Little Plover River Fishery Area: hunting and access
Little Plover River Fishery Area is 246 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Portage County, next to Plover. Hunters registered 8,384 deer in Portage 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 landState parksOther county, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landLittle Plover River Fishery AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 246 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Portage County |
| Deer Management Unit | Portage County |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Little Plover River Fishery Area |
| Nearest towns | Plover (next to it), Whiting (2 mi) and Park Ridge (3 mi) |
What is Little Plover River Fishery Area like?
Little Plover River Fishery Area is mostly pine forests, with some hardwood. Little Plover River has a history of drying up in certain sections during June, July, and August. Little Plover River Fishery Area is on either side of I-39 adjacent to the Village of Plover. Access is via Airline Road on the west side of the Interstate and Bluebird Drive on the east side of the Interstate.
Property Manager Department of Natural Resources 225051 Rib Mountain Drive Wausau, WI 54401 (715) 679-0678. Fisheries Biologist Department of Natural Resources 225051 Rib Mountain Drive Wausau, WI 54401 (715) 679-0678.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on Little Plover River Fishery Area?
The DNR's property map lists Little Plover River 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 Little Plover River Fishery Area: Hunting - special use for archery hunting only, Trapping, Hiking, Cross-country skiing, Wildlife viewing, Fishing - brook trout, Bird watching and Berry picking.
How many deer are taken around Little Plover River Fishery Area?
Little Plover River Fishery Area lies in Portage County. The DNR registered 8,384 deer in Portage County in 2025, against 7,641 in 2024.
| DMU | Little Plover River Fishery Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portage County | 246 | 8,384 | 7,641 | 6,559 |
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 Little Plover River Fishery Area?
Nearest towns: Plover (next to it), Whiting (2 miles), Park Ridge (3 miles) and Stevens Point (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-39, US 51, US 10, WI 66 and WI 54.
What other public land is near Little Plover River Fishery Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Tomorrow River State Trail: 376 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Buena Vista Wildlife Area: 12,552 acres, 5.1 miles away
- Richard A Hemp Fishery Area: 1,401 acres, 8.4 miles away
- Dewey Marsh Wildlife Area: 6,042 acres, 9.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Little Plover River Fishery Area
Counting Little Plover River Fishery Area itself, 724 of the 24,838 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| Other county, city and regional land | 401 |
| State wildlife areas, forests and other DNR land | 291 |
| Other federal land | 25 |
| State parks | 5 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Little Plover River Fishery Area?
In Portage County, next to Plover. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Little Plover River 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 Little Plover River Fishery Area in?
Portage County.
How much public land is around Little Plover River Fishery Area?
724 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Little Plover River Fishery Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Tomorrow River State Trail (0.5 miles).
Get a Wisconsin hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Wisconsin are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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, Little Plover River 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.