South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area: hunting and access
South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area is 1,108 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Jackson County, 6 miles from Ettrick. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey and pheasants among the game here. Hunters registered 4,911 deer in DMU Jackson 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 landLand trusts and other open landSouth Beaver Creek Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,108 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Deer Management Unit | DMU Jackson |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey and pheasants |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Ettrick (6 mi), Melrose (6 mi) and Mindoro (8 mi) |
What is South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area like?
South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area is a 1,100-acre property located west of Melrose in western Jackson County. The property consists of an upland hardwood forest with a large impoundment of water, support wetlands and some smaller scrapes. South Beaver Creek runs through the property. Access can be gained along County Highway D, Erickson Road, South Buckholz Road and Lee School Road.
The first land parcel for South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area was purchased in 1959. The land had previously been ditched to provide farming opportunities. The combination of upland hardwoods and open grassland fields offers excellent habitat for wild turkeys, which is why South Beaver Creek was the first official release site of turkeys in Jackson County. Current management consists of grassland management, woody vegetation encroachment control, sharecropping, agricultural fields, put-and-take pheasant stocking and timber management. The South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area names deer, wild turkey and pheasants. Each follows Wisconsin's statewide season and, for deer, the tags and rules of the deer management unit.
What are the rules on South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists South Beaver Creek 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 South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area: Birding, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Fishing, Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (noted for deer, turkey, and pheasant), Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area?
South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area lies in DMU Jackson. The DNR registered 4,911 deer in DMU Jackson in 2025.
| DMU | South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DMU Jackson | 1,108 | 4,911 |
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 South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Ettrick (6 miles), Melrose (6 miles), Mindoro (8 miles) and Galesville (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 54.
What other public land is near South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- North Bend Bottoms Wildlife Area: 1,686 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Half Moon Lake Fishery Area: 126 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Hardies Creek Timber Demo Forest: 56 acres, 4.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area
Counting South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area itself, 1,211 of the 32,851 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 | 1,211 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area?
In Jackson County, 6 miles from Ettrick. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is South Beaver Creek 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 South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area in?
DMU Jackson.
How much public land is around South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area?
1,211 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, South Beaver Creek Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is North Bend Bottoms Wildlife Area (3.2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, South Beaver Creek 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.