Home › Wisconsin › Public land › Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area
State natural area, west-central Wisconsin
Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area, a hunter's guide
Who runs it, which deer unit and bear zone cover it, and the public land and towns around it in Chippewa County.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area
What the record says about Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area
On paper it is a DNR-owned State Natural Area; on the map it is in Chippewa County. DNR staff of the West Central Region cover this part of west-central Wisconsin. Manager: the Wisconsin DNR. Its 700 acres rank 82nd of the 449 Wisconsin state natural areas with an acreage on file. In the natural areas program it is site 617, T31N-8W, Section 5. T32N-8W, Sections 32, 33. From Jim Falls, our closest town page, it is roughly 12 miles to the northwest. Parent property: Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area.
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 Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area
Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area in the agency's words
Unedited text from the official page.
Town Line Lake and Woods feature a large, second-growth block of medium-aged, dry-mesic forest in an area of rough morainal topography dotted with kettle lakes and wetlands. Dominant trees include red oak, white oak, red maple, and big-tooth aspen. The importance of the canopy species varies locally within the block and scattered large individual trees are present. Other trees present include black cherry, paper birch, basswood, white ash, and white and red pines. White ash and red maple are the most common saplings and the tall shrub layer is composed of maple-leaf viburnum, beaked hazelnut, and witch-hazel.
Characteristic herbs are big-leaf aster, lady fern, pointed tick-trefoil, naked tick-trefoil, wild geranium, sweet cicely, early meadow-rue, hog peanut, American starflower, and American lopseed. Some areas are comprised of mostly northern plant species such as huckleberry, early low-blueberry, wintergreen, and narrow-leaved cow-wheat. Several small seepage lakes and kettle wetlands are also present including poor fen, tamarack swamp, and emergent marsh. Small, scattered patches of wet-mesic white pine-yellow birch-black spruce forest are found within the area.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area rules and licenses
Access rules at Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area
State Natural Area rules: hunt and trap where not posted, but no camping, no vehicles, no drones and no collecting plants.
State law on Townline Lake and Woods State Natural 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 Townline Lake and Woods State Natural 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.
Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area: DMU, bear zone and turkey zone
Deer management: DMU 110, Northern Forest zone. The Natural Resources Board set 1,765 antlerless deer as the 2026 quota there. Bear Zone D has a 2026 harvest target of 1,100 with 3,855 Class A permits drawn; it took 2 preference points to win one. Spring turkey tags are sold for Zone 4; the DNR issued 34,997 there in 2025, the newest level published. Chronic wasting disease has turned up in wild deer in Chippewa County; DNR testing is free and voluntary statewide. The deer baiting ban covers Chippewa County.
Deer units that cover Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area
| Deer unit | Zone | Antlerless goal | Public tags left | Private tags left | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 110 | Northern Forest | 1,765 | 421 | 6,419 | — |
Zones beyond deer for Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear D | Dogs legal | 1,100 target, 3,855 permits | 2 points | 931 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 4 | 34,997 spring tags (2025) | 24% success | 8,472 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse zone A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose zone | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf zone 3 | 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.
Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area: species with bag limits
The record lists no species. Every season open in Chippewa County works here within the rules above.
That makes the Chippewa County calendar (42 rows) the one to read.
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.
Season dates that cover Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area
Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area sits in the Central Farmland and Northern Forest 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: Eau Claire | 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, Chippewa | 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 D/A | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone C/E | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D/A | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone D/A | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 4 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 4 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 4 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 4 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 4 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose | Northern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| 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 Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area
It shares Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area with 1 sibling unit.
Other units of Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area
| Name | Type | County | Acreage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa Moraine Lakes | State natural area | Chippewa | 69 |
Public property near Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area
The large pin is Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area; the others are the 10 closest public properties. Together they hold 3,140 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North of North Shattuck Lake | State natural area | 603 | 3.0 mi | northwest |
| Chippewa Moraine | Ice Age Trail area | 350 | 3.2 mi | northwest |
| Long Lake | Wildlife area | 16 | 3.4 mi | north |
| Marsh Miller Cedars | State natural area | 88 | 3.7 mi | south |
| Bob Lake | Habitat area | 40 | 4.1 mi | southeast |
| Ohmart Wetlands | State natural area | 717 | 4.6 mi | northwest |
| McCann Creek | Fishery area | 318 | 6.2 mi | southwest |
| Duncan Creek | Fishery area | 241 | 6.6 mi | west |
| Island Lake | Wildlife area | 39 | 7.5 mi | north |
| Firth Lake | Ice Age Trail area | 728 | 8.2 mi | east |
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.
