Sand Creek Fishery Area: hunting and access
Sand Creek Fishery Area is 314 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Chippewa and Dunn counties, next to New Auburn. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and small game among the game here. Hunters registered 6,315 deer in DMU Chippewa 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 forestSand Creek Fishery AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 314 acres in 13 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Chippewa County and Dunn County |
| Deer Management Unit | DMU Chippewa, Dunn County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and small game |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Sand Creek Fishery Area (Chippewa and Dunn Counties) |
| Nearest towns | New Auburn (next to it), Bloomer (7 mi) and Chetek (9 mi) |
What is Sand Creek Fishery Area like?
The Sand Creek Fishery area includes 213 acres of land in fee title, which covers approximately 2 miles of stream. Fisheries easements provide public access along an additional 6.4 miles of stream. The combination of easements and fee title lands cover a majority of the stream frontage in the fishery area. Sand Creek is a small stream that originates in a wetland complex and flows through agricultural lands. Spring Brook is a major tributary to Sand Creek. Water quality of the stream is considered good, but agricultural activities do contribute to low levels of nutrients. The stream is a low-gradient stream with an excellent wetland buffer along with a majority of its length. Riparian vegetation consists primarily of tag alder, lowland hardwoods, and reed canary grass.
Sand Creek is a class 1 brook and brown trout stream, while Spring Brook is managed for brook trout. Both streams are highly productive for brook trout. Brown trout are present primarily in the Dunn County portion of Sand Creek, and many spend their summer where Sand Creek flows into the Red Cedar River. In fall, many large brown trout can be found in the lower reach of Sand Creek as they migrate upstream to spawn. Fishing is limited to bridge crossings, shoreline angling or wading. Fly fishing opportunities are limited due to the narrow width of the stream and trees and brush along the banks. Sand Creek Fishery Area is located in northwest Chippewa County and northeast Dunn County, immediately southwest of the Village of New Auburn. Fishing for brown and brook trout is limited to bridge crossings, shoreline angling or wading.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Sand Creek Fishery Area?
The DNR's page for Sand Creek Fishery Area names deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse 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 Sand Creek Fishery Area?
The DNR's property map lists Sand Creek Fishery 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 Sand Creek Fishery Area: Hunting - deer, grouse, turkeys, wood duck, and small game, Trapping, Wildlife viewing, Fishing - brook and brown trout and Bird watching.
How many deer are taken around Sand Creek Fishery Area?
Sand Creek Fishery Area lies in 2 deer management units. The DNR registered 6,315 deer in DMU Chippewa in 2025.
| DMU | Sand Creek Fishery Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DMU Chippewa | 301 | 6,315 |
| Dunn County | 13 | 9,118 |
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 Sand Creek Fishery Area?
Nearest towns: New Auburn (next to it), Bloomer (7 miles), Chetek (9 miles) and Dallas (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 53 and WI 64.
What other public land is near Sand Creek Fishery Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- New Auburn Wildlife Area: 1,184 acres, 2 miles away
- Duncan Creek Fishery Area: 360 acres, 2.3 miles away
- McCann Creek Fishery Area: 433 acres, 6 miles away
- Chippewa Moraine State Ice Age Trail Area: 351 acres, 6.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Sand Creek Fishery Area
Counting Sand Creek Fishery Area itself, 1,624 of the 44,144 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.7%), 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 | 1,289 |
| County forest | 332 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 3 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Sand Creek Fishery Area?
In Chippewa and Dunn counties, next to New Auburn. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Sand Creek Fishery 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 Sand Creek Fishery Area in?
DMU Chippewa (301 acres) and Dunn County (13 acres).
How much public land is around Sand Creek Fishery Area?
1,624 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Sand Creek Fishery Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is New Auburn Wildlife Area (2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Sand Creek Fishery 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.