Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area: hunting and access
Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area is 845 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Waushara and Adams counties, 2 miles from Hancock. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and woodcock among the game here. Hunters registered 8,678 deer in Waushara County 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 landOther county, city and regional landBig Roche A Cri Fishery AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 845 acres in 6 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Waushara County and Adams County |
| Deer Management Unit | Waushara County, Adams County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and woodcock |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area |
| Nearest towns | Hancock (2 mi), Plainfield (4 mi) and Lake Camelot (6 mi) |
What is Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area like?
The Big Roche A Cri Creek is a class 1 trout stream, upstream of County Hwy W in Adams County to it's headwaters in Waushara County. This same 6.4 mile section of stream is classed as an Outstanding Resource Water (ORW). The land cover is primarily low lying hardwoods (oak) and jack pine with sandy soils. The area surrounding the fishery property is mainly in agricultural use with potatoes and corn being the predominant crops. Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area in northeast Adams County in the Town of Leola on Archer Drive (T 20N, R 7E, sections 25, 26 and 27) and northwest Waushara County.
Anglers can expect to shore fish in some places or wade fish the entire stream section. Brook trout are the predominant trout species in the creek within the fishery area with a few brown trout. Some fly fishing opportunities are available especially in the areas where habitat improvements were made. Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area is managed for trout habitat and upland best forest management practices.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area?
The DNR's page for Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area names deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and woodcock. Each follows Wisconsin's statewide season and, for deer, the tags and rules of the deer management unit.
What are the rules on Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area?
The DNR's property map lists Big Roche A Cri 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 Roche A Cri Fishery Area: Hunting - grouse, woodcock, turkey and deer, Trapping, Hiking, Wildlife viewing, Fishing, Bird watching and Pets.
How many deer are taken around Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area?
Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area lies in 2 deer management units. The DNR registered 8,678 deer in Waushara County in 2025, against 8,191 in 2024.
| DMU | Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waushara County | 495 | 8,678 | 8,191 | 6,404 |
| Adams County | 350 | 6,148 | 6,658 | 5,428 |
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 Roche A Cri Fishery Area?
Nearest towns: Hancock (2 miles), Plainfield (4 miles), Lake Camelot (6 miles) and Lake Sherwood (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 51, I-39 and WI 73.
What other public land is near Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Leola Marsh Wildlife Area: 2,518 acres, next to it
- Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area: 81 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Plainfield Tunnel Channel Lakes State Natural Area: 288 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Carter Creek State Habitat Area: 395 acres, 3.9 miles away
- Greenwood Wildlife Area: 1,442 acres, 3.9 miles away
- Colburn Wildlife Area: 5,068 acres, 4.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area
Counting Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area itself, 3,163 of the 42,500 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.4%), 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 | 3,163 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area?
In Waushara and Adams counties, 2 miles from Hancock. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Big Roche A Cri 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 Roche A Cri Fishery Area in?
Waushara County (495 acres) and Adams County (350 acres).
How much public land is around Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area?
3,163 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Big Roche A Cri Fishery Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Leola Marsh Wildlife Area (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Big Roche A Cri 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.
Wisconsin hunting Waushara County Adams County Waushara County Adams County