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2026-27 · Wildlife area
Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area, a hunter's guide
Who runs it, which deer unit and bear zone cover it, what it holds (whitetails, wild turkeys, pheasants and ruffed grouse), and the public land and towns around it in Trempealeau County.
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region from United States (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 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 Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area
On paper it is a DNR state wildlife area; on the map it is in Trempealeau County. DNR staff of the West Central Region cover this part of west-central Wisconsin. Manager: the Wisconsin DNR. Its 588 acres rank 144th of the 285 Wisconsin state wildlife areas with an acreage on file. From Dodge, our closest town page, it is roughly 5 miles to the east. It is the parent of 1 page on this site.
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 Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area
Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area in the agency's words
Unedited text from the official page.
Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area is a 542-acre property in Trempealeau County. Find it 10 miles north of Trempealeau on the west side of Highway 93. Access is along County Highway F. The property consists of upland hardwoods, marsh, bog and grassland. The property consists of upland hardwoods, marsh, tamarack bog and shrubland. The most popular activities are hunting for deer and small game.
Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area hunting wording
- Hunting (noted for rabbits, squirrels, deer, turkey, ruffed grouse and pheasants)
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area rules and licenses
Access rules at Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area
Buy the license, hunt in season, and respect posted refuges and the NR 45 code.
State law on Tamarack Creek Wildlife 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. Gun-season ground blinds on DNR property display 144 sq in of orange or pink from every direction. No screw-in steps or cut shooting lanes on DNR land. Overnight stands are legal north of Hwy. 64 from Sept. 1 to Jan. 31; south of it, remove them every day. By 5 p.m. the following day, register the deer on GameReg (online, phone or station).
Which licenses Tamarack Creek Wildlife 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.
Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area: DMU, bear zone and turkey zone
Deer management: Trempealeau, Central Farmland zone. The Natural Resources Board set 4,800 antlerless deer as the 2026 quota there. Bear Zone E has a 2026 harvest target of 185 with 2,628 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 Trempealeau County; DNR testing is free and voluntary statewide. The deer baiting ban covers Trempealeau County.
Deer units that cover Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area
| Deer unit | Zone | Antlerless goal | Public tags left | Private tags left | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trempealeau | Central Farmland | 4,800 | 241 | 994 | 3 |
Zones beyond deer for Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear E | Dogs 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 zone 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 | ||
| 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.
Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area: species with bag limits
Listed game at Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area: whitetails, wild turkeys, pheasants, ruffed grouse, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
White-tailed deer
Wild turkey
Pheasant
Ruffed grouse
Small game
Furbearers
The Trempealeau 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 Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area
Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area sits in the Central Farmland deer zone. These 44 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: Trempealeau | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 1, 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 1/4 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 1/4 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 1/4 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 1/4 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 1/4 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 1/4 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 1/4 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 1/4 | 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 | |
| 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.
Units inside Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area
Units inside Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area: 1, adding up to 141 acres.
| Unit | Type | Where | Size | Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamarack Creek Bog | State natural area | Trempealeau | 141 | — |
Public property near Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area
The large pin is Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area; the others are the 10 closest public properties. Together they hold 14,328 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trempealeau River Meadow | State natural area | 417 | 8.1 mi | west |
| Trempealeau River Meadows | State natural area | 412 | 8.1 mi | west |
| Trempealeau | Wildlife refuge | 6,446 | 8.8 mi | southwest |
| Perrot | State park | 1,261 | 9.4 mi | south |
| Brady's Bluff Prairie | State natural area | 57 | 9.6 mi | south |
| Trempealeau Mountain | State natural area | 61 | 9.6 mi | south |
| Van Loon Floodplain Savanna | State natural area | 1,574 | 10 mi | southeast |
| Trempealeau | Fishery area | — | 11 mi | south |
| Van Loon | Wildlife area | 4,044 | 11 mi | southeast |
| Hardies Creek Timber Demonstration Forest | Demonstration forest | 56 | 11 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.
