Borst Valley Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Borst Valley Wildlife Area is 1,305 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Trempealeau County, 7 miles from Strum. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey, pheasants and small game among the game here. Hunters registered 7,151 deer in Trempealeau 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 parksLand trusts and other open landBorst Valley Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,305 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Trempealeau County |
| Deer Management Unit | Trempealeau County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants and small game |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Borst Valley Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Strum (7 mi), Eleva (7 mi) and Gilmanton (8 mi) |
What is Borst Valley Wildlife Area like?
Borst Valley Wildlife Area is a 1,343-acre property in Trempealeau County. Find it 7 miles northwest of Independence at the intersection of County Highway V and County Highway VV. The property consists of upland hardwoods, marshland, and grassland. The most popular uses of the property are hunting for deer, turkey, pheasant, and other small game. The first land was purchased in 1968, and it was officially established as a state wildlife area in 1979. Since the initial purchase, the Borst Valley has grown to 1,343 acres. The property has been actively managed through timber harvesting, tree and shrub plantings, grassland plantings, prescribed fire, and invasive species control.
The Borst Valley Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Borst Valley Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Borst Valley Wildlife Area names deer, wild turkey, pheasants 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 Borst Valley Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Borst Valley 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 Borst Valley Wildlife Area: Birding, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Fishing (trout), Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (noted for deer, turkey and stocked pheasant), Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Borst Valley Wildlife Area?
Borst Valley Wildlife Area lies in Trempealeau County. The DNR registered 7,151 deer in Trempealeau County in 2025, against 6,627 in 2024.
| DMU | Borst Valley Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trempealeau County | 1,305 | 7,151 | 6,627 | 6,360 |
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 Borst Valley Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Strum (7 miles), Eleva (7 miles), Gilmanton (8 miles) and Whitehall (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 93 and WI 121.
What other public land is near Borst Valley Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Chimney Rock Wildlife Area: 628 acres, 1 mile away
- Buffalo River State Trail: 450 acres, 6.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Borst Valley Wildlife Area
Counting Borst Valley Wildlife Area itself, 1,936 of the 32,187 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (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 | 1,936 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Borst Valley Wildlife Area?
In Trempealeau County, 7 miles from Strum. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Borst Valley 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 Borst Valley Wildlife Area in?
Trempealeau County.
How much public land is around Borst Valley Wildlife Area?
1,936 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Borst Valley Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Chimney Rock Wildlife Area (1 mile).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Borst Valley 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.