Diamond Lake State Natural Area: hunting and access
Diamond Lake State Natural Area is 250 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Taylor County, 3 miles from Lublin. Hunters registered 2,710 deer in DMU Taylor 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 landNational forestOther county, city and regional landDiamond Lake State Natural AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 250 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor County |
| Deer Management Unit | DMU Taylor |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Diamond Lake |
| Nearest towns | Lublin (3 mi), Gilman (7 mi) and Withee (11 mi) |
What is Diamond Lake State Natural Area like?
Diamond Lake has a small county park facility on the west side while the rest of the lake is wild and features a diverse and productive fish population. The 48-acre softwater lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet and is located on Diamond Creek, a feeder to McKenzie Creek. Associated wetlands of the lake include open bog, marsh, and lowland swamp conifers and the lake contains a diversity of aquatic plants, which include cat-tails, pickerel weed, yellow and white water-lily, water-shield, and coon's-tail. Uplands surrounding the lake consist of mixed hardwoods and pastures. The lake contains a diverse game fish community consisting of walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, black crappie, yellow perch, and pumpkinseed. Non-game fish species include black bullhead, brook lamprey, johnny darter, common shiner, and white sucker.
While some walleye have been stocked in the past, the largemouth bass and northern pike consist of naturally reproducing populations. Diamond Lake's natural undisturbed shoreline provides a unique and uninterrupted corridor for many shoreline edge species and many animals including muskrats, weasels, and otter otters area. Diamond Lake is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2002. Taylor County. T30N-R2W, Section 6. T30-R3W, Section 1. 252 acres. From the intersection of State Highways 64 and 13 in Medford, go west on Highway 64 for 19.5 miles, then south on County Highway F for 0.9 miles, then east on Diamond Drive for 0.75 miles, then north on Lake Drive to the lake. While most SNAs are open to the public, access may vary according to individual ownership policies.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on Diamond Lake State Natural Area?
The DNR's property map lists Diamond Lake State Natural Area 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 Diamond Lake State Natural Area?
Diamond Lake State Natural Area lies in DMU Taylor. The DNR registered 2,710 deer in DMU Taylor in 2025.
| DMU | Diamond Lake State Natural Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DMU Taylor | 250 | 2,710 |
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 Diamond Lake State Natural Area?
Nearest towns: Lublin (3 miles), Gilman (7 miles), Withee (11 miles) and Thorp (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 64 and WI 73.
What other public land is near Diamond Lake State Natural Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Pershing Wildlife Area: 8,729 acres, 9.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Diamond Lake State Natural Area
Counting Diamond Lake State Natural Area itself, 5,311 of the 24,235 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (21.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National forest | 5,053 |
| State wildlife areas, forests and other DNR land | 251 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 7 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Diamond Lake State Natural Area?
In Taylor County, 3 miles from Lublin. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Diamond Lake State Natural 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 Diamond Lake State Natural Area in?
DMU Taylor.
How much public land is around Diamond Lake State Natural Area?
5,311 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Diamond Lake State Natural Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Pershing Wildlife Area (9.6 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Diamond Lake State Natural 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.