How the land around Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area hunts, by the numbers
Trempealeau County hunters registered 7,151 deer in 2025, 3,004 of them bucks. Totals swing between 6,247 and 7,432 across the years charted. 2026 so far, still changing: Trempealeau, 559. CWD sampling in Trempealeau County, CWD year 2025: 289 wild deer sampled, 12 positive. Overall: 2,875 samples and 22 positives. Trempealeau County: 16 bears in 2025. The DNR reports deer by unit, not by property: read these as the Trempealeau County picture.
Trempealeau County bucks and antlerless
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,004 | 4,147 | 7,151 |
| 2024 | 2,855 | 3,772 | 6,627 |
| 2023 | 2,714 | 3,646 | 6,360 |
| 2022 | 2,979 | 4,352 | 7,331 |
| 2021 | 3,002 | 4,087 | 7,089 |
| 2020 | 3,171 | 4,261 | 7,432 |
Trempealeau County CWD sampling
| Year | Sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 24 | 0 |
| 2025 | 289 | 12 |
| 2024 | 239 | 6 |
| 2023 | 288 | 4 |
| 2022 | 183 | 0 |
| 2021 | 194 | 0 |
Trempealeau County bears
| Year | Bears registered | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 33 | 19 | 14 |
| 2025 | 16 | 7 | 9 |
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.
Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area: nearest ranges
No range sits on Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Pierce County Public Range, about 42 miles away. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle on file
trap, sporting clays, shotgun on file
trap, rifle, archery, muzzleloader, cowboy action on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Home bases for a Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area trip
Closest towns, measured as the crow flies, then the businesses around them.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge | Trempealeau | 5.2 mi | — | 11,905 |
| Galesville | Trempealeau | 6.7 mi | 1,663 | 17,458 |
| Trempealeau | Trempealeau | 11 mi | 1,856 | 27,422 |
| Fountain City | Buffalo | 12 mi | 785 | 12,377 |
Read up on the county: Trempealeau County.
Taxidermy and supplies for Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area hunters
Phone numbers for Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area questions
The DNR service center listed for Trempealeau County is DNR Eau Claire Service Center, 715-839-3700.
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.
Tamarack Creek Wildlife 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 | 6:11 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:55 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:16 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:44 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:56 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:15 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:17 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:02 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 E offset of 16 minutes for longitude 91.45 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area
Which public properties lie near Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area?
Three to try: Trempealeau River Meadow State Natural Area (8 miles), Trempealeau River Meadows State Natural Area (8 miles) and Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge (9 miles).
Which units make up Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area?
1 units, listed in the units section.
How is Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area classified?
DNR state wildlife area, under the Wisconsin DNR.
How much land is in Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area?
It covers 588 acres by the recorded figure.
Where in the state does Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area lie?
Trempealeau County holds it, 5 miles from Dodge.
What is Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area hunted for?
The agency names whitetails, wild turkeys, pheasants, ruffed grouse, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes; other legal game follows the county dates.
Which deer management unit holds Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area?
The Central Farmland zone, Trempealeau. Quota for 2026: 4,800 antlerless.
Is bear hunting possible at Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area?
Zone E; hound hunting is not allowed there.
Can I turkey hunt Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area in spring?
Zone 1; 2025 saw 13,813 birds registered in the zone.
When can I hunt ducks at Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area?
Southern for ducks, Southern for geese. The regular Southern Zone duck season opens Oct 3.
Has CWD turned up in the county around Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area?
The deer baiting ban applies in Trempealeau County. CWD: yes, in Trempealeau County.
Is blaze pink legal at Tamarack Creek Wildlife 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 Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area?
Register on GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; the confirmation number starts with W.
Last checks on Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area has the final say on closures and maps.
Sources for this page: DNR: Tamarack · DNR GIS · DNR: alpha; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).