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2026-27 · WPA
Swan Pond 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 Dane County.
Photo: edenpictures (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area
What the record says about Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area
On paper it is a federal waterfowl production area; on the map it is in Dane County. DNR staff of the South Central Region cover this part of south-central Wisconsin. Manager: the Fish and Wildlife Service. Its 240 acres rank 30th of the 103 Wisconsin waterfowl production areas with an acreage on file. From Oregon, our closest town page, it is roughly 2 miles to the northwest. Parent property: Leopold 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 Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area
Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area rules and licenses
Access rules at Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area
Bring it in, carry it out: WPA hunters remove decoys, blinds, stands and boats daily, and hunt under state seasons. Dogs under immediate control, orange or pink on gun-season blinds, and no hunting at Blue Wing or Wilcox WPAs.
State law on Swan Pond 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 Swan Pond 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.
Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area: DMU, bear zone and turkey zone
Deer management: Dane, Southern Farmland zone. The Natural Resources Board set 5,200 antlerless deer as the 2026 quota there. Bear Zone F has a 2026 harvest target of 50 with 764 Class A permits drawn; it took 1 preference point to win one. Spring turkey tags are sold for Zone 1; the DNR issued 64,574 there in 2025, the newest level published. Chronic wasting disease has turned up in wild deer in Dane County; DNR testing is free and voluntary statewide. The deer baiting ban covers Dane County.
Deer units that cover Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area
| Deer unit | Zone | Antlerless goal | Public tags left | Private tags left | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dane | Southern Farmland | 5,200 | 700 | 2,500 | 2 |
| Dane County Metro Sub-Unit | Metro sub-unit | Counted in parent | 0 | 0 | — |
Zones beyond deer for Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear F | Dogs barred | 50 target, 764 permits | 1 point | 27 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 1 | 64,574 spring tags (2025) | 21% success | 13,813 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse zone B | Oct 17–Dec 8 | 2 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 | ||
| 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.
Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area: species with bag limits
Listed game at Swan Pond 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 Dane 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 Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area
Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area sits in the Southern Farmland deer zone. These 42 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 | Metro sub-unit gun | Metro sub-unit: Madison | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 9, 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: Dane | 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 F/E | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 1/2 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 1/2 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 1/2 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 1/2 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 1/2 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 1/2 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 1/2 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 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.
Linked units of Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area
It shares Leopold Wetland Management District with 56 sibling units.
Other units of Leopold Wetland Management District
| Name | Type | County | Acreage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uihlein | WPA | Winnebago | 2,436 |
| Baraboo River | WPA | Columbia | 950 |
| Schoeneberg Marsh | WPA | Columbia | 735 |
| Harvey's Marsh | WPA | Dane, Rock | 681 |
| Trenton | WPA | Dodge | 514 |
| Oakfield | WPA | Fond du Lac | 430 |
| Becker | WPA | Columbia | 357 |
| Manthey | WPA | Columbia | 352 |
| New Chester | WPA | Adams | 343 |
| Hinkson Creek | WPA | Columbia | 337 |
| Rowe | WPA | Columbia | 334 |
| Kettle Moraine | WPA | Sheboygan | 303 |
| Schwengel | WPA | Ozaukee | 302 |
| Severson | WPA | Columbia | 251 |
| Island Lake | WPA | Dane | 245 |
Public property near Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area
The large pin is Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area; the others are the 10 closest public properties. Together they hold 6,548 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hook Lake Bog | State natural area | 527 | 4.6 mi | east |
| Waubesa Wetlands | State natural area | 333 | 4.6 mi | northeast |
| Nevin Springs Fish and | Fishery area | 331 | 4.9 mi | north |
| Lake Waubesa | Fishery area | 22 | 5.1 mi | northeast |
| Hook Lake Bog Grass Lake | Wildlife area | 874 | 5.1 mi | east |
| Story Creek Streambank Protection Area | Habitat area | 496 | 5.4 mi | south |
| Anthony Branch Fisheries and | Habitat area | 684 | 5.9 mi | southeast |
| Anthony Branch (Remnant) | Fishery area | 2 | 6.4 mi | southeast |
| Brooklyn | Wildlife area | 2,923 | 6.7 mi | southwest |
| Capital Springs Centennial State Park and Recreation Area | State park | 356 | 7.0 mi | northeast |
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 Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area hunts, by the numbers
Dane County hunters registered 4,438 deer in 2025, 2,247 of them bucks. Totals swing between 3,630 and 4,948 across the years charted. 2026 so far, still changing: Dane, 254. CWD sampling in Dane County, CWD year 2025: 1,002 wild deer sampled, 193 positive. Overall: 36,578 samples and 2,116 positives. The DNR reports deer by unit, not by property: read these as the Dane County picture.
Dane County bucks and antlerless
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,247 | 2,191 | 4,438 |
| 2024 | 2,084 | 2,319 | 4,403 |
| 2023 | 2,328 | 2,133 | 4,461 |
| 2022 | 2,170 | 2,303 | 4,473 |
| 2021 | 1,936 | 2,011 | 3,947 |
| 2020 | 2,421 | 2,527 | 4,948 |
Dane County CWD sampling
| Year | Sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 64 | 13 |
| 2025 | 1,002 | 193 |
| 2024 | 964 | 166 |
| 2023 | 941 | 171 |
| 2022 | 1,016 | 198 |
| 2021 | 971 | 158 |
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.
Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area: nearest ranges
No range sits on Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Hope Rod & Gun Club, about 9 miles away. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
handgun, trap, shotgun, skeet, smallbore rimfire on file
trap, skeet, sporting clays, 5-stand, archery on file
archery, 3D archery on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Home bases for a Swan Pond 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | Dane | 2.2 mi | 11,895 | 10,083 |
| Belleville | Dane | 8.1 mi | 2,635 | 7,306 |
| Madison | Dane | 9.9 mi | 285,300 | 4,557 |
| Deerfield | Dane | 19 mi | 2,647 | 6,488 |
Read up on the county: Dane County.
Taxidermy and supplies for Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area hunters
Phone numbers for Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area questions
The DNR service center listed for Dane County is DNR Fitchburg Service Center, 608-275-3266.
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.
Swan Pond 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 | 6:03 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 89.42 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area
Where do I register game taken on Swan Pond 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 Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area?
The standard license for your game; no landowner permission on public ground.
Which public properties lie near Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area?
Three to try: Hook Lake Bog State Natural Area (5 miles), Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area (5 miles) and Nevin Springs Fish and Wildlife Area (5 miles).
Is Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area its own property?
Yes, Leopold Wetland Management District.
How is Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area classified?
Federal waterfowl production area, under the Fish and Wildlife Service.
How much land is in Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area?
It covers 240 acres by the recorded figure.
Where in the state does Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area lie?
Dane County holds it, 2 miles from Oregon.
What is Swan Pond 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 Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area?
The Southern Farmland zone, Dane. Quota for 2026: 5,200 antlerless.
Is bear hunting possible at Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area?
Zone F; hound hunting is not allowed there.
Can I turkey hunt Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area in spring?
Zone 1; 2025 saw 13,813 birds registered in the zone.
When can I hunt ducks at Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area?
Southern for ducks, Southern for geese. The regular Southern Zone duck season opens Oct 3.
Has CWD turned up in the county around Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area?
The deer baiting ban applies in Dane County. CWD: yes, in Dane County.
Last checks on Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area has the final say on closures and maps.
Sources for this page: FWS realty layer · USFWS: hunting · USFWS: leopold · eCFR: section 32.68; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); Joe Mabel (CC BY-SA 4.0).