Rome Pond Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Rome Pond Wildlife Area is 2,295 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Jefferson County, next to Rome. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game among the game here. Hunters registered 3,843 deer in Jefferson 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 landRome Pond Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,295 acres in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Deer Management Unit | Jefferson County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Rome Pond Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Rome (next to it), Sullivan (next to it) and Helenville (5 mi) |
What is Rome Pond Wildlife Area like?
Rome Pond Wildlife Area consists of approximately 2,300 acres of public land. Its central feature is a large, open-water cattail marsh surrounded by rolling hills of upland hardwoods like oak and hickory. Texas Island Woods State Natural Area features a mature hardwood forest on an "island" within an extensive complex of marsh, meadow, and shrub swamp. Interspersed in the uplands are agricultural fields and areas restored to prairie or savanna. The wildlife area provides habitat for migrating waterfowl as well as nesting areas for many wetland species like black terns. There are excellent opportunities for waterfowl, pheasant, deer, and dove hunting, as well as wildlife watching.
The wildlife area is found immediately east of the Village of Rome in Jefferson County on County Road F. Approximately 1 mile east of Rome is a park (managed by Jefferson County Parks) with a picnic area, pit toilet, boat launch and easy access to the wildlife area. From this park, there is also access to a 1.5-mile gravel-topped hiking trail that meanders south through the property to another parking lot on Rome Oak Hill Road. Rome Pond Wildlife Area has a long history of being managed for waterfowl use on the marsh maintained by the dam in the Village of Rome. In more recent years, effort has been made to restore the oak savanna features on the adjacent uplands. Habitat management objectives are to continue to protect and improve the wetland and upland areas through prescribed fire, planting native flora, and removal of brush and invasive species.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Rome Pond Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Rome Pond Wildlife Area names deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese 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 Rome Pond Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Rome Pond 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 Rome Pond Wildlife Area: Birding, Boating (motorized), Canoeing, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Fishing, Hiking (designated trail), Hunting (noted for waterfowl, pheasant, deer, turkey and small game), Kayaking, Snowmobiling trail (designated trails only), Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Rome Pond Wildlife Area?
Rome Pond Wildlife Area lies in Jefferson County. The DNR registered 3,843 deer in Jefferson County in 2025, against 3,816 in 2024.
| DMU | Rome Pond Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 2,295 | 3,843 | 3,816 | 3,579 |
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 Rome Pond Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Rome (next to it), Sullivan (next to it), Helenville (5 miles) and Hebron (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 18 and WI 106.
What other public land is near Rome Pond Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Paradise Valley Wildlife Area: 1,788 acres, 1.1 miles away
- Glacial Drumlin State Trail: 1,021 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Prince's Point Wildlife Area: 3,979 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit: 21,556 acres, 4.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rome Pond Wildlife Area
Counting Rome Pond Wildlife Area itself, 4,005 of the 37,053 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10.8%), 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 | 3,885 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 112 |
| State parks | 8 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rome Pond Wildlife Area?
In Jefferson County, next to Rome. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Rome Pond 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 Rome Pond Wildlife Area in?
Jefferson County.
How much public land is around Rome Pond Wildlife Area?
4,005 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rome Pond Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Paradise Valley Wildlife Area (1.1 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Rome Pond 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.