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Wildlife area · West Central region
Sandhill Wildlife Area for Wisconsin hunters
A hunter's summary of Sandhill Wildlife Area in Wood County: zones and quota, rules, CWD numbers and local help.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Sandhill Wildlife Area
Sandhill Wildlife Area: record card
Sandhill Wildlife Area: a DNR state wildlife area, located in Wood County. Region on record: the DNR West Central Region. The Wisconsin DNR writes the rules on the ground. The 9,642 acres on record put it 13th of the 285 state wildlife areas we list. Base town: Babcock, some 4 miles away. 1 units or parcels make it up.
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 Sandhill Wildlife Area
Sandhill Wildlife Area deer unit, quota and game zones
The deer unit is DMU 204, in the Central Forest zone. The 2026 antlerless quota for that unit is 500. For black bear this is Zone C, with no hound hunting; 4,465 permits for 2026. Turkey hunting falls under Zone 1, which had 64,574 spring permits in 2025. The DNR counts Wood County among its CWD-affected counties. Wood County sits under the DNR deer baiting and feeding ban.
The deer unit around Sandhill Wildlife Area
| DMU | Deer zone | Antlerless quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Free tags per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 204 | Central Forest | 500 | 16 | 355 | — |
Bear, turkey and bird zones at Sandhill Wildlife Area
| Zone | Rule | Numbers | Extra | 2025 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear C | Bait only | 875 target, 4,465 permits | 2 points | 663 bears in 2025 |
| Wild turkey 1 | 64,574 spring tags (2025) | 21% success | 13,813 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse zone A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Ducks | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Geese | 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% | |
| Wolf zone 5 | Closed | Federally 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.
Rules on the ground at Sandhill Wildlife Area
Entry terms for Sandhill Wildlife Area
Anyone licensed can hunt and trap here in season. Watch for posted refuges and closed areas, and follow NR 45.
Wisconsin rules that follow you to Sandhill Wildlife Area
During any firearm deer season, everyone hunting except waterfowlers wears blaze orange or fluorescent pink on at least half the clothing above the waist, and on half of any cap. DNR land rule: 144 sq in of solid orange or pink on any ground blind in gun season. Leave no stand overnight south of Hwy. 64. North of the highway, two per hunter per county may stay from Sept. 1 to Jan. 31. GameReg registration is due by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Sandhill Wildlife Area: licenses and tags
Go Wild carries every license. For antlerless deer on public ground, use a public-access tag for the right DMU.
Sandhill Wildlife Area closed zones
Closed or limited zones on Sandhill Wildlife Area: 1.
| Closed area | Type | Period | Acres | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandhill Wildlife Area | Sandhill Wildlife Area public access, hunting, and trapping seasons are administered through Administrative Code NR10.22 and are managed separately from statewide regulations | Jan 1–Dec 31 | 9,081 | NR 10.22 |
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.
Game and bag limits at Sandhill Wildlife Area
Whitetails and raccoons, foxes and coyotes, per the property record.
White-tailed deer
Furbearers
Other legal game follows the Wood County season table below.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Every Sandhill Wildlife Area season on one table
Private and public land share these dates. A state park, refuge or Fort McCoy can close sooner, so read the property page before you go.
| Animal | Segment | Scope | Starts | Ends | Open 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, Wood | 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 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 3/1 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 3/1 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 3/1 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 3/1 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 3/1 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 3/1 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 3/1 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 3/1 | 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.
Sandhill Wildlife Area described by the DNR
Quoted as published; nothing here is our wording.
Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR The Trumpeter Trail Auto Tour route is open for the season, and will close at sunset Nov. 4, 2026. Call our office at 715-884-2437 for current status of the Trumpeter Trail. Sandhill Wildlife Area spans an impressive 9,150 acres in the ancient Glacial Lake Wisconsin bed. Its name derives from a series of gently rolling sandy ridges crisscrossing the property. Managed by a team of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) employees, this property boasts a unique 9-foot deer-proof fence, which creates an ideal environment for wildlife research.
Special permits and restrictions are in place within the fenced area of the property; however, visitors are welcome to enter through the designated entrance gates to explore and recreate. DNR staff collectively manage the Sandhill Wildlife Area, Wood County Wildlife Area, and the Meadow Valley Wildlife Area. Together, these three wildlife areas are called the Sandhill-Meadow Valley Work Unit. They make up the largest block of state-managed wildlife lands in Wisconsin. Nearly 150 square miles of public lands lie within the work unit.
Sandhill Wildlife Area: hunting text as published
- The low, sandy uplands feature oak, aspen and jack pine forests, creating a picturesque setting for wildlife viewing, birdwatching, hiking, hunting (by permit) and much more.
- One year, a local hunter walked all day in Sandhill and the surrounding lands without seeing a deer track.
- Trapping is allowed by permit only.
- Hunting is only permitted for certain species during seasons posted at Sandhill Wildlife Area.
- Deer hunting is generally limited to the annual Learn to Hunt Deer event for youth (age 12-15) and first-time adult hunters (age 16+).
