Wolf River Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Wolf River Wildlife Area is 1,983 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Winnebago County, 2 miles from Fremont. The DNR's page for it names deer and ducks and geese among the game here. Hunters registered 2,895 deer in Winnebago 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 federal landVoluntary Public Access landWolf River Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,983 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Winnebago County |
| Deer Management Unit | Winnebago County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer and ducks and geese |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Wolf River Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Fremont (2 mi), Tustin (4 mi) and Winchester (7 mi) |
What is Wolf River Wildlife Area like?
Wolf River Wildlife Area is located in northwest Winnebago County in the Town of Wolf River. The state owns and manages approximately 1,800 acres. The property consists of two slightly disjunct units dominated by wetlands. The northern section, known as Deltox Marsh, was once a wire grass (sedge) marsh, important to the local rug industry. Over time, it transitioned to a canary grass marsh with scattered willow stands. The southern section, Metzig Marsh, is located at the confluence of the Wolf and Rat Rivers. It consists of a large sedge meadow-shrub carr marsh complex with cattail in the wetter sites. Soft maple and brush stands occupy the narrow ridges along the river channel and oxbows.
Find Wolf River Wildlife Area one mile southwest of Zittau. A parking area is located at the end of Schmidt Lane. There is an additional walk-in access point off of HWY II. The Wolf River Wildlife Area is managed to provide opportunities for public hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoor recreation while protecting the qualities of the unique native communities and associated species found on the property. The primary habitat management opportunity on the property is maintaining and restoring the extensive sedge meadow habitat by controlling reed canary grass, managing cattails, and mowing. Opportunities to maintain bottomland hardwoods, open water and emergent marsh are pursued where feasible.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Wolf River Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Wolf River Wildlife Area names deer and ducks and geese. 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 Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Wolf River 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 Wildlife Area: Birding, Canoeing, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Fishing, Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (noted for waterfowl and deer), Kayaking, Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Wolf River Wildlife Area?
Wolf River Wildlife Area lies in Winnebago County. The DNR registered 2,895 deer in Winnebago County in 2025, against 2,728 in 2024.
| DMU | Wolf River Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnebago County | 1,983 | 2,895 | 2,728 | 2,280 |
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 Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Fremont (2 miles), Tustin (4 miles), Winchester (7 miles) and Dale (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 10, US 45, WI 110, WI 96 and WI 49. 2 VPA properties within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Wolf River Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resource Area: 3,670 acres, next to it
- Rat River Wildlife Area: 4,589 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Glacial Habitat Restoration Area: 11,308 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area: 3,142 acres, 5.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Wolf River Wildlife Area
Counting Wolf River Wildlife Area itself, 3,197 of the 38,963 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.2%), 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 | 3,196 |
| Other federal land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Wolf River Wildlife Area?
In Winnebago County, 2 miles from Fremont. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Wolf River 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 Wildlife Area in?
Winnebago County.
How much public land is around Wolf River Wildlife Area?
3,197 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Wolf River 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 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.