Lake Pepin Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Lake Pepin Wildlife Area is 250 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Pepin County, next to Stockholm. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese and small game among the game here. Hunters registered 2,215 deer in Pepin 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 landLake Pepin Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 250 acres in 9 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Pepin County |
| Deer Management Unit | Pepin County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese and small game |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Lake Pepin Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Stockholm (next to it), Pepin (4 mi) and Maiden Rock (7 mi) |
What is Lake Pepin Wildlife Area like?
Lake Pepin Wildlife Area is located on State Highway 35, immediately south of the Village of Stockholm and 3 miles north/northwest of Pepin. The land was originally purchased in 1969-1970 to develop a state park along Lake Pepin. The state park was never developed and eventually reverted to state wildlife area. Prior to state ownership, this property was used primarily for recreation, agriculture and forestry. State Highway 35 is situated at the base of the bluffs overlooking Lake Pepin on the Mississippi River and serves as a dividing line between habitat types on the property. The portion of the wildlife area that lies between the highway and Lake Pepin consists of a mix of bottomland hardwood tree species and brush. As you cross Highway 35 to the north, the vegetation transitions to mostly central hardwoods such as red oak, white oak and black walnut.
An exceptional presence of mature black walnut exists on the property, as well as spectacular views of Lake Pepin from atop the bluffs. The primary objective of the wildlife area is to be managed for wildlife habitat and to maintain a unique parcel of state land along Lake Pepin with diverse flora and fauna. Timber management techniques are used to protect the sensitive bluff land ecosystem while also maintaining a diversity of age classes in the forest cover types present. The Lake Pepin Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Lake Pepin Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Lake Pepin Wildlife Area names deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese and small game. Each follows Wisconsin's statewide season and, for deer, the tags and rules of the deer management unit.
What are the rules on Lake Pepin Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Lake Pepin 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 Pepin Wildlife Area: Birding, Boating (motorized and non-motorized), Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (noted for deer, turkeys, waterfowl and small game), Kayaking, Snowmobiling trail (cuts through the property), Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Lake Pepin Wildlife Area?
Lake Pepin Wildlife Area lies in Pepin County. The DNR registered 2,215 deer in Pepin County in 2025, against 2,120 in 2024.
| DMU | Lake Pepin Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepin County | 250 | 2,215 | 2,120 | 1,904 |
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 Pepin Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Stockholm (next to it), Pepin (4 miles), Maiden Rock (7 miles) and Plum City (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 35.
What other public land is near Lake Pepin Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area: 263 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Tiffany Wildlife Area: 14,019 acres, 5.6 miles away
- Rush River Delta State Natural Area: 175 acres, 6.1 miles away
- Morgan Coulee Prairie State Natural Area: 58 acres, 9.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Lake Pepin Wildlife Area
Counting Lake Pepin Wildlife Area itself, 518 of the 29,853 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.7%), 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 | 518 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Lake Pepin Wildlife Area?
In Pepin County, next to Stockholm. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Lake Pepin 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 Pepin Wildlife Area in?
Pepin County.
How much public land is around Lake Pepin Wildlife Area?
518 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Lake Pepin Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area (1.6 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Lake Pepin 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.