Turtle Creek Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Turtle Creek Wildlife Area is 1,060 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Walworth and Rock counties, next to Darien. The DNR's page for it names deer, ducks and geese and small game among the game here. Hunters registered 2,132 deer in Walworth 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 landTurtle Creek Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,060 acres in 7 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Walworth County and Rock County |
| Deer Management Unit | Walworth County, Rock 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 | Turtle Creek Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Darien (next to it), Allens Grove (next to it) and Delavan (2 mi) |
What is Turtle Creek Wildlife Area like?
Turtle Creek Wildlife Area is a 1,035-acre property located in western Walworth and eastern Rock counties-the property snakes along 10 miles of Turtle Creek in four segments from Delavan to South O'Riley Road. Ten road crossings and/or parking lots are scattered throughout the property. Due to the many crossings, this property lends itself well to kayak and canoe adventures along Turtle Creek, although during drought years, the creek becomes shallow and challenging to traverse. The habitat consists of sedge meadow, shrub carr, hardwood forest and small prairie remnants. Large fall and winter concentrations of Canada geese can be seen at Turtle Creek. It is also home to a number of rare fish and reptile species. Game species include deer, waterfowl, and small game.
Turtle Creek is featured in the Southern Savanna Region of the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail as a property to see yellow, blue-winged and golden warblers, along with eastern meadowlarks, brown thrashers and lark sparrows. Turtle Creek management is primarily prescribed fire, timber management (harvest and regeneration), and some spot herbicide treatment. Because much of the property is wetlands or hard to access, large areas are passively managed. The Turtle Creek Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:. Note: Portions of this property are only accessible via the waters of Turtle Creek or adjacent private landowners. As always, be sure to have permission to cross private lands before you do so.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Turtle Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Turtle Creek 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 Turtle Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Turtle 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 Turtle Creek Wildlife Area: Birding, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting, Kayaking, Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Turtle Creek Wildlife Area?
Turtle Creek Wildlife Area lies in 2 deer management units. The DNR registered 2,132 deer in Walworth County in 2025, against 2,059 in 2024.
| DMU | Turtle Creek Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walworth County | 734 | 2,132 | 2,059 | 1,881 |
| Rock County | 326 | 2,667 | 2,501 | 2,468 |
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 Turtle Creek Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Darien (next to it), Allens Grove (next to it), Delavan (2 miles) and Delavan Lake (3 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-43, WI 11, US 14, WI 89 and WI 50.
What other public land is near Turtle Creek Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Turtle Valley Wildlife Area: 2,292 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Sharon State Habitat Area: 166 acres, 3.3 miles away
- White River State Trail: 379 acres, 7.2 miles away
- Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit: 21,556 acres, 7.7 miles away
- Clover Valley State Habitat Area: 636 acres, 8.5 miles away
- Troy State Habitat Area: 590 acres, 8.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Turtle Creek Wildlife Area
Counting Turtle Creek Wildlife Area itself, 1,897 of the 58,720 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.2%), 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 | 1,583 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 314 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Turtle Creek Wildlife Area?
In Walworth and Rock counties, next to Darien. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Turtle 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 Turtle Creek Wildlife Area in?
Walworth County (734 acres) and Rock County (326 acres).
How much public land is around Turtle Creek Wildlife Area?
1,897 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Turtle Creek Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Turtle Valley Wildlife Area (1.4 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Turtle 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.
Wisconsin hunting Walworth County Rock County Walworth County Rock County