New Auburn Wildlife Area: hunting and access
New Auburn Wildlife Area is 1,184 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Barron County, 2 miles from New Auburn. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse, bear and small game 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 landOther county, city and regional landNew Auburn Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,184 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Barron County |
| Deer Management Unit | Barron County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse, bear and small game |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | New Auburn Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | New Auburn (2 mi), Chetek (5 mi) and Bloomer (10 mi) |
What is New Auburn Wildlife Area like?
The project was developed in 1942 with an initial purchase of 550 acres of marsh. In 1960, the property boundary was enlarged to its current acquisition goal. The area has a well-defined system of level ditches indicating many attempts to use the land for agriculture. Past use of the area included hay production, pasturing and vegetable farming. Current use of the property centers around hunting, trapping and wildlife watching. Prairies have been established on the south and north ends of the property for waterfowl and grassland bird nesting. There are some impressive concentrations of Canada geese on private land surrounding the property. Sandhill cranes can be seen in good numbers in the fall, and there are some breeding pairs present in the spring. There is an excellent viewing location from an overlook by the parking lot on the southeast part of the property.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on New Auburn Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for New Auburn Wildlife Area names deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse, bear 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 New Auburn Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists New Auburn 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 New Auburn Wildlife Area: Birding (sandhill cranes and songbirds are regularly seen), Canoeing, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (especially noted for deer, bear, ruffed grouse, pheasants, turkey and small game), Kayaking, Trapping (especially noted for beavers, muskrats and otters), Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around New Auburn Wildlife Area?
New Auburn Wildlife Area lies in Barron County. The DNR registered 6,376 deer in Barron County in 2025, against 5,789 in 2024.
| DMU | New Auburn Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barron County | 1,184 | 6,376 | 5,789 | 5,457 |
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 New Auburn Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: New Auburn (2 miles), Chetek (5 miles), Bloomer (10 miles) and Dallas (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 53.
What other public land is near New Auburn Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Sand Creek Fishery Area: 314 acres, 2 miles away
- Duncan Creek Fishery Area: 360 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Ten Mile Creek Wildlife Area: 408 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Fish Lake State Habitat Area: 95 acres, 4.2 miles away
- McCann Creek Fishery Area: 433 acres, 5.7 miles away
- Chippewa Moraine State Ice Age Trail Area: 351 acres, 5.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of New Auburn Wildlife Area
Counting New Auburn Wildlife Area itself, 1,460 of the 31,123 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.7%), 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 | 1,459 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is New Auburn Wildlife Area?
In Barron County, 2 miles from New Auburn. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is New Auburn 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 New Auburn Wildlife Area in?
Barron County.
How much public land is around New Auburn Wildlife Area?
1,460 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, New Auburn Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Sand Creek Fishery Area (2 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, New Auburn 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.