Home › Wisconsin › Public land › Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area
State natural area · West Central region
Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area for Wisconsin hunters
A hunter's summary of Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area in Jackson County: zones and quota, rules, CWD numbers and local help.
Photo: Aaron Volkening (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area
- Smrekar Lot Black River State ForestParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Wildcat Lot Black River State ForestParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- TrailheadTrailhead · 3.4 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.
Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area: record card
Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area: a DNR-owned State Natural Area, located in Jackson County. Region on record: the DNR West Central Region. The Wisconsin DNR writes the rules on the ground. The 1,052 acres on record put it 48th of the 449 state natural areas we list. The DNR numbers it SNA 613. Base town: Millston, some 4 miles away. Black River State Forest is the larger unit around it.
From the source page (WI DNR SNA parcel ownership GIS OWNER_ACRE_AMT, WDNR-owned parcels); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area
Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area deer unit, quota and game zones
The deer unit is DMU 203, in the Central Forest zone. The 2026 antlerless quota for that unit is 450. 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 Jackson County among its CWD-affected counties. Jackson County sits under the DNR deer baiting and feeding ban.
The deer unit around Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area
| DMU | Deer zone | Antlerless quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Free tags per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 203 | Central Forest | 450 | 0 | 268 | — |
Bear, turkey and bird zones at Starlight Wetlands State Natural 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 Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area
Entry terms for Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area
Hunting and trapping are generally allowed on DNR-owned State Natural Area land unless a spot is posted closed. Camping, vehicles, drones and collecting plants are not (NR 45).
Wisconsin rules that follow you to Starlight Wetlands State Natural 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.
Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area: licenses and tags
Go Wild carries every license. For antlerless deer on public ground, use a public-access tag for the right DMU.
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 Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area
With no species list from the source, read it this way: every open Wisconsin season applies here under the property rules.
Use the Jackson County season list (42 rows) below.
Species from the property record (No species list published for this property; open seasons follow statewide/zone regulations where hunting is allowed.); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Every Starlight Wetlands State Natural 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, Jackson | 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 1/3 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 1/3 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 1/3 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 1/3 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 1/3 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 1/3 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 1/3 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 1/3 | 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 | 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.
Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area described by the DNR
Quoted as published; nothing here is our wording.
Starlight Wetlands features a diverse mosaic of natural communities representative of the Central Sands including white pine-red maple swamp, black spruce swamp, dry-mesic forest, northern sedge meadow, and central poor fen. The poor fen is a large peatland dominated by a narrow-leaved sedge over a dense carpet of sphagnum moss. Woody species such as hardhack, swamp dewberry, and cranberries are also common. In some areas are extensive patches of the common yellow lake sedge, a broad-leaved species.
Along the margins of the open wetlands and within the peatland's interior are swamp conifers of black spruce, tamarack, and occasionally, jack pine. The black spruce-tamarack swamp communities occur primarily in the southeastern portion of the wetland basin. Characteristic understory species include Labrador tea, three-seeded sedge, and huckleberry. On the upslope margins is a transition to the white pine-red maple swamp with yellow birch present. The forest is situated on shallow moss peat over moist sand and features an understory of sphagnum, cinnamon fern, skunk cabbage, winterberry, Massachusetts fern, and long sedge.
Seepages and occasional spring runs are found within the forest.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area and the land it belongs with
Parent property: Black River State Forest, which has 13 listed parts.
The rest of Black River State Forest
| Page | Type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Komensky Barrens | State natural area | Jackson | 1,831 |
| Upper Black River | State natural area | Jackson | 1,533 |
| Washburn Marsh | State natural area | Jackson | 604 |
| East Fork of the Black River | State natural area | Jackson, Clark | 513 |
| Ketchum Creek Pines | State natural area | Jackson | 424 |
| Wildcat Ridge | State natural area | Jackson | 379 |
| Arbutus Oaks | State natural area | Clark | 214 |
| Milllston Ridge Barrens | State natural area | Jackson | 193 |
| Waazija Haci | State natural area | Jackson | 142 |
| Robinson Creek Pines | State natural area | Jackson | 126 |
| Castle Mound Pine Forest | State natural area | Jackson | 115 |
| Catfish Eddy Terraces | State natural area | Jackson | 75 |
Harvest numbers for the country around Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area
2025 in Jackson County: 2,333 bucks, 2,578 antlerless, 4,911 in all. Range since 2016: 4,911 to 6,250 deer a year. Early 2026 registrations (archery, crossbow, youth hunt): DMU 203 79. The DNR sampled 198 deer from Jackson County in 2025; 1 had CWD. 4 positives overall, from 3,127 deer. In 2025, Jackson County produced 47 registered bears. Figures are for the whole county unit, not Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area alone; the DNR does not report harvest by property.
