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Columbia County · Fishery area
Hunting at Rocky Run Fishery Area
Rocky Run Fishery Area, 740 acres in Columbia County: whitetails, wild turkeys, ducks and geese and squirrels, cottontails and hares, zones and tags, property rules, county harvest and the land nearby.
Photo: Mobilus In Mobili (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Rocky Run Fishery Area
Rocky Run Fishery Area on one card
Hunters reach Rocky Run Fishery Area in Columbia County; it is a DNR fishery area that is open to hunting. This is south-central Wisconsin, in the DNR South Central Region. Day-to-day it is in the hands of the Wisconsin DNR. Measured at 740 acres, it comes in 35th of 245 fishery areas. Wyocena is the nearest town with a guide on this site, about 3 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 Rocky Run Fishery Area
Zones that take in Rocky Run Fishery Area
Rocky Run Fishery Area is Southern Farmland deer country, unit Columbia. Antlerless quota, 2026: 8,800. 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 Columbia County. Leave the corn at home; Columbia County bans deer baiting.
Antlerless tags near Rocky Run Fishery Area
| Unit | Zone | Quota 2026 | Bonus, public | Bonus, private | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | Southern Farmland | 8,800 | 1,000 | 4,000 | 4 |
Rocky Run 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 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 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 Rocky Run Fishery Area
The managing agency's own text.
The Rocky Run Fishery Area consists of approximately 50 acres of wetland, 400 acres of upland and 285 acres of wooded habitat. Picture Title (picture optional) © photographer –> Rocky Run Creek is a long, low gradient stream which originates from Mud Lake in Lowville Township and flows into the Wisconsin River. The broad stream valley is generally bordered by steep valley slopes, which isolate it from surrounding land uses. The stream valley contains a diversity of land types, and plant and animal communities.
Rocky Run Fishery Area includes the Rocky Run Oak Savanna State Natural Area. An eight-mile section of Rocky Run Creek (downstream of Hwy 22 and upstream of the railroad crossing) is classified as trout water. Within this section, the upper six miles are designated as class 2 trout water and the lower two miles are designated as Class 3 trout water. While the dominant species is brown trout, stream surveys have reported many other native fish species such as brook trout, white sucker, blacknose dace, brook stickleback, central mud minnow, black bullhead, creek chub, bluntnose minnow, fantail darter and Johnny darter.
Hunting notes printed for Rocky Run Fishery Area
- The creek also supports stocked populations of rainbow trout.
- Hunting – deer (DMU 70G), turkeys (Zone 3), rabbits, squirrel, waterfowl, furbearers
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
What Rocky Run Fishery Area requires of hunters
Rocky Run Fishery Area access terms
Where the managed-lands map marks it open, this fishery land takes hunters and trappers in season (NR 45).
The rule book on Rocky Run 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 Rocky Run 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 Rocky Run Fishery Area
1 units sit inside Rocky Run Fishery Area, 455 acres in total.
| Name | Kind | Counties | Acres | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Run Oak Savanna | State natural area | Columbia | 455 | — |
What hunters pursue at Rocky Run 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 Columbia 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.
Rocky Run Fishery Area: opening and closing days
From bear baiting in September to the last spring turkey period, 40 season segments apply to Rocky Run 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: Columbia | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone F | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 3/1/2 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 3/1/2 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 3/1/2 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 3/1/2 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 3/1/2 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 3/1/2 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 3/1/2 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 3/1/2 | May 26, 2027 | Jun 1, 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.
Columbia County harvest near Rocky Run Fishery Area
Deer registered in the Columbia County unit, 2025: 7,189. The decade peaked at 7,440 in 2020 and bottomed at 5,828 in 2017. Through Oct. 19, 2026: 262 antlered and 309 antlerless in Columbia (preliminary). CWD year 2025 brought 616 Columbia County samples and 169 positives. Running total since 1999: 9,739 tested. No harvest is published for Rocky Run Fishery Area itself, so the county unit is the finest level.
