Tiffany Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Tiffany Wildlife Area is 14,019 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Buffalo and Pepin counties, next to Nelson. The DNR's page for it names deer, ducks and geese and small game among the game here. Hunters registered 5,806 deer in Buffalo 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 areasOther federal landOther county, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landVoluntary Public Access landTiffany Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 14,019 acres in 22 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Buffalo County and Pepin County |
| Deer Management Unit | Buffalo County, Pepin County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese and small game |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Tiffany Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Nelson (next to it), Arkansaw (2 mi) and Pepin (2 mi) |
What is Tiffany Wildlife Area like?
Tiffany Wildlife Area is a 13,000-acre property in Buffalo and Pepin counties and features diverse, abundant wildlife habitat. Split by the lower Chippewa River, the area contains one of the state's largest contiguous bottomland hardwood forests. Beaver dams on sloughs and old river meanders create a maze of ponds and wetlands. Oak barrens also occur within this matrix of floodplain habitat. Steep bluffs rise above the Chippewa River, featuring oak forest, savanna, and remnant prairies. This variety in habitat composition and structure provides food and shelter for a wide variety of wildlife including deer, waterfowl, and beaver. The lower Chippewa River area is among the most diverse in Wisconsin; over 75% of the state’s breeding bird species and 50% of its native plants are found here. Find the area 45 minutes south of Eau Claire and 90 minutes north of La Crosse.
Tiffany Wildlife Area is actively managed for wildlife habitat. Invasive species control, prescribed burning, mowing, and timber harvest are used throughout the property. The Tiffany Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:. To camp at Tiffany Wildlife Area, download, complete and mail or email a copy of the Tiffany State Wildlife Area Special Camp Registration Form [PDF]. Retain the original with you at your campsite, posted on the dash of each vehicle in your party. or send the form as an email to Mark Rasmussen.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Tiffany Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Tiffany Wildlife Area names deer, 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 Tiffany Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Tiffany 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 Tiffany Wildlife Area: Birding, Boating (motorized and non-motorized), * Camping, Canoeing, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Fishing, Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (noted for deer, waterfowl and small game), Kayaking, Trapping (beaver/otter closed area exists - check map for details), Train tours ( Chippewa Valley Motor Car Association's Facebook ), Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Tiffany Wildlife Area?
Tiffany Wildlife Area lies in 2 deer management units. The DNR registered 5,806 deer in Buffalo County in 2025, against 5,321 in 2024.
| DMU | Tiffany Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo County | 10,543 | 5,806 | 5,321 | 5,148 |
| Pepin County | 3,476 | 2,215 | 2,120 | 1,904 |
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 Tiffany Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Nelson (next to it), Arkansaw (2 miles), Pepin (2 miles) and Durand (3 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 25, WI 35, US 10 and WI 85.
What other public land is near Tiffany Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area: 3,486 acres, next to it
- Lake Pepin Wildlife Area: 250 acres, 5.6 miles away
- Nine Mile Island State Natural Area: 1,319 acres, 5.8 miles away
- Dunnville Wildlife Area: 4,357 acres, 5.8 miles away
- Plum Creek Woods State Natural Area: 79 acres, 7.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Tiffany Wildlife Area
Counting Tiffany Wildlife Area itself, 19,820 of the 100,704 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (19.7%), 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 | 14,708 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 4,799 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 210 |
| Other federal land | 75 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 28 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Tiffany Wildlife Area?
In Buffalo and Pepin counties, next to Nelson. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Tiffany 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 Tiffany Wildlife Area in?
Buffalo County (10,543 acres) and Pepin County (3,476 acres).
How much public land is around Tiffany Wildlife Area?
19,820 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Tiffany Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Tiffany 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.
Wisconsin hunting Buffalo County Pepin County Buffalo County Pepin County