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Van Loon Wildlife Area hunting guide
Everything we could verify about Van Loon Wildlife Area: acreage, zones, property rules, harvest around it and nearby ground.
Photo: aarongunnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Van Loon Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Van Loon Wildlife Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 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.
The short version on Van Loon Wildlife Area
In La Crosse and Trempealeau counties you will find Van Loon Wildlife Area, a DNR state wildlife area. On the DNR map it belongs to the West Central Region. The managing body is the Wisconsin DNR. At 4,044 acres it sits 38th by area in a field of 285 state wildlife areas. About 4 miles southeast of Galesville. Inside it are 2 separate records.
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 Van Loon Wildlife Area
Van Loon Wildlife Area, as the managers tell it
Word for word from the property page.
Van Loon Wildlife Area is a 4,003-acre property located on the Black River in northwestern La Crosse County, approximately 3.5 miles northwest of the Village of Holmen. A small portion of the property in the southwest corner falls into neighboring Trempealeau County. The property encompasses much of the floodplain of the lower Black River for five miles, from "Hunter's Bridge" on USH 53/STH 93 to CTH XX in New Amsterdam, ending shortly before the Black flows into the Mississippi.
The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is directly to the south. Van Loon Wildlife Area contains two embedded State Natural Areas (SNAs), Van Loon Floodplain Forest and Van Loon Floodplain Savanna, both designated in 2008. Habitat on the property consists primarily of floodplain forest, sand prairies and oak savanna. Situated on sand and gravel deposits of the Black River, it features groves of scattered oak forest with green ash. The sparse canopy of the savanna has permitted the development of prairie grasses and forbs and the exceptionally rich groundlayer has over 100 species documented.
What the Van Loon Wildlife Area page says about hunting
- The property encompasses much of the floodplain of the lower Black River for five miles, from “Hunter’s Bridge” on USH 53/STH 93 to CTH XX in New Amsterdam, ending shortly before the Black flows into the Mississippi.
- The wildlife area is managed to provide opportunities for public hunting, fishing, trapping, and other outdoor recreation while protecting the qualities of the unique native communities and associated species found on the property.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Van Loon Wildlife Area: what is allowed
How access works on Van Loon Wildlife Area
State seasons and Wisconsin licenses are all you need, except in posted refuges and closed zones; NR 45 governs use of the property.
Van Loon Wildlife Area: rules from the regulations
From the October youth hunt through the Holiday Hunt, blaze orange or pink covers half of your upper clothing and cap. Mark a ground blind with 144 square inches of blaze orange or pink while firearm deer seasons run. Tree stands: no tree damage, ID on unattended stands, overnight only north of Hwy. 64 during Sept. 1-Jan. 31. Register deer, turkeys and bears through GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
What Van Loon Wildlife Area costs in licenses
Buy through Go Wild; the free Farmland tags and bonus tags are marked public-access or private-land, and only public-access ones work here.
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.
Tags and zones for Van Loon Wildlife Area
For deer it lies in the Central Farmland zone (La Crosse and Trempealeau). This season the unit quota is 4,000 and 4,800 antlerless deer. Zone E bear permits took 1 preference point in 2026; the target is 185 bears. The 2025 spring level for Turkey Zone 1 was 64,574 authorizations; 13,813 birds were registered. La Crosse and Trempealeau counties: CWD found in wild deer, and a CWD-positive deer earns a replacement authorization. No deer bait or feed: La Crosse and Trempealeau counties are a ban county.
Van Loon Wildlife Area: antlerless quota and bonus tags
| Deer unit | Zone | 2026 quota | Public bonus left | Private bonus left | Free farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse | Central Farmland | 4,000 | 397 | 1,191 | 3 |
| Trempealeau | Central Farmland | 4,800 | 241 | 994 | 3 |
Every other zone Van Loon Wildlife Area touches
| Zone | Detail | Figures | Points or note | Taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bear E | Hounds 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 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 | ||
| Gray wolf zone 6 | No season | Federally listed |
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.
Quarry and limits, Van Loon Wildlife Area
The list for Van Loon Wildlife Area reads: raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
Furbearers
The list is what the agency names, not a limit: other La Crosse County seasons apply under the same rules.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Van Loon Wildlife Area season calendar, 2026-27
Archery, the nine-day gun hunt, muzzleloader, bear, turkey, upland birds, rabbits, furbearers and the duck and goose splits for Van Loon Wildlife Area.
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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: La Crosse | 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: La Crosse | 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 | 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 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 1 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 1 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 1 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 1 | May 26, 2027 | Jun 1, 2027 | |
| Ruffed Grouse | Ruffed grouse | Grouse Zone A | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 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 1) | Mississippi River Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 2) | Southern Goose Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 2) | Mississippi River Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 5, 2027 | |
| 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.
