Coulee Experimental State Forest: hunting and access
Coulee Experimental State Forest is 2,964 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in La Crosse County, 2 miles from Bangor. Hunters registered 4,515 deer in La Crosse 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 parksOther county, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCoulee Experimental State ForestCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,964 acres |
|---|---|
| County | La Crosse County |
| Deer Management Unit | La Crosse County |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Coulee |
| Nearest towns | Bangor (2 mi), West Salem (3 mi) and St. Joseph (3 mi) |
What is Coulee Experimental State Forest like?
The Coulee Experimental State Forest is a unique property in Wisconsin. This 3,000-acre forest is used for long-term forest watershed research studies to develop land management practices. The property is managed for forest production and wildlife habitat, and offers recreation opportunities for hunting, cross-country skiing, hiking and horseback riding. Coulee accurately describes the area, as the forest has many deep gulches and ravines.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on Coulee Experimental State Forest?
The DNR's property map lists Coulee Experimental State Forest as "Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping". Hunting follows Wisconsin's statewide seasons and the rules posted on the property.
How many deer are taken around Coulee Experimental State Forest?
Coulee Experimental State Forest lies in La Crosse County. The DNR registered 4,515 deer in La Crosse County in 2025, against 4,039 in 2024.
| DMU | Coulee Experimental State Forest acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse County | 2,964 | 4,515 | 4,039 | 4,086 |
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 Coulee Experimental State Forest?
Nearest towns: Bangor (2 miles), West Salem (3 miles), St. Joseph (3 miles) and Rockland (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-90, WI 162, WI 33, WI 16 and WI 108.
What other public land is near Coulee Experimental State Forest?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area: 2,495 acres, next to it
- La Crosse River State Trail: 328 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Coon Creek Fishery Area: 1,187 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Great River State Trail: 255 acres, 7.4 miles away
- La Crosse Marsh Natural Resource Area: 135 acres, 8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Coulee Experimental State Forest
Counting Coulee Experimental State Forest itself, 3,240 of the 39,507 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.2%), 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 | 3,192 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 37 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 8 |
| State parks | 3 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Coulee Experimental State Forest?
In La Crosse County, 2 miles from Bangor. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Coulee Experimental State Forest 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 Coulee Experimental State Forest in?
La Crosse County.
How much public land is around Coulee Experimental State Forest?
3,240 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Coulee Experimental State Forest included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area (next to it).
Get a Wisconsin hunt plan when they open
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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, Coulee Experimental State Forest; 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.