Hartman Creek State Park: hunting and access
Hartman Creek State Park is 1,472 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Waupaca and Portage counties, next to Chain O' Lakes. Hunters registered 10,740 deer in Waupaca 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 landHartman Creek State ParkCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,472 acres in 6 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Waupaca County and Portage County |
| Deer Management Unit | Waupaca County, Portage County |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Hartman Creek |
| Nearest towns | Chain O' Lakes (next to it), King (3 mi) and Waupaca (6 mi) |
What is Hartman Creek State Park like?
Located on the beautiful Chain O' Lakes, Hartman Creek State Park is a quiet and friendly, natural gem and a popular destination in central Wisconsin. The park offers camping, boating, swimming, horseback riding and mountain biking opportunities, the historic Hellestad House log cabin, and four picnic areas including Whispering Pines along crystal-clear Marl Lake.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on Hartman Creek State Park?
The DNR's property map lists Hartman Creek 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 Hartman Creek State Park?
Hartman Creek State Park lies in 2 deer management units. The DNR registered 10,740 deer in Waupaca County in 2025, against 10,349 in 2024.
| DMU | Hartman Creek State Park acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waupaca County | 1,040 | 10,740 | 10,349 | 9,097 |
| Portage County | 432 | 8,384 | 7,641 | 6,559 |
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 Hartman Creek State Park?
Nearest towns: Chain O' Lakes (next to it), King (3 miles), Waupaca (6 miles) and Amherst (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 10, WI 54, WI 22 and WI 49.
What other public land is near Hartman Creek State Park?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Emmons Creek Fishery Area: 1,468 acres, next to it
- State Ice Age Trail Area (SIATA): 4,676 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Radley Creek Fishery Area: 1,438 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Waupaca River Fishery Area: 79 acres, 3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Hartman Creek State Park
Counting Hartman Creek State Park itself, 4,151 of the 34,002 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12.2%), 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 | 4,121 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 26 |
| State parks | 4 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Hartman Creek State Park?
In Waupaca and Portage counties, next to Chain O' Lakes. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Hartman Creek 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 Hartman Creek State Park in?
Waupaca County (1,040 acres) and Portage County (432 acres).
How much public land is around Hartman Creek State Park?
4,151 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Hartman Creek State Park included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Emmons Creek Fishery Area (next to it).
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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, Hartman Creek 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.
Wisconsin hunting Waupaca County Portage County Waupaca County Portage County