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Sand Creek hunting guide
Everything we could verify about Sand Creek: acreage, zones, property rules, harvest around it and nearby ground.
Photo: Fort McCoy (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Sand Creek
Parking, trailheads and gates near Sand Creek
- Boat rampBoat ramp ยท 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking ยท 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking ยท 3.7 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.
The short version on Sand Creek
In Monroe and Jackson counties you will find Sand Creek, a DNR habitat area. On the DNR map it belongs to the West Central Region. The managing body is the Wisconsin DNR. At 683 acres it sits 11th by area in a field of 58 habitat areas. About 6 miles west of Cataract. Inside it are 1 separate record.
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.
Sand Creek, as the managers tell it
Word for word from the property page.
DNR Fisheries AreasStream Bank Protection Fee Program Sand Creek is a class 1 trout stream in Monroe and Jackson Counties. Uplands consist of a mix of hardwoods, pine, and underbrush. Directions: T 19N, R 5W, section 34.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Sand Creek: what is allowed
How access works on Sand Creek
Check the DNR public access lands map: the open parcels of this habitat land can be hunted and trapped in season.
Sand Creek: rules from the regulations
From the October youth hunt through the Holiday Hunt, blaze orange or pink covers half of your upper clothing and cap. Mark a ground blind with 144 square inches of blaze orange or pink while firearm deer seasons run. Tree stands: no tree damage, ID on unattended stands, overnight only north of Hwy. 64 during Sept. 1-Jan. 31. Register deer, turkeys and bears through GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
What Sand Creek costs in licenses
Buy through Go Wild; the free Farmland tags and bonus tags are marked public-access or private-land, and only public-access ones work here.
Pheasants and doves at Sand Creek
The DNR plans to release 180 pheasants here in 2026, over 450 huntable acres. It is a hen-and-rooster area: either sex may be taken.
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.
Tags and zones for Sand Creek
For deer it lies in the Central Farmland zone (Monroe and Jackson). This season the unit quota is 6,000 and 5,000 antlerless deer. Zone E bear permits took 1 preference point in 2026; the target is 185 bears. The 2025 spring level for Turkey Zone 1 was 64,574 authorizations; 13,813 birds were registered. Monroe and Jackson counties: CWD found in wild deer, and a CWD-positive deer earns a replacement authorization. No deer bait or feed: Monroe and Jackson counties are a ban county.
Sand Creek: antlerless quota and bonus tags
| Deer unit | Zone | 2026 quota | Public bonus left | Private bonus left | Free farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 6,000 | 586 | 1,495 | 4 |
| Jackson Central Farmland | Central Farmland | 5,000 | 0 | 1,481 | 2 |
Every other zone Sand Creek touches
| Zone | Detail | Figures | Points or note | Taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bear E | Hounds barred | 185 target, 2,628 permits | 1 point | 128 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 1 | 64,574 spring tags (2025) | 21% success | 13,813 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Goose zone | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| Elk zone | Central (Black River Elk Range) | 6 bull and 6 antlerless | Public land nearly 70% | |
| Gray wolf zone 6 | No season | Federally listed |
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.
Quarry and limits, Sand Creek
The list for Sand Creek reads: raccoons, foxes and coyotes and pheasants.
Furbearers
Pheasant
The list is what the agency names, not a limit: other Monroe County seasons apply under the same rules.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Sand Creek season calendar, 2026-27
Archery, the nine-day gun hunt, muzzleloader, bear, turkey, upland birds, rabbits, furbearers and the duck and goose splits for Sand Creek.
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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, Monroe | 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 E/C | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Elk | Elk, all weapons | Central Elk Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 1 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 1 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 1 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 1 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 1 | 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 (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.
Sand Creek: the units it holds
159 acres across 1 unit make up the listed parts of Sand Creek.
| Name | Type | County | Acreage | Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sand Creek Pines | State natural area | Monroe, Jackson | 159 | — |
Nearest public ground to Sand Creek, mapped
10 more properties lie close to Sand Creek, shown with smaller pins. Acres across them: 5,269.
| Neighbour | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black River Savanna | State natural area | 566 | 5.7 mi | west |
| Big Creek | Fishery area | 1,465 | 5.8 mi | east |
| Cataract Pond | Fishery area | 2 | 6.3 mi | east |
| North Bend Bottoms | Wildlife area | 1,684 | 6.6 mi | west |
| North Bend Wet Prairie | State natural area | 33 | 7.3 mi | west |
| Half Moon Bottoms | State natural area | 202 | 8.5 mi | west |
| Halfmoon Lake | Fishery area | 126 | 8.6 mi | west |
| Rathbone Creek | Fishery area | 21 | 8.7 mi | east |
| South Beaver Creek | Wildlife area | 1,107 | 9.6 mi | northwest |
| Albion Fish Rearing Station | Fishery area | 63 | 12 mi | north |
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.
