Loon Lake Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Loon Lake Wildlife Area is 3,222 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Barron and Polk counties, 4 miles from Turtle Lake. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and bear among the game here. Hunters registered 6,376 deer in Barron 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 landState parksOther county, city and regional landVoluntary Public Access landLoon Lake Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,222 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Barron County and Polk County |
| Deer Management Unit | Barron County, Polk County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and bear |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Loon Lake Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Turtle Lake (4 mi), Almena (4 mi) and Cumberland (5 mi) |
What is Loon Lake Wildlife Area like?
Loon Lake Wildlife Area is a 3,123-acre property located primarily in Barron County with a small parcel in Polk County. It consists of rolling upland oak, maple and aspen forest, grass fields, waterfowl flowages, pothole lakes, lowland brush, and the Apple River. Find it 4 miles north of Turtle Lake or 4 miles south of Cumberland. From Turtle Lake, go north on Highway 63 for 3 miles to 16th Avenue. Turn west onto 16th Avenue and go 1/2 mile, then head north on 3/4 1st Street for 1.5 miles. From Cumberland, head south on Highway 63 for approximately 4 miles. Just south of Comstock, head west on 18 1/2 - 19 1/2 Avenue. Part of the property is within 1/2 mile of Highway 63. The rest of the property is 2.5 miles west, south of 19 1/2 Avenue.
This property offers a tremendous number of opportunities from hiking, wildlife viewing, hunting, and trapping. There are roads closed to vehicle traffic that people can access on foot and plenty of parking lots where you can access the wildlife area and even view wildlife from. From the wooded areas to the prairies, all the way down to the many flowages this property offers it all. People enjoy deer, waterfowl, pheasant, grouse, and turkey hunting in this area. Trappers love the access to so many flowages and the Apple River in such proximity to trap things like muskrats, mink, beaver, and otters. Also, Wild Rice is present on this property. Note: No bikes are allowed on the property. Loon Lake Wildlife Area was established in the 1960s for waterfowl and forest wildlife management.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Loon Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Loon Lake Wildlife Area names deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse 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 Loon Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Loon Lake 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 Loon Lake Wildlife Area: Birding, Canoeing, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Fishing, Hiking (designated trail), Hunting (especially noted for waterfowl, deer, bear, pheasant, grouse and turkey), Kayaking, Trapping (especially noted for beaver, muskrats and otters), Wild edibles/gathering, Wild rice harvesting and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Loon Lake Wildlife Area?
Loon Lake Wildlife Area lies in 2 deer management units. The DNR registered 6,376 deer in Barron County in 2025, against 5,789 in 2024.
| DMU | Loon Lake Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barron County | 2,808 | 6,376 | 5,789 | 5,457 |
| Polk County | 414 | 8,091 | 7,972 | 7,275 |
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 Loon Lake Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Turtle Lake (4 miles), Almena (4 miles), Cumberland (5 miles) and Clayton (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 63, US 8 and WI 48.
What other public land is near Loon Lake Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area: 3,137 acres, 3 miles away
- Cattail State Trail: 241 acres, 3.1 miles away
- Joel Marsh Wildlife Area: 1,367 acres, 5.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Loon Lake Wildlife Area
Counting Loon Lake Wildlife Area itself, 3,493 of the 45,340 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.7%), 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 | 3,493 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Loon Lake Wildlife Area?
In Barron and Polk counties, 4 miles from Turtle Lake. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Loon Lake 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 Loon Lake Wildlife Area in?
Barron County (2,808 acres) and Polk County (414 acres).
How much public land is around Loon Lake Wildlife Area?
3,493 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Loon Lake Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Rice Beds Creek Wildlife Area (3 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Loon Lake 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.
Wisconsin hunting Barron County Polk County Barron County Polk County