How the land around Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area hunts, by the numbers
Chippewa County hunters registered 6,315 deer in 2025, 2,776 of them bucks. Totals swing between 4,095 and 6,783 across the years charted. 2026 so far, still changing: DMU 110, 313. CWD sampling in Chippewa County, CWD year 2025: 162 wild deer sampled, 0 positive. Overall: 2,024 samples and 1 positives. Chippewa County: 127 bears in 2025. The DNR reports deer by unit, not by property: read these as the Chippewa County picture.
Chippewa County bucks and antlerless
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,776 | 3,539 | 6,315 |
| 2024 | 3,070 | 3,552 | 6,622 |
| 2023 | 2,615 | 3,007 | 5,622 |
| 2022 | 3,201 | 3,582 | 6,783 |
| 2021 | 3,000 | 3,171 | 6,171 |
| 2020 | 2,940 | 3,533 | 6,473 |
Chippewa County CWD sampling
| Year | Sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 162 | 0 |
| 2024 | 105 | 1 |
| 2023 | 115 | 0 |
| 2022 | 133 | 0 |
| 2021 | 174 | 0 |
Chippewa County bears
| Year | Bears registered | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 129 | 72 | 57 |
| 2025 | 127 | 65 | 62 |
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.
Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area: nearest ranges
No range sits on Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Cornell Shooting Range, about 11 miles away. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle, handgun on file
trap, sporting clays, shotgun on file
rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, air gun, action pistol on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Home bases for a Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area trip
Closest towns, measured as the crow flies, then the businesses around them.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Falls | Chippewa | 12 mi | — | 6,843 |
| Holcombe | Chippewa | 13 mi | — | 26,943 |
| Bruce | Rusk | 18 mi | 754 | 23,421 |
| Chippewa Falls | Chippewa | 19 mi | 15,075 | 6,178 |
Read up on the county: Chippewa County.
Taxidermy and supplies for Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area hunters
Phone numbers for Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area questions
The DNR service center listed for Chippewa 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.
Townline Lake and Woods State Natural 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 91.38 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area
Which public properties lie near Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area?
Three to try: North of North Shattuck Lake State Natural Area (3 miles), Chippewa Moraine State Ice Age Trail Area (3 miles) and Long Lake State Habitat Area (3 miles).
Is Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area its own property?
Yes, Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area.
How is Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area classified?
DNR-owned State Natural Area, under the Wisconsin DNR.
How much land is in Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area?
It covers 700 acres by the recorded figure.
Where in the state does Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area lie?
Chippewa County holds it, 12 miles from Jim Falls.
Does Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area limit which species I hunt?
No species list is published, so every open season applies under the property rules.
Which deer management unit holds Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area?
The Northern Forest zone, DMU 110. Quota for 2026: 1,765 antlerless.
Is bear hunting possible at Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area?
Zone D; hounds are legal there.
Can I turkey hunt Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area in spring?
Zone 4; 2025 saw 8,472 birds registered in the zone.
When can I hunt ducks at Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area?
Northern for ducks, Northern for geese. The regular Northern Zone duck season opens Sep 26.
Has CWD turned up in the county around Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area?
The deer baiting ban applies in Chippewa County. CWD: yes, in Chippewa County.
Is blaze pink legal at Townline Lake and Woods State Natural 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 Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area?
Register on GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; the confirmation number starts with W.
Last checks on Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of Townline Lake and Woods State Natural Area has the final say on closures and maps.
Sources for this page: DNR: TownlineLakeandWoods · DNR GIS · DNR: StateNaturalAreas; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Joe K Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0); urbanwoodchuck (CC BY 2.0).