Dell Creek Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Dell Creek Wildlife Area is 2,710 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Sauk and Juneau counties, 4 miles from Lake Delton. Hunters registered 6,025 deer in Sauk 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 landCounty forestOther federal landState parksOther county, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landDell Creek Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,710 acres in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Sauk County and Juneau County |
| Deer Management Unit | Sauk County, DMU Juneau |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Dell Creek Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Lake Delton (4 mi), Lyndon Station (5 mi) and Rock Springs (5 mi) |
What is Dell Creek Wildlife Area like?
Dell Creek Wildlife Area is a property that is approximately 2,600 acres located mainly in Sauk County, with the far northern portions located in Juneau County. It consists of scattered properties along Dell Creek from Hwy HH to Hwy 23, close to Mirror Lake State Park. The property is comprised mostly of grasslands, forest, barrens, and alder along trout streams. The grasslands combine remnant prairies, planted prairies, and cool-season grass fields. The forests consist of oak, central hardwoods, and pines with patches of aspen. The barrens are sand barrens with oak and jack pine. Dell Creek and its tributaries offer trout fishing, but many areas have stretches of tag alder, so it can be difficult to access.
The DNR conducted surveys on Dell Creek in 2021 and published the results in 2022. See this link for information on the study. Upland management focuses on the prairies, barrens and forests. Timber sales are used on the property, with oak being one of the key species being managed for. Visit the master planning for more information on this and other wildlife areas around the state. The Dell Creek Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on Dell Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Dell Creek 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 Dell Creek Wildlife Area: Birding, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Fishing (trout), Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting, Snowmobiling trail, Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Dell Creek Wildlife Area?
Dell Creek Wildlife Area lies in 2 deer management units. The DNR registered 6,025 deer in Sauk County in 2025, against 5,739 in 2024.
| DMU | Dell Creek Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sauk County | 2,537 | 6,025 | 5,739 | 6,262 |
| DMU Juneau | 173 | 4,295 |
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 Dell Creek Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Lake Delton (4 miles), Lyndon Station (5 miles), Rock Springs (5 miles) and Reedsburg (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 12, I-90, I-94, WI 23 and WI 33.
What other public land is near Dell Creek Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Mirror Lake State Park: 2,152 acres, next to it
- Hulburt Creek Fishery Area: 573 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Bass Hollow State Natural Area: 210 acres, 3.9 miles away
- Ableman's Gorge State Natural Area: 108 acres, 4.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Dell Creek Wildlife Area
Counting Dell Creek Wildlife Area itself, 5,008 of the 62,605 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (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 | 4,891 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 109 |
| State parks | 6 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Dell Creek Wildlife Area?
In Sauk and Juneau counties, 4 miles from Lake Delton. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Dell Creek 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 Dell Creek Wildlife Area in?
Sauk County (2,537 acres) and DMU Juneau (173 acres).
How much public land is around Dell Creek Wildlife Area?
5,008 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Dell Creek Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Mirror Lake State Park (next to it).
Get a Wisconsin hunt plan when they open
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Dell Creek 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.