Van Loon Wildlife Area: the units it holds
1,891 acres across 2 units make up the listed parts of Van Loon Wildlife Area.
| Name | Type | County | Acreage | Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Loon Floodplain Savanna | State natural area | La Crosse | 1,574 | — |
| Van Loon Floodplain Forest | State natural area | La Crosse, Trempealeau | 317 | — |
Nearest public ground to Van Loon Wildlife Area, mapped
10 more properties lie close to Van Loon Wildlife Area, shown with smaller pins. Acres across them: 102,661.
| Neighbour | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great River Trail Prairies | State natural area | 33 | 5.1 mi | south |
| Upper Mississippi River Refuge La Crosse District | Refuge district | 19,975 | 5.1 mi | southwest |
| Trempealeau Lakes | Fishery area | 169 | 5.2 mi | southwest |
| Great River | State trail | 256 | 5.7 mi | south |
| Mississippi Islands | Wildlife area | 60 | 5.8 mi | southwest |
| Trempealeau | Fishery area | — | 5.9 mi | west |
| Hardies Creek Timber Demonstration Forest | Demonstration forest | 56 | 7.1 mi | northeast |
| Perrot | State park | 1,261 | 7.4 mi | west |
| Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 80,794 | 7.4 mi | south |
| Brady's Bluff Prairie | State natural area | 57 | 8.2 mi | west |
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.
Registered deer and bears near Van Loon Wildlife Area
The 2025 registered deer total for the La Crosse County unit was 4,515 (1,911 antlered). 2025 was the busiest year shown (4,515 deer) and 2017 the leanest (3,396). The 2026 season to date shows 207 deer in La Crosse and 559 deer in Trempealeau; the DNR calls it preliminary. 154 samples, 1 positive: that is La Crosse County in CWD year 2025. All years combined: 3 of 2,083. 1 bears came out of La Crosse County in 2025. These numbers describe the county around Van Loon Wildlife Area, not the property alone.
Deer registered near Van Loon Wildlife Area
| Year | Bucks registered | Antlerless registered | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,911 | 2,604 | 4,515 |
| 2024 | 1,757 | 2,282 | 4,039 |
| 2023 | 1,848 | 2,238 | 4,086 |
| 2022 | 1,812 | 2,114 | 3,926 |
| 2021 | 1,669 | 1,875 | 3,544 |
| 2020 | 1,812 | 2,033 | 3,845 |
La Crosse County CWD by year
| CWD year | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 19 | 2 |
| 2025 | 154 | 1 |
| 2024 | 140 | 0 |
| 2023 | 159 | 0 |
| 2022 | 139 | 0 |
| 2021 | 136 | 0 |
La Crosse County bear harvest
| Year | Bear harvest | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
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.
Van Loon Wildlife Area: nearest ranges
About 48 miles separates Van Loon Wildlife Area from Viola Sportsman's Club, the nearest public map range. Closer club options sit beside it.
rifle, trap, shotgun, air gun, smallbore rimfire on file
archery, 3D archery on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Towns, offices and services around Van Loon Wildlife Area
Towns, then services in this county and the next one over.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galesville | Trempealeau | 4.5 mi | 1,663 | 17,458 |
| Holmen | La Crosse | 4.6 mi | 11,866 | 23,671 |
| Trempealeau | Trempealeau | 5.6 mi | 1,856 | 27,422 |
| Brice Prairie | La Crosse | 6.1 mi | — | 23,918 |
Our county write-ups: La Crosse County, Trempealeau County.
Butchers, mounts and gun counters near Van Loon Wildlife Area
Service centers near Van Loon Wildlife Area
For La Crosse County, the DNR points to its 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.
When the shooting day opens and closes at Van Loon Wildlife Area
The DNR tables are worked out for Zone A in the east; Van Loon Wildlife Area lies in longitude Zone E, so add 16 minutes to each table time.
| Day | Reason | Northern table | Southern table |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 91.32 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Van Loon Wildlife Area in questions and answers
What neighbours Van Loon Wildlife Area?
Closest first: Great River Trail Prairies State Natural Area (5 miles), Upper Mississippi River Refuge – La Crosse District (5 miles) and Trempealeau Lakes Fishery Area (5 miles).
Is a permit required for Van Loon Wildlife Area?
Your Wisconsin license is enough; residents pay $24 for gun deer, $18 for small game.
Who is the land manager for Van Loon Wildlife Area?
The Wisconsin DNR manages it; the land is a DNR state wildlife area.
What pages sit under Van Loon Wildlife Area?
It has 2 units with their own pages.
How far is the drive from Galesville to Van Loon Wildlife Area?
La Crosse and Trempealeau counties, roughly 4 miles out of Galesville.
How large is Van Loon Wildlife Area, in acres?
Acreage on record: 4,044.
Is Van Loon Wildlife Area forest or farmland deer country?
La Crosse and Trempealeau in the Central Farmland zone. The unit quota stands at 4,000 and 4,800 antlerless deer this year.
Which game does Van Loon Wildlife Area list?
The source lists raccoons, foxes and coyotes. Other open seasons apply too, within the property rules.
Is Van Loon Wildlife Area good turkey ground?
Apply for Zone 1; spring periods A-F run in 2027 from April 21.
Are hounds allowed for bear at Van Loon Wildlife Area?
Bear Zone E: 2,628 permits drawn for 2026.
What are the CWD and bait rules for Van Loon Wildlife Area?
Deer bait is illegal in La Crosse and Trempealeau counties. La Crosse and Trempealeau counties: CWD-positive deer on record.
Is Van Loon Wildlife Area in the northern or southern duck zone?
Southern duck zone and Southern goose zone. First regular duck day in the Southern Zone: Oct 3.
How fast must I register a kill on Van Loon Wildlife Area?
GameReg by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Van Loon Wildlife Area, final notes
Print the Van Loon Wildlife Area map, carry your tags, and check the manager page the week you go.
Sources for this page: DNR: vanloon · DNR GIS · DNR: alpha; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: xulescu_g (CC BY-SA 2.0); Viktor Rucký (CC0 1.0).