La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area: hunting and access
La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area is 2,495 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Vernon, Crawford, Monroe and La Crosse counties, next to Soldiers Grove. Hunters registered 9,561 deer in Vernon 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 forestNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasState parksOther county, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landVoluntary Public Access landLa Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,495 acres in 146 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Vernon County, Crawford County, Monroe County and La Crosse County |
| Deer Management Unit | Vernon County, Crawford County, DMU Monroe, La Crosse County |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area |
| Nearest towns | Soldiers Grove (next to it), Melvina (next to it) and Holmen (next to it) |
What is La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area like?
Various locations in Monroe, La Crosse, Vernon, and Crawford Counties. The La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area is managed to protect the public trust, enhance coldwater fishery (game and non-game), and provide outdoor recreational opportunities.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area?
The DNR's property map lists La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery 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 La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area: Hunting, Trapping, Hiking and Fishing.
How many deer are taken around La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area?
La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area lies in 4 deer management units. The DNR registered 9,561 deer in Vernon County in 2025, against 9,000 in 2024.
| DMU | La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon County | 960 | 9,561 | 9,000 | 8,787 |
| Crawford County | 653 | 5,420 | 5,067 | 5,067 |
| DMU Monroe | 506 | 8,137 | ||
| La Crosse County | 375 | 4,515 | 4,039 | 4,086 |
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 La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area?
Nearest towns: Soldiers Grove (next to it), Melvina (next to it), Holmen (next to it) and Ferryville (next to it). Highways within 5 miles: WI 27, US 61, WI 131, I-90 and WI 33.
What other public land is near La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit: 5,584 acres, next to it
- Coon Creek Fishery Area: 1,187 acres, next to it
- Wildcat Mountain State Park: 3,706 acres, next to it
- Elroy-Sparta State Trail: 631 acres, next to it
- La Crosse River State Trail: 328 acres, next to it
Public land within 3 miles of La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area
Counting La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area itself, 30,647 of the 685,463 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.5%), 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 | 21,933 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 6,901 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 1,364 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 359 |
| State parks | 86 |
| Other federal land | 4 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area?
In Vernon, Crawford, Monroe and La Crosse counties, next to Soldiers Grove. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery 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 La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area in?
Vernon County (960 acres), Crawford County (653 acres), DMU Monroe (506 acres) and La Crosse County (375 acres).
How much public land is around La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area?
30,647 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit (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, La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery 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.
Wisconsin hunting Vernon County Crawford County Monroe County La Crosse County Vernon County Crawford County La Crosse County