Big Creek Fishery Area: hunting and access
Big Creek Fishery Area is 1,471 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Monroe County, next to Cataract. Hunters registered 8,137 deer in DMU Monroe in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's DNR property data, read 2026-10. Harvest: DNR Deer Metrics.
State wildlife areas, forests and other DNR landCounty forestOther federal landBig Creek Fishery AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,471 acres in 11 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Deer Management Unit | DMU Monroe |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Big Creek Fishery Area |
| Nearest towns | Cataract (next to it), Melrose (4 mi) and Sparta (9 mi) |
What is Big Creek Fishery Area like?
Big Creek Fishery Area is a class 2 trout stream. The upland habitat consists of a mix of hardwoods, pine, and underbrush. T 18N, R 3W, sections 4, 5, and 6 (County Hwy I and II) T 19N, R 4W, sections 7, 17, and 18 (Acorn Avenue Parcel) T 19N, R 4W, sections 20, 21, 27, and 28 (Cataract Parcel).
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on Big Creek Fishery Area?
The DNR's property map lists Big Creek Fishery Area as "Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping". Hunting follows Wisconsin's statewide seasons and the rules posted on the property.
Activities the DNR lists for Big Creek Fishery Area: Hunting, Trapping, Hiking, Fishing, Wildlife viewing, Bird watching and Berry picking.
How many deer are taken around Big Creek Fishery Area?
Big Creek Fishery Area lies in DMU Monroe. The DNR registered 8,137 deer in DMU Monroe in 2025.
| DMU | Big Creek Fishery Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DMU Monroe | 1,471 | 8,137 |
Harvest for the whole deer management unit, not the property alone: Wisconsin DNR Deer Metrics (registered harvest by deer management unit).
How do you get to Big Creek Fishery Area?
Nearest towns: Cataract (next to it), Melrose (4 miles), Sparta (9 miles) and Millston (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 27, WI 71, WI 54, WI 162 and WI 21.
What other public land is near Big Creek Fishery Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Sand Creek Streambank Protection Area: 713 acres, 3.4 miles away
- La Crosse River Fishery Area: 463 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Black River State Forest: 68,941 acres, 5.9 miles away
- La Crosse River State Trail: 328 acres, 6.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Big Creek Fishery Area
Counting Big Creek Fishery Area itself, 2,409 of the 66,105 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife areas, forests and other DNR land | 1,512 |
| County forest | 897 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Big Creek Fishery Area?
In Monroe County, next to Cataract. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Big Creek Fishery Area open to hunting?
Yes. The DNR's property map lists it as "Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping". Posted refuges or closed areas, where there are any, are marked on site.
Which deer management unit is Big Creek Fishery Area in?
DMU Monroe.
How much public land is around Big Creek Fishery Area?
2,409 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Big Creek Fishery Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Sand Creek Streambank Protection Area (3.4 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Big Creek Fishery Area; Wisconsin DNR managed lands open to hunting.
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
- Deer harvest: Wisconsin DNR Deer Metrics (registered harvest by deer management unit).
FilledTag is not part of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.