photo: Joshua Mayer (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Rat River Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Rat River Wildlife Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 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.
What the record says about Rat River Wildlife Area
On paper it is a DNR state wildlife area; on the map it is in Winnebago County. DNR staff of the Northeast Region cover this part of northeast Wisconsin. Manager: the Wisconsin DNR. Its 4,584 acres rank 31st of the 285 Wisconsin state wildlife areas with an acreage on file. From Winchester, our closest town page, it is roughly 2 miles to the north.
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 Rat River Wildlife Area
Rat River Wildlife Area in the agency's words
Unedited text from the official page.
The state manages and owns the nearly 4,000-acre Rat River Wildlife Area is in Winnebago County. It is an extended, narrow property comprising two large segments and several smaller ones scattered along the Rat River, eventually flowing into the Wolf River. Historically, the area was comprised of sedge meadows and marshes, and this area was important to local businesses, which cut the sedges annually to make "wiregrass" rugs, packing material, and livestock bedding. Today, much of the property is dominated by canary grass with a dense population of cattails.
Some lowland forest types are found in the wildlife area, as are a few upland fields. The Rat River WA was originally established as a Fishery Management property in 1963 and became a Wildlife property in 1978. Past management focused on waterfowl habitat, creating potholes, managing cattails to increase diversity, planting nesting cover in upland fields and cutting marsh hay to control woody encroachment. Current management emphasizes maintaining swamp hardwoods and maintaining or restoring sedge meadows, marshes, and shrub swamps.
Rat River Wildlife Area hunting wording
- The Rat River Wildlife Area is managed to provide opportunities for public hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoor recreation while protecting the qualities of the native communities and associated species found on the property.
- Hunting (noted for deer, turkey and small game)
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Rat River Wildlife Area rules and licenses
Access rules at Rat River Wildlife Area
Buy the license, hunt in season, and respect posted refuges and the NR 45 code.
State law on Rat River Wildlife Area
Orange or pink, 50% above the waist and 50% of the head covering, is the rule while gun deer seasons run; duck and goose hunters are exempt. Gun-season ground blinds on DNR property display 144 sq in of orange or pink from every direction. No screw-in steps or cut shooting lanes on DNR land. Overnight stands are legal north of Hwy. 64 from Sept. 1 to Jan. 31; south of it, remove them every day. By 5 p.m. the following day, register the deer on GameReg (online, phone or station).
Which licenses Rat River Wildlife Area needs
Get licenses on Go Wild or at an agent. Antlerless tags are unit-specific and labelled public or private land.
Closed and restricted areas inside Rat River Wildlife Area
10 closed or restricted areas appear for Rat River Wildlife Area in the DNR layer. Usual exception: Hunting/trapping restrictions apply, check property map(s) at link provided.
| Name | Restriction | Closed | Acres | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eisenbahn SIATA | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 14 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
| West Bend Interlobe SIATA | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 8 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
| Town of Barton SIATA | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 33 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
| Town of Rhine SIATA | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 59 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
| Ottawa SIATA | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 105 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
| Allen Valley SIATA | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 26 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
| Holy Hill SIATA | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 125 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
| Polk Kames SIATA | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 425 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
| Kettle Moraine Railroad SIATA | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 13 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
| Town of Hartford SIATA | Hunting/trapping Restrictions | See property map link provided | 3 | NR 29.089(1m)(b) |
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.
Rat River Wildlife Area: DMU, bear zone and turkey zone
Deer management: Winnebago, Central Farmland zone. The Natural Resources Board set 2,000 antlerless deer as the 2026 quota there. Bear Zone F has a 2026 harvest target of 50 with 764 Class A permits drawn; it took 1 preference point to win one. Spring turkey tags are sold for Zone 3; the DNR issued 55,612 there in 2025, the newest level published. Chronic wasting disease has turned up in wild deer in Winnebago County; DNR testing is free and voluntary statewide. The deer baiting ban covers Winnebago County.
Deer units that cover Rat River Wildlife Area
| Deer unit | Zone | Antlerless goal | Public tags left | Private tags left | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnebago | Central Farmland | 2,000 | 364 | 1,096 | 3 |
Zones beyond deer for Rat River Wildlife Area
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear F | Dogs barred | 50 target, 764 permits | 1 point | 27 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 3 | 55,612 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 12,324 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse zone A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Grouse zone B | Oct 17–Dec 8 | 2 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Duck zone | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Goose zone | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Goose zone | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| Wolf zone 6 | No season | Listed 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.
Rat River Wildlife Area: species with bag limits
Listed game at Rat River Wildlife Area: whitetails, wild turkeys, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
White-tailed deer
Wild turkey
Small game
Furbearers
The Winnebago County calendar below covers the rest.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Season dates that cover Rat River Wildlife Area
Rat River Wildlife Area sits in the Central Farmland deer zone. These 44 rows are the dated hunting segments the DNR schedule puts there, from the September archery opener into spring turkey.
| Game | Season | Applies in | Begins | Through | Right 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: Winnebago | 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 3/2 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 3/2 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 3/2 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 3/2 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 3/2 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 3/2 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 3/2 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 3/2 | 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 | 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.
