Caves Creek Fishery Area: hunting and access
Caves Creek Fishery Area is 851 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Marquette County, 2 miles from Westfield. Hunters registered 7,790 deer in Marquette 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 landCaves Creek Fishery AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 851 acres in 8 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Marquette County |
| Deer Management Unit | Marquette County |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Caves Creek Fishery Area |
| Nearest towns | Westfield (2 mi), Harrisville (2 mi) and Coloma (7 mi) |
What is Caves Creek Fishery Area like?
Caves Creek fishery area is high-quality trout water. The waters are generally crystal clear. There have been stream bank improvement projects throughout the system, enhancing the already excellent fishing opportunities. The state ownership is 823 acres of fragmented parcels stretched along the stream's 14-mile corridor. Some acres are held in perpetual easement intended to protect the stream shorelines and provide access to fishermen. The clear, spring-fed waters of Caves Creek have areas of natural brook trout reproduction throughout its 12.1 miles of stream length. Caves Creek is regarded as one of the better brook trout streams in southern Wisconsin. Fishing pressure is heavy on stream sections accessible to the public.
The vegetative cover is rich with diversity, with a large portion being lowland brush and swamp hardwoods to upland forests and grasslands. Additionally, many old agricultural fields have been abandoned and are reverting to natural vegetation; others have been planted into pine plantations, converted into native prairies, or continued to be farmed in share crop agreements. This unique mix of woods, water, and fields provides prime habitat for a variety of game and non-game species, as well as offering a pleasant satisfaction to all who visit this natural and beautiful area. Recreational opportunities are a year-round occurrence and seemingly endless, from fishing and hunting to canoeing and snowshoeing. There exist numerous parking areas scattered about the entire stretch of the property, providing ample access points.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on Caves Creek Fishery Area?
The DNR's property map lists Caves 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 Caves Creek Fishery Area: Hunting, Trapping, Hiking, Snowshoeing and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Caves Creek Fishery Area?
Caves Creek Fishery Area lies in Marquette County. The DNR registered 7,790 deer in Marquette County in 2025, against 7,744 in 2024.
| DMU | Caves Creek Fishery Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette County | 851 | 7,790 | 7,744 | 6,550 |
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 Caves Creek Fishery Area?
Nearest towns: Westfield (2 miles), Harrisville (2 miles), Coloma (7 miles) and Grand Marsh (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 51 and I-39.
What other public land is near Caves Creek Fishery Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- John A Lawton Fishery Area: 282 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Lawrence Creek Wildlife Area: 950 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Mecan River Fishery Area: 6,730 acres, 3.1 miles away
- State Ice Age Trail Area (SIATA): 4,676 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Germania Wildlife Area: 2,416 acres, 7.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Caves Creek Fishery Area
Counting Caves Creek Fishery Area itself, 1,405 of the 43,362 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.2%), 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 | 1,405 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Caves Creek Fishery Area?
In Marquette County, 2 miles from Westfield. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Caves 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 Caves Creek Fishery Area in?
Marquette County.
How much public land is around Caves Creek Fishery Area?
1,405 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Caves Creek Fishery Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is John A Lawton Fishery Area (0.7 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Caves 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.