Copper Falls State Park: hunting and access
Copper Falls State Park is 3,536 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Ashland County, next to Mellen. Hunters registered 475 deer in DMU 118 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 forestNational forestState parksLand trusts and other open landCopper Falls State ParkCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,536 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Ashland County |
| Deer Management Unit | DMU 118, DMU 113, DMU 106, Bad River Reservation |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Copper Falls |
| Nearest towns | Mellen (next to it), Jolmaville (5 mi) and Marengo (7 mi) |
What is Copper Falls State Park like?
Ancient lava flows, deep gorges and spectacular waterfalls make Copper Falls State Park one of Wisconsin's most scenic parks. Log buildings built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s add to the park's charm. The park offers camping, hiking, bicycling, picnicking, fishing and swimming opportunities in Loon Lake. The 1.7-mile Doughboy's Nature Trail, along the Bad River, is one of the best hikes in Wisconsin.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on Copper Falls State Park?
The DNR's property map lists Copper Falls State Park as "Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping". Hunting follows Wisconsin's statewide seasons and the rules posted on the property.
In Wisconsin state parks and recreation areas, hunting is limited to the seasons and the parts of the property the DNR sets for each one; the DNR's page has the details.
How many deer are taken around Copper Falls State Park?
Copper Falls State Park lies in 4 deer management units. The DNR registered 475 deer in DMU 118 in 2025.
| DMU | Copper Falls State Park acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DMU 118 | 2,194 | 475 |
| DMU 113 | 1,019 | 1,776 |
| DMU 106 | 314 | 1,250 |
| Bad River Reservation | 10 |
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 Copper Falls State Park?
Nearest towns: Mellen (next to it), Jolmaville (5 miles), Marengo (7 miles) and Birch Hill (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 169, WI 13 and WI 77.
What other public land is near Copper Falls State Park?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Copper Falls State North Country Trail Area: 61 acres, next to it
- Town of Morse State Habitat Area: 723 acres, next to it
- Caroline Lake State Natural Area: 135 acres, 6.2 miles away
- White River Wildlife Area-Ashland: 1,276 acres, 9.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Copper Falls State Park
Counting Copper Falls State Park itself, 5,231 of the 48,292 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10.8%), 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 | 4,486 |
| National forest | 696 |
| State parks | 49 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Copper Falls State Park?
In Ashland County, next to Mellen. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Copper Falls State Park 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 Copper Falls State Park in?
DMU 118 (2,194 acres), DMU 113 (1,019 acres), DMU 106 (314 acres) and Bad River Reservation (10 acres).
How much public land is around Copper Falls State Park?
5,231 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Copper Falls State Park included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Copper Falls State North Country Trail Area (next to it).
Get a Wisconsin hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Wisconsin are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Wisconsin included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Copper Falls State Park; 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.