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Fishery area · Northeast region
White River Fishery Area (Waushara County) for Wisconsin hunters
A hunter's summary of White River Fishery Area (Waushara County) in Waushara County: zones and quota, rules, CWD numbers and local help.
Photo: wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)
White River Fishery Area (Waushara County): record card
White River Fishery Area (Waushara County): a DNR fishery area that is open to hunting, located in Waushara County. Region on record: the DNR Northeast Region. The Wisconsin DNR writes the rules on the ground. The 3,457 acres on record put it 4th of the 245 fishery areas we list. Base town: Wautoma, some 2 miles away. 1 units or parcels make it up.
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 White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)
White River Fishery Area (Waushara County) deer unit, quota and game zones
The deer unit is Waushara, in the Central Farmland zone. The 2026 antlerless quota for that unit is 7,000. For black bear this is Zone F, with no hound hunting; 764 permits for 2026. Turkey hunting falls under Zone 3, which had 55,612 spring permits in 2025. The DNR counts Waushara County among its CWD-affected counties. Waushara County sits under the DNR deer baiting and feeding ban.
The deer unit around White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)
| DMU | Deer zone | Antlerless quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Free tags per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waushara | Central Farmland | 7,000 | 984 | 1,489 | 3 |
Bear, turkey and bird zones at White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)
| Zone | Rule | Numbers | Extra | 2025 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear F | Bait only | 50 target, 764 permits | 1 point | 27 bears in 2025 |
| Wild turkey 3 | 55,612 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 12,324 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse zone A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Grouse zone B | Oct 17–Dec 8 | 2 a day | ||
| Ducks | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Geese | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| Wolf zone 6 | Closed | Federally 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.
Rules on the ground at White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)
Entry terms for White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)
Only the parcels shown open on the DNR map can be hunted; there, state seasons and NR 45 apply.
Wisconsin rules that follow you to White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)
During any firearm deer season, everyone hunting except waterfowlers wears blaze orange or fluorescent pink on at least half the clothing above the waist, and on half of any cap. DNR land rule: 144 sq in of solid orange or pink on any ground blind in gun season. Leave no stand overnight south of Hwy. 64. North of the highway, two per hunter per county may stay from Sept. 1 to Jan. 31. GameReg registration is due by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
White River Fishery Area (Waushara County): licenses and tags
Go Wild carries every license. For antlerless deer on public ground, use a public-access tag for the right DMU.
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.
Game and bag limits at White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)
Raccoons, foxes and coyotes, per the property record.
Furbearers
Other legal game follows the Waushara County season table below.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Every White River Fishery Area (Waushara County) season on one table
Private and public land share these dates. A state park, refuge or Fort McCoy can close sooner, so read the property page before you go.
| Animal | Segment | Scope | Starts | Ends | Open 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: Waushara | 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/C | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 3 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 3 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 3 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 3 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 3 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 3 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 3 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 3 | 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 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.
White River Fishery Area (Waushara County) described by the DNR
Quoted as published; nothing here is our wording.
The White River System Fishery Area includes some of the choicest trout waters found anywhere in the State of Wisconsin. The streams on this system are renowned for their ability to provide quality trout angling year after year and the fact that they are among the few trout streams in all of Wisconsin where a naturally reproducing population of rainbow trout exists. Picture Title (picture optional) © photographer –> The White River Fishery Area is composed of the White River and four tributaries: Soules Creek, Lunch Creek, Bowers Creek, and the West Branch of the White River.
These streams are high-quality trout waters. The water is generally crystal clear. The Main Branch of the White River is the largest stream within the system, and each of the other streams ultimately flows into it on its passage to the Fox River, a major stream on the Lake Michigan watershed. Soules Creek flows into the Wautoma Pond, but the stream flowing from the pond is known as the Main Branch, White River. It flows south and east, picking up the combined Bird and Bowers, Mud and West Branch streams in turn before it flows into Dahlke Flowage.
White River Fishery Area (Waushara County): hunting text as published
- Recreational opportunities are a year-round occurrence and seemingly endless, from fishing and hunting to canoeing and snowshoeing.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Every unit of White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)
White River Fishery Area (Waushara County) lists 1 unit with 608 acres between them.
| Unit | Type | County | Acres | Game listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch Creek Wetlands | State natural area | Waushara | 608 | — |
Harvest numbers for the country around White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)
2025 in Waushara County: 3,865 bucks, 4,813 antlerless, 8,678 in all. Range since 2016: 5,395 to 8,678 deer a year. Early 2026 registrations (archery, crossbow, youth hunt): Waushara 870. The DNR sampled 312 deer from Waushara County in 2025; 2 had CWD. 6 positives overall, from 3,288 deer. In 2024, Waushara County produced 6 registered bears. Figures are for the whole county unit, not White River Fishery Area (Waushara County) alone; the DNR does not report harvest by property.
