Richard Bong State Recreation Area: hunting and access
Richard Bong State Recreation Area is 4,694 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Kenosha County, 2 miles from Eagle Lake. Hunters registered 510 deer in Kenosha 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 landRichard Bong State Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,694 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Kenosha County |
| Deer Management Unit | Kenosha County, Racine County |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Richard Bong |
| Nearest towns | Eagle Lake (2 mi), Paddock Lake (3 mi) and Union Grove (3 mi) |
What is Richard Bong State Recreation Area like?
Once designated to be a jet fighter base, Richard Bong State Recreation Area is named after Major Richard I. Bong, a Poplar, WI native who was America's leading air ace during World War II. The air base was abandoned three days before concrete was to be poured for a 12,500-foot runway. Local citizens had the foresight to protect this open space for future generations.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on Richard Bong State Recreation Area?
The DNR's property map lists Richard Bong State Recreation Area as "Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping". Hunting follows Wisconsin's statewide seasons and the rules posted on the property.
In Wisconsin state parks and recreation areas, hunting is limited to the seasons and the parts of the property the DNR sets for each one; the DNR's page has the details.
How many deer are taken around Richard Bong State Recreation Area?
Richard Bong State Recreation Area lies in 2 deer management units. The DNR registered 510 deer in Kenosha County in 2025, against 419 in 2024.
| DMU | Richard Bong State Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha County | 4,691 | 510 | 419 | 481 |
| Racine County | 3 | 768 | 670 | 659 |
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 Richard Bong State Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Eagle Lake (2 miles), Paddock Lake (3 miles), Union Grove (3 miles) and New Munster (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 83, WI 50, WI 11, WI 142 and WI 75.
What other public land is near Richard Bong State Recreation Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Burlington State Habitat Area: 437 acres, 1 mile away
- White River State Trail: 379 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Eagle Lake Fishery Area: 98 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Karcher Marsh Wildlife Area: 282 acres, 2.6 miles away
- New Munster Wildlife Area: 1,502 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Hooker Lake Marsh Fishery Area: 46 acres, 3.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Richard Bong State Recreation Area
Counting Richard Bong State Recreation Area itself, 5,160 of the 48,869 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10.6%), 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 | 5,136 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 14 |
| State parks | 10 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Richard Bong State Recreation Area?
In Kenosha County, 2 miles from Eagle Lake. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Richard Bong State Recreation 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 Richard Bong State Recreation Area in?
Kenosha County (4,691 acres) and Racine County (3 acres).
How much public land is around Richard Bong State Recreation Area?
5,160 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Richard Bong State Recreation Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Burlington State Habitat Area (1 mile).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Richard Bong State Recreation 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 Kenosha County Kenosha County Racine County