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State natural area, south-central Wisconsin
Waubesa Wetlands 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 Dane County.
Photo: edenpictures (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area
- Waubesa Wetlands ParkingParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
- McConnel Street Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Disc Golf ParkingParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Dog Park ParkingParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Babcock Park Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.8 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 Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area
On paper it is a DNR-owned State Natural 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 Wisconsin DNR. Its 333 acres rank 168th of the 449 Wisconsin state natural areas with an acreage on file. The DNR owns 333 acres of the natural area; the rest belongs to The Nature Conservancy (193 ac) and Dane County (40 ac). In the natural areas program it is site 114, T6N-R10E, Section 7, 8, 17, 18. From Oregon, our closest town page, it is roughly 5 miles to the northeast.
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 Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area
Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area in the agency's words
Unedited text from the official page.
Located in an old lobe of Lake Waubesa along its southwest shore, Waubesa Wetlands is one of the highest quality and most diverse wetlands remaining in southern Wisconsin. Nine major springs and numerous smaller ones located within and around the area provide the wetland with an abundance of high-quality water. The extensive wetlands and high quality of the water contribute significantly to the water quality of Lake Waubesa. Two inlet streams are also present – Murphy Creek and Swan Creek.
Peat deposits – up to 95' deep in places – underlie a mix of sedge meadow, fen, and shrub-carr communities. The sedge meadow is a complex of different species that vary in abundance and structure in response to the complex hydrological system. Other parts of the site feature quaking sedge mats, calcareous fens, springs and streams with submerged aquatics, and deep spring cones lined with filamentous algae and purple-colored bacteria. The carbonate-rich fens feature numerous species including grass-of-Parnassus, Riddell's goldenrod, northern bog aster, lesser fringed gentian, and sage willow.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area rules and licenses
Access rules at Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area
State Natural Area rules: hunt and trap where not posted, but no camping, no vehicles, no drones and no collecting plants. Not all of it is DNR land: The Nature Conservancy, Dane County sets the rules on its share.
State law on Waubesa Wetlands 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 Waubesa Wetlands 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.
Waubesa Wetlands State Natural 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 2; the DNR issued 51,056 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 Waubesa Wetlands State Natural 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 Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear F | Dogs barred | 50 target, 764 permits | 1 point | 27 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 2 | 51,056 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 11,024 gobblers | 2,500 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.
Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area: species with bag limits
The record lists no species. Every season open in Dane County works here within the rules above.
That makes the Dane 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 Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area
Waubesa Wetlands State Natural 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.
Public property near Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area
The large pin is Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area; the others are the 10 closest public properties. Together they hold 3,341 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Waubesa | Fishery area | 22 | 0.5 mi | north |
| Capital Springs Centennial State Park and Recreation Area | State park | 356 | 2.7 mi | north |
| Hook Lake Bog | State natural area | 527 | 3.0 mi | south |
| Lower Mud Lake | Fishery area | 409 | 3.0 mi | east |
| Hook Lake Bog Grass Lake | Wildlife area | 874 | 3.3 mi | southeast |
| Nevin Springs Fish and | Fishery area | 331 | 3.5 mi | northwest |
| Upper Waubesa | Fishery area | 252 | 3.7 mi | northeast |
| Northrup King | WPA | 85 | 4.3 mi | west |
| Swan Pond | WPA | 240 | 4.6 mi | southwest |
| Island Lake | WPA | 245 | 5.0 mi | southeast |
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 Waubesa Wetlands State Natural 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.
Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area: nearest ranges
No range sits on Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Hope Rod & Gun Club, about 5 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 Waubesa Wetlands 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | Dane | 4.7 mi | 11,895 | 10,083 |
| Madison | Dane | 8.0 mi | 285,300 | 4,557 |
| Belleville | Dane | 13 mi | 2,635 | 7,306 |
| Deerfield | Dane | 15 mi | 2,647 | 6,488 |
Read up on the county: Dane County.
Taxidermy and supplies for Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area hunters
Phone numbers for Waubesa Wetlands State Natural 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.
Waubesa Wetlands 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 | 6:03 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 89.35 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area
Where in the state does Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area lie?
Dane County holds it, 5 miles from Oregon.
Does Waubesa Wetlands 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 Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area?
The Southern Farmland zone, Dane. Quota for 2026: 5,200 antlerless.
Is bear hunting possible at Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area?
Zone F; hound hunting is not allowed there.
Can I turkey hunt Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area in spring?
Zone 2; 2025 saw 11,024 birds registered in the zone.
When can I hunt ducks at Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area?
Southern for ducks, Southern for geese. The regular Southern Zone duck season opens Oct 3.
Has CWD turned up in the county around Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area?
The deer baiting ban applies in Dane County. CWD: yes, in Dane County.
Is blaze pink legal at Waubesa Wetlands 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 Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area?
Register on GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; the confirmation number starts with W.
Is there a separate permit for Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area?
The standard license for your game; no landowner permission on public ground.
Which public properties lie near Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area?
Three to try: Lake Waubesa Fishery Area (1 mile), Capital Springs Centennial State Park and Recreation Area (3 miles) and Hook Lake Bog State Natural Area (3 miles).
How is Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area classified?
DNR-owned State Natural Area, under the Wisconsin DNR.
How much land is in Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area?
It covers 333 acres by the recorded figure.
Last checks on Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area has the final say on closures and maps.
Sources for this page: DNR: WaubesaWetlands · DNR GIS · DNR: StateNaturalAreas; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Rick Obst (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).