Wildlife areas are different from other state-owned properties, such as state parks and state forests. They are managed to provide habitat for wildlife. 

​Section 23.09 (2) (d) 3., State Stats., provides legislative authority and direction for the acquisition and management of state wildlife areas. The primary purpose of state wildlife areas as stated in this statute is to provide "areas in which any citizen may hunt, trap or fish". Section 23.11 (1), Stats., provides for the general care, protection and supervision of state lands. Section 23.30, Stats., deals with the provisions of the outdoor recreation program.

The management and uses of state wildlife areas are further defined in NR 1.51. WI Admin Code. While hunting and trapping are the primary public uses for wildlife areas; other uses, such as walking, nature study, berry picking, and other low-impact recreational activities are also allowed. Other compatible open-space uses may be allowed under the property's Master Plan when they do not detract from the primary purpose of the property; however, they may be limited in time and location to avoid interference with wildlife production or survival and public hunting and trapping.

The wildlife areas are open all day (and night) every day.  There is no charge to enter the wildlife area.

Yes. Dogs are allowed.  They must always be under the control of the owner, and between April 15th and July 15th they must be on a leash.  Be advised that there are wolves and other wild animals within the wildlife areas, and if your dog gets lost, it may become prey.  Also, there are various traps set during the trapping season, so keep your pets close.  Dogs are also not allowed to kill any wild animal - please see the Wisconsin Hunting regulations for more information. 

Wisconsin state policy is that horses are allowed only on the roads that cars are allowed on state wildlife areas. Crex Meadows, Fish Lake, and Amsterdam Sloughs Wildlife Areas are owned by the state of Wisconsin.  Horses are NOT allowed on the hiking and hunter walking trails or the firebreaks within the wildlife areas.  The nearby Governor Knowles State Forest has several miles of dedicated horse trails. For more information, click here.

As long as you are not within the no-entry refuge areas, you are free to set up a temporary portable blind anywhere in the wildlife area.  If you intend to use a ground photography blind during any gun or muzzleloader deer hunting season (except waterfowl blinds), you must have a minimum of 144 square inches of solid blaze orange material visible from all directions.  You may not leave your blind up overnight, and all unoccupied blinds must have the owner's name and address displayed in a visible and conspicuous location near the entrance.   

In the fall, Sandhill Cranes gather at Crex Meadows and the surrounding areas (15-20 percent of the entire world-wide population of Greater Sandhill Cranes are present here in western Burnett County in October and early November), where they feed in the crop fields during the day and roost in the sedge marshes of the wildlife areas at night.  They remain in the area until the marshes ice over - usually by the middle to end of November. They then head south, stopping over in Illinois and Indiana, and finally arriving along the gulf coast in Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle where they spend the winter. Sandhill Cranes nest from southern Wisconsin north, into the upper peninsula of Michigan and as far north as central Canada, south of Hudson Bay, in sedge meadows. There are many pairs nesting at Crex Meadows and Fish Lake wildlife areas each summer.

The cranes at Crex Meadows are the Greater Sandhill Crane, and there are about 80,000 of them in North America (we count 15,000 - 20,000 in the fall at Crex Meadows). The Lesser Sandhill Crane is another sub-species that winters on the Texas coast, migrates through Nebraska and the Dakotas, and nests on the Arctic tundra far to the north. They stand about a foot shorter than the Greater Sandhill Crane and their population tops several hundred thousand.

 Hunting is allowed throughout all  wildlife areas on state-owned land, with the exception of the refuge areas within Crex Meadows and Fish Lake wildlife areas (the Fish Lake refuge is closed only during the migrating waterfowl hunting seasons but opens after that time for other species). Hunting regulations can be found here.

Except for winter snowmobile use on designated trails, ATVs are not allowed within wildlife areas. Some townships allow ATVs on paved roads, but they are not allowed on township roads that go through state property within those townships. This means that ATVs are not allowed even on paved roads within the wildlife areas even if the township allows ATVs.  Roads within the townships that allow ATVs are clearly marked with signs stating that ATVs are allowed.  The only exception to this is when a hunter with a handicapped hunting permit uses an ATV to hunt from allowable areas as designated by the Wildlife Area Property Manager.  

If it is determined that an animal is injured, sick or truly orphaned, contact the DNR or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately. Never attempt to rehabilitate wildlife on your own. Wild animals can carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans and pets. They are also capable of inflicting injury to themselves or others as they fight to defend themselves against a perceived threat (humans or pets). They have very specific dietary and housing requirements that are not easily met in captivity. Plus, rehabilitating wildlife without a license is against the law in Wisconsin.  More information about Wisconsin's “Keep Wildlife Wild” policies can be found here.