C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area: hunting and access
C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area is 2,752 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Kewaunee County, next to Kewaunee. The DNR's page for it names deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game among the game here. Hunters registered 3,110 deer in Kewaunee 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 landC.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,752 acres in 27 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Kewaunee County |
| Deer Management Unit | Kewaunee County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | C.D. Besadny Fish and Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Kewaunee (next to it), Casco (2 mi) and Luxemburg (4 mi) |
What is C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area like?
C.D. "Buzz" Besadny Fish and Wildlife Area is a 2,632-acre property located in Kewaunee County. Find it west of Kewaunee with many access points. The property is comprised mostly of forest, wetlands, a river (warm water), a stream (cold water) and grasslands. Ahnapee State Trail runs through the property. The fishery portion of the property consists of the Kewaunee River, a warm water stream, and Little Scarboro Creek, a cold water stream. The Kewaunee River has native populations of smallmouth bass and northern pike. It also receives seasonal migration of trout and salmon from Lake Michigan. Recreational fishing is very popular during seasonal runs. The Little Scarboro, a tributary of the Kewaunee River, is a Class I brook trout stream with a self-sustaining fishery.
The remainder of the property is managed for a wide variety of species. Varied habitat types support songbirds, waterfowl, water birds and upland game. The property’s proximity to Lake Michigan contributes to species diversity and the property’s value to migrating and local populations. This area is a migration corridor for many raptors and other birds. Portions of the property are stocked with pheasants for hunting opportunities. Forests are primarily lowland, consisting of cedar and bottomland hardwood species. The property was established in 1957 to manage fish and wildlife resources associated with the Kewaunee River and the surrounding landscape. It is located in eastern Kewaunee County and contains one of the largest wetland complexes bordering Lake Michigan as well as one of the largest remaining blocks of forest in the county. The property bears the name of the late C.D.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area names deer, pheasants, ducks and geese 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 C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And 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 C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area: Birding, Biking, Boating (motorized and non-motorized), Canoeing, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Class B dog trialing area, Fishing (salmon, steelhead, inland trout and bass), Hiking (designated and non-designated), Hunting (noted for waterfowl, pheasants [noon closure and hen-rooster area rules apply], small game and deer), Kayaking, Snowmobile trail, Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area?
C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area lies in Kewaunee County. The DNR registered 3,110 deer in Kewaunee County in 2025, against 3,095 in 2024.
| DMU | C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kewaunee County | 2,752 | 3,110 | 3,095 | 2,928 |
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 C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Kewaunee (next to it), Casco (2 miles), Luxemburg (4 miles) and Algoma (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 42, WI 29 and WI 54.
What other public land is near C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Ahnapee State Trail: 591 acres, next to it
- State Ice Age Trail Area (SIATA): 4,676 acres, 8.2 miles away
- Two Creeks State Park: 29 acres, 8.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area
Counting C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area itself, 3,113 of the 67,614 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.6%), 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 | 3,079 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 22 |
| State parks | 11 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area?
In Kewaunee County, next to Kewaunee. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And 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 C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area in?
Kewaunee County.
How much public land is around C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area?
3,113 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Ahnapee State Trail (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, C.D. (Buzz) Besadny Fish And 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.