Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area is 3,142 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Outagamie and Waupaca counties, 3 miles from Shiocton. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, woodcock and small game among the game here. Hunters registered 4,322 deer in Outagamie 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 landWolf River Bottoms Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,142 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Outagamie County and Waupaca County |
| Deer Management Unit | Outagamie County, Waupaca County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, woodcock and small game |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area - Herb Behnke Unit |
| Nearest towns | Shiocton (3 mi), Hortonville (3 mi) and Weyauwega (4 mi) |
What is Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area like?
Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area-Herb Behnke Unit is found in northwest Outagamie County and is approximately 2,500 acres in size. The wildlife area is made up of sandy, forested ridges, multiple impoundments, a spruce plantation, swamp hardwood, wetland and grassland habitat. Of the 2,500 acres of property, 1,800 acres are impounded, 200 acres are in upland timber, 100 acres are in grassland and the remaining acreage is in wetland habitat. The Herb Behnke Unit was purchased in 1991. It was originally known as the “K&S Unit” after its former owners, Killoren and Spaulding. The Natural Resources Board later dedicated the property to Herb Behnke, a long-time Board member, and it was renamed on May 11, 2006. Formerly, it was an active game farm called Maine Creek Farm. The entire property was surrounded by a fence, of which much has since been removed.
After the Department purchased the property, management focused on recovery of the vegetation from deer overpopulation. Current forest management emphasizes early successional aspen-oak and alder management to favor game species such as deer, turkey, and woodcock. The main emphasis of the property, however, is wetland management. Flowages provide an interspersion of open water and wetland vegetation. There are 22 water control structures that manipulate water levels on 14 flowages, which create 2,070 acres of wetland habitat with 11.05 miles of dikes. Lowland shrub habitat is maintained through mowing and prescribed fire in areas that do not have the potential for sedge meadow management. Find Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area- Herb Behnke Unit 5 miles north of Shiocton on Highway M. There are three parking areas for the area.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area names deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, woodcock 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 Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Wolf River Bottoms 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 Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area: Birding, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (noted for deer, turkey, waterfowl and small game), Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area?
Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area lies in 2 deer management units. The DNR registered 4,322 deer in Outagamie County in 2025, against 4,318 in 2024.
| DMU | Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outagamie County | 3,069 | 4,322 | 4,318 | 3,847 |
| Waupaca County | 73 | 10,740 | 10,349 | 9,097 |
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 Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Shiocton (3 miles), Hortonville (3 miles), Weyauwega (4 miles) and Fremont (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 76, US 10, WI 110, WI 187 and WI 54. 3 VPA properties within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resource Area: 3,670 acres, next to it
- Outagamie Wildlife Area: 944 acres, next to it
- Newton Blackmour State Trail: 286 acres, 2.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area
Counting Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area itself, 8,410 of the 85,964 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.8%), 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 | 8,350 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 33 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 17 |
| Other federal land | 7 |
| State parks | 3 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area?
In Outagamie and Waupaca counties, 3 miles from Shiocton. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Wolf River Bottoms 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 Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area in?
Outagamie County (3,069 acres) and Waupaca County (73 acres).
How much public land is around Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area?
8,410 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resource Area (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Wolf River Bottoms 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 Outagamie County Waupaca County Outagamie County Waupaca County