National Wildlife Refuge · Wisconsin · FWS Region 3

Necedah National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Juneau County, Wisconsin, Necedah National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 44,044 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, 1 open with special regulations, and 1 closed, covering about 39,111 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 with special regs1 closedYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
39.1Khuntable acres
44KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Necedah NWR 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 Necedah NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

The largest public hunting area near Madison and Milwaukee, Necedah National Wildlife Refuge has become a popular destination for many Wisconsin hunters.

Youth hunting

A 2-day deer hunt is held. At least one adult must be present for every two youth hunters.

All refuges with youth hunts →
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 mammals

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: 10,253 (25%)Special regulations: 28,858 (72%)Closed: 1,181 (3%)39.1Khuntable acres
  • Open10,253 ac 25%
  • Special regulations28,858 ac 72%
  • Closed1,181 ac 3%
Units by size (acres)
3
28,858 ac
2
10,253 ac
1
1,181 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
2
Show on map · Directions		 Open 10,253 — 🧒 A 2-day deer hunt is held. At least one adult must be present for every two youth hunters.
3
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 28,858 — 🧒 A 2-day deer hunt is held. At least one adult must be present for every two youth hunters.
1
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,181 — 🧒 A 2-day deer hunt is held. At least one adult must be present for every two youth hunters.

Necedah NWR by the numbers

With about 39,111 huntable acres, Necedah NWR ranks #1 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Wisconsin and #71 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 97% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is 3 (28,858 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, 2, covers 10,253 acres.

1 unit totaling 1,181 acres is closed to hunting (1). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 44,044 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 3,080 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

1 Waterfowl Production Area lies within 35 miles; the closest is New Chester WPA (343 acres, 33 miles SE).

When to hunt Necedah NWR

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
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

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 Necedah NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Hook-and-line fishing for warm-water species, including panfish, northern pike and bullheads, is available in refuge fishing areas. Fishing areas and seasons include Sprague and Goose Pools, June 1-September 15 and December 15-March 15.

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

How to get to Necedah NWR

Navigate

Destination: Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
44.12886, -90.17459
DMS
44°07′43.9″N 90°10′28.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Necedah, WI8.6 mi NW of town
  • La Crosse, WI58 mi NE of town
  • Wausau, WI63 mi SW of town
  • Winona, MN73 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • MSN Madison Dane County80 mi
  • GRB Green Bay Austin Straubel104 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 Necedah NWR

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, 20265:52 AM6:22 AM7:39 PM13h 17m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM7:13 PM12h 35m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM6:43 PM11h 47m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM6:18 PM11h 05m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM4:52 PM10h 16m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM4:35 PM9h 41m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM4:24 PM9h 09m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:58 AM7:28 AM4:22 PM8h 54m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:05 AM7:35 AM4:31 PM8h 56m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:02 AM7:32 AM4:45 PM9h 13m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:49 AM7:19 AM5:08 PM9h 49m

Computed for 44.129, -90.175 (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.

Guides for hunting Necedah NWR

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…

Necedah NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Necedah NWR?

Yes. Necedah National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (39,111 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Necedah NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Necedah NWR. 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 Necedah NWR?

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

Where is Necedah NWR located?

Necedah National Wildlife Refuge is in Juneau County, Wisconsin, about 9 miles NW of Necedah, WI (straight-line). GPS: 44.12886, -90.17459.

What are legal shooting hours at Necedah NWR?

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 · 49 mi SE

1 open1 closed
🦌

988 huntable acres

Leopold WMD

Columbia County, WI · 54 mi SE

1 open2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

13.8K huntable acres

Genoa NFH

Vernon County, WI · 67 mi SW

1 closed
🎣

Upper Mississippi River NWFR

Houston County, MN · 67 mi SW

10 special6 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

237K huntable acres

Trempealeau NWR

Trempealeau County, WI · 68 mi W

1 open1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

6.9K huntable acres

Horicon NWR

Dodge County, WI · 85 mi SE

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

21.6K 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.