Public property near Rat River Wildlife Area
The large pin is Rat River Wildlife Area; the others are the 10 closest public properties. Together they hold 5,416 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester Meadow | State natural area | 444 | 5.2 mi | southwest |
| Shaky Lake | State natural area | 221 | 6.3 mi | northwest |
| Wolf River | Wildlife area | 1,981 | 6.9 mi | west |
| Wolf River-Hortonville Flats (Remnant) | Fishery area | 54 | 9.6 mi | north |
| Heath Van Handel Memorial Forest | Demonstration forest | 38 | 10 mi | northeast |
| Wolf River Colic Slough | Fishery area | 276 | 11 mi | northwest |
| Hortonville Bog | State natural area | 769 | 12 mi | north |
| LaSage Bottoms | State natural area | 125 | 12 mi | north |
| Mukwa | Wildlife area | 1,337 | 13 mi | northwest |
| Mukwa Bottomland Forest | State natural area | 171 | 13 mi | northwest |
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.
How the land around Rat River Wildlife Area hunts, by the numbers
Winnebago County hunters registered 2,895 deer in 2025, 1,485 of them bucks. Totals swing between 1,799 and 2,895 across the years charted. 2026 so far, still changing: Winnebago, 333. CWD sampling in Winnebago County, CWD year 2025: 66 wild deer sampled, 0 positive. Overall: 786 samples and 1 positives. The DNR reports deer by unit, not by property: read these as the Winnebago County picture.
Winnebago County bucks and antlerless
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,485 | 1,410 | 2,895 |
| 2024 | 1,474 | 1,254 | 2,728 |
| 2023 | 1,211 | 1,069 | 2,280 |
| 2022 | 1,078 | 975 | 2,053 |
| 2021 | 1,007 | 817 | 1,824 |
| 2020 | 1,052 | 1,019 | 2,071 |
Winnebago County CWD sampling
| Year | Sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 66 | 0 |
| 2024 | 86 | 0 |
| 2023 | 76 | 0 |
| 2022 | 60 | 1 |
| 2021 | 88 | 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.
Rat River Wildlife Area: nearest ranges
No range sits on Rat River Wildlife Area; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Twin City Rod & Gun Club, about 4 miles away. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle, archery, trap, sporting clays, shotgun on file
archery, 3D archery on file
archery, 3D archery on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Home bases for a Rat River Wildlife Area trip
Closest towns, measured as the crow flies, then the businesses around them.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester | Winnebago | 2.1 mi | — | 7,592 |
| Dale | Outagamie | 3.3 mi | — | 11,116 |
| Hortonville | Outagamie | 7.6 mi | 3,331 | 8,574 |
| Tustin | Waushara | 12 mi | — | 9,695 |
Read up on the county: Winnebago County.
Taxidermy and supplies for Rat River Wildlife Area hunters
Phone numbers for Rat River Wildlife Area questions
The DNR service center listed for Winnebago County is DNR Oshkosh Service Center, 920-424-3050.
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.
Rat River Wildlife Area: legal shooting time, table by date
Big game and small game hunters get 20 minutes after sunset in Wisconsin, not 30. Waterfowl and spring gobbler hunters quit at sunset.
| Date | Hunt | Northern Area hours | Southern Area hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, grouse opener | 5:59 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:43 a.m. to 6:25 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 6:28 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:04 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:32 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:44 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:03 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:05 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 4:50 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 B offset of 4 minutes for longitude 88.67 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on Rat River Wildlife Area
Are there closed areas on Rat River Wildlife Area?
Some parts are closed or limited (10 listed).
Which public properties lie near Rat River Wildlife Area?
Three to try: Winchester Meadow State Natural Area (5 miles), Shaky Lake State Natural Area (6 miles) and Wolf River Wildlife Area (7 miles).
How is Rat River Wildlife Area classified?
DNR state wildlife area, under the Wisconsin DNR.
How much land is in Rat River Wildlife Area?
It covers 4,584 acres by the recorded figure.
Where in the state does Rat River Wildlife Area lie?
Winnebago County holds it, 2 miles from Winchester.
What is Rat River Wildlife Area hunted for?
The agency names whitetails, wild turkeys, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes; other legal game follows the county dates.
Which deer management unit holds Rat River Wildlife Area?
The Central Farmland zone, Winnebago. Quota for 2026: 2,000 antlerless.
Is bear hunting possible at Rat River Wildlife Area?
Zone F; hound hunting is not allowed there.
Can I turkey hunt Rat River Wildlife Area in spring?
Zone 3; 2025 saw 12,324 birds registered in the zone.
When can I hunt ducks at Rat River Wildlife Area?
Northern and Southern for ducks, Northern and Southern for geese. The regular Northern Zone duck season opens Sep 26.
Has CWD turned up in the county around Rat River Wildlife Area?
The deer baiting ban applies in Winnebago County. CWD: yes, in Winnebago County.
Is blaze pink legal at Rat River Wildlife Area?
Orange or pink, half of the upper clothing, whenever a gun deer season runs (not for waterfowl).
Where do I register game taken on Rat River Wildlife Area?
Register on GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; the confirmation number starts with W.
Last checks on Rat River Wildlife Area before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of Rat River Wildlife Area has the final say on closures and maps.
Sources for this page: DNR: Ratriver · DNR GIS · DNR: alpha · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Wesley Fryer (CC BY 2.0).