Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area is 1,236 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Marinette County, 7 miles from Crivitz. The DNR's page for it names deer, ruffed grouse, woodcock and bear among the game here. Hunters registered 7,552 deer in DMU Marinette 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 forestLand trusts and other open landLake Noquebay Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,236 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Marinette County |
| Deer Management Unit | DMU Marinette |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ruffed grouse, woodcock and bear |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Crivitz (7 mi), Wausaukee (8 mi) and Pound (13 mi) |
What is Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area like?
Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area is a property like no other in Northern Marinette County. The 1,300-acre property includes a shoreline on the east end of Lake Noquebay, a 662-acre designated state natural area with open sedge meadows, a managed wetland impoundment and both forested upland and lowland habitats. Upper Inlet Creek bisects the wildlife area as it flows to Lake Noquebay. The diversity of habitats provides an ideal location for many game species, including deer, bear, grouse, and woodcock. The property is a birding destination with 144 species reported on ebird.org! The gated snowmobile trail is open to foot traffic throughout the year and offers a great way to hike nearly 2 miles into the woods to explore all the adjacent habitats.
You can find the property by taking County Highway X to Right of Way Road. An access road to the wildlife area goes west from Right of Way Road, opposite County Forest Road 801. This property was acquired from Marinette County in 1960. Two flowages were developed in the 1960s. One control structure on a 60-acre flowage was subsequently removed. The remaining control structure was replaced in Fall 2025. The impoundment will remain drown down through the winter of 2025/2026. The impoundment is managed for wetland-dependent species, including waterfowl. Forest management and wildlife openings development continue to occur on the property. A snowmobile trail traverses the property. The Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area names deer, ruffed grouse, woodcock and bear. Each follows Wisconsin's statewide season and, for deer, the tags and rules of the deer management unit.
What are the rules on Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Lake Noquebay Wildlife 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 Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area: Auto travel, Biking, Birding, Canoeing, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Fishing, Hiking (Designated trail- portions of the county maintained "Lake Noquebay Trail" loop onto state land), Hunting, Kayaking, Snowmobiling trail, Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering, Wild rice harvesting and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area?
Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area lies in DMU Marinette. The DNR registered 7,552 deer in DMU Marinette in 2025.
| DMU | Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DMU Marinette | 1,236 | 7,552 |
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 Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Crivitz (7 miles), Wausaukee (8 miles), Pound (13 miles) and Peshtigo (15 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 180.
What other public land is near Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Upper Middle Inlet State Habitat Area: 52 acres, 6.2 miles away
- Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest: 11,795 acres, 8.5 miles away
- Wausaukee Timber Demo Forest: 40 acres, 8.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area
Counting Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area itself, 5,656 of the 30,444 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (18.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| County forest | 4,414 |
| State wildlife areas, forests and other DNR land | 1,241 |
| Other federal land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area?
In Marinette County, 7 miles from Crivitz. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Lake Noquebay Wildlife 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 Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area in?
DMU Marinette.
How much public land is around Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area?
5,656 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Lake Noquebay Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Upper Middle Inlet State Habitat Area (6.2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Lake Noquebay Wildlife 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.