Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit: hunting and access
Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit is 21,556 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Waukesha, Walworth and Jefferson counties, next to Eagle. Hunters registered 3,320 deer in Waukesha 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 landNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasState parksOther county, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landVoluntary Public Access landKettle Moraine State Forest-Southern UnitCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 21,556 acres in 17 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Waukesha County, Walworth County and Jefferson County |
| Deer Management Unit | Waukesha County, Walworth County, Jefferson County |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Southern Unit |
| Nearest towns | Eagle (next to it), Palmyra (next to it) and North Prairie (next to it) |
What is Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit like?
Covering more than 22,000 acres of forested glacial hills, kettle lakes and prairies, the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest is interlaced with more than 100 miles of mountain biking, horseback riding and hiking and nature trails. Paddling, boating, swimming, fishing, hunting and winter sport opportunities are all available. There are three family campgrounds, a horseriders camp, two group camps and remote backpack shelters on the Ice Age Trail.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit?
The DNR's property map lists Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit 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 Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit?
Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit lies in 3 deer management units. The DNR registered 3,320 deer in Waukesha County in 2025, against 3,021 in 2024.
| DMU | Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waukesha County | 10,860 | 3,320 | 3,021 | 2,888 |
| Walworth County | 7,201 | 2,132 | 2,059 | 1,881 |
| Jefferson County | 3,496 | 3,843 | 3,816 | 3,579 |
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 Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit?
Nearest towns: Eagle (next to it), Palmyra (next to it), North Prairie (next to it) and Lauderdale Lakes (2 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 59, WI 67, US 12, WI 89 and WI 83.
What other public land is near Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Clover Valley Fen State Natural Area: 66 acres, next to it
- Paradise Valley Wildlife Area: 1,788 acres, next to it
- Ottawa SIATA: 108 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Clover Valley State Habitat Area: 636 acres, 1.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit
Counting Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit itself, 27,701 of the 136,134 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (20.3%), 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 | 26,231 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 1,199 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 267 |
| Other federal land | 4 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit?
In Waukesha, Walworth and Jefferson counties, next to Eagle. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit 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 Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit in?
Waukesha County (10,860 acres), Walworth County (7,201 acres) and Jefferson County (3,496 acres).
How much public land is around Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit?
27,701 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Clover Valley Fen State Natural Area (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit; 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 Waukesha County Walworth County Jefferson County Waukesha County Walworth County Jefferson County