Pershing Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Pershing Wildlife Area is 8,729 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Taylor County, 3 miles from Gilman. The DNR's page for it names ruffed grouse among the game here. Hunters registered 3,544 deer in DMU 110 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 forestOther county, city and regional landPershing Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 8,729 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor County |
| Deer Management Unit | DMU 110 |
| DNR lists for hunting | ruffed grouse |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Pershing Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Gilman (3 mi), Sheldon (4 mi) and Jump River (4 mi) |
What is Pershing Wildlife Area like?
Pershing Wildlife Area is approximately 8,800 acres located in northwestern Taylor County. The wildlife area is located north of Gilman and west of State Highway 73 and is comprised of two units bisected by County Highway M. The wildlife area encompasses over 1,000 acres of wetlands (including runoff ponds, potholes and 17 flowages) and approximately 3,000 acres of shrub-grassland. This landscape provides excellent opportunities for Hunting, Trapping, Birding/Wildlife Viewing, and more. Gravel roads throughout the property provide easy access for all recreational activities. Established in 1953 as public hunting grounds leased from Taylor County. In 1960, the county donated 3,400 acres of land to state management and the wildlife area has more than doubled in size since then. The property is managed for open wetland, grassland, and brush-prairie species.
There are many active prescribed burn units on the property to maintain the open landscape to provide nesting cover for waterfowl adjacent to wetlands and habitat for upland species. Sharp-tailed grouse, a species of Special Concern in Wisconsin, are occasionally seen on the Pershing Wildlife Area. Only a remnant number of sharp-tailed grouse exist on the wildlife area today due to land use changes surrounding the property. The Pershing Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:. Download maps of this property. Northern section and southern section.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Pershing Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Pershing Wildlife Area names ruffed grouse. Each follows Wisconsin's statewide season and, for deer, the tags and rules of the deer management unit.
What are the rules on Pershing Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Pershing 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 Pershing Wildlife Area: Birding, Boating (non-motorized), Canoeing, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Fishing (limited), Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (note closed areas on map), Kayaking, Snowmobiling (marked trails), Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering, Wild rice harvesting and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Pershing Wildlife Area?
Pershing Wildlife Area lies in DMU 110. The DNR registered 3,544 deer in DMU 110 in 2025.
| DMU | Pershing Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DMU 110 | 8,729 | 3,544 |
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 Pershing Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Gilman (3 miles), Sheldon (4 miles), Jump River (4 miles) and Conrath (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 73, WI 64 and WI 194.
What other public land is near Pershing Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Diamond Lake State Natural Area: 250 acres, 9.6 miles away
- South Fork Main Creek State Habitat Area: 110 acres, 9.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Pershing Wildlife Area
Counting Pershing Wildlife Area itself, 11,296 of the 70,919 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (15.9%), 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 | 8,735 |
| National forest | 1,707 |
| County forest | 854 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Pershing Wildlife Area?
In Taylor County, 3 miles from Gilman. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Pershing 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 Pershing Wildlife Area in?
DMU 110.
How much public land is around Pershing Wildlife Area?
11,296 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Pershing Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Diamond Lake State Natural Area (9.6 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Pershing 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.