Buffalo River Fishery Area: hunting and access
Buffalo River Fishery Area is 1,732 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Jackson and Trempealeau counties, next to Osseo. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey, bear and small game among the game here. Hunters registered 4,911 deer in DMU Jackson 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 forestState parksOther county, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landVoluntary Public Access landBuffalo River Fishery AreaCounty lineHighway
| Size | 1,732 acres in 34 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Jackson County and Trempealeau County |
| Deer Management Unit | DMU Jackson, Trempealeau County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, bear and small game |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Buffalo River Fishery Area |
| Nearest towns | Osseo (next to it), Fairchild (4 mi) and Augusta (6 mi) |
What is Buffalo River Fishery Area like?
Buffalo River Fishery Area contains over 1,600 fragmented acres in Jackson and Trempealeau Counties. All properties in Trempealeau County are on a class 2 trout stream. The North Fork Buffalo River in Jackson County is a class 1 trout stream. The remainder of the properties contains emergent wet meadow wetland, lowland shrub wetland and forested wetland, springs/seeps, and cultural sites. All forks contain Exceptional Resource Waters (ERW) and are considered "Areas of Special Natural Resource Interest" (ASNRI). Jackson County; Cleveland and Garfield Townships; T 24N, R 5W, sections 6, 7, 17, 19, 30; T 24N, R 6W, sections 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33.
Trempealeau County; Sumner and Unity Townships; T 24N, R 7W, sections 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 24; T 24N, R 8W, sections 12, 13, 14, 15.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Buffalo River Fishery Area?
The DNR's page for Buffalo River Fishery Area names deer, wild turkey, 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 Buffalo River Fishery Area?
The DNR's property map lists Buffalo River 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 Buffalo River Fishery Area: Hunting - bear, deer, small game, turkey, Trapping, Hiking, Snowmobiling trail, ATV trail, Cross-country skiing, Wildlife viewing, Fishing - brook and brown trout, Bird watching, Biking, Berry picking and Canoeing.
How many deer are taken around Buffalo River Fishery Area?
Buffalo River Fishery Area lies in 2 deer management units. The DNR registered 4,911 deer in DMU Jackson in 2025.
| DMU | Buffalo River Fishery Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DMU Jackson | 1,306 | 4,911 |
| Trempealeau County | 426 | 7,151 |
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 Buffalo River Fishery Area?
Nearest towns: Osseo (next to it), Fairchild (4 miles), Augusta (6 miles) and Pigeon Falls (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-94, US 10, WI 27, US 12 and WI 121.
What other public land is near Buffalo River Fishery Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Buffalo River State Trail: 450 acres, next to it
- Beaver Creek Rearing Station: 576 acres, 1 mile away
- Halls (Stockwell) Creek Fishery Area: 858 acres, 1.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Buffalo River Fishery Area
Counting Buffalo River Fishery Area itself, 3,153 of the 93,685 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.4%), 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 | 3,051 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 56 |
| State parks | 32 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 14 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Buffalo River Fishery Area?
In Jackson and Trempealeau counties, next to Osseo. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Buffalo River 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 Buffalo River Fishery Area in?
DMU Jackson (1,306 acres) and Trempealeau County (426 acres).
How much public land is around Buffalo River Fishery Area?
3,153 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Buffalo River Fishery Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Buffalo River State Trail (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Buffalo River 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 Jackson County Trempealeau County Trempealeau County