Sand Creek Streambank Protection Area: hunting and access
Sand Creek Streambank Protection Area is 713 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Monroe, Jackson and La Crosse counties, 3 miles from Melrose. Hunters registered 8,137 deer in DMU Monroe 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 forestOther federal landSand Creek Streambank Protection AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 713 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Monroe County, Jackson County and La Crosse County |
| Deer Management Unit | DMU Monroe, DMU Jackson, La Crosse County |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Sand Creek |
| Nearest towns | Melrose (3 mi), Cataract (6 mi) and Mindoro (7 mi) |
What is Sand Creek Streambank Protection Area like?
Sand Creek is a class 1 trout stream in Monroe and Jackson Counties. Uplands consist of a mix of hardwoods, pine, and underbrush. Sand Creek is managed to protect the public trust, enhance coldwater fishery (game and non-game), and provide outdoor recreational opportunities.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on Sand Creek Streambank Protection Area?
The DNR's property map lists Sand Creek Streambank Protection 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 Streambank Protection Area: Hunting, Trapping, Hiking, Fishing, Wildlife viewing, Bird watching and Berry picking.
How many deer are taken around Sand Creek Streambank Protection Area?
Sand Creek Streambank Protection Area lies in 3 deer management units. The DNR registered 8,137 deer in DMU Monroe in 2025.
| DMU | Sand Creek Streambank Protection Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DMU Monroe | 642 | 8,137 |
| DMU Jackson | 68 | 4,911 |
| La Crosse County | 3 | 4,515 |
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 Streambank Protection Area?
Nearest towns: Melrose (3 miles), Cataract (6 miles), Mindoro (7 miles) and Rockland (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 71, WI 108, WI 54, WI 162 and WI 27.
What other public land is near Sand Creek Streambank Protection Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Big Creek Fishery Area: 1,471 acres, 3.4 miles away
- North Bend Bottoms Wildlife Area: 1,686 acres, 3.9 miles away
- La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area: 2,495 acres, 6 miles away
- Half Moon Lake Fishery Area: 126 acres, 7.4 miles away
- South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area: 1,108 acres, 7.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Sand Creek Streambank Protection Area
Counting Sand Creek Streambank Protection Area itself, 893 of the 29,626 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3%), 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 | 723 |
| County forest | 153 |
| Other federal land | 17 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Sand Creek Streambank Protection Area?
In Monroe, Jackson and La Crosse counties, 3 miles from Melrose. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Sand Creek Streambank Protection 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 Streambank Protection Area in?
DMU Monroe (642 acres), DMU Jackson (68 acres) and La Crosse County (3 acres).
How much public land is around Sand Creek Streambank Protection Area?
893 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Sand Creek Streambank Protection Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Big Creek Fishery Area (3.4 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Sand Creek Streambank Protection 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 Monroe County Jackson County La Crosse County La Crosse County