Leopold WMD
Columbia County, WI
✓1 open✕2 closed
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13.8K huntable acres
County guide · Wisconsin · WI WPAs
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Jefferson County, WI
Jefferson County has 3 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 239 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Red Cedar Lake WPA at 165 acres; the average tract is about 80 acres, and 2 are smaller than 80 acres.
WPAs here are managed by the Leopold Wetland Management District, which sets any district-specific rules (vehicle access, blinds, nontoxic shot, closed areas).
The county covers about 583 square miles and has roughly 84,900 residents. WPAs make up about 0.1% of its land area.
3named WPAs
239acres of WPA land
165largest WPA (ac)
1refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Jefferson County
Gold outlines are fee-title Waterfowl Production Areas — federally owned public land. Land outside them is almost always private. Switch to satellite to check water conditions and cover, and click any tract for coordinates.
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Waterfowl Production Area (public)County lineRefuge / station
Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
All Waterfowl Production Areas in Jefferson County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Cedar Lake WPA 176 deeded ac |
165 | 22 mi E of Madison | 42.98517, -88.98198 |
Map · Directions |
| Johnson WPA | 41 | 22 mi E of Madison | 42.95897, -88.99130 |
Map · Directions |
| Rockdale WPA | 34 | 22 mi E of Madison | 42.95126, -89.00572 |
Map · Directions |
Acreage from USFWS realty GIS polygons. Coordinates are a point inside each tract — not necessarily a parking area. Look for designated parking and boundary signs on the ground.
Hunting WPAs in Jefferson County: rules & tips
Typically allowed
- Hunting waterfowl, upland birds, deer and other game in season under Wisconsin regulations
- Walk-in access from roads and designated parking areas
- Fishing and trapping where state and district rules allow
- Wildlife watching, photography and dog training outside restricted periods
Common restrictions
- No camping, fires or overnight use on most tracts
- Motor vehicles only on designated roads and parking areas
- Blinds and portable stands usually removed at the end of each day
- Nontoxic shot required for waterfowl; many districts require it for all shotgun hunting
- Some tracts have closed areas, refuge-style rules or seasonal restrictions
Getting to Jefferson County
Distances below are straight-line from the center of the county. Most WPAs are reached by county and township gravel roads — download the GPX file and load it into your phone or GPS before you lose cell coverage.
- Madison, WI32 mi — county center is E of town
- Milwaukee, WI44 mi — county center is W of town
- Fond du Lac, WI54 mi — county center is S of town
- Rockford, IL54 mi — county center is N of town
Shooting hours in Jefferson County
Today at Jefferson County
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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 5:48 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:32 PM | 13h 14m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:03 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:07 PM | 12h 34m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:20 AM | 6:50 AM | 6:38 PM | 11h 48m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:37 AM | 7:07 AM | 6:14 PM | 11h 07m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 5:58 AM | 6:28 AM | 4:48 PM | 10h 20m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:16 AM | 6:46 AM | 4:33 PM | 9h 46m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:36 AM | 7:06 AM | 4:22 PM | 9h 16m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 6:49 AM | 7:19 AM | 4:21 PM | 9h 02m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 6:56 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:29 PM | 9h 03m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 6:53 AM | 7:23 AM | 4:43 PM | 9h 20m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 6:41 AM | 7:11 AM | 5:05 PM | 9h 54m |
Computed for 43.022, -88.774 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Jefferson County
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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
Refuges & districts with land in Jefferson County
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Dane County, WI 10 WPAs · 1.8K ac
- Dodge County, WI 4 WPAs · 812 ac
- Rock County, WI 3 WPAs · 326 ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.