Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit: hunting and access
Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit is 5,584 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Crawford County, next to Wauzeka. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese and rabbits and squirrels among the game here. Hunters registered 5,420 deer in Crawford 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 landOther federal landKickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka UnitCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 5,584 acres in 8 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Crawford County |
| Deer Management Unit | Crawford County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese and rabbits and squirrels |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Kickapoo River Wildlife Area - Wauzeka Unit |
| Nearest towns | Wauzeka (next to it), Steuben (2 mi) and Woodman (3 mi) |
What is Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit like?
Kickapoo River Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit is a 5,697-acre property (1,927 acres state-owned and 3,770 acres of private lands under easement for hunting and fishing only) located within the Lower Kickapoo and Kickapoo Conservation Opportunity Area in Wisconsin's Wildlife Action plan [PDF]. The habitat on the property is of continental significance for its driftless area features. The property is also an Important Bird Area [exit DNR] because the forests in the southern portion of this site are among the largest and most intact in the whole driftless area and contain significant populations of forest interior birds such as red-shouldered hawk, Acadian flycatcher, wood thrush, cerulean warbler and Kentucky warbler. Prairie and savanna habitats host Bell's vireo, brown thrasher, blue-winged warbler, field sparrow, bobolink and eastern meadowlark.
The Wauzeka Unit contains one of the largest blocks of oak forest in Southern Wisconsin and supports the associated forest interior bird species and many migrating songbirds in the spring and fall. The Kickapoo River runs through the unit and provides paddling opportunities with county-maintained canoe launches in nearby towns. Waterfowl and furbearing mammals inhabit the associated backwaters and wetlands, which transition to forested uplands with various aspects. High-quality prairie remnants are found on the south and west-facing hillsides, which are dominated by oak and hickory. The forest stands provide habitat for deer and small mammals. Large ridgetop fields in the southern portion of the unit are being converted to native prairie and savanna communities. Find the area 1/2 mile north of State Highway 60 on State Highway 131.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit?
The DNR's page for Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit names deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese and rabbits and squirrels. Each follows Wisconsin's statewide season and, for deer, the tags and rules of the deer management unit.
What are the rules on Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit?
The DNR's property map lists Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit 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 Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit: Birding (birds commonly seen include woodland songbirds, great white egrets and bald eagles), Canoeing, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Fishing, Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (noted for: waterfowl, squirrels, deer, wild turkeys and furbearers), Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit?
Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit lies in Crawford County. The DNR registered 5,420 deer in Crawford County in 2025, against 5,067 in 2024.
| DMU | Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford County | 5,584 | 5,420 | 5,067 | 5,067 |
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 Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit?
Nearest towns: Wauzeka (next to it), Steuben (2 miles), Woodman (3 miles) and Eastman (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 60, WI 131, WI 133, WI 179 and WI 27.
What other public land is near Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Lower Wisconsin State Riverway: 47,767 acres, next to it
- La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area: 2,495 acres, next to it
- Hogback Prairie State Natural Area: 1,069 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Mount Hope Rearing Station: 200 acres, 3.9 miles away
- Douglas Hallock Demo Forest: 452 acres, 5.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit
Counting Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit itself, 12,010 of the 58,452 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (20.5%), 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 | 11,971 |
| Other federal land | 35 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 4 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit?
In Crawford County, next to Wauzeka. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka 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 Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit in?
Crawford County.
How much public land is around Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit?
12,010 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Lower Wisconsin State Riverway (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka 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.