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2026-27 · WPA
Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area, a hunter's guide
Who runs it, which deer unit and bear zone cover it, what it holds (ducks and geese, whitetails, wild turkeys and pheasants), and the public land and towns around it in Polk County.
Photo: Aaron Carlson (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 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 Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area
On paper it is a federal waterfowl production area; on the map it is in Polk County. DNR staff of the Northern Region cover this part of the Northwoods. Manager: the Fish and Wildlife Service. Its 149 acres rank 49th of the 103 Wisconsin waterfowl production areas with an acreage on file. From Clear Lake, our closest town page, it is roughly 5 miles to the northeast. Parent property: St. Croix Wetland Management District.
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 Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area
Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area rules and licenses
Access rules at Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area
Bring it in, carry it out: WPA hunters remove decoys, blinds, stands and boats daily, and hunt under state seasons. In the St. Croix district, posted parts of St. Croix Prairie and Prairie Flats-South are closed; Oak Ridge (420 acres) opens only for deer in fall.
State law on Rose Lee Waterfowl Production 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. By 5 p.m. the following day, register the deer on GameReg (online, phone or station).
Which licenses Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area needs
Get licenses on Go Wild or at an agent. Antlerless tags are unit-specific and labelled public or private land.
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.
Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area: DMU, bear zone and turkey zone
Deer management: Polk, Central Farmland zone. The Natural Resources Board set 11,200 antlerless deer as the 2026 quota there. Bear Zone D has a 2026 harvest target of 1,100 with 3,855 Class A permits drawn; it took 2 preference points to win one. Spring turkey tags are sold for Zone 4; the DNR issued 34,997 there in 2025, the newest level published. Chronic wasting disease has turned up in wild deer in Polk County; DNR testing is free and voluntary statewide. The deer baiting ban covers Polk County.
Deer units that cover Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area
| Deer unit | Zone | Antlerless goal | Public tags left | Private tags left | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 11,200 | 987 | 5,191 | 2 |
Zones beyond deer for Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear D | Dogs 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 zone A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose zone | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| 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.
Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area: species with bag limits
Listed game at Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area: 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 Polk 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 Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area
Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area sits in the Central Farmland and Northern Forest deer zone. These 40 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, 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.
Linked units of Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area
It shares St. Croix Wetland Management District with 45 sibling units.
Other units of St. Croix Wetland Management District
| Name | Type | County | Acreage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Public property near Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area
The large pin is Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area; the others are the 10 closest public properties. Together they hold 4,953 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camelia Lake | Fishery area | 1 | 3.1 mi | north |
| Turtle Creek | Fishery area | 39 | 6.4 mi | east |
| Joel Marsh | Wildlife area | 1,367 | 7.2 mi | north |
| Black Brook State Habitat Area-Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area | Habitat area | 207 | 7.7 mi | southwest |
| Snake Creek Spring | Wildlife area | 199 | 8.0 mi | west |
| Bolen Creek | Fishery area | 106 | 11 mi | south |
| Cylon | Wildlife area | 2,795 | 11 mi | southwest |
| Upper Turtle Lake (Remnant) | Fishery area | 30 | 11 mi | north |
| Cylon | State natural area | 155 | 11 mi | southwest |
| Apple River Timber Demonstration Forest | Demonstration forest | 54 | 12 mi | northwest |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (FWS National Realty FWSInterest_Simplified_Authoritative (unit centroid) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
How the land around Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area hunts, by the numbers
Polk County hunters registered 8,091 deer in 2025, 3,702 of them bucks. Totals swing between 7,275 and 9,066 across the years charted. 2026 so far, still changing: Polk Central Farmland, 763. CWD sampling in Polk County, CWD year 2025: 340 wild deer sampled, 2 positive. Overall: 3,006 samples and 5 positives. Polk County: 149 bears in 2025. The DNR reports deer by unit, not by property: read these as the Polk County picture.
Polk County bucks and antlerless
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | 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 sampling
| Year | Sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 32 | 0 |
| 2025 | 340 | 2 |
| 2024 | 265 | 2 |
| 2023 | 252 | 1 |
| 2022 | 174 | 0 |
| 2021 | 170 | 0 |
Polk County bears
| Year | Bears registered | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area: nearest ranges
No range sits on Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Owen-Anderson Rifle Range, about 9 miles away. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle on file
trap, rifle, archery, 3D archery, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Home bases for a Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area trip
Closest towns, measured as the crow flies, then the businesses around them.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Lake | Polk | 5.1 mi | 1,103 | 7,120 |
| Turtle Lake | Barron | 7.2 mi | 1,036 | 9,672 |
| Almena | Barron | 11 mi | 740 | 6,171 |
| Emerald | St. Croix | 14 mi | — | 4,756 |
Read up on the county: Polk County.
Taxidermy and supplies for Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area hunters
Phone numbers for Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area questions
The DNR service center listed for Polk County is DNR Spooner Service Center, 715-635-2101.
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.
Rose Lee Waterfowl Production 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 | 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 92.18 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area
Can I turkey hunt Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area in spring?
Zone 4; 2025 saw 8,472 birds registered in the zone.
When can I hunt ducks at Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area?
Northern for ducks, Northern for geese. The regular Northern Zone duck season opens Sep 26.
Has CWD turned up in the county around Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area?
The deer baiting ban applies in Polk County. CWD: yes, in Polk County.
Is blaze pink legal at Rose Lee Waterfowl Production 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 Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area?
Register on GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; the confirmation number starts with W.
Is there a separate permit for Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area?
The standard license for your game; no landowner permission on public ground.
Which public properties lie near Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area?
Three to try: Camelia Lake Public Access (3 miles), Turtle Creek Fishery Area (6 miles) and Joel Marsh Wildlife Area (7 miles).
Is Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area its own property?
Yes, St. Croix Wetland Management District.
How is Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area classified?
Federal waterfowl production area, under the Fish and Wildlife Service.
How much land is in Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area?
It covers 149 acres by the recorded figure.
Where in the state does Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area lie?
Polk County holds it, 5 miles from Clear Lake.
What is Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area hunted for?
The agency names ducks and geese, whitetails, wild turkeys, pheasants, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes; other legal game follows the county dates.
Which deer management unit holds Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area?
The Central Farmland zone, Polk. Quota for 2026: 11,200 antlerless.
Last checks on Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of Rose Lee Waterfowl Production Area has the final say on closures and maps.
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: Rodney Campbell (CC BY 2.0); seabamirum (CC BY 2.0).