Mecan River Fishery Area: hunting and access
Mecan River Fishery Area is 6,730 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Waushara and Marquette counties, 2 miles from Coloma. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey and small game among the game here. Hunters registered 8,678 deer in Waushara 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 landNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasOther county, city and regional landVoluntary Public Access landMecan River Fishery AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 6,730 acres in 33 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Waushara County and Marquette County |
| Deer Management Unit | Waushara County, Marquette County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey and small game |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Mecan River Fishery Area |
| Nearest towns | Coloma (2 mi), Wautoma (3 mi) and Harrisville (5 mi) |
What is Mecan River Fishery Area like?
The Mecan River Fishery Area contains some of the finest trout streams in central Wisconsin. Most of the water is class 1 brown and rainbow trout streams that receive heavy public fishing use. The waters are generally crystal-clear and support excellent natural trout reproduction through 31.1 miles of the total 48.7 miles of stream length. Chaffee and Wedde Creeks and the Mecan River are three of only a few streams in the entire state that have naturally reproducing rainbow trout populations. All the properties within the Mecan River Fishery Area are located in southwest Waushara County and northwest Marquette County. The headwaters of all four streams originate in Waushara County and flow south or southeast. Wedde Creek is a tributary to Chaffee Creek, while Chaffee and Little Pine Creeks are direct tributaries to the Mecan River.
The vegetative cover of the uplands is rich with diversity, from lowland brush and woodlands to upland forests and grasslands. Additionally, many old agricultural fields have been abandoned and are reverting to natural vegetation; others have been planted into pine plantations, converted into native prairies, or continued to be farmed in share-crop agreements. This unique mix of woods, water and fields provides prime habitat for a variety of game and non-game species, offering a pleasant satisfaction to all who visit this natural and beautiful area. Portions of the Wisconsin Ice Age Trail traverse through the fishery area, with the occasional loop providing a structured and safe trail, allowing the casual hiker to enjoy what the area has to offer. Recreational opportunities are a year round occurrence and seemingly endless, from fishing and hunting to canoeing and snowshoeing.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Mecan River Fishery Area?
The DNR's page for Mecan River Fishery Area names deer, wild turkey 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 Mecan River Fishery Area?
The DNR's property map lists Mecan 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 Mecan River Fishery Area: Hunting - deer, turkey & small game, Trapping, Hiking, Snowmobiling trail (designated areas only), Cross-country skiing and Bird watching.
How many deer are taken around Mecan River Fishery Area?
Mecan River Fishery Area lies in 2 deer management units. The DNR registered 8,678 deer in Waushara County in 2025, against 8,191 in 2024.
| DMU | Mecan River Fishery Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waushara County | 3,653 | 8,678 | 8,191 | 6,404 |
| Marquette County | 3,077 | 7,790 | 7,744 | 6,550 |
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 Mecan River Fishery Area?
Nearest towns: Coloma (2 miles), Wautoma (3 miles), Harrisville (5 miles) and Hancock (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 51, I-39, WI 21, WI 22 and WI 73. 1 VPA property within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Mecan River Fishery Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- White River Fishery Area-Waushara: 3,501 acres, next to it
- State Ice Age Trail Area (SIATA): 4,676 acres, next to it
- Lunch Creek Wetlands State Natural Area: 214 acres, 0.7 miles away
- John A Lawton Fishery Area: 282 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Greenwood Wildlife Area: 1,442 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Germania Wildlife Area: 2,416 acres, 2.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Mecan River Fishery Area
Counting Mecan River Fishery Area itself, 12,202 of the 116,775 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10.4%), 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 | 12,065 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 111 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 21 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 4 |
| State parks | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Mecan River Fishery Area?
In Waushara and Marquette counties, 2 miles from Coloma. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Mecan 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 Mecan River Fishery Area in?
Waushara County (3,653 acres) and Marquette County (3,077 acres).
How much public land is around Mecan River Fishery Area?
12,202 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Mecan River Fishery Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is White River Fishery Area-Waushara (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Mecan 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.
Wisconsin hunting Waushara County Marquette County Waushara County Marquette County