Sinnissippi Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Sinnissippi Wildlife Area is 300 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Dodge County, 3 miles from Horicon. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game among the game here. Hunters registered 5,477 deer in Dodge 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 landOther county, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landSinnissippi Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 300 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Dodge County |
| Deer Management Unit | Dodge 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 | Sinnissippi Public Hunting Ground |
| Nearest towns | Horicon (3 mi), Hustisford (3 mi) and Juneau (4 mi) |
What is Sinnissippi Wildlife Area like?
Sinissippi Wildlife Area (350 acres) primarily consists of wetland and open water habitat. The main cover type is emergent wetland dominated by cattail. Uplands constitute about 1/4 of the property and are a mix of grassland (60 acres) and forest (30 acres). Forest stands include a mix of maple, basswood, aspen, oak, and hickory. Sinissippi is open to hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, paddling, gathering wild edibles (i.e., nuts, berries & mushrooms), and more. Pheasant hunting is particularly popular, but there are also opportunities for deer, turkey, waterfowl, and small game hunting. Pheasants are stocked at Sinissippi during the pheasant hunting season.
The best access is from Horicon: east 1 mile on Highway 33, then south 2 miles on County TW, then west 1.2 miles on County S and south 1 mile to the main parking lot on East Horseshoe Road. This property adjoins Lake Sinnissippi along the north shore. Habitat management has focused primarily on grassland and forest enhancement. Grasslands are managed using prescribed fire, mowing, tree removal, and herbicide to limit the establishment and spread of woody and invasive plants. Timber harvests and timber stand improvement activities are used to promote the regeneration and growth of highly beneficial tree species, particularly oak. The Sinnissippi Public Hunting Ground offers many recreational opportunities:.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Sinnissippi Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Sinnissippi 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 Sinnissippi Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Sinnissippi 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 Sinnissippi Wildlife Area: Birding, Boating (motorized and non-motorized), Canoeing, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Hiking, Hunting (noted for deer, pheasant, turkey and waterfowl), Kayaking, Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Sinnissippi Wildlife Area?
Sinnissippi Wildlife Area lies in Dodge County. The DNR registered 5,477 deer in Dodge County in 2025, against 5,238 in 2024.
| DMU | Sinnissippi Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge County | 300 | 5,477 | 5,238 | 4,552 |
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 Sinnissippi Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Horicon (3 miles), Hustisford (3 miles), Juneau (4 miles) and Iron Ridge (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 33, WI 60, WI 26 and WI 28.
What other public land is near Sinnissippi Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Habitat Area: 62 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area: 11,181 acres, 2.6 miles away
- Wild Goose State Trail: 431 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Shaw Marsh Wildlife Area: 918 acres, 9.1 miles away
- Waterloo - Mud Lake Wildlife Area: 9,316 acres, 9.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Sinnissippi Wildlife Area
Counting Sinnissippi Wildlife Area itself, 687 of the 24,313 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.8%), 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 | 356 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 210 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 121 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Sinnissippi Wildlife Area?
In Dodge County, 3 miles from Horicon. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Sinnissippi 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 Sinnissippi Wildlife Area in?
Dodge County.
How much public land is around Sinnissippi Wildlife Area?
687 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Sinnissippi Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Habitat Area (2.2 miles).
Get a Wisconsin hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Wisconsin are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Wisconsin included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Sinnissippi 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.