Yellow River Fishery Area: hunting and access
Yellow River Fishery Area is 698 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Barron County, 5 miles from Cumberland. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey and small game among the game here. Hunters registered 6,376 deer in Barron 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 landCounty forestOther county, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landYellow River Fishery AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 698 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Barron County |
| Deer Management Unit | Barron County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey and small game |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Yellow River Fishery Area |
| Nearest towns | Cumberland (5 mi), Rice Lake (7 mi) and Barron (7 mi) |
What is Yellow River Fishery Area like?
The 712-acre Yellow River Fishery Area has a class 1 trout stream and has areas with trout habitat improvement projects. Wadeable trout fishing with shore accessibility makes this a prime location for trout fishing. This stream meanders through the property with lowlands, upland hardwoods, and upland grasslands.
Yellow River Fishery Area is located in Barron County on State Hwy 48, 4.5 miles east of Cumberland. Anglers can expect to shore fish in some places or wade in the stream throughout the fishery area. Some fly fishing opportunities are available, especially in the areas where habitat improvements were made. Brown trout are the dominant species, with a few brook trout to be had. The Yellow River Fishery Area is managed to improve trout habitat, sustain forests, and maintain grasslands.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Yellow River Fishery Area?
The DNR's page for Yellow River Fishery Area names deer, wild turkey 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 Yellow River Fishery Area?
The DNR's property map lists Yellow River Fishery 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 Yellow River Fishery Area: Hunting - deer, turkey & small game, Trapping, Hiking, Wildlife viewing, Fishing - trout, Bird watching and Berry picking.
How many deer are taken around Yellow River Fishery Area?
Yellow River Fishery Area lies in Barron County. The DNR registered 6,376 deer in Barron County in 2025, against 5,789 in 2024.
| DMU | Yellow River Fishery Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barron County | 698 | 6,376 | 5,789 | 5,457 |
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 Yellow River Fishery Area?
Nearest towns: Cumberland (5 miles), Rice Lake (7 miles), Barron (7 miles) and Barronett (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 48, WI 25 and US 63.
What other public land is near Yellow River Fishery Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Engle Creek Springs Fishery Area: 190 acres, 0.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Yellow River Fishery Area
Counting Yellow River Fishery Area itself, 1,159 of the 36,277 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 | 1,142 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 15 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Yellow River Fishery Area?
In Barron County, 5 miles from Cumberland. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Yellow River Fishery 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 Yellow River Fishery Area in?
Barron County.
How much public land is around Yellow River Fishery Area?
1,159 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Yellow River Fishery Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Engle Creek Springs Fishery Area (0.9 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Yellow River Fishery 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.