Registered deer and bears near Sand Creek
The 2025 registered deer total for the Monroe County unit was 8,137 (3,328 antlered). 2022 was the busiest year shown (8,174 deer) and 2017 the leanest (6,840). The 2026 season to date shows 575 deer in Monroe Central Farmland and 394 deer in Jackson Central Farmland; the DNR calls it preliminary. 736 samples, 37 positive: that is Monroe County in CWD year 2025. All years combined: 73 of 6,038. 7 bears came out of Monroe County in 2025. These numbers describe the county around Sand Creek, not the property alone.
Deer registered near Sand Creek
| Year | Bucks registered | Antlerless registered | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,328 | 4,809 | 8,137 |
| 2024 | 3,479 | 4,611 | 8,090 |
| 2023 | 3,360 | 4,065 | 7,425 |
| 2022 | 3,612 | 4,562 | 8,174 |
| 2021 | 3,412 | 3,866 | 7,278 |
| 2020 | 3,733 | 4,440 | 8,173 |
Monroe County CWD by year
| CWD year | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 39 | 3 |
| 2025 | 736 | 37 |
| 2024 | 711 | 19 |
| 2023 | 676 | 7 |
| 2022 | 560 | 4 |
| 2021 | 390 | 3 |
Monroe County bear harvest
| Year | Bear harvest | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | 4 | 6 |
| 2025 | 7 | 6 | 1 |
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.
Sand Creek: nearest ranges
About 39 miles separates Sand Creek from Sherwood Shooting Range, the nearest public map range. Closer club options sit beside it.
rifle, trap, sporting clays, shotgun on file
trap, sporting clays, 5-stand, rifle, handgun on file
trap, rifle, archery, muzzleloader, cowboy action on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Towns, offices and services around Sand Creek
Towns, then services in this county and the next one over.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cataract | Monroe | 6.3 mi | — | 48,277 |
| Sparta | Monroe | 12 mi | 9,963 | 32,616 |
| Bangor | La Crosse | 13 mi | 1,573 | 3,306 |
| Black River Falls | Jackson | 16 mi | 3,563 | 59,992 |
Our county write-ups: Monroe County, Jackson County.
Butchers, mounts and gun counters near Sand Creek
Service centers near Sand Creek
For Monroe County, the DNR points to its DNR La Crosse 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.
When the shooting day opens and closes at Sand Creek
The DNR tables are worked out for Zone A in the east; Sand Creek lies in longitude Zone D, so add 12 minutes to each table time.
| Day | Reason | Northern table | Southern table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, grouse opener | 6:07 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:51 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:12 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:40 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:52 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:11 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:13 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 4:58 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 D offset of 12 minutes for longitude 90.96 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Sand Creek in questions and answers
What are the CWD and bait rules for Sand Creek?
Deer bait is illegal in Monroe and Jackson counties. Monroe and Jackson counties: CWD-positive deer on record.
Is Sand Creek in the northern or southern duck zone?
Southern duck zone and Southern goose zone. First regular duck day in the Southern Zone: Oct 3.
How fast must I register a kill on Sand Creek?
GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Can pink replace orange at Sand Creek?
Yes while gun deer seasons are open; half your upper clothing and hat in orange or fluorescent pink.
What neighbours Sand Creek?
Closest first: Black River Savanna State Natural Area (6 miles), Big Creek Fishery Area (6 miles) and Cataract Pond Public Access (6 miles).
Is a permit required for Sand Creek?
Your Wisconsin license is enough; residents pay $24 for gun deer, $18 for small game.
Who is the land manager for Sand Creek?
The Wisconsin DNR manages it; the land is a DNR habitat area.
What pages sit under Sand Creek?
It has 1 units with their own pages.
How far is the drive from Cataract to Sand Creek?
Monroe and Jackson counties, roughly 6 miles out of Cataract.
How large is Sand Creek, in acres?
Acreage on record: 683.
Is Sand Creek forest or farmland deer country?
Monroe and Jackson in the Central Farmland zone. The unit quota stands at 6,000 and 5,000 antlerless deer this year.
Which game does Sand Creek list?
The source lists raccoons, foxes and coyotes and pheasants. Other open seasons apply too, within the property rules.
Is Sand Creek good turkey ground?
Apply for Zone 1; spring periods A-F run in 2027 from April 21.
Sand Creek, final notes
Print the Sand Creek map, carry your tags, and check the manager page the week you go.
Sources for this page: DNR: 5803sandcreeksbp · DNR GIS · DNR: county · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); urbanwoodchuck (CC BY 2.0).