Leopold WMD
Columbia County, WI · 31 mi N
✓1 open✕2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣
13.8K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Dane County, Wisconsin
Shovelers Sink Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Shovelers Sink Waterfowl Production Area is a public parcel of roughly 171 acres located in Dane County, Wisconsin. It is managed by the Leopold Wetland Management District as part of the Dane County Waterfowl Production Area group of WPAs. Waterfowl Production Areas are purchased largely with Federal Duck Stamp dollars and are generally open to hunting, trapping and fishing under state regulations, with some federal restrictions.
171GIS acres
175deeded acres
Dane Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
Shovelers Sink WPA satellite map
Gold outlines are fee-title Waterfowl Production Areas — public land. Everything outside is typically private; always look for boundary signs.
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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
Hunting on Shovelers Sink WPA
What you can typically do
- Hunt waterfowl, upland birds, deer and other game in season under Wisconsin regulations
- Walk in from roads or designated parking areas — vehicles generally stay off the tract
- Fish and trap where state rules and district regulations allow
- Wildlife watching, photography and hiking
Common restrictions
- No camping, fires or overnight use on most WPAs
- Motorized vehicles only on designated roads/parking
- Temporary blinds and stands usually must be removed daily
- Non-toxic shot required for waterfowl — many districts require it for all shotgun hunting
- Some tracts have closed areas or special regulations — check signs
How to get to Shovelers Sink WPA
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Destination: Shovelers Sink Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
43.06406, -89.60595- DMS
43°03′50.6″N 89°36′21.4″W
Nearest towns
- Madison, WI10 mi W of town
- Rockford, IL61 mi NW of town
- Dubuque, IA66 mi NE of town
Closest airports
- MSN Madison Dane County14 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Shovelers Sink WPA
Today at Shovelers Sink WPA
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 | 5:51 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:35 PM | 13h 14m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:06 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:10 PM | 12h 34m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:24 AM | 6:54 AM | 6:41 PM | 11h 48m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:40 AM | 7:10 AM | 6:17 PM | 11h 07m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:01 AM | 6:31 AM | 4:52 PM | 10h 20m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:20 AM | 6:50 AM | 4:36 PM | 9h 46m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:39 AM | 7:09 AM | 4:25 PM | 9h 16m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 6:52 AM | 7:22 AM | 4:24 PM | 9h 02m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 6:59 AM | 7:29 AM | 4:32 PM | 9h 03m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 6:57 AM | 7:27 AM | 4:46 PM | 9h 20m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 6:44 AM | 7:14 AM | 5:08 PM | 9h 54m |
Computed for 43.064, -89.606 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast
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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
Nearby Waterfowl Production Areas
| WPA | Acres | Distance | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northrup King WPA | 85 | 11 mi SE | Dane County |
| Swan Pond WPA | 240 | 13 mi SE | Dane County |
| Vienna WPA | 39 | 16 mi NE | Dane County |
| Jackson WPA | 148 | 18 mi NE | Dane County |
| Island Lake WPA | 245 | 18 mi SE | Dane County |
| Gadwall Swamp WPA | 71 | 19 mi SE | Dane County |
| Sime WPA | 79 | 20 mi SE | Dane County |
| Harvey's Marsh WPA | 681 | 20 mi SE | Dane County |
Closest refuges & districts
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), Dane County Waterfowl Production Area. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.