Jackson County unit harvest
| Season | Bucks | Does and fawns | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,333 | 2,578 | 4,911 |
| 2024 | 2,940 | 2,780 | 5,720 |
| 2023 | 2,884 | 2,403 | 5,287 |
| 2022 | 3,230 | 3,020 | 6,250 |
| 2021 | 3,143 | 2,533 | 5,676 |
| 2020 | 3,198 | 3,018 | 6,216 |
CWD samples, Jackson County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 19 | 0 |
| 2025 | 198 | 1 |
| 2024 | 213 | 1 |
| 2023 | 225 | 2 |
| 2022 | 204 | 0 |
| 2021 | 186 | 0 |
Bears registered in Jackson County
| Season | Bears | Boars | Sows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 110 | 48 | 62 |
| 2025 | 47 | 25 | 22 |
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 Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area
Where to sleep, where to buy shells, where to drop off a deer.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millston | Jackson | 3.9 mi | — | 115,461 |
| Warrens | Monroe | 5.3 mi | 541 | 79,341 |
| Tunnel City | Monroe | 13 mi | — | 53,299 |
| Sand Pillow | Jackson | 13 mi | — | 102,555 |
Season and zone pages by county: Jackson County.
Who processes a deer from Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area
Where to ask about Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area
Licenses and questions for Jackson County go through the 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.
Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area and nearby public ground
Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area at the big pin; the nearest 10 public places around it. Combined, 235,001 acres are on record.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jay Creek Pine Forest | State natural area | 441 | 3.4 mi | east |
| Monroe | County forest | 7,443 | 3.6 mi | southeast |
| Mill Creek | Fishery area | 35 | 8.7 mi | south |
| Jackson | County forest | 122,685 | 9.3 mi | northeast |
| Bauer-Brockway Barrens | State natural area | 120 | 11 mi | northwest |
| Fort McCoy | Army post | 45,648 | 12 mi | southwest |
| Rathbone Creek | Fishery area | 21 | 13 mi | southwest |
| Kingston Pines | State natural area | 535 | 13 mi | east |
| Meadow Valley | Wildlife area | 58,071 | 15 mi | east |
| Cataract Pond | Fishery area | 2 | 15 mi | southwest |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR State Natural Areas parcel ownership GIS (centroid of WDNR-owned parcels) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Shooting-hour table for Starlight Wetlands State Natural 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 90.57 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area: nearest ranges
About 21 miles separates Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area from Sherwood Shooting Range, the nearest public map range. Club ranges within 30 miles are included.
rifle, trap, sporting clays, shotgun on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Before-the-trip answers for Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area
Is Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area DNR, county or federal ground?
A DNR-owned State Natural Area; the manager is the Wisconsin DNR.
Is Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area a big property?
1,052 acres in the source data.
Which town works as a base for Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area?
Jackson County; Millston, the nearest town we cover, is 4 miles away.
Can I hunt any species on Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area?
Every open Wisconsin season applies under the property rules; no list narrows it.
What deer tags work on Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area?
It is in DMU 203 (Central Forest). This year the antlerless quota is 450.
How hard is a bear permit for Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area?
Zone C; hounds may not be used there.
Which zone do I apply for to hunt turkeys at Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area?
Zone 1. Success in 2025 was 21%.
Which goose zone is Starlight Wetlands State Natural 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 Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area?
No bait or feed in Jackson County. The county list for CWD includes Jackson County.
When does orange apply at Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area?
Pink counts the same as orange: 50% above the waist in firearm deer seasons.
Does a Starlight Wetlands State Natural 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 Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area need?
Gun deer ($24), archer ($24) or small game ($18) for residents; nonresident gun deer is $200.
Which public land sits closest to Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area?
Jay Creek Pine Forest State Natural Area (3 miles), Monroe County Forest (4 miles) and Mill Creek Fishery Area (9 miles), each with a page here.
Signing off on Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area
Gates, refuges and open areas at Starlight Wetlands State Natural Area are the manager's call; confirm them before opening day.
Sources for this page: DNR: StarlightWetlands · DNR GIS · DNR: StateNaturalAreas; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Russ (CC BY 2.0); bgautrea (CC BY-SA 2.0).