Yellowstone Lake State Park: hunting and access
Yellowstone Lake State Park is 790 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Lafayette County, 5 miles from Blanchardville. Hunters registered 2,042 deer in Lafayette 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 landState parksYellowstone Lake State ParkCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 790 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Lafayette County |
| Deer Management Unit | Lafayette County |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Yellowstone Lake |
| Nearest towns | Blanchardville (5 mi), Argyle (6 mi) and Hollandale (7 mi) |
What is Yellowstone Lake State Park like?
One of a few lakes in southwestern Wisconsin, 450-acre Yellowstone Lake State Park is a popular year-round recreation area that offers visitors ample space to enjoy camping, swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, biking and picnicking. In winter the park is open to ice fishing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. A large family campground and group camp are just a short walk from the beach and boat landing.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What are the rules on Yellowstone Lake State Park?
The DNR's property map lists Yellowstone Lake State Park as "Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping". Hunting follows Wisconsin's statewide seasons and the rules posted on the property.
In Wisconsin state parks and recreation areas, hunting is limited to the seasons and the parts of the property the DNR sets for each one; the DNR's page has the details.
How many deer are taken around Yellowstone Lake State Park?
Yellowstone Lake State Park lies in Lafayette County. The DNR registered 2,042 deer in Lafayette County in 2025, against 2,083 in 2024.
| DMU | Yellowstone Lake State Park acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette County | 790 | 2,042 | 2,083 | 2,403 |
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 Yellowstone Lake State Park?
Nearest towns: Blanchardville (5 miles), Argyle (6 miles), Hollandale (7 miles) and Wiota (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 81 and WI 78.
What other public land is near Yellowstone Lake State Park?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Yellowstone Wildlife Area: 4,450 acres, next to it
- Headwaters Yellowstone River SBE Area: 23 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Otter Creek SBE Area: 164 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Gordon Creek SBE Area: 110 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Copper Creek-Pecatonica River SBE Area: 24 acres, 6.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Yellowstone Lake State Park
Counting Yellowstone Lake State Park itself, 5,283 of the 30,505 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (17.3%), 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 | 5,275 |
| State parks | 7 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Yellowstone Lake State Park?
In Lafayette County, 5 miles from Blanchardville. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Yellowstone Lake State Park 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 Yellowstone Lake State Park in?
Lafayette County.
How much public land is around Yellowstone Lake State Park?
5,283 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Yellowstone Lake State Park included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Yellowstone Wildlife Area (next to it).
Get a Wisconsin hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Wisconsin are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Wisconsin included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Yellowstone Lake State Park; 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.