Little Rice Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Little Rice Wildlife Area is 2,287 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Forest County, 4 miles from Argonne. The DNR's page for it names ducks and geese among the game here. Hunters registered 1,155 deer in DMU 120 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 forestState parksLittle Rice Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,287 acres in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Forest County |
| Deer Management Unit | DMU 120 |
| DNR lists for hunting | ducks and geese |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Little Rice Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Argonne (4 mi), Crandon (5 mi) and Mole Lake (7 mi) |
What is Little Rice Wildlife Area like?
The Federal Works Progress Administration constructed the Little Rice Dam in 1935 and transferred it to the town of Crandon for a recreation area. By 1952, the property was transferred to the state of Wisconsin for a wildlife management area. Today, the DNR manages the dam and the 1,200 acre-flowage for a variety of public benefits including hunting, fishing, trapping, wild rice harvesting and outdoor recreation. The DNR owns flowage easement rights on surrounding private lands that allow for the impoundment of water up to a specific elevation. The remainder of the flowage bed is publicly owned. There are two boat launches and a carry-in canoe/kayak access on the property. Three parking areas and the boat launches are managed in cooperation with the town of Crandon. The Little Rice Lake Association operates an aerator on the flowage to aid in overwinter fish survival.
For more information on master planning for this and other wildlife areas around the state, visit the property planning webpage. The Little Rice Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Little Rice Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Little Rice Wildlife Area names ducks and geese. Each follows Wisconsin's statewide season and, for deer, the tags and rules of the deer management unit.
What are the rules on Little Rice Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Little Rice 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 Little Rice Wildlife Area: Birding, Boating (motorized and non-motorized), Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (noted for waterfowl and upland game), Kayaking, Swimming, Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering, Wild rice harvesting and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Little Rice Wildlife Area?
Little Rice Wildlife Area lies in DMU 120. The DNR registered 1,155 deer in DMU 120 in 2025.
| DMU | Little Rice Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DMU 120 | 2,287 | 1,155 |
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 Rice Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Argonne (4 miles), Crandon (5 miles), Mole Lake (7 miles) and Post Lake (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 32, WI 55, US 8 and US 45.
What other public land is near Little Rice Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Pelican River Forest Conservation Easement: 67,444 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Crandon Ribbed Fen State Natural Area: 132 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Wolf River State Trail: 524 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Atkins Lake and Hiles Swamp State Natural Area: 672 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Campbell Springs State Spring Ponds: 45 acres, 2.7 miles away
- South Branch Peshtigo River State Habitat Area: 463 acres, 3.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Little Rice Wildlife Area
Counting Little Rice Wildlife Area itself, 14,699 of the 42,427 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (34.6%), 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 | 8,588 |
| National forest | 6,106 |
| State parks | 5 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Little Rice Wildlife Area?
In Forest County, 4 miles from Argonne. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Little Rice 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 Little Rice Wildlife Area in?
DMU 120.
How much public land is around Little Rice Wildlife Area?
14,699 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Little Rice Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Pelican River Forest Conservation Easement (0.6 miles).
Get a Wisconsin hunt plan when they open
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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, Little Rice 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.