St Croix Islands Wildlife Area: hunting and access
St Croix Islands Wildlife Area is 1,248 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in St. Croix County, 3 miles from Somerset. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey and small game among the game here. Hunters registered 4,858 deer in St. Croix 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 landNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasNational park landOther county, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landSt Croix Islands Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,248 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | St. Croix County |
| Deer Management Unit | St. Croix County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey and small game |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | St. Croix Islands Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Somerset (3 mi), Houlton (4 mi) and North Hudson (8 mi) |
What is St Croix Islands Wildlife Area like?
The St. Croix Islands Wildlife Area is a 1,082-acre property located in northwestern St. Croix County. This unique property includes numerous islands and wetland habitats of the St. Croix River, and the property contains the confluence of the Apple and St. Croix rivers. The Apple River Canyon State Natural Area and the St. Croix River State Natural Area are also located within the property. The majority of the property is wooded bluff land along the St. Croix River, an area that has been designated as a National Scenic Riverway.
The property is located about 4.5 miles northwest of Somerset. Follow County Road I north of Somerset for 2 miles. The property can be accessed off of 192nd Avenue or 208th Avenue Access to the St. Croix River is available through carry-in boat access off of Rice Lake Road. The acquisition of the property started with the purchase of acreage from St. Croix County in 1946. Additional acreage was purchased around the original land, including an 184-acre donation from The Nature Conservancy. The property is managed to provide opportunities for public hunting, trapping, wildlife observation and other nature-based outdoor recreation. Management objectives aim to maintain the scenic riverway through passive timber management. The St. Croix Islands Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on St Croix Islands Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for St Croix Islands Wildlife Area names deer, wild turkey 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 St Croix Islands Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists St Croix Islands 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 St Croix Islands Wildlife Area: Birding, Canoeing, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Falconry (by permit), Fishing, Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (noted for deer, turkey and small game), Kayaking, Snowshoeing, Trapping, Wild edible/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around St Croix Islands Wildlife Area?
St Croix Islands Wildlife Area lies in St. Croix County. The DNR registered 4,858 deer in St. Croix County in 2025, against 4,202 in 2024.
| DMU | St Croix Islands Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Croix County | 1,248 | 4,858 | 4,202 | 4,100 |
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 St Croix Islands Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Somerset (3 miles), Houlton (4 miles), North Hudson (8 miles) and New Richmond (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 35 and WI 64.
What other public land is near St Croix Islands Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Willow River State Park: 2,857 acres, 6 miles away
- Willow River SHA-WPHRA: 818 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Ten Mile Creek SHA-WPRA: 216 acres, 9 miles away
- Lundy Pond SHA-WPRA: 35 acres, 9.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of St Croix Islands Wildlife Area
Counting St Croix Islands Wildlife Area itself, 2,738 of the 41,670 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.6%), 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 | 1,252 |
| National park land | 919 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 448 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 66 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 53 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is St Croix Islands Wildlife Area?
In St. Croix County, 3 miles from Somerset. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is St Croix Islands 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 St Croix Islands Wildlife Area in?
St. Croix County.
How much public land is around St Croix Islands Wildlife Area?
2,738 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, St Croix Islands Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Willow River State Park (6 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, St Croix Islands 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.