Wetland Management District · Wisconsin · FWS Region 3

St. Croix Wetland Management District Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

St. Croix Wetland Management District is located in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, with about 9,021 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules and 1 open with special regulations, covering about 8,909 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
8.9Khuntable acres
9KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

St. Croix 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 St. Croix WMD

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Lying along the eastern edge of the tallgrass prairie in west-central Wisconsin, St. Croix Wetland Management District includes 42 waterfowl production areas (WPAs) open to public hunting, totaling 7,980 acres.

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 (2)

Acreage by status
Open: 8,481 (95%)Special regulations: 427 (5%)8.9Khuntable acres
  • Open8,481 ac 95%
  • Special regulations427 ac 5%
Units by size (acres)
WPA Open
8,481 ac
Oak Ridge WPA
427 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
WPA Open
Show on map · Directions		 Open 8,481 —
Oak Ridge WPA
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 427 —

St. Croix WMD by the numbers

With about 8,909 huntable acres, St. Croix WMD ranks #4 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Wisconsin and #208 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is WPA Open (8,481 acres), while the smallest, Oak Ridge WPA, covers 427 acres.

Besides 9,021 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 472 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 St. Croix Prairie WPA (141 acres, 0 miles W).

When to hunt St. Croix 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 St. Croix WMD

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

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

How to get to St. Croix WMD

Navigate

Destination: St. Croix Wetland Management District (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
45.11853, -92.61000
DMS
45°07′06.7″N 92°36′36.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • St. Paul, MN26 mi NE of town
  • Minneapolis, MN34 mi E of town
  • Rice Lake, WI50 mi SW of town
  • Eau Claire, WI58 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • MSP Minneapolis–St. Paul34 mi
  • DLH Duluth Intl121 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 St. Croix 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, 20266:01 AM6:31 AM7:50 PM13h 19m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM7:23 PM12h 36m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM6:53 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:54 AM7:24 AM6:27 PM11h 03m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM5:00 PM10h 12m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM4:42 PM9h 35m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:58 AM7:28 AM4:31 PM9h 03m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:11 AM7:41 AM4:29 PM8h 47m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:18 AM7:48 AM4:37 PM8h 49m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:15 AM7:45 AM4:52 PM9h 07m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:01 AM7:31 AM5:15 PM9h 44m

Computed for 45.119, -92.610 (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 St. Croix WMD

This district manages 47 named WPAs totaling 8,943 acres of walk-in public land. The largest are listed below; each links to its county guide with a satellite map and directions.

WPACountyAcres
Rock Creek WPADunn County672
Oak Ridge WPASt. Croix County632
Ten Mile WPASt. Croix County516
Prairie Flats - South WPASt. Croix County501
Betterly WPASt. Croix County485
Erickson WPASt. Croix County476
Bass Lake WPASt. Croix County423
Stanton Prairie WPASt. Croix County353
Deer Park WPASt. Croix County351
Kostka WPASt. Croix County350
Red Cedar WPADunn County336
Star Prairie WPASt. Croix County312
Bierbrauer WPASt. Croix County275
Three Lakes WPASt. Croix County249
Clapp WPASt. Croix County239
Prairie Flats - North WPASt. Croix County219
Kerber WPASt. Croix County156
Clear Lake WPAPolk County154
Rose Lee WPAPolk County149
St. Croix Prairie WPASt. Croix County141
Cook's Pond WPADunn County140
Kobernick WPAPolk County135
Spring Meadows WPAPolk County133
Lundy WPASt. Croix County132
Beyl WPAPolk County126

Showing the 25 largest of 47. All tracts are on the map above and in the KML download.

Guides for hunting St. Croix 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…

St. Croix WMD FAQ

Is hunting allowed at St. Croix WMD?

Yes. St. Croix Wetland Management District offers hunting in 2 units (8,909 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 St. Croix WMD?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for St. Croix 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 St. Croix WMD?

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

Where is St. Croix WMD located?

St. Croix Wetland Management District is in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, about 26 miles NE of St. Paul, MN (straight-line). GPS: 45.11853, -92.61000.

What are legal shooting hours at St. Croix 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

Minnesota Valley NWR

Hennepin County, MN · 35 mi SW

12 special5 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

12.6K huntable acres

Sherburne NWR

Sherburne County, MN · 60 mi NW

3 special3 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

28K huntable acres

Minnesota Valley WMD

Le Sueur County, MN · 70 mi SW

2 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

8.7K huntable acres

Mille Lacs NWR

Mille Lacs County, MN · 86 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Trempealeau NWR

Trempealeau County, WI · 91 mi SE

1 open1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

6.9K huntable acres

Litchfield WMD

Meeker County, MN · 94 mi W

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

38.6K 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.