Tichigan Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Tichigan Wildlife Area is 1,602 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Racine County, next to Tichigan. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game among the game here. Hunters registered 768 deer in Racine 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 landVoluntary Public Access landTichigan Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,602 acres in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Racine County |
| Deer Management Unit | Racine 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 | Tichigan Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Tichigan (next to it), Waterford (2 mi) and Wind Lake (3 mi) |
What is Tichigan Wildlife Area like?
Tichigan Wildlife Area is a 1,562-acre property in northwest Racine County, northwest of the Village of Waterford. This property is the largest and most diverse wildlife property in the county. Habitat types include grasslands, cattail marsh, oak woodland, wet meadow, open oak woods, fens, agricultural fields, shallow marsh, pine plantation and upland and lowland shrubs. This variety provides excellent habitat for game and non-game species. Hunters can pursue game species like deer, turkey, stocked pheasants, small game, doves and waterfowl. Hunters also have access to the only leased VPA site in Racine County, the 98-acre Ranke parcel. An No Entry Refuge on this site sits adjacent to the Fox River. It contains a 25-acre impoundment that is managed for waterfowl.
The numerous habitat types and the proximity of the Fox River and Tichigan Lake Impoundment offer great bird-watching and wildlife-viewing opportunities. Upland areas on the property such as grasslands and oak forests offer viewing of species such as Henslow’s Sparrow, Meadowlark, Eastern Kingbird, Bluebird, Red-Headed Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Warblers, and Vireos. The shallow lake, wetland and marsh edge habitats are excellent areas for viewing wetland bird species such as Great Egrets, Least Bittern, Terns, Teal, Wood Duck, Mallard, Wilson's Phalarope, White-Rumped Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Rails, White Pelican, Bald Eagle, Osprey, and Mergansers. In 2016, an Osprey platform was installed on the refuge on the north side of the impoundment. The platform has had an active nest since 2017. It provides an excellent opportunity to watch Osprey nesting activities.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Tichigan Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Tichigan 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 Tichigan Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Tichigan 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 Tichigan Wildlife Area: Birding, Boating (motorized and non-motorized), Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Canoeing, Kayaking, Fishing (Tichigan Creek class III trout stream and Tichigan Lake), Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (noted: for deer, waterfowl, turkey, pheasant [noon closure] and small game), Snowmobiling trail, Trapping and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Tichigan Wildlife Area?
Tichigan Wildlife Area lies in Racine County. The DNR registered 768 deer in Racine County in 2025, against 670 in 2024.
| DMU | Tichigan Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Racine County | 1,602 | 768 | 670 | 659 |
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 Tichigan Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Tichigan (next to it), Waterford (2 miles), Wind Lake (3 miles) and Big Bend (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 36, WI 83, I-43, WI 20 and WI 164. 1 VPA property within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Tichigan Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Honey Creek Streambank Protection Area: 506 acres, 2 miles away
- Wind Lake State Habitat Area: 347 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Honey Creek Wildlife Area: 1,345 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Big Muskego Lake Wildlife Area: 1,109 acres, 3.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Tichigan Wildlife Area
Counting Tichigan Wildlife Area itself, 2,326 of the 36,675 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.3%), 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 | 2,011 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 308 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 7 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Tichigan Wildlife Area?
In Racine County, next to Tichigan. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Tichigan 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 Tichigan Wildlife Area in?
Racine County.
How much public land is around Tichigan Wildlife Area?
2,326 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Tichigan Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Honey Creek Streambank Protection Area (2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Tichigan 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.