Registered deer in the Rocky Run Fishery Area county unit
| Year | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,299 | 3,890 | 7,189 |
| 2024 | 3,317 | 3,859 | 7,176 |
| 2023 | 3,203 | 3,426 | 6,629 |
| 2022 | 3,219 | 3,658 | 6,877 |
| 2021 | 3,016 | 3,151 | 6,167 |
| 2020 | 3,357 | 4,083 | 7,440 |
CWD tests in Columbia County
| CWD year | Wild deer sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 44 | 14 |
| 2025 | 616 | 169 |
| 2024 | 595 | 129 |
| 2023 | 534 | 112 |
| 2022 | 477 | 93 |
| 2021 | 510 | 74 |
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 Rocky Run Fishery Area: more places to hunt
The big marker is Rocky Run Fishery Area. Smaller ones are its 10 closest neighbours. The neighbours add 7,311 acres between them.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rowe | WPA | 334 | 2.7 mi | southeast |
| Hinkson Creek | WPA | 337 | 3.7 mi | southwest |
| Mud Lake (Columbia County) | Wildlife area | 2,277 | 4.1 mi | southeast |
| Mud Lake Forest and Ponds | State natural area | 131 | 4.3 mi | southeast |
| Empire Prairies | State natural area | 116 | 5.2 mi | southeast |
| Hinkson Creek | Fishery area | 235 | 5.3 mi | southwest |
| Roelke Creek | Fishery area | 40 | 5.3 mi | northeast |
| Swan Lake Sedge Meadow and Barrens | State natural area | 698 | 5.9 mi | northwest |
| Rowan Creek | Fishery area | 644 | 6.0 mi | southwest |
| Swan Lake | Wildlife area | 2,499 | 6.2 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) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside))). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rocky Run Fishery Area: nearby towns and businesses
Town pages first, then shops, processors and DNR desks.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyocena | Columbia | 3.4 mi | 732 | 15,185 |
| Rio | Columbia | 5.2 mi | 1,126 | 13,789 |
| Poynette | Columbia | 5.3 mi | 2,834 | 8,779 |
| Dekorra | Columbia | 5.8 mi | — | 14,996 |
County-level hunting pages: Columbia County.
Shops a short drive from Rocky Run Fishery Area
DNR desks closest to Rocky Run Fishery Area
Service center for Columbia County business: DNR Fitchburg 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.
Rocky Run Fishery Area: nearest ranges
About 9 miles separates Rocky Run Fishery Area from Columbia County Shooting Range, the nearest public map range. Nearby rod and gun clubs round out the list.
rifle, shotgun on file
archery, 3D archery on file
handgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Shooting light at Rocky Run Fishery Area by date
At Rocky Run 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 89.34 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
What people ask about hunting Rocky Run Fishery Area
Is deer baiting legal near Rocky Run Fishery Area?
No: Columbia County bans deer baiting and feeding. Wild deer with CWD are documented in Columbia County.
What are the waterfowl zones for Rocky Run 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 Rocky Run Fishery Area?
Through GameReg (online, phone or a station) by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
Do I need blaze orange at Rocky Run Fishery Area?
In any open firearm deer season, wear blaze orange or pink on at least half your coat and cap.
If Rocky Run Fishery Area is full, where next?
Within a short drive: Rowe Waterfowl Production Area (3 miles), Hinkson Creek Waterfowl Production Area (4 miles) and Mud Lake Wildlife Area (Columbia County) (4 miles).
Which Wisconsin license covers Rocky Run Fishery Area?
Go Wild sells everything needed; antlerless tags on public land must be public-access tags.
Which agency sets the rules on Rocky Run Fishery Area?
The Wisconsin DNR treats it as a DNR fishery area that is open to hunting.
What is inside Rocky Run Fishery Area?
1 part, each linked above.
Where do Rocky Run Fishery Area hunters spend the night?
Start from Wyocena; the land is 3 miles off, in Columbia County.
What acreage is listed for Rocky Run Fishery Area?
Roughly 740 acres.
Which DMU takes in Rocky Run Fishery Area?
Deer unit Columbia; zone Southern Farmland. The 2026 antlerless quota is 8,800 (Columbia); use a public-access antlerless tag here.
Which species are hunted on Rocky Run Fishery Area?
Listed: whitetails, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Which turkey zone is Rocky Run Fishery Area in?
Zone 3, one bird per spring authorization.
Check Rocky Run Fishery Area once more
Refuges, closed areas and park windows at Rocky Run Fishery Area can shift mid-season; the property page and the DNR map have the current picture.
Sources for this page: DNR: 2135rockyruncreek · DNR GIS · DNR: county; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); Flappy Pigeon (CC BY-SA 4.0).