Navarino Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Navarino Wildlife Area is 14,533 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Shawano and Waupaca counties, next to Navarino. Hunters registered 9,880 deer in Shawano 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 landVoluntary Public Access landNavarino Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 14,533 acres in 9 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Shawano County and Waupaca County |
| Deer Management Unit | Shawano County, Waupaca County |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Navarino Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Navarino (next to it), Bonduel (3 mi) and Embarrass (4 mi) |
What is Navarino Wildlife Area like?
Navarino Wildlife Area is part of the Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resources Area (LWRBNRA). This property is found in southern Shawano and northeast Waupaca counties in the Navarino, Waukechon, Lessor, Hartland and Matteson townships. The property is over 15,000 acres of state-owned land and the largest parcel within the LWRBNRA. The wildlife area is comprised of sandy uplands and ridges with marshy depressions. Habitat types include open fields, swamp conifer, lowland scrub, bog, bottomland hardwoods, pine plantations and aspen/oak forest. The West Branch of the Shioc River and the Wolf River run through the property.
Navarino Wildlife Area is 7 miles south of Shawano. Ample parking opportunities are located throughout the property on the following roads: McDonald, South Townline, Lessor-Navarino, Birch and Highway 156, Highway K, Two Creek, Wildlife and Swamp Road. There are two improved boat launches on the property (River Road and Highway 156), three designated carry-in sites (Zeuske Road, Steucks Road and Highway 156) and several other undeveloped access points to the Wolf River, Shioc River, tributaries and flowages. The Navarino Nature Center [exit DNR] is located off Lindsten Road and offers a variety of nature-based programming. The nature center maintains hiking, snowshoe and groomed ski trails along with picnic areas, restrooms, a parking lot, a shelter and a cabin to accommodate program participants.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on Navarino Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Navarino 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 Navarino Wildlife Area: Birding, Boating (Motorized and non-motorized. There are both carry-in and improved boat launches.), Camping, Canoeing, Cross-country skiing (designated and non-designated trails), Class 2 dog training area, Fishing (Wolf River; fishing pier), Hiking (designated and non-designated trails), Interpretive trail, Kayaking, Nature Center [exit DNR], Snowmobiling trail, Snowshoeing and Trapping.
How many deer are taken around Navarino Wildlife Area?
Navarino Wildlife Area lies in 2 deer management units. The DNR registered 9,880 deer in Shawano County in 2025, against 9,402 in 2024.
| DMU | Navarino Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawano County | 13,461 | 9,880 | 9,402 | 8,643 |
| Waupaca County | 1,074 | 10,740 | 10,349 | 9,097 |
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 Navarino Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Navarino (next to it), Bonduel (3 miles), Embarrass (4 miles) and Nichols (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 47, WI 29, WI 55, WI 156 and WI 22.
What other public land is near Navarino Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resource Area: 3,670 acres, next to it
- Deer Creek Wildlife Area: 1,489 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Mountain-Bay State Trail: 1,071 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Maine Wildlife Area: 675 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area: 3,142 acres, 5.2 miles away
- Shawano Lake Fishery Area: 118 acres, 5.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Navarino Wildlife Area
Counting Navarino Wildlife Area itself, 16,369 of the 85,778 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (19.1%), 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 | 16,369 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Navarino Wildlife Area?
In Shawano and Waupaca counties, next to Navarino. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Navarino 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 Navarino Wildlife Area in?
Shawano County (13,461 acres) and Waupaca County (1,074 acres).
How much public land is around Navarino Wildlife Area?
16,369 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Navarino Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resource Area (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Navarino 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 Shawano County Waupaca County Shawano County Waupaca County