Waushara County unit harvest
| Season | Bucks | Does and fawns | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,865 | 4,813 | 8,678 |
| 2024 | 3,975 | 4,216 | 8,191 |
| 2023 | 3,184 | 3,220 | 6,404 |
| 2022 | 3,225 | 3,925 | 7,150 |
| 2021 | 3,084 | 3,385 | 6,469 |
| 2020 | 3,083 | 4,029 | 7,112 |
CWD samples, Waushara County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 38 | 0 |
| 2025 | 312 | 2 |
| 2024 | 318 | 3 |
| 2023 | 223 | 1 |
| 2022 | 201 | 0 |
| 2021 | 230 | 0 |
Bears registered in Waushara County
| Season | Bears | Boars | Sows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
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.
Bed, fuel and a butcher near White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)
Where to sleep, where to buy shells, where to drop off a deer.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wautoma | Waushara | 2.0 mi | 2,371 | 15,214 |
| Neshkoro | Marquette | 8.3 mi | 410 | 23,536 |
| Coloma | Waushara | 10 mi | 452 | 16,062 |
| Hancock | Waushara | 11 mi | 398 | 14,070 |
Season and zone pages by county: Waushara County.
Who processes a deer from White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)
Where to ask about White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)
Licenses and questions for Waushara County go through the DNR Oshkosh 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.
White River Fishery Area (Waushara County) and nearby public ground
White River Fishery Area (Waushara County) at the big pin; the nearest 10 public places around it. Combined, 11,047 acres are on record.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass Lake Fen | State natural area | 97 | 4.2 mi | southeast |
| Wedde Creek Savanna | State natural area | 38 | 6.7 mi | south |
| Mecan River Pine Oak Forest | State natural area | 142 | 6.9 mi | south |
| Bohn Lake | State natural area | 92 | 7.1 mi | northwest |
| Mecan River | Fishery area | 6,722 | 7.4 mi | west |
| Mecan Springs | State natural area | 135 | 7.5 mi | west |
| Thorstead Creek (Remnant) | Fishery area | 12 | 8.4 mi | east |
| Willow Creek (Waushara County) | Fishery area | 2,160 | 8.6 mi | northeast |
| Greenwood | Wildlife area | 1,441 | 8.6 mi | west |
| John A Lawton Fishery | Fishery area | 208 | 9.7 mi | southwest |
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) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside))). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Shooting-hour table for White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)
Two tables cover the state, one for the Northern Area and one for the Southern Area, each for Zone A. West of 88 degrees you add 4 minutes per degree of longitude.
| Date | Why it matters | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 89.33 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
White River Fishery Area (Waushara County): nearest ranges
The DNR-map range closest to White River Fishery Area (Waushara County) is Wautoma Shooting Range (2 miles). Club ranges within 30 miles are included.
rifle, handgun, shotgun on file
sporting clays, 5-stand, archery, 3D archery, muzzleloader on file
rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Before-the-trip answers for White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)
Does a White River Fishery Area (Waushara County) deer go into GameReg?
By 5 p.m. the following day, through GameReg; bears also go to a station or online the same way.
What paperwork does White River Fishery Area (Waushara County) need?
Gun deer ($24), archer ($24) or small game ($18) for residents; nonresident gun deer is $200.
Which public land sits closest to White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)?
Bass Lake Fen State Natural Area (4 miles), Wedde Creek Savanna State Natural Area (7 miles) and Mecan River Pine Oak Forest State Natural Area (7 miles), each with a page here.
How many units does White River Fishery Area (Waushara County) have?
1; the largest is Lunch Creek Wetlands State Natural Area.
Is White River Fishery Area (Waushara County) DNR, county or federal ground?
A DNR fishery area that is open to hunting; the manager is the Wisconsin DNR.
Is White River Fishery Area (Waushara County) a big property?
3,457 acres in the source data.
Which town works as a base for White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)?
Waushara County; Wautoma, the nearest town we cover, is 2 miles away.
Which species does the record give for White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)?
Raccoons, foxes and coyotes, plus any other season open in the county.
What deer tags work on White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)?
It is in Waushara (Central Farmland). This year the antlerless quota is 7,000.
How hard is a bear permit for White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)?
Zone F; hounds may not be used there.
Which zone do I apply for to hunt turkeys at White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)?
Zone 3. Success in 2025 was 22%.
Which goose zone is White River Fishery Area (Waushara County) in?
Ducks follow the Southern zone, Canada geese the Southern zone. Opening day for Southern Zone ducks is Oct 3.
Can I bait deer at White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)?
No bait or feed in Waushara County. The county list for CWD includes Waushara County.
Signing off on White River Fishery Area (Waushara County)
Gates, refuges and open areas at White River Fishery Area (Waushara County) are the manager's call; confirm them before opening day.
Sources for this page: DNR: 2855whiteriver · DNR GIS · DNR: county; 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); Maslowski, Steve, USFWS (Public domain).