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Every unit of Sandhill Wildlife Area
Sandhill Wildlife Area lists 1 unit with 86 acres between them.
| Unit | Type | County | Acres | Game listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow River Floodplain Forest | State natural area | Wood | 86 | — |
Harvest numbers for the country around Sandhill Wildlife Area
2025 in Wood County: 2,266 bucks, 3,150 antlerless, 5,416 in all. Range since 2016: 4,373 to 6,158 deer a year. Early 2026 registrations (archery, crossbow, youth hunt): DMU 204 43. The DNR sampled 292 deer from Wood County in 2025; 1 had CWD. 3 positives overall, from 2,733 deer. In 2025, Wood County produced 27 registered bears. Figures are for the whole county unit, not Sandhill Wildlife Area alone; the DNR does not report harvest by property.
Wood County unit harvest
| Season | Bucks | Does and fawns | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,266 | 3,150 | 5,416 |
| 2024 | 2,951 | 3,207 | 6,158 |
| 2023 | 2,478 | 2,653 | 5,131 |
| 2022 | 2,750 | 2,729 | 5,479 |
| 2021 | 2,505 | 2,424 | 4,929 |
| 2020 | 2,661 | 2,676 | 5,337 |
CWD samples, Wood County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 9 | 0 |
| 2025 | 292 | 1 |
| 2024 | 241 | 0 |
| 2023 | 184 | 0 |
| 2022 | 201 | 1 |
| 2021 | 209 | 0 |
Bears registered in Wood County
| Season | Bears | Boars | Sows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24 | 13 | 11 |
| 2025 | 27 | 17 | 10 |
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.
Bed, fuel and a butcher near Sandhill Wildlife Area
Where to sleep, where to buy shells, where to drop off a deer.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babcock | Wood | 3.6 mi | — | 85,496 |
| Pittsville | Wood | 7.3 mi | 808 | 38,270 |
| Ceex Haci | Wood | 11 mi | — | 30,121 |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Wood | 17 mi | 18,675 | 6,627 |
Season and zone pages by county: Wood County.
Who processes a deer from Sandhill Wildlife Area
Where to ask about Sandhill Wildlife Area
Licenses and questions for Wood County go through the DNR Wausau 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.
Sandhill Wildlife Area and nearby public ground
Sandhill Wildlife Area at the big pin; the nearest 10 public places around it. Combined, 285,187 acres are on record.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood County | Wildlife area | 19,240 | 4.6 mi | southwest |
| Wood | County forest | 37,826 | 5.4 mi | southwest |
| Kingston Pines | State natural area | 535 | 11 mi | southwest |
| Cranberry Creek Mound Group | State natural area | 675 | 13 mi | southeast |
| Meadow Valley | Wildlife area | 58,071 | 14 mi | southwest |
| Necedah | Wildlife refuge | 45,000 | 14 mi | south |
| Jackson | County forest | 122,685 | 15 mi | west |
| Saratoga Barrens | State natural area | 13 | 16 mi | east |
| Meadow Valley Barrens | State natural area | 631 | 17 mi | south |
| Ten Mile Creek (St. Croix County) | Habitat area | 511 | 17 mi | east |
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.
Shooting-hour table for Sandhill Wildlife Area
Two tables cover the state, one for the Northern Area and one for the Southern Area, each for Zone A. West of 88 degrees you add 4 minutes per degree of longitude.
| Date | Why it matters | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 90.16 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Sandhill Wildlife Area: nearest ranges
About 14 miles separates Sandhill Wildlife Area from Sherwood Shooting Range, the nearest public map range. Club ranges within 30 miles are included.
rifle, trap, sporting clays, shotgun on file
trap, skeet, shotgun on file
trap, skeet, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Before-the-trip answers for Sandhill Wildlife Area
Is Sandhill Wildlife Area a big property?
9,642 acres in the source data.
Which town works as a base for Sandhill Wildlife Area?
Wood County; Babcock, the nearest town we cover, is 4 miles away.
Which species does the record give for Sandhill Wildlife Area?
Whitetails and raccoons, foxes and coyotes, plus any other season open in the county.
What deer tags work on Sandhill Wildlife Area?
It is in DMU 204 (Central Forest). This year the antlerless quota is 500.
How hard is a bear permit for Sandhill Wildlife Area?
Zone C; hounds may not be used there.
Which zone do I apply for to hunt turkeys at Sandhill Wildlife Area?
Zone 1. Success in 2025 was 21%.
Which goose zone is Sandhill Wildlife Area in?
Ducks follow the Southern zone, Canada geese the Southern zone. Opening day for Southern Zone ducks is Oct 3.
Can I bait deer at Sandhill Wildlife Area?
No bait or feed in Wood County. The county list for CWD includes Wood County.
When does orange apply at Sandhill Wildlife Area?
Pink counts the same as orange: 50% above the waist in firearm deer seasons.
Does a Sandhill Wildlife Area deer go into GameReg?
By 5 p.m. the following day, through GameReg; bears also go to a station or online the same way.
What paperwork does Sandhill Wildlife Area need?
Gun deer ($24), archer ($24) or small game ($18) for residents; nonresident gun deer is $200.
Are there restrictions inside Sandhill Wildlife Area?
Not all of it. The DNR layer lists 1 zone such as Sandhill Wildlife Area.
Which public land sits closest to Sandhill Wildlife Area?
Wood County Wildlife Area (5 miles), Wood County Forest (5 miles) and Kingston Pines State Natural Area (11 miles), each with a page here.
Signing off on Sandhill Wildlife Area
Gates, refuges and open areas at Sandhill Wildlife Area are the manager's call; confirm them before opening day.
Sources for this page: DNR: Sandhill · 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: ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); Virginia State Parks staff (CC BY 2.0).