Wetland Management District · Wisconsin · FWS Region 3

Leopold Wetland Management District Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Columbia County, Wisconsin, Leopold Wetland Management District is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 13,884 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules and 2 closed, covering about 13,841 huntable acres.

1 open unit2 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
13.8Khuntable acres
13.9KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Leopold WMD hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Leopold WMD

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Most of the waterfowl production areas are open to public hunting per Wisconsin regulations. Wilcox WPA and Blue Wing WPA are closed to hunting.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Wisconsin regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Open: 13,841 (98%)Closed: 322 (2%)13.8Khuntable acres
  • Open13,841 ac 98%
  • Closed322 ac 2%
Units by size (acres)
WPA Open
13,841 ac
Wilcox WPA
267 ac
Blue Wing WPA
56 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
WPA Open
Show on map · Directions		 Open 13,841 —
Blue Wing WPA
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 56 —
Wilcox WPA
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 267 —

Leopold WMD by the numbers

With about 13,841 huntable acres, Leopold WMD ranks #3 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Wisconsin and #147 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 98% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is WPA Open (13,841 acres).

2 units totaling 322 acres are closed to hunting (Blue Wing WPA and Wilcox WPA). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 13,884 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 3,031 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

6 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is Baraboo River WPA (950 acres, 1 miles E).

When to hunt Leopold WMD

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Wisconsin sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Wisconsin hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Leopold WMD

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Leopold WMD

Navigate

Destination: Leopold Wetland Management District (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
43.50761, -89.52093
DMS
43°30′27.4″N 89°31′15.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Madison, WI31 mi N of town
  • Necedah, WI45 mi SE of town
  • Fond du Lac, WI57 mi W of town
  • Oshkosh, WI60 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • MSN Madison Dane County27 mi
  • MKE Milwaukee Mitchell90 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Leopold WMD

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:50 AM6:20 AM7:36 PM13h 15m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM7:10 PM12h 35m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM6:41 PM11h 47m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM6:16 PM11h 06m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM4:51 PM10h 19m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM4:34 PM9h 44m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM4:23 PM9h 13m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:53 AM7:23 AM4:22 PM8h 59m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:00 AM7:30 AM4:31 PM9h 00m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:58 AM7:28 AM4:45 PM9h 17m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM5:07 PM9h 52m

Computed for 43.508, -89.521 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Waterfowl Production Areas managed by Leopold WMD

This district manages 59 named WPAs totaling 13,884 acres of walk-in public land. The largest are listed below; each links to its county guide with a satellite map and directions.

WPACountyAcres
Uihlein WPAWinnebago County2,436
Baraboo River WPAColumbia County950
Schoeneberg Marsh WPAColumbia County735
Harvey's Marsh WPADane County681
Trenton WPADodge County514
Oakfield WPAFond du Lac County430
Becker WPAColumbia County357
Manthey WPAColumbia County352
New Chester WPAAdams County343
Hinkson Creek WPAColumbia County337
Rowe WPAColumbia County334
Kettle Moraine WPASheboygan County303
Schwengel WPAOzaukee County302
Wilcox WPAWaushara County267
Severson WPAColumbia County251
Island Lake WPADane County245
Swan Pond WPADane County240
Fairfield Marsh WPASauk County239
Breakneck WPAFond du Lac County233
Batavia WPASheboygan County228
Lamartine WPAFond du Lac County216
Rosendale WPAFond du Lac County207
Eckstein WPAWinnebago County199
Duffy's Marsh WPAMarquette County182
Boltonville WPASheboygan County182

Showing the 25 largest of 59. All tracts are on the map above and in the KML download.

Guides for hunting Leopold WMD

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Leopold WMD FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Leopold WMD?

Yes. Leopold Wetland Management District offers hunting in 1 unit (13,841 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Leopold WMD?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Leopold WMD. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Leopold WMD?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Leopold WMD located?

Leopold Wetland Management District is in Columbia County, Wisconsin, about 31 miles N of Madison, WI (straight-line). GPS: 43.50761, -89.52093.

What are legal shooting hours at Leopold WMD?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Fox River NWR

Marquette County, WI · 14 mi NE

1 open1 closed
🦌

988 huntable acres

Horicon NWR

Dodge County, WI · 44 mi E

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

21.6K huntable acres

Necedah NWR

Juneau County, WI · 54 mi NW

1 open1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

39.1K huntable acres

Genoa NFH

Vernon County, WI · 85 mi W

1 closed
🎣

Upper Mississippi River NWFR

Houston County, MN · 87 mi W

10 special6 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

237K huntable acres

Hackmatack NWR

McHenry County, IL · 94 mi SE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

655 huntable acres

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in Wisconsin →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.