Big Swamp Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Big Swamp Wildlife Area is 800 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Buffalo County, 5 miles from Mondovi. The DNR's page for it names deer, bear and small game among the game here. Hunters registered 5,806 deer in Buffalo 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 landState parksOther county, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landBig Swamp Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 800 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Buffalo County |
| Deer Management Unit | Buffalo County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, bear and small game |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Big Swamp Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Mondovi (5 mi), Durand (7 mi) and Gilmanton (9 mi) |
What is Big Swamp Wildlife Area like?
Big Swamp Wildlife Area is a 796-acre property in Buffalo County. Find it 5 Miles west of Mondovi south of Highway 10. Currently, access is only available from County Highway A on the south side of the property. The property is mostly shrub and tamarack swamp, with patches of upland hardwood. The most popular use of the property is deer hunting. The property has limited public access, so it is important that users know and respect the property boundaries. Acquisition began on the property in 1956 with the goal of protecting winter cover for pheasants. The Big Swamp Wildlife Area has since grown to 796 acres in size. Management on the property is limited, as much of the acreage consists of tamarack swamp and lowlands, although there is a mix of upland hardwoods on the property.
The Big Swamp Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Big Swamp Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Big Swamp Wildlife Area names deer, bear and small game. Each follows Wisconsin's statewide season and, for deer, the tags and rules of the deer management unit.
What are the rules on Big Swamp Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Big Swamp Wildlife 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 Swamp Wildlife Area: Birding, Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (noted for deer, bear and small game), Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Big Swamp Wildlife Area?
Big Swamp Wildlife Area lies in Buffalo County. The DNR registered 5,806 deer in Buffalo County in 2025, against 5,321 in 2024.
| DMU | Big Swamp Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo County | 800 | 5,806 | 5,321 | 5,148 |
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 Swamp Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Mondovi (5 miles), Durand (7 miles), Gilmanton (9 miles) and Rock Falls (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 10 and WI 37.
What other public land is near Big Swamp Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Buffalo River State Trail: 450 acres, 5.7 miles away
- Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area: 3,486 acres, 6.7 miles away
- Nine Mile Island State Natural Area: 1,319 acres, 6.8 miles away
- Dunnville Wildlife Area: 4,357 acres, 7.8 miles away
- Red Cedar State Trail: 392 acres, 8 miles away
- Rock Falls Wildlife Area: 116 acres, 8.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Big Swamp Wildlife Area
Counting Big Swamp Wildlife Area itself, 802 of the 29,679 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.7%), 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 | 802 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Big Swamp Wildlife Area?
In Buffalo County, 5 miles from Mondovi. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Big Swamp Wildlife 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 Swamp Wildlife Area in?
Buffalo County.
How much public land is around Big Swamp Wildlife Area?
802 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Big Swamp Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Buffalo River State Trail (5.7 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Big Swamp Wildlife 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.